Are you aware of a newer book by Paul Shankman, entitled, "The Trashing of Margaret Mead"? It is a scholarly and balanced treatment of the issues. Really, anything by Shankman on Mead is helpful. I have found that most negative comments about Mead come from those who have not read the recent literature, and who are completely unaware that Freeman's work was generally slammed by the American Anthropological Association. The fact that it all became something of a media circus did not help the discussion.

There is a new edition of "Coming of Age in Samoa," out now. The series of introductions in it are also helpful to read.