Not to be coy, but this book ignores all major established theories in the discipline and fails to offer any suitable or original alternatives. In trying to incorporate anthropology, linguistics, and sociology into one book, Errington merely glazes over the topics and falls short of elucidating the interpenetration among the fields. His explanations are unnecessarily circumlocutory and longwinded, never reaching any sensible conclusion. The examples he provides are culturally insensitive and imperialistic in nature. His writing suggests that he does not fully understand the intricate nature of Javanese language, culture, and society.