The book contains 20 essays which provide an overview of the state of the art in various areas of anthropology, including applied anthropology, archaeology, physical anthropology, ethnology, linguistics, and social anthropology. Most of the authors are professors and researchers from departments of anthropology or linguistics in United States colleges and universities. The essays are broad surveys and exercises in theory. Topics include cross-cultural cognitive studies; nutritional anthropology and biological adaptation; psychological anthropology; Chinese palaeoanthropology; current directions in midwestern archaeology; anthropological studies on women's status; social exchange; languages of the Caucasus; community studies in Europe; research on the origin of the state; history of anthropology; culture, behavior, and the nervous system; and biology, speech, and language. The book includes subject and author indexes. (Author/AV)