The practice of researching other cultures, particularly those new to the researcher, is a complex matter, as are the motives for researching other cultures. Merely reading the texts and meeting the people can easily result in getting just enough information to be dangerous, because of what the editors call the "seven agendas" of cultural studies, which include merely comparing another culture to one's own or getting information to be used for or against the other in terms of power and policy. Here they advocate a "transdisciplinary" approach, including careful self-assessment, in the process of research and analysis. They provide theories of culture study and notions to consider about space, time, power and economy. They provide techniques for conducting readings, including fiction, history, autobiography, and ethnography, moving from pluralism to combination in analyzing sources and contexts. The result, they hope, should be the remaking of the study of culture. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR