Material culture records human intrusion in the environment. It is the way we imagine a distinction between nature and culture, and then rebuild nature to our own desire, by shaping, reshaping, and arranging things during our lifetimes.. "In Material Culture, Henry Glassie calls us to first principles and common things, as we work to build a better view of humanity. Through five extended, interlinked essays, he offers challenges, methods, and demonstrations, showing how we can reinvigorate and enrich the study of history, art, and culture through close consideration of the things people make. The people - the tellers of tales, the weavers, potters, and builders of houses - stand at the center of his endeavor. He introduces us to them, and in oneness with them he shows how this kind of study can bring us toward an understanding of the world's complexity.