Three Questions with Grant McCracken

Grant McCracken is one of my absolute favorite bloggers.  His site declares, "This Blog Sits at the Intersection of Anthropology and Economics," but even that broad mandate doesn't do justice to the full range of topics he tackles.  He typically writes an essay each day, and his work is notable for its depth and thoughtfulness--qualities often lacking in the blogosphere.  His readers are equally thoughtful, and his comments section is outstanding--Grant usually jumps into the fray as well.  Here's Three Questions with Grant:

1) You've consulted to corporations and taught at Harvard Business School, but you're an anthropologist by training.  (Having spent my previous career in nonprofits, I found my own experience in business school to be profoundly dislocating at times.)  What's most interesting to you about contemporary business culture?

I guess the $64,000 question for me is what happens to business culture as it speeds up and becomes more dynamic.  I think the ordinary business is going to have to act a lot like the most daring business today.  I don't think anthropology has ever seen a culture that looks like this. Should be interesting.

2) You just published a new book, Culture and Consumption II.  (It wasn't available on Amazon until yesterday or I'd have read it by now.)  What effect do you hope it has on your readers?

Culture and Consumption II is a chance to get at the anthro and econ thing in a more systematic way instead of the "short order stuff" I am doing on the blog.  I hope the whole thing will look a little less implausible.

3) I particularly enjoy your style of blogging: one extended post, focusing on a single topic, almost every day.  Was this style a conscious choice for you?

I don't know where the format come from.  I think I think in essays and doing more than one seemed like too much work.  Essay, minimum unit.  Essay, maximum unit.

Bonus Personal Question: I notice that Chuck Klosterman's on your current reading list.  Who's your favorite heavy metal band?

I am not really a heavy metal fan.  But I love Klosterman.  What a talent!

grant mccracken anthropology culture and consumption II culture and consumption chuck klosterman

Comments

[Candy Minx]

Hi um, I love Grant mcCracken, he is a god to me ha ha! No really. Big Hair is a koran a rig veda for me. Was happy to find this site but am unable to read all the questions. Am I missing something?

[Ed]

Yes, Grant is awesome, and if you like his books I hope you're reading his blog as well.

There were only three (well, four) questions in the post, and they all seem to be here, so if you're not seeing them, I don't think I can help you--sorry.