3.8
Quality3.2
Difficulty82%
Would Retake84
Reviews82%
Would Retake
84
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
36
4
24
3
15
2
4
1
5
What Students Say
“This could very well be the worst professor + course I've ever taken in my entire academic career”
ANTH157 - 1.0 rating“Nader is not for everyone”
ANTHRO157 - 4.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
54%
Textbook Required
75%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.45 avg changeRatings by Course
139
5.0
(1)CONPROC
5.0
(1)HIST139
5.0
(1)ANTH160
5.0
(1)HIST01
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ANTRO250X
5.0
157
4.5
ANTH101
4.5
HIST01
4.0
ANTH157
3.8
Reviews (84)
Best class at Cal!
her "controlling processes" class really helped connect the dots for me in my final semester at ucb.
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If you take one class at Berkeley, this is it!!!!!
Nader is absolutely amazing. I would take this class every semester if I could. She will change your life.
very sharp and wise professor. Definetley take the controlling processes class no matter who's teaching it
This is THE Berkeley course. Take it and you'll know why Berkeley is Berkeley. Nader is awesome.
Professor Nader is my God.
She rules the school. The reading and the lectures hardly ever match up, but who cares, they are both awesome. However the midterm was based solely on the reading, so do it.
Class breadth is mind-opening. Huge caveat: she presents her "controlling processes" framework, "harmony ideology," and "in/direct control" concepts with hardly a mention of Gramsci, Foucault, Fanon, etc., because she doesn't like "jargon" [that isn't her own]. She's more rigid than she thinks.
Best class i could have taken in my last semester at Cal. definitely saved the best for last. Nader is fierce and you will become it too after taking this class. Great class to take right before heading into the "real world" of corporate america.
Prof. Nader is a great professor and even if you don't agree with her, she'll make you think.
great lecturer. assigns enough readings to make you thoroughly think about the material. no bs whatsoever when presenting new material. overall pretty good class
There's a great deal to read but the texts always fascinating and totally relevant to the course. She presents numerous examples of controlling processes in her lectures but the organization is sometimes not clear-cut. Doing the paper was rewarding. She is one awesome, feisty lady.
1 midterm. 1 paper. 1 final. The reading load is heavier than any other class I've had at Cal, but it was so worth it. This is the most valuable class I've ever taken. I think it should be a required class for all students - including non-anthro majors. I'll never look at the world the same again.
Controlling Processes is a must... grading is a little off because the readers are tools but what can you do? Reading level is INTENSE but just know that corporatism is bad, capitalism is bad, and Ralph Nader is the****... if you remember those points, you'll at least get an A-. Seriously, this is a wonderful class!
I hated the class. It was so boring, aside from the stuff on cults. The lectures had no structure so half the time I had no idea what was going on. The worst part is the reading. They were the most boring readings ever. She's a nice lady though.
One of the best prof i ever had...
This class is good but in my opinion, overrated. Prof. Nader is definitely charismatic, but her material is in need of updating.
Controlling Processes was not an enjoyable experience. Nader makes herself out to be the heroine of every story told in class. Her theories are out of touch with today's society and her readings are in dire need of updating and renewal (seriously I could'
While she and I constantly had our battles, at the end of the day she was the best professor I had in college. If you can, take a smaller seminar with her. Her expectations were, to some, unreasonable, but they were higher than I thought I could manage. Sh
The best teacher I've had at Cal and a class most applicable to the real world. She really forced me to open my eyes to what was going on around me. She's an absolutely amazing woman. I highly recommend the class for transforming yourself as a member of society. Although if you are the type that needs powerpoint presentations and bullet points you will be frustrated. This class is what the purpose is of going to college. It gets you to think and to challenge your assumptions about the real world.
This is one class every student at Cal should take (although, as a few of the comments suggest, some people might not not have the intellectual energy or open-mindedness to benefit from it). Yes, Nader is a leftist. But the best part of class is the discussion, and the class works better for everyone when both sides are represented.
Wrote one of my favorite term papers for her class. As long as the prof doesn't make you defensive or uncomfortable in any inappropriate way, your intellectual energies will be unencumbered and you will not feel tempted to spite him/her by turning in awful, zero-effort bulls---t papers you feel embarrassed about 9 months later. A feisty lady!
