Marvin Harris

Marvin Harris
18 Aug 1927 – 25 Oct 2001- Books
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Marvin Harris (August 18, 1927 – October 25, 2001) was an American anthropologist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City. A prolific writer, he was highly influential in the development of cultural materialism. In his work, he combined Karl Marx's emphasis on the forces of production with Thomas Malthus's insights on the impact of demographic factors on other parts of the sociocultural system.
Source: Marvin Harris on Wikipedia (Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0).
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Marvin Harris is widely recognized for developing cultural materialism, a theoretical framework that explains sociocultural phenomena by focusing on material conditions and economic factors. His work often explored the practical and ecological reasons behind cultural practices.
For readers new to Marvin Harris, "Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches: The Riddles of Culture" is an excellent starting point. It introduces his cultural materialist approach through engaging explanations of various cultural puzzles.
Marvin Harris's writing is characterized by its clear, accessible prose, even when discussing complex anthropological theories. He often uses vivid examples and a logical, argumentative style to present his cultural materialist perspectives.



