Dustin M. Wax » book http://dwax.org writer, educator, anthropologist, and freelance thinker Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:04:56 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 More Positive Press for Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War http://dwax.org/2009/06/25/more_positive_press_for_anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war/ http://dwax.org/2009/06/25/more_positive_press_for_anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:19:58 +0000 dustin Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War has appeared, this time in the Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford (JASO). The reviewer, Iain Perdue, sees the book's discussion of Cold War McCarthyism and militarism as a timely intervention in today's debates, writing:
The issues of ethics and the ramifications of anthropologists performing government work are being revived in a renewed and vigorous debate in the American Anthropological Association on this very [Continue reading]]]> Another positive review of Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War has appeared, this time in the Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford (JASO). The reviewer, Iain Perdue, sees the book’s discussion of Cold War McCarthyism and militarism as a timely intervention in today’s debates, writing:

The issues of ethics and the ramifications of anthropologists performing government work are being revived in a renewed and vigorous debate in the American Anthropological Association on this very subject. The debate arises from social and political circumstances extremely similar to those presented in this book, and this does not go unremarked by its contributors.

Perdue also notes that the book’s “solid contribution” towards addressing the deficit in the current historiography of Cold War American anthropology. The full review section from the journal can be downloaded in PDF format here; my review starts on the third-from-last page of the file.

As an aside, this review coming out a mere 18 months after the book’s U.K. publication is considered “timely” for an academic review. I’ve had reviews of books that were over a year old when they were assigned to me take over two years to appear in print — after the six months I was given to write the review! This review marks the first critical response to the book in an academic journal, which gives me hope that more academic response can be expected in the months ahead.

An academic book is a lot of things, but one of the most important things it is is an entry in an ongoing conversation about one’s discipline. Waiting two, three, or more years to hear back from your colleagues is almost unbearable (though, I suspect, not as unbearable as waiting forever and never getting a response…) so it’s nice to see that the ice is finally starting to thaw a bit.

]]> http://dwax.org/2009/06/25/more_positive_press_for_anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war/feed/ 0 New Review of “Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War” http://dwax.org/2009/03/30/new_review_of_anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war/ http://dwax.org/2009/03/30/new_review_of_anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war/#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:52:29 +0000 dustin Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War has received its second review, a thoughtful response by Robert Lawless at the Anthropology Review Database. Lawless focuses heavily on one of the big undercurrents in the book, the similarity between how anthropology articulated with US interests during the Cold War years and the way it does [Continue reading]]]> The academic publishing world moves slowly, oh-so-slowly. After almost a year in print, Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War has received its second review, a thoughtful response by Robert Lawless at the Anthropology Review Database. Lawless focuses heavily on one of the big undercurrents in the book, the similarity between how anthropology articulated with US interests during the Cold War years and the way it does today. I take exception with one point Lawless raises — he says I treat these the Army’s Human Terrain System and its anthropological champion Montgomery McFate too gently; in my defense, HTS was just a proposal when I discussed it, and McFate just a military anthropologist who had written a couple of articles. Today, we know how poorly planned and executed HTS turned out to be, and we know McFate primarily as the anthropological voice behind the Army’s new counterinsurgency manual — I doubt I’d be so “gentle” with her and her legacy today.

That aside, it’s a very positive review, of the sort of review I like best: those that engage deeply with the text and look to add to the topic, rather than simply assess the book. Lawless’ conclusion:

Required reading for those interested in the history of the discipline, this book joins other important works, such as Price’s Threatening Anthropology, on the deleterious effects of the Cold War on anthropology.

]]> http://dwax.org/2009/03/30/new_review_of_anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war/feed/ 1 New Review of “Don’t Be Stupid” http://dwax.org/2008/10/28/new_review_of_dont_be_stupid/ http://dwax.org/2008/10/28/new_review_of_dont_be_stupid/#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:03:18 +0000 dustin Don't Be Stupid a 5-star review in her column at Get the Job. Levit is the author of several career guides, including Success for Hire, They Don't Teach Corporate in College, and How'd You Score that [Continue reading]]]> Alexandra Levit has given my e-book for college students, Don’t Be Stupid a 5-star review in her column at Get the Job. Levit is the author of several career guides, including Success for Hire, They Don’t Teach Corporate in College, and How’d You Score that Gig?. Her blog Water Cooler Wisdom offers all sorts of great career information. It’s truly an honor to have been rated so highly by such a formidable figure!

