And all I got was trauma and student debt…
A selection of anthropological reads from my days in academia. Some written for a general audience, while others require greater foundational knowledge to appreciate. Topics are largely intended to provide a traditional four-subfield approach, though sociocultural anthropology is largely (some would say over) represented. Includes titles written by authors outside the discipline but utilized in an interdisciplinary context.
created by sailorsoftgirl
last updated March, 2026
Comments
This is such an interesting list! Thank you for sharing! Are there any that you would recommend starting with? I'm trying to get into reading more non-fiction in general, and anthropology interests me but I've never really read anything like it before.
I think Anthropology Explored is a good place to start. It's a collection of articles from the Smithsonian's AnthroNotes series written by a number of reputable anthropologists. Each seeks to explore the fundamental questions humans ask about themselves as individuals, as societies, and as a species and presents the field in a way that is accessible to not only academics but lay readers as well.
Ooh thank you! I'll give that a try and then do my own research for the rest!
As someone else who got an anth/arch degree, this is too real lmao. Amazing list!
Oooh i did arch and hist!
I took a few history courses! I really enjoyed them! One was on Witches hehe
Oh fun!! I did a class on anthropology of food, it was one of my favourite classes ☺️
I love that! I didn't take any courses like that, but I do have a few written papers on food & culture, namely with the Warlpiri people of Australia! It's very interesting!
Ooooh id love a little tldr !!!
I had to go find my paper, I'm glad I kept it.
But I wrote about how the Warlpiri were forced into government run settlements leading to the end of their traditional nomadic lifestyle which essentially contributed to a reliance on government supplied, often unhealthy foods (food and its consumption are ingrained within their social and economic environment). This shift, combined with cultural, economic, and political pressures, has contributed to high rates of Type 2 diabetes (about four times higher than non-Aboriginal Australians) and poorer overall health outcomes. In the end, understanding and addressing diabetes among the Warlpiri requires considering cultural practices, historical trauma, and ongoing government policies, while promoting research, culturally sensitive health initiatives, and stronger bicultural relationships.
Sorry if it sounds a bit academic, I was copying and pasting from my paper 🤭
I loved my class on food and culture! We read so many great books and articles. But we also made our own high fructose corn syrup and it was honestly one of the most disgusting things I've seen and I don't get squicked out easily.
I feel like anth/arch people need our own group therapy program 😂
oooh this is such a fun list!! might inspire me to make a list of all the books i read for my history degrees 👀
i would personally love to see that!!
