This book is a clearly and accessibly written short guide to the contemporary state of urban anthropology. It outlines what urban anthropologists study, how they do so, and what they have learned about urbanization and urbanism in the past and present in a way that makes sense to readers new to the field. Topics covered include:Urban community and identityUrban politics and economicsThe relationship between culture and the built environmentUrban nature, climate change, and green urbanismThe development of urban anthropologyAccompanying the main text are shaded boxes describing key works and key concepts related to the central points of each chapter. Each chapter ends with a bibliography. This text is essential reading for students interested in cities, urban life, the built environment, and social and political dynamics.