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BOOK
The Political Activism Of Anthropologist Franz Boas, Citizen Scientist
Alan H. McGowan
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Announcing the release of the paperback edition! Get your copy now and enjoy a 40% discount by using the code AUTHOR40 at checkout—making this edition even more affordable!
Meet author
Alan H. McGowan
Alan H McGowan, selected as 2019’s Top Science and Technical Expert by the International Association of Top Professionals, also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Who that same year.
Now a Lecturer at The New School, he served first as chair of the Science, Technology, and Society Program (now called the Interdisciplinary Science Program) then as chair of the Environmental Studies Program, where he developed several new initiatives, including a newsletter going to four hundred leaders in global environmental studies, and an internal “Friday Letter” going to interested staff and faculty.
Alan H McGowan
BOAS QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"The disease of mutual distrust among nations is the bane of modern civilization"
Book
THE STORY OF THE BOOK
I first learned of “Papa Franz,” as Boas’ women students called him, from Margaret Mead, who chaired the board of an organization I ran, the Scientists’ Institute for Public Information. Then, upon becoming very interested in the racist idea of racial superiority, I ran into him again. On race, all roads lead to Boas.
I pursued the issue and wrote a few articles about Boas in both peer-reviewed and popular outlets. And then I began to realize what a fascinating person he was, having an impact not only on racial issues but on the politics of his era as well.
There are many books written about Franz Boas, but none that adequately weave his very active political career into his ground-breaking anthropology. I thought I would try to write a book interlacing the two. Fifteen years later, the book has appeared.
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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
"This book chronicles the life and political action of Franz Boas, a ground-breaking anthropologist whose work denied the notion of racial superiority and introduced the notion of cultural relativity. In addition, he was a fierce pacifist who opposed the entry of the United States into World War I, and organized a powerful organization protecting the free speech of those accused of left-wing sympathies. He was among the first to recognize the strength of a scientist speaking out on political issues. The book will appeal to those interested in issues of race relations and free speech, and those interested in the role of science and scientists in the larger society."
Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Donovan's Bookshelf
"Boas, a German-American anthropologist dubbed the "father of American anthropology," comes to life from 15 years of research by McGowan, who looks at Boas's tenure at the Museum of Natural History and Columbia University, among other places. One of Boas' students was Margret Mead. While not a household name, Boas was part of a February 7 Jeopardy clue about starting the Anthropology Department at Columbia in 1902 – the country's first. McGowan examines the ground-breaking anthropologist's denial of racial superiority in favor of cultural relativity. Boas opposed U.S. entry into WWI, organized a group protecting free speech, and was among the first proponents of scientists discussing political issues."
PR Newswire
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