Silent but Deadly

'Silent but Deadly is one of the best books out there that explains anthropology to a lay audience - I often cite it to non-anthropologists who want to get a sense of the discipline. It is clever, lucid, engaging and easy to read - and has both the credibility to appeal to academic anthropologists and the clarity to make sense to non-academics. A fabulous read - I recommend it strongly' - Gillian Tett, author of Anthro-Vision.

'Kirsten Bell in Silent but Deadly brings her learned but witty eye to bear on our most intimate of everyday activities showing how they reveal the unconscious worlds of meaning in which we all live. She may lay your anxieties about tipping to rest but you will never feel safe in the bathroom, kitchen or dentist's chair again though you will certainly laugh - Nigel Barley, author of The Innocent Anthropologist.

'Kirsten Bell is an Australian social anthropologist living in the UK. She writes straight up, no messing about, and she's incredibly funny. Think Erma Bombeck crossed with Jilly Cooper and a dash of Tom Sharpe... Silent but Deadly is an absolute delight' - www.ellentherapist.com.

'[Bell's] aim is to decipher the "cultural patterns that underlie our everyday quirks, foibles and habits," and she does so with a light, witty and self-deprecating personal touch... The book is well-documented with sources from the academic literature, but also spiced up with footnotes telling tales from her own experiences' -The British Columbia Review.

'Silent but Deadly is a minor classic of anthropological writing: sharp, funny, and deeply humane... Read it for the laughs, stay for the insights - and maybe buy a copy for your dentist' - Australian Journal of Anthropology.

'With a sharp wit and a keen anthropological eye, Bell explores the peculiarities of human habits, unpacking their quirks and inconsistencies with humour and insight. The book is both highly engaging and intellectually rich, presenting standalone chapters that, when read together, create a compelling portrait of human behaviour' - Anthropology Book Forum.