Note: There a total of 3 blog posts on Anthropology. This first article primarily talks about my book list and the basic approach I followed. The second and third articles deal with topic wise detailed plan for Paper I and II respectively.
Marksheet
Book List
These are the sources I referred to for my Anthropology optional. There is no need to read these books from end to end. You must go topic wise as per the syllabus and read these books to get a good grip over the subject. Apart from these, use online sources and newspapers to enrich your knowledge and answer content.
Paper I
- Braintree material
- Physical Anthropology – P Nath
- Anthropology Simplified – Vivek Bhasme (very good source for diagrams and answer structuring)
- Anthropology – Ember and Ember
Paper II
- Indian Anthropology -Nadeem Hasnain
- Tribal India – Nadeem Hasnain
- Anthropology Simplified- Vivek Bhasme
- The Tribal Culture of India – LP Vidyarthi
- Xaxa Report
- January 2014 edition of Yojana- Tribal and Marginalized Communities
Note on diagrams and answer writing
While preparing for CSE 2017, because of my hectic work schedule I was hard pressed to just finish the syllabus in the limited time I had. Because of this time crunch, I could neither make any topic-wise notes nor opt for any test series. I learnt how to write good answers from the book Anthropology Simplified by Vivek Bhasme. Most of the diagrams I practised too were from this book.
Online Resources for Paper I and II
- Khan Academy – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gUY5NoX1Lk
- Anthropological Theories: http://anthropology.ua.edu/cultures/cultures.php
- Genetics: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/
- Anthropological Survey of India: https://ansi.gov.in/
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs: https://tribal.nic.in/
- Tribal faces of India- https://tribal.nic.in/DivisionsFiles/tribalFaces.pdf
- Govt. schemes and tribal related news reported in newspapers
- Diagrams related to anthropology: I practised many diagrams from the notes of Kirthi Chekuri (AIR 14, CSE 2015) published in this Insights article
- Physical Anthropology slides
Books for general reading
The following books have absolutely no bearing on Anthropology optional preparation. But for a curious student of this subject, these books are incredibly fascinating to read. Much ahead of me choosing Anthropology as my optional, it’s these books that got me deeply interested in the fields of evolutionary biology and genetics. Pick them up in your leisure time and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did.
- Sapiens – Yuval Noah Harari
- The Selfish Gene- Richard Dawkins
- The Blind Watchmaker- Richard Dawkins
- The Gene- Siddhartha Mukherjee
Anthropologist Jane Goodall with our Chimp cousin. This NatGeo film on her life is fantastic. Image credit: www.neverapart.com
Basic Plan
While you refer to the aforementioned booklist, these are some of the tips you should keep in mind.
- If you are a complete beginner in Anthropology, your focus must be on gaining conceptual clarity and not on quickly completing the syllabus. Always remember that on the final day, it’s your clear understanding of the subject that lets you write good answers.
- In the booklist I mentioned, there’s no need to read every book from cover to cover. When you are reading from a book, always have the relevant syllabus chapter/ topic and previous years’ questions in mind. They will help you to stay focussed and will give you an idea of how much to study from each book.
- For absolute beginners, Ember and Ember is a great book to start with. When I began preparing for Anthro in Jan 2017, I started with this book. I loved it so much that I read it cover to cover, even though such detailed reading is not at all needed from the exam point of view.
- If you are making notes, they must be rich and comprehensive in content. For this, start with one standard core book, make notes from it and then add relevant content from other books. I’ve dealt with this in detail in my subsequent posts to this article.
- For both the papers, wherever relevant, quoting examples and illustrating with diagrams is absolutely pivotal. Paper I must have tribes names from the rest of the world. Ember and Ember is rich resource for many such examples but the pity is that there’s no way to memorise them except by rote. Collect such examples in an A4 sheet and revise over and over.
- Attempt as many Physical Anthropology questions as possible. They are largely static with immense scope for diagrams. You shouldn’t go wrong on those.
