"Ethnography is the central activity of the majority of anthropologists. It is the source of our empirical data, the written form our analysis assumes, the principal means by which we advance our arguments, the texts through which we teach our students, and the source for most comparative and theoretical essays we write in our stance as comparative scholars. This is a careful, intelligent exploration of the nature of the ethnography through extended examination of several very well-known examples." -- Edgar Winans, University of Washington "This book deals with one of the most difficult topics in anthropology (viewed from a teacher's perspective); and with one of the most frustrating tasks a beginning--or advanced--student faces in reading material that is central to anthropology. It is unquestionably significant, for good and careful reading of ethnography is basic to first-class anthropology." -- Alfred Harris, University of Rochester.