No Comments
This class was ridiculously subjective and graded in a subjective manner. It is so leftist that I could barely think...Nader is not a particularly pleasant individual during her office hours...very intimidating!
This is a great class and I highly recommend it. It is one of the best classes at Cal. It opens your ideas to the world and how it works. She is a great lecturer and I love her stories.
The class itself is somewhat dry, but the lectures are good, interesting though sometimes hard to follow. The readings can be a bit overly pedantic and most are from the 1970s which this class seems to be rooted in. I'd still recommend it if you have any interest in the subject (Anthropology of Law)
Nader is brilliant. She challenges the students in a no-holds-barred, classic academic sense. She makes you think, which, i have to say, is rare in todays academic world. She provides the perfect example of what a liberal-arts education should be. She is a brilliant scholar. It has been a privelage taking her classes.
This is more of a glorified critical-thinking class than a pure anthro. Whole field of cntrl. processes seems contrived, but that the case with much of the social sciences. An f-load of reading accompanies this entertaining class. I would recommend that this or a similar class be a breadth requirement for all undergrads-Reading load could be lghtr
she's absolutely brilliant. it was an honor to be in her class. she knows about all subject matters. best class i've taken at Cal. your life and the way you look at the world will never be the same; she helps open your eyes. most of the readings are facinating and you wanna do them -but there's a lot. if you don't take it for credit at least sit in
An interesting class that makes you think, but you must remember to think. It was a little scary hearing Nader talk about "groupthink" and then looking around to see 300 students absolutely in awe of her, nodding in total agreement. Take it with a grain of salt.
Definitely a great teacher with a sharp mind. A must for anyone thinking about the social sciences and a great challenge for critical thinkers. Not an easy class, but certainly not a waste of time, either.
Very egalitarian, confident, and interesting. Inspired me into anthropology. By the way, 139 now fulfills the anth methods req. I would recommend everybody this class, ESP. people that are not social science majors-- at least then you will understand social/cultural control. A must. Among best professors at Cal. Also, Anth of Law (157) in Fall.
Why does it seem like Im the only one on the planet that didnt like this class? I just get tired of "When I was young..." stories from Nader every frickin day. You're killing me, you old bird! Materials need serious updating, books were sort of interesting, lectures pointless unless you idolize Nader, which you shouldnt. Good class if you're naive
Subject is very interesting but a lot of the readings are very dry and/or tough to understand, and her lectures can be confusing. I often felt lost and talked to a lot of other people who felt the same. She expects you to be very self-sufficient, and seems to forget (or not care) that there are a lot of people in her class with no background in law
Very challenging, interesting class. I have no background (or prior interest) in law and found the material both fascinating and clear. Nader's a great lecturer. The tests were hard but fairly graded. Her oft-voiced respect for undergrads and the fact that she read and graded all the papers herself was impressive.
This class was definitely one of the best classes I have taken at Cal thusfar. Nader is brilliant and approachable. I would recommend this course to any and all of my fellow Cal students regardless of their majors.
this class is for the naive. maybe anthro majors are naive, but the readings and lectures bring up issues that have been covered in more depth and with more clarity in other classes. Any one that has taken a women's study, ethnic study, or a class on racialization would know this
At the beginning I thought she was great, but after I got my final grade was disappointed. In the end, I didn't really understand what was what she wanted us to approach in our final paper. I thought mine was great but with the grade I got it seems i didn't get it? still dont know.. Point: she seems to be "great", but not really?
Pretty obvious stuff. Maybe good for freshmen. I was also surprised at my grade-she could have made her grading rubric/paper expectations more clear. otherwise pretty amazing lady: super smart and interesting. great guest speakers.
This class should be a requirement for every student in the United States. Great open eyes class about our government and society. Lots of reading, but worst to read. Go to discussions ready and you will have no problem.
Great class. This is what college is about! Everyone should take it. Most intellectual stimulation you could ask for. Really interesting readings. Exciting lectures! Every professor should be like Professor Nader!
A really good class but very hard to get a good grade unless you are very in tune with what she wants and do pretty much all of the reading (which is a lot) and know it thoroughly. She is a pretty amazing lady tho, I admire her.
This is one of the most amazing professors and courses I've ever taken. I took her course at UC Berkeley about 11 years ago and still consider this the benchmark for what courses at UC Berkeley should all be like. It was one of the few courses I had struggled with but truly enjoyed the challenge. Lessons learned are more than just the text.
