A compassionate, hilarious tour of the United States explores the quirky side of life in America, from airline food to tax returns, from the perspective of a world traveler who has lived abroad for two decades. By the author of A Walk in the Woods. Reprint.

One of America's leading anthropolgists offers solutions to the perplexing question of why people behave the way they do.

Why do Hindus worship cows? Why do Jews and Moslems refuse to eat pork? Why did so many people in post-medieval Europe believe in witches?

Marvin Harris answers these and other perplexing questions about human behavior, showing that no matter how bizarre a people's behavior may seem, it always stems from identifiable and intelligble sources.