Anthropologist Marshall Sahlins tackles the explosive question of whether Western scholars can study non-western societies without falling into the trap of an imperialist past. In How “Natives” Think – About Captain Cook For Example (University of Chicago Press, £19.95, ISBN 0226 733 68 8). Sahlins suggests that, instead of assuming that everyone non-European is and was intrinsically the “same”, we try to understand real differences in views.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Orangutan mothers seem to plan playdates for their offspring
2
Random wobbles in time could finally solve gravity’s greatest mystery
3
A type of fibre that stimulates GLP-1 release approved for use in food
4
The 4 must-watch science-fiction films of the year so far
5
The world's fastest spider tops 3.5 metres per second
6
Geoengineering could expose plane passengers to sulphuric acid
7
The weirdness of neutrinos could completely rewrite particle physics
8
A volcano has erupted remnants of Earth's primordial magma ocean
9
The best new science-fiction novels published in July 2026
10
Ancient human DNA found on cave art for the first time
