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I found Marvin Harris’ Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches: The Riddles of Culture to be a fascinating read for enjoyment sake but also very interesting as a student of anthropology. Harris attempts to demystify lifestyles that are supposedly irrational and unexplainable from various historical localities by implementing scientific objectivity through his cultural materialist approach. He does not, however, completely disregard the importance of cultural beliefs to prove the ecological and economic significance of his historical research subjects (cows, pigs, wars, and witches). Further, his well-ordered sequence of chapters allowed for the flow of ideas along a sort of continuum, making it very easy for the reader to connect these seemingly discontinuous topics of discussion. I think, despite being subject to negative critique on occasion over the past 34 years, this book remains an interesting read for the general public as well as an influential anthropological work for the school of historical anthropology.