This careful revision of one of the best-selling General Anthropology texts available now features vastly expanded coverage of physical anthropology and archaeology. This serves to make Kottak the most balanced introduction to the four fields of anthropology. A wealth of the "Where In The World" Maps lets students view important geographical data "up close" as well as in the broader context of the geographical area. Helpful marginal icons tell students when more information is available on the CD-ROM, Website, or elsewhere in the text. Engaging boxed features, "Interesting Issues," "In the News," and the widely-acclaimed "Beyond the Classroom," capture student interest by focusing on provocative issues, current events, and student research. Easy-to-use end-of-chapter reviews now include an all-new numbered chapter summary which students will find indispensable as a study tool, as well as glossaries, critical thinking and internet exercises, and all-new case studies designed for use with Culture Sketches, 3/e by Peters-Golden, an ethnographic readings book available with Kottak.

康拉德·菲利普·科塔剋，1963年獲哥倫比亞學院文學學士學位，1966年獲哥倫比亞大學博士學位。自1968年起執教於密歇根大學，為該校的人類學教授。1996年至2006年問，主持該校人類學係的工作。1999年因為在人類學本科教學中的傑齣貢獻兩被美國人類學協會授予“AAA／梅菲爾德奬”。2005年當選為美國人文與科學學院院士。

科塔剋教授的田野點包括巴西(1962年始)、馬達加斯加(1966年始)及美國。總的研究興趣在於地方文化並入(以及抵製被並入)更大的體係的過程。這一興趣點將他早期在馬達加斯加及非洲其他地區所做的關於生態與國傢形成的研究和他近期關於全球變遷、國傢和國際文化以及大眾傳媒的研究聯係起來。