In Common Worlds, Carl Maida has laid the groundwork for a public anthropology centered in the notion of praxis. Over twenty years of fieldwork has produced a book that is ethnographic, philosophical, historical, but also action-oriented. It is a must-read for those interested in the ethnography of Southern California and the impact of the political economy on the lived experience of working people.
- Sam Beck, Cornell University,
Carl Maida has crafted a dynamic crossover work that is penetrating, profound and highly readable. Common Worlds contains a powerful historical narrative and a mother lode of theory – anthropological, environmental and geographical. He has worked among the public/private partnerships and the community coalitions as a critical participant observer and now tells their stories in a crisp comparative framework. This is a compelling book that takes us through hidden histories and unforeseen waters – traversing art, economics, and everyday life; providing viable answers as to how we can confront the environmental tragedies of our time; and offering a discourse of hope that will help guide us to take back the land, and the country.
- Brian McKenna, University of Michigan, Dearborn,