Cannibals and Kings (book)

*Cannibals and Kings* by anthropologist Marvin Harris explores how human societies develop cultural practices, including taboo and social structures, through the lens of materialistic and functional analysis. Harris examines how environmental and economic factors influence cultural phenomena—such as why some societies practice cannibalism or why kings hold power—arguing that these customs are adaptations shaped by practical needs rather than mere superstition. The book encourages understanding culture as a system designed to meet human survival and societal stability, blending anthropology, history, and ecology to explain human behavior across different societies.