This book was very promising in what it set out to do, but failed to deliver. The introductions were brilliant, but the essays described in them fall short. It isn't a case of outdated information; some essays were just weak and long-winding. More theoretically-sound essays are called for, and perhaps tighter editing. Comparing it with the book, "Understanding Medical Anthropology" by Brown, et. al., the essays there were very strong and left an impression, but the introductions were weak.