1. Conformity and Conflict: Readings in Cultural Anthropology (13th Edition)
James Spradley, David W. McCurdy
In lieu of a basic book on anthropology as a whole, I offer this book instead. It's more of a compilation of individual case studies that can give you a taste of what anthropology as a profession is like. I love just reading parts of this book every so often, something I don't do with hardly any other textbook.
2. A History of Anthropological Theory, third edition
Paul A. Erickson, Liam D. Murphy
Any thorough study of anthropology will lead you to the study of anthropological theory. While the mass of books written on this subject can be quite daunting, this book condenses it down to a pretty fair history. It explains how anthropology evolved out of its vague sociology roots and developed into what it is today. Many books do the exact same thing with varying degrees of success; this book receives my endorsement simply because it succeeds while being clear and comprehensive.
3. Pandora's Hope: Essays on the Reality of Science Studies
Bruno Letour
Like many books on anthropological theory, this book can get a little dense. However, this book is a true gem, containing some of the most up-to-date and insightful theories on how humans interact with their environment (among other things). It is also a nice look into one man's anthropological study of scientists, so make sure you either have a good grasp on the history of science of the last century or be prepared to look up some crucial events (such as Louis Pasteur's experiments, the invention of the atomic bomb, etc.).
4. Dug to Death: A Tale of Archaeological Method and Mayhem
Adrian Praetzellis
This fantastic book is the first place for anyone to start who really wants to get a general idea of what being an archaeologist is like. It introduces archaeological methods and procedures in a totally new way--as a murder mystery novel! It is fun and accurate, while clearing up potentially confusing topics.
5. Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice (Fifth Edition)
Colin Renfrew, Paul Bahn
I could praise this book up one side and down the other all day 'til the cows come home, but I will refrain. Suffice it to say that this book is chock full of almost every generic thing an archaeologist could need. The next step is hands-on experience in the field and in the lab, with a book on the knitty-gritty details of what you are working on. This is an invaluable reference for archaeologists.
6. Medical Anthropology in Ecological Perspective: Fifth Edition
Ann McElroy, Patricia K. Townsend
This is a book that can be a bit of a dry read, but McElroy and Townsend are leaders in their field of Medical Anthropology. The case studies that they present are illustrative and usually liven the text up a bit. If you are interested in Medical Anthropology or any of its subfields (i.e. Psychological Anthropology) then this book and the next one would be a good place to start.
7. Understanding and Applying Medical Anthropology
Peter Brown
This is one of those college textbooks that I really wanted to keep but couldn't because of tight funds. It is stuffed full of dozens of fascinating case studies, organized by topic.
8. Shyness: How Normal Behavior Became a Sickness
Christopher Lane
This book takes a fascinating--and sometimes disturbing--look at the American pharmaceutical industry as it has developed over the last several decades. Although it is not exactly an anthropological book, it definitely takes a close look at how American culture fueled the creation of many "mental illnesses," often for the simple sake of money. This would be another good read for someone interested in Medical Anthropology.
