Charles King

A dazzling group portrait of Franz Boas, the founder of cultural anthropology, and his circle of women scientists, who upended American notions of race, gender, and sexuality in the 1920s and 1930s--a sweeping chronicle of how our society began to question the basic ways we understand other cultures and ourselves. At the end of the 19th century, everyone knew that people were defined by their race and sex and were fated by birth and biology to be more or less intelligent, able, nurturing, or warlike. But one rogue researcher looked at the data and decided everyone was wrong. Franz Boas was the very image of a mad scientist: a wild-haired immigrant with a thick German accent. By the 1920s he was also the foundational thinker and public face of a new school of thought at Columbia University called cultural anthropology. He proposed that cultures did not exist on a continuum from primitive to advanced. Instead, every society solves the same basic problems--from childrearing to how to live well--with its own set of rules, beliefs, and taboos. Boas's students were some of the century's intellectual stars: Margaret Mead, the outspoken field researcher whose Coming of Age in Samoa is one of the most widely read works of social science of all time; Ruth Benedict, the great love of Mead's life, whose research shaped post-Second World War Japan; Ella Deloria, the Dakota Sioux activist who preserved the traditions of Native Americans of the Great Plains; and Zora Neale Hurston, whose studies under Boas fed directly into her now-classic novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. Together, they mapped vanishing civilizations from the Arctic to the South Pacific and overturned the relationship between biology and behavior. Their work reshaped how we think of women and men, normalcy and deviance, and re-created our place in a world of many cultures and value systems. Gods of the Upper Air is a page-turning narrative of radical ideas and adventurous lives, a history rich in scandal, romance, and rivalry, and a genesis story of the fluid conceptions of identity that define our present moment.

How a Circle of Renegade Anthropologists Reinvented Race, Sex, and Gender in the Twentieth Century

Gods of the Upper Air

Timely . . . brilliant . . . hugely enjoyable, magnificently researched and deeply absorbing. Jason Goodwin, New York Times Book Review"

The Birth of Modern Istanbul

Midnight at the Pera Palace

modern İstanbul'un doğuşu

Pera Palas'ta gece yarısı

The Reinvention of Humanity tells the story of a small circle of renegade scientist-explorers who changed something profound: what it means to be normal. In the early twentieth century, these pioneering anthropologists, many of them women, made intrepid journeys that overturned our assumptions about race, sexuality, gender and the nature of human diversity, paving the way for the civil rights movements that followed and sparking a debate that continues to this day. From the Arctic to the South Pacific, from Haiti to Japan, they immersed themselves in distant or isolated communities, where they observed and documented radically different approaches to love and child-rearing, family structure and the relationship between women and men. With this evidence they were able to challenge the era's scientific consensus - and deep-rooted Western belief - that intelligence, ability and character are determined by a person's race or sex, and show that the roles people play in society are shaped in fact according to the immense variety of human cultures. Theirs were boundary-breaking lives, filled with scandal, romance, rivalry and tragedy. Those of Margaret Mead and her essential partner Ruth Benedict resulted in fame and notoriety. Those of Native American activist Ella Deloria and the African-American writer and ethnographer Zora Neale Hurston ended in poverty and obscurity; here their achievements are brought fully into the light for the first time. All were outsiders, including the controversial founder of their field, the wild-haired professor, German immigrant and revolutionary thinker, Franz Boas. The Reinvention of Humanity takes us on their globe-spanning adventures and shows how, together, these courageous and unconventional people created the moral universe we inhabit today.

A Story of Race, Sex, Gender and the Discovery of Culture

The Reinvention of Humanity

A History

The Black Sea

" ... The first general history of the modern Caucasus, stretching from the beginning of Russian imperial expansion up to rise of new countries after the Soviet Union's collapse."--Cover.

A History of the Caucasus

The Ghost of Freedom

The first English-language book to present a complete picture of this intriguing East European borderland, The Moldovans: Romania, Russia, and the Politics of Culture, illuminates the perennial problems of identity politics and cultural change that the country has endured.

