This concise introductory textbook emphasizes the major concepts of both anthropology and the anthropology of religion. It is aimed at students encountering anthropology for the first time.

Reviewers describe the text as vivid, rich, user-friendly, accessible, and well-organized. It examines religious expression from a cross-cultural perspective while still incorporating the key theoretical concepts. In addition to providing a basic overview of anthropology, including definition of key terms and exposure to ethnographies, the text exposes students to the varying complexity of world religions.