]]> http://dwax.org/2008/10/28/new_review_of_dont_be_stupid/feed/ 1 Upcoming Conference on Anthropology and Counter-Insurgency http://dwax.org/2008/03/21/upcoming_conference_on_anthropology_and_counter-insurgency/ http://dwax.org/2008/03/21/upcoming_conference_on_anthropology_and_counter-insurgency/#comments Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 [Continue reading]]]> I’ve been invited to speak at a conference next month of anthropology and counter-insurgency. Details are still sketchy; all I know so far is that the conference will be held at the University of Chicago on April 25-26.

That means I have just over a month to write something new and meaningful. I’m thinking of surveying the history of anthropological involvement with the military, and closing with a list of fundamental incompatibilities between military practice and anthropological practice.

More info to come…

]]> http://dwax.org/2008/03/21/upcoming_conference_on_anthropology_and_counter-insurgency/feed/ 0 “Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War” Now Available in the US http://dwax.org/2008/03/14/anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war_now_available_in_the_us/ http://dwax.org/2008/03/14/anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war_now_available_in_the_us/#comments Sat, 15 Mar 2008 02:10:27 +0000 dustin book cover smallAnthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War: The Influence of Foundations, McCarthyism and the CIA went on sale a couple of days ago. As far as I can tell, it's now available worldwide, wherever fine books are sold. Order your copy today! [Continue reading]]]> Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold WarAnthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War: The Influence of Foundations, McCarthyism and the CIA went on sale a couple of days ago. As far as I can tell, it’s now available worldwide, wherever fine books are sold.

Order your copy today!

I’ve been anxiously waiting for University of Michigan Press, the American distributor of Pluto Press’ books, to send me my contributor’s copies, and they finally arrived today. The envelope is sitting downstairs; I’ve decided to open it at dinner so I can (finally!) share the acknowledgments page with my family, who I dedicate the book to. I think the kids, especially, will be excited to see their names in an honest-to-goodness published book.

]]> http://dwax.org/2008/03/14/anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war_now_available_in_the_us/feed/ 2 Further Reading on Anthropology, the Cold War, and the Military http://dwax.org/2008/03/07/further_reading_on_anthropology__the_cold_war__and_the_military/ http://dwax.org/2008/03/07/further_reading_on_anthropology__the_cold_war__and_the_military/#comments Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War, I wrote several pieces on the themes covered in the book (or closely related issues) at Savage Minds. For your convenience, here is a quick guide to related information at Savage Minds.
  1. Anthropologists as Counter-Insurgents: My first look at the work of Montgomery McFate (a lead author of the Army's counter-insurgency handbook and a strong advocate of anthropology as a military [Continue reading]]]> During the several years I spent researching and editing Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War, I wrote several pieces on the themes covered in the book (or closely related issues) at Savage Minds. For your convenience, here is a quick guide to related information at Savage Minds.

    1. Anthropologists as Counter-Insurgents: My first look at the work of Montgomery McFate (a lead author of the Army’s counter-insurgency handbook and a strong advocate of anthropology as a military tool).
    2. Working for PRISP: A discussion of the Pat Roberts Intelligence Scholarship Program, which offers students scholarships in selected disciplines (including anthropology) in exchange for internships and other service in US national security agencies.
    3. Anthropology Against Its Subjects: A report on David Price’s research into WWII efforts by anthropologists to create a race-specific weapon to use against the Japanese.
    4. And in case you’re wondering how an academic book gets produced, I wrote “The Road to Published: The Making of an Edited Volume” about the conception, collaboration, and publication of Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War. Three parts: Part 1, Part 1a, Part 2
    ]]>     http://dwax.org/2008/03/07/further_reading_on_anthropology__the_cold_war__and_the_military/feed/ 0 Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War Now Available in UK http://dwax.org/2008/01/08/anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war_now_available_in_uk/ http://dwax.org/2008/01/08/anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war_now_available_in_uk/#comments Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:33:39 +0000 dustin book cover smallI just heard from my publisher that my book, Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War: The Influence of Foundations, McCarthyism and the CIA, has just arrived from the printer and is ready for release! They're mailing me my copies [Continue reading]]]> Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold WarI just heard from my publisher that my book, Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War: The Influence of Foundations, McCarthyism and the CIA, has just arrived from the printer and is ready for release! They’re mailing me my copies tomorrow.

