Cultural Anthropology: Global Forces, Local Lives is an exceptionally clear and readable introduction that helps students understand the application of anthropological concepts to the contemporary world and everyday life. It provides thorough treatment of key subjects such as colonialism and post-colonialism, ethnicity, the environment, cultural change, economic development, and globalization.

This fourth edition has a fresh thematic focus on the future, with material relating to planning, decision-making, design and invention, hope, and waiting. More space is devoted to contemporary topics, and there is new coverage of subjects ranging from white nationalism, right-wing populism, and natural disasters to surgical training, hacker conferences, and the gig economy. Each chapter contains a rich variety of case studies that have been updated throughout.

The book includes a number of features to support student learning, including:

A wealth of color images

Definitions of key terms and further reading suggestions in the margins

Questions for discussion/review and boxed summaries at the end of every chapter

An extensive glossary, bibliography, and index.

Additional resources are provided via a comprehensive companion website.