Asia Books

If one wants to understand the debacle or "quagmire" know as the Vietnam War, look no further than this riveting account! In "The Making of a Quagmire," David Halberstam pin points all of the failures of the system years before the first official U.S. troops splash ashore at Danang, Vietnam. His account, a collection of observations about Vietnam under the Diem presidency, is refreshing while at the same time shocking in its findings. While many observers insisted that efforts in Vietnam were progressing so well from 1961-63, Halberstam sees the light. His expose of all the failings of the system includes candid words about the inept south Vietnamese leadership and the American advisors who grow increasingly frustrated with their mission. Most importantly though, Halberstam offers a glimpse into the life of a journalist caught in his own war of censorship.

Before reading this book, my knowledge of the Vietnam war was limited to the movies I had seen on the subject, until recently when a friend recommended this book to me after a brief discussion of the war, its political agenda and its intrigue. Making of a quagmire is an extensive and thourough account of the events in 1961 and 1962 that lead to the eventual full american involvemnt in Vietnam. Halberstam provides an unbeleivable and at times jaw-dropping first hand account of the political and military events of the period, and translates with remarkable skill the frustration of the vicious circle that was the american policy in Vietnam. A must read for any one with even a slight interest in the subject

Halberstam's work is a classic, outlining the dilemma that Vietnam posed to American policymakers in the early 1960s, and written in lucid, newspaper-reporting style. The author's perceptiveness is particularly striking when one considers that he wasn't even 30 years old when he covered Vietnam.

Unfortunately, this McGraw-Hill edition abridges Halberstam's masterpiece. Most of the essential pieces of the story remain, but much of the rich, colorful narrative, which makes this such a fascinating book, is lost. Hopefully, a complete version will return to print soon.

In the early 1960s, David Halberstam was a New York Times correspondent who initially viewed the U.S. political and military-advisory roles in South Viet Nam as a necessary stance against the Communist menace (as defined by Dwight Eisenhower's "domino theory" in Southeast Asia).

But his pessimism grew during tours of the nation, interviews with American military advisors and his concerns surrounding the corrupt South Vietnamese government of President Ngo Dinh Diem. His criticism became so much of a problem to the Kennedy Administration that the president himself lobbied NYT editors to have Halberstam yanked out of South Viet Nam if his reporting continued to run contrary to the government's optimistic pronoucements.

The abridged edition - to make the text more accessible to those not familiar with this history - is a classic retrospective on how Halberstam grew to question the policies of Diem and Kennedy. It also importantly takes the reader through a journey on how he had to walk gingerly through the web of censorship that is played out between the government & the news media.

I read this book when I was a Cadet at West Point. It changed the way I looked at U.S. policy.

Read your typical history book covering Chinese history and you'll get a very distinct picture of the Jurchens and Manchus--about their conquest of china, the corruption of the Qing government (as if no other dynasty had corruption), of the power-hungry Aisio-gioro Nurgaci, founder of the Qing dynasty, and their alien, steppe-nomadic ways. Most Chinese history books have little good or substantive to say about this north-east Asian culture whose term for their religious priesthood was adopted by the West, "Shaman" (Chinese, "saman").

This book takes all that mythology and anti-Manchu rehtoric and blasts it to pieces with a compelling story of a people who have rarely been studied objectively and as a culture separate from the Mongols and Chinese. Nurgaci was not the man of the myths we've heard and never called himself Emperor. In fact for most of his life his title was "beile of the Jianzhou Jurchens". He was a great lord and chieftain of his lineage, but not even an autocrat in his authority, ruling jointly with his brother, Surgaci, for many years.

Besides the myths about Nuragi, many cultural myths are also dispelled. One major one is the assumption that the Manchus were nomads with a steppe culture analogous to the Mongol culture. This book explains how and why this assumption is wrong and is essential to anyone who wants to know the real Manchu people.

I'm only 3 chapters into the book and already know I need to reread it. there's a lot of information for the student of Jurchen and Manchu history!

WELL DONE!!