- Use internet and YouTube extensively for understanding Physical Anthropology concepts (especially Genetics). You can find very good explainer videos and documentaries. In your answers, wherever relevant, you can also write about the latest findings in the field. For example, in a topic like genetic inheritance, briefly mention about current research in epigenome, DNA methylation and how it affects gene expression.
- Answer like a specialist. Definitions, introductions, criticisms must be scholarly. That is, you must mention Anthropologists’ name, their work (year of publication too, if you can), its criticism by other thinkers. Examples: a. Bronislaw Malinowski in his work “Argonauts of the Western Pacific (1922)” describes the importance of Kula Ring in the economic systems of Trobriand Islanders b. Franz Boas in his article “The Limitation of the Comparative Method of Anthropology (1896)” criticized the evolutionary approach and laid the foundations of Historical Particularism.
- For a particular concept, apart from the main thinker, try and quote works of other Anthropologists as well. For example: In Tribe-Caste Continuum of Paper II, everyone writes about Bailey, but if you can also substantiate your answer with works of Surajit Sinha on Maria Gonds, this will give your answer an edge.
- Use internet and newspapers to collect good case studies to illustrate Tribal problems. Cram latest statistics pertaining to them. A thorough reading of Xaxa report is an absolute must for Tribal related portions of the syllabus.
- Keep tabs on the latest news pertaining to Anthropology. It can be a new fossil discovery, launch of a new govt scheme for PVTGs, or a new finding in genetic research etc. When you read papers, have an eye out for such news and collect them in a separate notebook so that you can revise them before the exam.
- Apart from reading books, dedicate adequate time to practise diagrams and label them correctly. Consistent practice helps you draw fast and draw neat.
Anthropology is a terrific subject to learn. If you put your heart into it, you can easily ace this optional. My best wishes.
Note: For the benefit of UPSC aspirants, I am working on a detailed guide book on how to write powerful Essays and compelling answers (GS and Anthropology Optional) in the UPSC exam. Subscribe to this blog to download a free chapter and to hear first when the book launches.
Congratulations Sir for such a great achievement. And we always thankful to you for such great concern over many new dreamers.
Sir one doubt…?
I saw three years question papers, there are more number of questions from tribal culture,behaviour, and their issues and their protection, constitutional safeguards etc.
And questions from physical anthropology
Are we go to read each and every topic of what they mentioned in the syllabus plz tell me Sir…
I had biology in +2 level ,but I switched to English honours in my graduation due to immense interest in that subject . But I really don’t want to opt for that subject as my optional in upsc due to various reasons. I have seen Science and engineering graduates taking that subject ( mostly ) , but I’m from humanities background , will it be wise if I go for anthropology , or I should stick to some humanities subject for upsc optional?
hello sir
please share u r anthropology answer copy in the blog sir
Hi sir, congratulations for your marriage first of all.
Sir, if I read anthropology for a month before prelims and 3 months after the prelims. Will it suffice? Will I be mains ready?
(Beginner in anthropology)
Hii sir,
I’m studying in microbiology
So will I choose the arthopology subject?
I am interested but I have no idea about how to manage and how to prepare for this subject
Sir please give me some idea.
Anudeep sir please respond to this.
did you refered the below edition of ember and ember
https://www.amazon.in/Anthropology-12e-EMBER/dp/8131716228/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ember+and+ember+12th+edition&qid=1581515498&sr=8-1
Yes.
Anudeep sir first of all ineed to appreciate for the effort you had put on your new book it reflects in every part of it., i just started to study as per your guideliness as you had mentioned. ember and ember is really an interesting book, but seeing the huge size am in stage of confusion that can i read and remember all the points from ember and ember by reading it cover to cover?sir please help.
Sir can i purchase this new edition or go with old one.?
Anthropology, 12e https://www.amazon.in/dp/8131716228/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1fdwEbGTXKN8R
Sir, i have been looking for Anthropology books on amazon and flipkart but i can not find the latest editions. It’s very confusing. These books seems quite old and i ain’t even sure if there is a new edition. Sir, please help me with this.