    The book is already available for order on Amazon UK, although in the us you can only pre-order it. The cover on Amazon is not the final cover (the image to the right is), but I assume they’ll change that when the book is fully available.

    ]]>     http://dwax.org/2008/01/08/anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war_now_available_in_uk/feed/ 3     The Making of Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War http://dwax.org/2008/01/05/the_making_of_anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war/ http://dwax.org/2008/01/05/the_making_of_anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war/#comments Sun, 06 Jan 2008 05:50:20 +0000 dustin book cover small I just finished a 3-part series of long articles detailing how I put together and got published my forthcoming edited volume, Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War: The Influence of Foundations, McCarthyism and the CIA.  If you'd like to see how an academic work gets from idea to published (technically, "almost published" since it's not quite out yet -- but soon!) check it out at the anthropology blog [Continue reading]]]> Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War I just finished a 3-part series of long articles detailing how I put together and got published my forthcoming edited volume, Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War: The Influence of Foundations, McCarthyism and the CIA.  If you’d like to see how an academic work gets from idea to published (technically, “almost published” since it’s not quite out yet — but soon!) check it out at the anthropology blog Savage Minds:

    1. The Road to Published: The Making of an Edited Volume (Part I)
    2. The Road to Published: The Making of an Edited Volume (Part Ia — Writing a Prospectus)
    3. The Road to Published: The Making of an Edited Volume (Part II)
    ]]>     http://dwax.org/2008/01/05/the_making_of_anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war/feed/ 0     Press for “Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War” http://dwax.org/2007/12/17/press_for_anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war/ http://dwax.org/2007/12/17/press_for_anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war/#comments Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:01:00 +0000 dustin Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War isn't out yet (coming next month, I hope!) but already it's gotten some nice press [Continue reading]]]> Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War isn’t out yet (coming next month, I hope!) but already it’s gotten some nice press coverage! Joshua Glenn, a blogger at the Boston Globe, writes of the problems faced by anthropologists struggling to outline our position in relation to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan:
    Perhaps the answer is somewhere in Wax’s forthcoming book, “Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War” (Pluto, May 2008), a collection, edited by Wax, of historical essays on “the relationship between the various factors characterizing the Cold War period and the development of anthropology at the time.” Sounds good to me!

    I’m not sure I or any of the other contributors featured in the book offer a solid answer to the issues raised by anthropologists involved in military and intelligence work, but I do think we offer a significant contribution to the debate. I appreciate Glenn’s comments — maybe he (or some other Globe writer) will think about writing a review when the book comes out? (hint, hint)

    ]]>     http://dwax.org/2007/12/17/press_for_anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war/feed/ 0     Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War — Coming Soon! http://dwax.org/2007/09/15/anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war_-_coming_soon/ http://dwax.org/2007/09/15/anthropology_at_the_dawn_of_the_cold_war_-_coming_soon/#comments Sat, 15 Sep 2007 19:57:53 +0000 dustin Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War, on Amazon. And there's a cover image! This is the first I've seen it, so I was pretty excited. The book isn't due out until February 2008 (Amazon says January, so maybe they know something I don't), and I haven't even seen the page proofs yet, but you can sign up at Amazon to be notified when it comes out.

    Update (12/1/07): The cover image on Amazon is not the final cover — I guess it was a mockup or something. I’ve just approved the actual cover, which will look similar but different.

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