Essay #1: As defined in the book, cultures are “traditions and customs, transmitted through learning, that govern the beliefs and behavior of the people exposed to them.” This basically tells us that culture is a tradition that is learned through exposure, watching, learning, asking questions and being involved in these traditions. These traditions can be anything such as a custom or a value that has been formed throughout the generations. I think a lot of what we do in our culture depends upon our natural surroundings. The author discusses culture and nature. He states that natural acts have been converted into cultural customs. This tells me that what we experience in nature becomes our culture, and our customs and traditions.