Very direct and intelligent lecture style. Teaches students to be critical above all else.
L. Nader Raider!!! Best anthropology work out there!
1 class with Nader is fine, 2 is pointless. Very disappointing to discover she teaches one class under different names. She has done some brilliant work, but pretty much just rests on her harmony ideology research from 4 decades ago. She also routinely humiliates students in her class if they ask a question she doesn't like. Worth skipping.
Absolutely the worst professor I had. She used her class to train hyperventilating hipsters how to complain about society's ills, as though that were a way to change them. She may have been a legitimate academic in the past, but nothing in the class I took suggested she was anything more than a fraud resting on her brother's celebrity.
I didn't care about my grade because I felt like I learned a lot outside of the material. Midterm and final were straightforward - no surprises. Great guest lecturers.
Good class for the "green" student. Attendance at lecture not necessary since she provides a study guide for both midterm and final.
Nader rules!
She does have some interesting ideas before midterm. No view points different from hers were ever seriously introduced or respected. And she certainly professes in controlling processes--no different opinion from students enouraged. Frightening to see such high degree of conformity and agreement while she advocates for challenging assumption.
Eh. Am I the only one who has heard all this before? She definately thinks that she's "blowing people's minds," and maybe there is a sheltered few who are impressed, but I think the vast majority find her boring, and frankly irrelevant these days. She's the type of professor that gives tenure a bad name.
I HATED this course! do not take it! I got rave reviews about it, but honestly it was the biggest waste of time! The whole class is about identifying controlling processes, and defying group think, and the class is just one big pool of group think! The whole thing is just ridiculous- all the lect. are super disorganized,- the GSIs are useless too
This class is not for everyone. I've seen some people liking it and others hating it. Since the way it is taught doesn't vary much from day one, you can get a good idea from attending one of her classes. I wish she were more dynamic and engaging. However, I recognize how knowledgeable and willing she is to give the class new insights.
Nader will change your life, but only if you let her!
Laura Nader is an amazing woman. All those people out there who try to argue with her are complete bigots. Take her class if you want to learn about life and thinking integratively.
Laura Nader is an intimidating woman. She's highly qualified to be teaching this course and has a lot to say. The course readings were very interesting. Although some may criticize that she brings in a lot of her own viewpoint into the materials discussed.
Laura Nader's Controlling Processes class will give you the tools to re-evualuate and re-imagine your world. Some say she inserts too much of her opinion... obviously they didn't catch her point. Her class is intended to give students the tools to free themselves from the covert controls around them. Trust me, take the class. Read and learn.
I admire Nader's mien of intellectual authority. I went to about 3 Controlling Processes lectures and stopped. Not my cup of tea - too repetitive and didactic. The perk of this class is the reading material. 40% of which can be insightful and rigorous. Nader's harmony ideology tells you everything you need to know about her... she's an anarchist!
There are no words to describe this class. It is one of the few classes I have ever taken that truly changed my life. Professor Nader really encourages her students to be critical thinkers. Great readings and the lectures are typically pretty interesting. She lectures through storytelling and funny stories. Loved it.
This class was one of the few that I took in Berkeley that I will forever remember. Nader is a very wise professor. Highly recommended for it will make you change perspectives, not necessarily dogmatic though.
Interesting material, good insights but not necessarily an engaging lecturer. Very opaque grading; we were never told the grade breakdown or provided with rubrics - very frustrating!
Very interesting course - forces you to think critically and ethically about current means of acquiring energy. Nader's very opinionated which keeps lectures interesting but can be frustrating if you disagree. GSIs are fully in charge of grading - is maddening when they don't imply what they're looking for. Attend lectures and class will be easy!
Laura nader is ralph nader sister. she is basically a carbon copy of her brother. left left politics. as many poster will note. all class is about politics. Sitting in class last year, I can get this by watching CNN or PBS... Science or Humanities. choose science. humanities is free at public library.
Nader is one of the best professors at Cal. She teaches you to question your assumptions, critically engage the readings, and critically engage your own beliefs as well. She is a true gem and taking a class with her is not to be missed. "What did you learn at school today? Did you learn to believe or to think?" -Nader's father to Ralph and Laura
I find her table of contents very unhelpful in preparing for the exams.
