Scott Cook Books

The memoir recounts the surprising transformation of a PE teacher into a strategic missile control operator during the Cold War. Scott Cook's journey spans from the tranquil hills of Virginia to intense training in California, eventually leading him to the tense environment of North Dakota's missile silos. Through candid storytelling, he explores the secretive military culture and the heavy responsibilities faced by those in command of nuclear weapons, highlighting the stark contrast between his laid-back past and the grave realities of military life.

Drawing from extensive fieldwork in Oaxaca and Tamaulipas, an esteemed economic anthropologist reflects on the influence of commodities in his life and career. This academic memoir offers unique insights into the intersection of personal experiences and anthropological practice, highlighting how economic factors shape cultural understanding. Through a blend of personal narrative and scholarly analysis, the book explores the significance of commodities in both individual and societal contexts.

Focusing on the historical significance of brickmaking in the lower Rio Grande/Rio Bravo corridor, the book explores its role as an early non-agricultural manufacturing industry and a precursor to the maquiladora sector following the 1965 Border Industrialization Program. Scott Cook's extensive research, initiated in the early 1990s, delves into the handmade brick industry's dynamics and its competitive landscape within the Texas market, shedding light on an often-overlooked aspect of the U.S.-Mexico border economy.

Lived experiences under economic stress shape culturally-informed choices, as explored through the lens of economic anthropology in Mexico and Guatemala. The author reviews key regional studies and examines the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, urging a reevaluation of economic otherness in Latin America. By presenting a framework that reconciles 'penny capitalism' with the realities of 'Dollar Capitalism', the book challenges readers to rethink their perspectives on economic practices in a globalized market context.