Books From University Presses

This book provides an intriguing look into the mental life and culture of Neanderthals. It explores their language abilities, complex technical skills, and hunting practices, giving readers insight into a long-vanished people. The book also draws comparisons to our own minds and culture, making it a fascinating read for anyone interested in anthropology or psychology.

Sundanese Print Culture and Modernity in 19th Century West Java traces the development of modern printed books written in Sundanese, the dominant language in West Java, Indonesia, and the mother tongue of about 30 million people.Starting with the 'discovery' of Sundanese by Europeans in the early 19th century, Mikihiro Moriyama follows the developments in the ensuing century when a small group of Dutch scholars and colonial officials reshaped the language and its literature over the next one hundred years. Schools taught Sundanese, and printed materials based on western concepts began to influence indigenous writing and oral tradition. The imposition of European standards of literary aesthetics shaped a modernity that rejected traditional knowledge in favour of rational and empirical paradigms. Interest in traditional poetry and its mythologies declined, and new forms of prose, including novels, captured the attention of the reading public. These materials promoted useful knowledge and morality, and encouraged deference and loyalty towards colonial authority.Early in the 20th century, the establishment of the Commissie voor de Inlandsche School- en Volkslectuur (Committee for Indigenous Schoolbooks and Popular Reading Books), a government-subsidised institution, provided the growing number of literate people in the Indies with 'good' and 'appropriate' reading materials. Its development marked the end of an era when Sundanese writing competed with Western-style schools and publications, and signalled the triumph of the new colonial modernity.

This book is a great read for those interested in exploring the changing nature of citizenship and sovereignty in the modern world. Aihwa Ong's analysis of the impact of neoliberalism on immigration and transnational populations offers a fresh perspective on the topic. Ong's writing style is clear and concise, making complex concepts accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Overall, Neoliberalism As Exception is a thought-provoking and insightful work that is highly recommended for anyone interested in the politics of citizenship and sovereignty.

Clues, Myths, and the Historical Method by Carlo Ginzburg could be a good read for those interested in exploring historical analysis in diverse methods and objects. The book delves into the works of an essential Italian historian and offers a fresh perspective in cultural studies. Users would appreciate the unique and distinctive feature of the author's approach to history through analyzing clues and myths.

"The Darker Side of Western Modernity" argues that the world is undergoing a shift towards dewesternization and decoloniality, which require a break from the colonial matrix of Western power to imagine and create new global futures. This book will be relevant and enlightening for anyone interested in understanding the power structures that underlie Western modernity and the potential for a more equitable future.

The Death of Authentic Primitive Art is a provocative read that deconstructs the ways in which Western society has appropriated and fetishized non-Western art. Errington’s analysis sheds light on the complex intersection between art, culture, and politics, and is a must-read for anyone interested in cultural studies.

Albion's Seed is a great read for a history enthusiast, particularly those interested in the formation of America's regional cultures. Fischer's work effectively outlines the folkways and cultural differences between early British settlers in America, and how they have persisted to varying degrees in different areas of the country. This book is a valuable resource for understanding American cultural history, and would be a particularly good fit for those studying the social sciences or anyone with a keen interest in American regionalism.

This book would be a valuable read for musicologists and ethnomusicologists who are interested in exploring the theoretical and methodological foundations of the discipline. It provides a critical analysis of the field's history and explores new directions in theory and analysis. Overall, this book is an enriching collection of articles that offers fascinating insights into the field of ethnomusicology.

Two Cheers for Anarchism could be a good read for someone looking to challenge traditional structures of hierarchy. Scott offers a unique perspective on everyday social and political interactions that inspire readers to consider constructive anarchism. The book celebrates the ingenuity and judgement of individuals exercising their creative and moral capacities. Readers will enjoy relatable anecdotes and examples that touch on a wide range of subjects, including globalization, assembly-line production, and historical explanation.

If you're intrigued by the complex tapestry of cultures in modern societies, this book provides a deep dive into Singapore's multiethnic landscape. Ah Eng Lai's meticulous study offers insights not just into how a diverse nation builds its collective identity, but also into the personal significance of ethnicity for individuals. Taking you from intimate, detailed ethnography to broader socio-political discussions, it carves out an understanding of ethnic relations that's both nuanced and highly relevant in today's world.

If you're intrigued by China's evolution from a rural society to a modern powerhouse, Helen Siu's "Tracing China" will give you an enlightening perspective. Her work uniquely integrates decades of fieldwork with anthropological analysis, offering a deep dive into how historical currents shape everyday lives. It's a compelling read for anyone interested in the nuances of socio-political change and the human stories within it.

This book is a must-read for history buffs and those interested in the intersection of religion, politics and popular culture. It is a fascinating insight into the worldview of a common individual during the tumultuous Renaissance period. The unique feature of the book is its use of trial records of Domenico Scandella to decode his beliefs and views on politics, religion, and society.

How old are you?  The more thought you bring to bear on the question, the harder it is to answer.  For we age simultaneously in different ways: biologically, psychologically, socially. And we age within the larger framework of a culture, in the midst of a history that predates us and will outlast us. Looked at through that lens, many aspects of late modernity would suggest that we are older than ever, but Robert Pogue Harrison argues that we are also getting startlingly younger―in looks, mentality, and behavior. We live, he says, in an age of juvenescence. Like all of Robert Pogue Harrison's books, Juvenescence ranges brilliantly across cultures and history, tracing the ways that the spirits of youth and age have inflected each other from antiquity to the present. Drawing on the scientific concept of neotony, or the retention of juvenile characteristics through adulthood, and extending it into the cultural realm, Harrison argues that youth is essential for culture’s innovative drive and flashes of genius. At the same time, however, youth―which Harrison sees as more protracted than ever―is a luxury that requires the stability and wisdom of our elders and the institutions. “While genius liberates the novelties of the future,” Harrison writes, “wisdom inherits the legacies of the past, renewing them in the process of handing them down.” A heady, deeply learned excursion, rich with ideas and insights, Juvenescence could only have been written by Robert Pogue Harrison. No reader who has wondered at our culture's obsession with youth should miss it.