Introduction to Cultural Ecology

Discussion of human-environmental interactions is increasingly politicized leaving anthropologically, biologically, ecologically, and geographically minded students and professionals wondering: ‘What can be agreed upon regarding people in the context of environments?’ Fractured perspectives and theoretical positions abound, ranging from anthropology to environmental science to environmental philosophy. This third edition of Sutton and Anderson’s Introduction to Cultural Ecology goes back to basics and summarizes established knowledge about people in environments, but also contextualizes this long history of empirical research and theoretical development within contemporary perspectives that matter in terms of sustainability, political ecology, and conservation. -- Steve Wolverton, editor, Ethnobiology Letters; treasurer, Society of Ethnobiology; Department of Geography, University of North Texas
We live in challenging times in which environmental problems are one of the most pressing issues. In order to make sense of these challenges, Sutton and Anderson offer a wide-ranging, comprehensive, and critical introduction to cultural ecology. By showing us the complexities of human-environmental relations, from the local to the global, including a wide array of case studies, the authors have given us the essential primer for the field of environmental anthropology. -- José E. Martínez-Reyes, Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Boston
This revised and updated edition of Introduction to Cultural Ecology is the definitive go-to text for undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as an excellent resource for seasoned researchers.  Sutton and Anderson’s book provides solid empirical grounding for studying cultural-ecological relationships at various scales of human organization, while also suggesting a way of understanding the world that gives us hope for sustainable solutions to a variety of contemporary environmental problems. -- James R. Veteto, Department of Anthropology, University of North Texas