Hi Sir
How to prepare for prelims and what are the books should we refer for general studies.
Hi Sir,
As per your article I gathered my resource and started preparing in a order,
1. first watching video class(I have brought from my friend also a beginner)
2. Making a notes from video
3. Reading the Brain Tree material
4. Finally practicing answer writing with the help of Anthropology Simplified – Vivek Bhasme
My question is,
while taking weekly revision(whatever the syllabus I have covered in the week) I’m unable to revise all the materials(class notes, brain tree and Vivek Bhasme)
So, making a short notes from the above materials it becoming a lengthy task for me, what I feel is instead of making notes can I revise the Vivek Bhasme’s notes for complete preparation(after reading advance book like)
I request you to suggest the best method(OR your strategy) for revise.
Hey Dilip, which video lectures you are watching/watched? Please tell, I am a beginner.
Thank you sir. This was realllllyyyyyy helpful. Just hoping that……… it will work for me too.
Sir, i have been looking for Anthropology books on amazon and flipkart but i can not find the latest editions. It’s very confusing. These books seems quite old and i ain’t even sure if there is a new edition. Sir, please help me with this.
Latest edition of ember and ember is available
Sir, any preferred coaching centre for anthropology ? Please share
i did not read this subject ever before but i have seen that lack of time this subject can help with limited sources and syllabus so i thought to take this as an optional , is good to choose , will i be able to understand this subject without knowing before about anthro ?
Sir in how many days you have completed ember and ember book?
Sir,how is Telugu academy material for anthropology
Hey can you upload the diagram for Coz it is deleted from insights site
Thanks in advance
Diagram file is deleted … Where to find it ?
Sir, from where can I get answers to some OLDER PYQs??
1) Anthropology is a source of values.Substantiate(1982)
2)Anthropology studies at micro level but aims at macro level theory.Elaborate(1982)
3)Examine the influence of humanistic tradition on Growth and development of anthropology 1985
Sir, thanks for the insights. How do you suggest answer writing practice for the optional paper (anthropology)?
Is test series compulsory for anthropology?
Hi sir
Can we prepare this subject without coaching to get enough marks to crack mains
Anudeep sir,
Could you please share your preparation plan which you have followed while working? Can you suggest the strategy managing both working and preparation for upsc please?!
Hello Sir, due to time constraint, can we rely on Anthropology Simplified by Vivek Bhasme and skip the other books?
Sir I wanted to ask that can we use relevant quotes in GS as well as anthropology answers?
What knd of impact will it have?
Sir how much time is required to complete this subject considering an absolute beginner who doesn’t have any relevant background?
Sir.. Please could you post any one anthropology answer copy. Atlest one answer what you have written. I will know the answer structure and how to start how to complete answer within the word limit. I am really suffering about this. I hope you sir you will consider my request.
Sir. Could you post any answer of anthropology question. I suffering about answer writing of anthropology questions how to write answer in 150 words with examples and case studies. How start, how to end the answer am really confusing. Hence please send any one of the hand written answer. It will help better than all these. I hope you sir you will consider my request. Thank you.
Thanks Sir for this wonderful article. I have one doubt regarding anthropology theories. How did you write answer for that? There are lots of contents related to theories so how did you write your answer.
Thanks
Sir can we cover anthropology without coaching.??
hi anudeep, i am a beginner in UPSC and thinking of taking anthro as optional, but i being a working pro i dont have much time left can u please suggest which book should i start with for anthro??
I had completed my 12th (in year 2020) with pcb and I scored well in bio in 12th ( 97 /100) .
Since my dream and aim is upsc so I pursued graduation in BA with combination of 3 subject . Amongst which first is anthropology, geography and political science.
I’ll be choosing anthropology as my optinal.
Is is it necessary to join coaching or test series ,, if one had studied anthropology heartily in 3 years of graduation course.