Patterns of Culture

A remarkable introduction to cultural studies, Patterns of Culture is an eloquent declaration of the role of culture in shaping human life. In this fascinating work, the renowned anthropologist Ruth Benedict compares three societies - the Zuni of the southwestern United States, the Kwakiutl of western Canada, and the Dobuans of Melanesia - and demonstrates the diversity of behaviors in them. Benedict's ground-breaking study shows that a unique configuration of traits defines each human culture, …