{"product_id":"the-trashing-of-margaret-mead-paul-shankman-9780299234546","title":"The Trashing of Margaret Mead: Anatomy of an Anthropological Controversy","description":"In 1928 Margaret Mead published \u003ci\u003eComing of Age in Samoa\u003c\/i\u003e, a fascinating study of the lives of adolescent girls that transformed Mead herself into an academic celebrity. In 1983 anthropologist Derek Freeman published a scathing critique of Mead's Samoan research, badly damaging her reputation. Resonating beyond academic circles, his case against Mead tapped into important public concerns of the 1980s, including sexual permissiveness, cultural relativism, and the nature\/nurture debate. In venues from the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e to the TV show \u003ci\u003eDonahue\u003c\/i\u003e, Freeman argued that Mead had been \"hoaxed\" by Samoans whose innocent lies she took at face value.\u003cbr\u003e In \u003ci\u003eThe Trashing of Margaret Mead\u003c\/i\u003e, Paul Shankman explores the many dimensions of the Mead-Freeman controversy as it developed publicly and as it played out privately, including the personal relationships, professional rivalries, and larger-than-life personalities that drove it. Providing a critical perspective on Freeman's arguments, Shankman reviews key questions about Samoan sexuality, the alleged hoaxing of Mead, and the meaning of the controversy. Why were Freeman's arguments so readily accepted by pundits outside the field of anthropology? What did Samoans themselves think? Can Mead's reputation be salvaged from the quicksand of controversy? Written in an engaging, clear style and based on a careful review of the evidence, \u003ci\u003eThe Trashing of Margaret Mead\u003c\/i\u003e illuminates questions of enduring significance to the academy and beyond. 2010 Distinguished Lecturer in Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History \"\u003ci\u003eThe Trashing of Margaret Mead\u003c\/i\u003e reminds readers of the pitfalls of academia. It urges scholars to avoid personal attacks and to engage in healthy debate. The book redeems Mead while also redeeming the field of anthropology. By showing the uniqueness of the Mead-Freeman case, Shankman places his continued confidence in academia, scholars, and the field of anthropology.\"--\u003ci\u003eH-Net Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Paul Shankman\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0299234541\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780299234546\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Wisconsin Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/03\/2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 320\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.94lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.96h x 6.38w x 0.74d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChronicle of Higher Education\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/11\/2009 pg. 20\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 02\/01\/2010 pg. 76\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChronicle of Higher Education\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/22\/2010 pg. 15\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/01\/2010","brand":"Paul Shankman","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43981537083647,"sku":"9780299234546","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_0d8df4e4-442e-45bd-bebb-fa0dc74f480d.jpg?v=1683256156","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-trashing-of-margaret-mead-paul-shankman-9780299234546","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}