A review by philippelazaro
Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche by Ethan Watters

1.0

“Even anthropologists, who diligently train themselves to be nonjudgmental observers of cultural differences, have trouble when it comes to recognizing and allowing for cultural differences in emotions. Because our emotions come into our consciousness unbidden and often surprise us with their intensity, we often assume that they are not influenced by cultural cues or social scripts. But with careful study, anthropologists have learned that emotions are not like muscle reflexes; rather, they are communications with deep and sometimes obscure meanings. Cultures differ not only in their response to specific events... but also in more global ways.”

–Ethan Watters

I got this book to help me with my research on instiutionalized child care in developing countries. It was loaded with factual information, but unfortunately the presentation was really, really dry.

This book definitely leans heavily on the academic perspective that I had a really tough time staying engaged.