Understanding Commodity Cultures ─ Explorations In Economic Anthropology With Case Studies From Mexico

We now know, says Cook (emeritus Latin American and Caribbean studies, U. of Connecticut), that the anthropological study of the economic life of Mexican and Mexico will have to be more attentive to the analysis of commodity value than it was during the 20th century, because of the broad-based, multifaceted transformation of Mexican economy, society, and culture over the course of the century. He demonstrates with ten essays. Annotation c2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Scott Cook is professor emeritus at the University of Connecticut where his last position (1996-2000) was interim director of the Institute for Puerto Rican and Latino Studies. He is the author of six books, including Mexican Brick Culture in the Building of Texas, 1800s-1980s and Obliging Need: Rural Petty Industry in Mexican Capitalism.