The Interpretation Of Cultures

About this book

One of the twentieth centurys most influential books this classic work of anthropology offers a groundbreaking exploration of what culture is With The Interpretation of Cultures the distinguished anthropologist Clifford Geertz developed the concept of thick description and in so doing he virtually rewrote the rules of his field. Culture Geertz argues does not drive human behavior. Rather it is a web of symbols that can help us better understand what that behavior means. A thick description explains not only the behavior but the context in which it occurs and to describe something thickly Geertz argues is the fundamental role of the anthropologist. Named one of the 100 most important books published since World War II by the Times Literary Supplement The Interpretation of Cultures transformed how we think about others cultures and our own. This definitive edition with a foreword by Robert Darnton remains an essential book for anthropologists historians and anyone else seeking to better understand human cultures.