Author Description

Culture influences almost every aspect of human life. It shapes our languages, religions, political, and economic systems, group and family hierarchies; it is reflected in the way we dress, eat, build our houses, celebrate life, and mourn our dead. The identity of a group is both expressed and reinforced by the body of knowledge, beliefs, and customs shared by its members. The world's many cultures, the similarities and differences between them, and the pressures they face today are the subjects of this timely volume. The characteristics that define a culture are explained and given in examples region by region throughout the world. The richness and color of human experience are shown through illustrations and maps as well as described and explained in the text.