An Invitation to Laughter: A Lebanese Anthropologist in the Arab World by Fuad I

Description: An Invitation to Laughter by Fuad I. Khuri, Sonia Jalbout Khuri, Richard Antoun An autobiography of Fuad I Khuri, both an insiders and an outsiders perspective on life in Lebanon, elsewhere in Middle East, and in West Africa. It provides insights into such issues as mentality of Arabs toward women, eating habits of Arab world, impact of Islam on West Africa, and extravagant lifestyles of wealthy Arabs, and more. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description For the late Fuad I. Khuri, a distinguished career as an anthropologist began not because of typical concerns like accessibility, money, or status, but because the very idea of an occupation that baffled his countrymen made them—and him—laugh. "When I tell them that anthropology is my profession . . . they think I am either speaking a strange language or referring to a new medicine." This profound appreciation for humor, especially in the contradictions inherent in the study of cultures, is a distinctive theme of An Invitation to Laughter, Khuris astute memoir of life as an anthropologist in the Middle East.A Christian Lebanese, Khuri offers up in this unusual autobiography both an insiders and an outsiders perspective on life in Lebanon, elsewhere in the Middle East, and in West Africa. Khuri entertains and informs with clever insights into such issues as the mentality of Arabs toward women, eating habits of the Arab world, the impact of Islam on West Africa, and the extravagant lifestyles of wealthy Arabs, and even offers a vision for a type of democracy that could succeed in the Middle East. In his life and work, as these astonishing essays make evident, Khuri demonstrated how the discipline of anthropology continues to make a difference in bridging dangerous divides. Author Biography Fuad I. Khuri (1935 - 2003) was professor of anthropology at the American University of Beirut from 1964 to 1987. Khuri held a series of visiting professorships at the London School of Economics, University of Manchester, University of Chicago, and University of Oregon. Among his many books are From Village to Suburb, Tribe and State in Bahrain, Imams and Emirs and, most recently, Being a Druze. Sonia Jalbout Khuri has taught mathematics education in Lebanon and the United Kingdom. She also worked as a research assistant and editor with her late husband, Fuad I. Khuri. Table of Contents Foreword, by Richard Antoun Prologue: The man himself, by Sonia Jalbout Khuri Note on Arabic words Introduction Why "laughter"? Chapter 1 Exploring origins: The choice of anthropology Chapter 2 Studying anthropology in Oregon: "How wonderful!" Chapter 3 Being Lebanese: A nationality or a profession? Chapter 4 Religious syncretism: "I offer sacrifices to my ancestors on Friday because I am a Muslim" Chapter 5 Lebanese traders in West Africa: Always ending the day in losses Chapter 6 Change as faith: The restless Americans Chapter 7 Teaching in Beirut: "Sir, keep this information to yourself" Chapter 8 Establishing an Arab association for the social sciences: The tyranny of consensus Chapter 9 The exotic in the suburbs of Beirut: "It is written" Chapter 10 Alumni and ulama in Bahrain: "We all seek knowledge" Chapter 11 Open secrets: Discussable but not publishable Chapter 12 Table manners in Yemen: Eat! Do not talk! Chapter 13 The official policy toward emigration in Lebanon: "We eat bread, not potatoes" Chapter 14 The Arab rich: "An ugly horse that wins the race is praised for its good looks" Chapter 15 Who wants to be a zaim ? The agony of fame Chapter 16 Living in Great Britain: "The best in the world" Appendix 1 List of Research Projects Appendix 2 List of Publications Index Review "Fuad I. Khuri was one of the most thoughtful and insightful anthropologists working on the Middle East. His published work always exhibited two very special qualities: he chose bold issues and he had an extraordinary eye for the small yet revealing detail. No one should be surprised that An Invitation to Laughter captures and extends those traits so well." - Lawrence Rosen, Princeton University" Review Quote "Winning. . . . The title refers to Khuris disarming use of humor to recount his frustrating yet rewarding experiences working in West Africa, Lebanon, Bahrain and Yemen. The reader is also treated to charming observations of life in Oregon, where he pursued graduate studies, and England, where he settled in 1985."--St. Petersburg Times Details ISBN0226434788 Author Richard Antoun Short Title INVITATION TO LAUGHTER Language English ISBN-10 0226434788 ISBN-13 9780226434780 Media Book Format Paperback Year 2007 Imprint University of Chicago Press Subtitle A Lebanese Anthropologist in the Arab World Place of Publication Chicago, IL Country of Publication United States Edited by Sonia Jalbout Khuri Illustrations black & white illustrations Edition New edition DOI 10.1604/9780226434780 UK Release Date 2007-04-01 AU Release Date 2007-04-01 NZ Release Date 2007-04-01 US Release Date 2007-04-01 Pages 224 Publisher The University of Chicago Press Publication Date 2007-04-01 DEWEY 301.092 Audience Professional & Vocational We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. 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