Why is anthropology such an inherently fascinating subject? Because it's all about us: human beings.
As the "science of humanity," anthropology can help us understand virtually anything about ourselves—from our political and economic systems, to why we get married, to how we decide to buy a particular bottle of wine.
Here are just a few of the intriguing questions for which anthropologists study and provide answers:
What does it mean if someone raises his eyebrows when he meets you? Is there such a thing as progress? Are modern technological nations really happier and better off than "primitive" hunter-gatherer societies? What is the cultural significance of gift giving? What are the subtle social and psychological rules we follow when we give a gift, and which obligate us when we receive one?
How common is cannibalism today? What are the different types of cannibalism, and the beliefs associated with them? In American garbage dumps, what item of trash serves as a clear "stratographic layer," distinguishing one-year's trash from the next? What's the difference between a "matriarchal" and a "matrilineal" society? Which is more common among world cultures?
Why are Starbucks coffee shops, "reality" television programs, and such tourist destinations as Las Vegas and Disneyland so popular with American consumers?