A valuable text in the examination of cultural influence and evolution, John Beattie presents the aims, methods, and achievements of social anthropology.

Other Cultures provides a lucid introduction to the field of social anthropology. John Beattie devotes the first part of the book to a consideration of what social anthropology is and seeks to do, what areas it covers, and the methods of investigation employed by social anthropologists.

In the second half, Beattie examines the major categories of research through which anthropologists have advanced the knowledge of other cultures. Additionally, the final chapters of the book survey contributions that social anthropology has made to the understand of other cultures.