Reread this in Jan 2013 (review from 2007) I must preface this review with the statement that Dr. Pratzellis is one of my instructors, although not for theory. (I have him for methods and he refuses to use his own texts as he considers it hubris to assign one's own writing for a course) He is an excellent instructor.

I picked up this book as an adjunct to the assigned main theory books, [b:Anthropology as Cultural Critique: An Experimental Moment in the Human Sciences|892958|Anthropology as Cultural Critique An Experimental Moment in the Human Sciences|George E. Marcus|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328873852s/892958.jpg|878190] and [b:Anthropological Theory: An Introductory History|1729986|Anthropological Theory An Introductory History|R. Jon McGee|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348315562s/1729986.jpg|1727455], and found it a lighthearted (at times) and enjoyable read that, as others have already mentioned, lets your mind absorb the theories while letting you read a rather far-fetched mystery tale. I found it helped clarify some slipperier points of certain theories and gave me some insight into the possible practical applications of theory in practice. The drawings alone are worth seeing!

While this is not "great literature" and Adrian at the outset makes absolutely no pretense that it is, it is worth reading. It is also a prequel to the methods novel [b:Dug to Death: A Tale of Archaeological Method and Mayhem|747563|Dug to Death A Tale of Archaeological Method and Mayhem|Adrian Praetzellis|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348106384s/747563.jpg|733705] (another amusing read) ( )