Anthropology and the Study of Humanity

By: Scott M. Lacey, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Scott M. Lacey

What does it mean to be human? Where did we come from? And what unites us in our diversity today? Anthropology and the Study of Humanity is your chance to tackle these big questions as you survey one of the world's most engaging - and human - sciences. Taught by acclaimed professor and field researcher Scott M. Lacy of Fairfield University, these 24 wide-ranging lectures are the ideal guide through the world of anthropology, or the study of humanity across time and space.

Professor Lacy gives you an elegant blend of theory and application to help you understand this extraordinarily interdisciplinary field as a whole. You will examine how humans evolved and built civilizations, review humanity's changing attitudes about our relationship to the cosmos, and consider the many ways we express ourselves. In the end, what you'll discover is that while our species is rich with diversity, we are all one human race.

To anchor this course, Professor Lacy gives you a historical overview of Homo sapiens, starting at the very root of our family tree, when proto-humans split away from other primates in the animal kingdom. As he wends his way across time and around the world, he also introduces the field's four major academic sub-disciplines: biological, archaeological, linguistic, and cultural anthropology.

One of the joys of this course is that it is truly global in the way Professor Lacy introduces you to the boots-on-the-ground practice of the field. When you complete this course, you will have a new appreciation for our world and its many cultures, but you will also have a new appreciation for the cultural connections and similarities we share as one race of Homo sapiens. With a passionate and knowledgeable professor as your guide, this course gives you a broad understanding of academic anthropology, as well as a deeper appreciation for humanity as a whole.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2017 The Great Courses

Narration is everything with audio..

Although the topic is interesting to me - I wouldn't have bought the book otherwise - I can't stand the presentation. Mr. Lacey cannot get through a paragraph without saying "I mean". He also has some other verbal what I'll call tics "Fred, he went to the post office" rather than "Fred went to the post office". Maybe it's just me, but it's too distracting.

Great overview of anthropology

These lectures were excellent in their presentation and the acknowledgement that, as with most things, anthropology as a science is constantly evolving based upon the evidence, and thus must be challenged as discoveries are made, and changed accordingly.

Pronunciation

This is the second “Great Course” in which the reader pronounce the word nuclear as “nookyoolur”. You have to be kidding me; an otherwise learned professional pronounces it this way? This is not an accent nor an affectation on the part of the speaker, it’s just incorrect and weak. I found it very distracting and detractive from the presentation as it reflects poorly on the editors and producers of the offering.

Well-rounded intro course

Professor Lacy is passionate, knowledgeable and a gifted communicator. This is a great introduction to anthropology from a North American perspective, providing an engaging overview of the four fields and their many subfields, with ample reference to the discipline's seminal works, and to the lecturer's own research in rural Mali. A great entry-level course!

Great overall

I am an anthropology major, so even though I knew a lot of the topics it was a good refresher. My wife also sat in the car and listened so she could better understand the topic and she wasn’t bored out of her mind!