Social Sciences

摘要

What led to Margaret Mead's becoming the best-known anthropologist of the 20th century and an iconic public figure? Lutkehaus (anthropology, Univ. of Southern California), who worked for Mead as a graduate student, attempts to answer these questions in this engaging exploration of Mead's life and work. Lutkehaus is quick to point out that her book is not strictly a biography but instead focuses on public perceptions of Mead. Multiple chapters cover four major themes: Mead as modern woman, as anthropologist, as scientist, and as public intellectual and celebrity. Lutkehaus presents a wealth of information on howrnMead's public persona developed and was maintained through the numerous books she wrote about her anthropological fieldwork and through her extensive public speaking. She also presents a fascinating look at Mead's posthumous influence. Lutkehaus effectively and perceptively examines Mead's impact (both subtle and overt) on anthropology and Americanpopular culture from the 1928 publication of her first book, Coming of Age in Samoa, to the present day.