Malpass (anthropology, Ithaca College) looks beyond the ruling elite that dominate most accounts of the South American empire to look at how other members of Inca society lived as well. He emphasizes life in the capital of Cuzco, and presents more of a female perspective than previous books. Politics and society, private life and culture, religion, the Inca contribution to modern Andean culture, and preserving the past are among the topics. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)