The perils of popularizing anthropology

摘要

As a beginning assistant professor, I once reported to a few sympathetic senior colleagues that I had heard of some interest in a book manuscript of mine on the part of an editor at a trade press. Concerned that I do all I could to bolster my case for eventual tenure, my colleagues warned me to run, not walk in the other direction from a contract with a non-academic publisher: they cautioned me that I shouldn't waste precious time that should be sent building up the strongest case for promotion.