This text investigates the structural mechanisms of kinship and how various descent systems organize human social life. Roger M. Keesing, a prominent anthropologist, synthesizes cross-cultural data to evaluate the functional and evolutionary significance of lineage. He provides a rigorous framework for understanding how societies manage social cohesion through diverse kinship models.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for students of social anthropology due to its clarity and systematic approach. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a standard reference for understanding complex kinship terminology.