Romania, Russia, and the Politics of Culture

The Moldovans

modern İstanbul{u2019}un doğuşu

Pera Palas{u2019}ta gece yarısı

Twelve More Modern Scottish Poets

Trooper Ross, and Signal Butte

The Story of a Woman's Letters

Found in the Philippines

Stephen Crane

Mary Johnston

Winston Churchill

Robert W. Chambers

Ambrose Bierce

Mark Twain

Jules Verne

John McElroy

Ellen Glasgow

Edward Everett Hale

G. A. Henty

Joseph A. Altsheler

John Esten Cooke

Lucy Foster Madison

Randall Parrish

George Washington Cable

Charles Carleton Coffin

Natalie Sumner Lincoln

John R. Musick

Edward Robins

George W. Peck

John William De Forest

James Ford Rhodes

Byron A. Dunn

Henry F. Keenan

María Ruiz de Burton

Harry Hazelton

B. K. Benson

W. H. Shelton

Thomas Dixon Jr.

The 'Tales of Civil War: 40 Books Collection' presents a compelling anthology that delves deeply into the complexities of the American Civil War. Through a diverse assortment of literary styles, from vivid narratives and historical fiction to reflective essays, this collection transports readers to a pivotal era in history. The anthology's wide-ranging themes explore the multifaceted realities of war, human resilience, and the quest for freedom and identity. With standout narratives that capture both the harrowing and heroic, the collection offers a panoramic view of an era that reshaped the United States. The distinguished roster of authors comprises literary giants such as Jules Verne and Mark Twain, alongside other influential figures like Ambrose Bierce and María Ruiz de Burton. They hail from disparate backgrounds and bring their unique perceptions to the anthology, guided by an interplay of historical, cultural, and literary movements that defined their times. This convergence of voices unveils a rich tapestry of perspectives, deepening the reader's engagement with the Civil War's enduring legacy. For readers eager to explore varied perspectives within a singular volume, this anthology offers a remarkable educational journey. It is ideal for those seeking not only to understand the Civil War through diverse storytelling but also to appreciate the shared dialogue among diverse authors. Students, educators, and history enthusiasts alike will find 'The Tales of Civil War: 40 Books Collection' both illuminating and inspiring, making it an indispensable addition to any literary or historical exploration.

Novels & Stories of Civil War, Including the Rhodes History of the War

The Tales of Civil War: 40 Books Collection

The Way of the West

A Story of the Chicago Strike ...

A Tame Surrender

A Story of the War

A Knight of Columbia

Brenda B.Msc.

This book is designed specifically for those considering joining the ancient IFA culture and those newborn to it. You will find advice from some of the most important luminaries in Lucumi, Traditional Yoruba Land IFA and The Diaspora based traditions. Names like Baba Olosun, Chief Fama, Oba Pichardo, Chief Popoola, Baba Lazaro Pijuan share their opinions with you. Many major scams and frauds are exposed. The book is a road map for the newcomer that can save thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars for you. Our book offers keen insight of not only what to study, but how to study. We lay out the key concepts you'll need on the road to power, protection and wisdom. In depth discussions on Ancestors, The Dead, Orishas and ifa divination are presented in a user friendly format. Ashe, ori, egbe, and the importance of Nature are discussed at length. Comparative analysis of the many IFA traditions from all over the world are shared. The mentor - student or Godparent - Godchild relationship is explained. The rewards and dangers of divination are examined. The pluses and minuses of independents are debated....Come inside and save yourself time, money and avoid frustrations! We want to tell you why and how this book is different from all other IFA culture books. We have already mentioned the fact it is for ALL IFA traditions not just Lucumi or Traditional and this is evidenced by our famous contributors as you can see. But there is another significant reason the book is different. Rather than simply list the many scams and frauds we discuss each one in depth. We not only discuss the HOW, but also the WHY. By sharing this knowledge our readers can easily recognize similar scams and frauds. We share why many are vulnerable to these scams and frauds and teach you how not only how to recognize a scam but how to repair the damage caused from it in a step by step solution. While the book is primarily for those considering IFA and those new to it; those who have been victims also come away with comprehensive answers as to why and how; protecting themselves for the future.

Charles King

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