Nader is a anti technology professor, so you CAN'T reach her after class. Lectures are her own opinions, she never goes over textbook materials, so you are on your own for exams. She will never consider different opinions and she can be rude sometimes. She rarely provides evidence to support her arguments! Love guest lectures tho!
Nader is not for everyone. Her lectures consist of series of personal anecdotes relevant to the day's topic. You have to pay close attention to get it. Her key points layer on top of each other, so if you invest effort you get reward. Midterm is 25%, Final is 75%. No paper, tests (in class writing) are fairly easy if you study.
I thought this class would be interesting. Its so boring I can hardly stand it. It should be a political science class, not anthropology. The reading is extremely dense, hard to figure out what to take from it. Study guide was ridiculous, so much content. The class was a major stress, do not take unless you enjoy politics and hard reads.
NADER SLAYS. Would take this class again. Going into the class, I assumed she was a crazy liberal. Now I have so much respect for her. . I dont think she cares about grading at all, she legit just wants you to learn to think on your own. Also she gives you the questions on the midterm/final. Not easy material but worth it.
This could very well be the worst professor + course I've ever taken in my entire academic career. Took me s while to realize but to Nader the only point that matters is hers. The task is to understand what she thinks and repeat it back to her. You never use your critical thinking skills to engage the material, lectures are torturous, content dated
She goes on tangents to where you do not understand what exactly to take from it. There is also excessive readings that make no sense and are not useful for contemporary issues. 2 books, 1 reader. The midterm and final are cumulative she cancels midterm grade if final is better. Don't take this class unless you REALLY have to.
This has been my all time favorite class at UC Berkeley. Laura spends each lecture discussing current events and readings from a reader/books she has published. Each lecture is educational, inspiring, and so interesting! If you are up for reading and want to learn from an absolute badass professor, this is the class for you!!!
I really enjoyed this course despite Professor Nader going off on tangents. Admittedly, her lectures were sometimes hard to follow and I think that many misunderstood the points she was trying to get across. I think she can be very frank and sometimes boring, but there were times when discussion would be interesting and you learn a lot!
Nader is a well respected activist/anthropologist who's work mostly calls out imperial hegemonic powers and politicians. I must say that if your ideas don't align with hers you'll probably find her lectures radical and blunt. She goes on tangents but I alway found them insightful & relatable to the course, anthropology, and current society.
Professor Nadar's class is a great depiction of how life works. She brings up a topic, you study it, create your own opinion, and you get a chance to make your argument. Everyone saying "only her opinion matters" clearly doesn't have an opinion as well thought out as hers. She makes you think and tests you on how well you communicate your thought.
Nader is well known in the field, although her class on energy is somewhat difficult because your final is your only grade, and her reader is a tough grader. I was really hoping for an A, but ended with a B+
Prof Nader is VERY old and honestly pretty senile. My first lecture with her was spent listening to complaints about her ratemyprofessor reviews and how students were wrong to give her bad reviews. Her teaching style is atrocious and it baffles me that she still works at a great uni like UCB
I feel so grateful and honored to have sat in 2 of Laura Naders classes before she retires. She has a wealth of knowledge, wisdom and experience - and this woman is a total badass!! I adore her, and learned so much. She is truly inspiring. She will be back next Spring for Freshman lecture, and I would highly encourage anyone to take her class.
Controlling Processes is the best course I have ever taken. It is so eye opening and has served me well in improving my critical thinking. It should be a requirement for everyone.
Prof Nader offered a fresh, realistic viewpoint on conflict resolution both in an US communities and those societies not familiar to Americans. Her lectures are eye opening, humorous, and so interesting. I never wanted to miss her lectures. I also commend the teaching assistants who guided us in sections.
There is the natural sciences like Physics+chemistry and the social fake studies like social studies and anthro. Anthro- called the " colonial + tourist studies of indigenous culture. Get a camera, notebook, iphone. Nader is old school when all this can be done for $500 dollars, camerca + pencil+ paper for free free - no need for anthro.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
54%
Textbook Required
75%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.45 avg changeRatings by Course
139
5.0
(1)CONPROC
5.0
(1)HIST139
5.0
(1)ANTH160
5.0
(1)HIST01
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ANTRO250X
5.0
157
4.5
ANTH101
4.5
HIST01
4.0
ANTH157
3.8