I read this book after Evelyn Rawski's "The Last Emperors" and it did answer & clarified a lot questions I had with regards to the Manchus and how they were like before entering China proper. The chapter on Nurhachi was good as was the section on the inevitable power struggle between Cixi and Guangxu (my only wish that this was elaborated further).
Crossley's book is highly recommended for both casual & serious historians alike. My suggestion is to read this first before Rawski's "The Last Emperors"

I have read a more recent book Evelyn Rawski's "The Last Emperors: A Social History of Qing Imperial Institutions " in which she discusses the context between her book and "The Manchus". The two books are probably quite similar but I think that Rawski's book would contain much more undisclosed material.
I have decided not to change the rating on this book in the interest of fair play.

I visited to pick up the paperback of this book, and saw this perplexing comment below. This book and The Last Emperor are apples and oranges. This is a popular book (I got my original copy from History Book Club) and intended for reader's with a general interest, or maybe beginning historians. The book by Evelyn S. Rawski is an academic title, very thorough and erudite. But also the books are not on the same subject. Rawski is about the Manchu emperors, their courts and palaces. The Manchus is much more general. Please do not get confused into thinking that these two books are on the same subject.

It's funny to note that at many times the Qing dynasty faced many of the same problems that we see today: overpopulation, government corruption, war against drugs. So much of what we think of as Chinese is also Manchu and was introduced rather recently. Well writen and clear all the way through.

Martin Yan's book is a treasure. Many friends think I can do Chinese cooking effortlessly. Maybe not so, but with this cookbook you can make some basic and some not so basic Chinese dishes. Kung Pao and Hot and Sour soups are made over and over, and I've yet to tasted better in any restaurant. Hail to the chef!

Barry Marshall

The book starts off by literally taking the reader through a journey - A journey that totaled more than 65,000 miles throughout China over land, sea, air, and waterways during a three-month period. I learned something new myself reading this book. I have always tried to explain to people how to understand the balance of flavors, taste and textures of food. Martin Yan explains it in one easy thought - yin and yang. "Yin represents the feminine, yielding, darker, more mysterious forces, while yang stands for the masculine, harder, brighter and hotter ones. In the world of food, yin might be cooler, moister, softer foods, like winter melon, asparagus or crabmeat. Yang might take the form of chiles, ginger, fried foods or red meat." The concept of the yin and yang also fit the textures of the food as well. The next part of the book talks about special equipment, tools and techniques. The recipes include Hot and Sour Beijing Dumplings, Duck Soup, Seafood in an Orange Basket (an incredible dish that is so easy to make), Minced Poultry with Walnuts in Lettuce Cups, Mongolian Roast Lamb, Mushrooms in Fragrant Broth, Steamed Garden Vegetables, Fish in a Bamboo Leaf, Steamed Spareribs in Plum Sauce, Tofu Custard with Tropical Fruits, Honey Walnut Prawns, Ginger-Date Wontons, Asparagus with Sweet and Pungent Dressing, and Spicy Fun See Noodle Salad. The recipes are well written with a little history for an item of each recipe. Food styling and photography of this book are outstanding. Some of the ingredients in the book will only be found in specialty shops or Oriental markets, i.e. dried black mushrooms, nori (Japanese seaweed), Sichuan peppercorns and dried bean thread noodles. This book was aiming to be the first book to receive a perfect score from me, until the very end of the cookbook. Martin Yan wrote an incredible book. I felt the last two pages of advertising took a little bit away from the book however

I love this book. Not only is Martin Yan entertaining, he provides a look at his learning experience traveling through Asia and it's culinary history. There is also great information on building an Asian pantry, what supplies and cookware you need, ingredient information and how to use everything. Recipes are very easy to follow and he provides easy directions. Your favorites are a lot easier to cook at home than you'd think!

This is my most used cookbook. Great explanations and easy instructions. Anyone can with this cookbook.

I bought this book when it first came out after watching Martin Yan's cooking show on PBS. He's a great chef and teacher. I was lucky to buy this book as my first intro to chinese cooking. If I had bought another book, I might have been too intimidated. But Martin Yan's book of simple recipes with complex flavors was the perfect start to learn how to cook chinese. The recipes are easy, simple and delicious. You'll want to cook them over and over again, and before you know it, you'll begin to experiment on your own, using the simple techniques you learn in this book. I've made almost every recipe in it, and nearly every one has turned out great. From the pot-stickers to the soups to the salads to the stir-frys, all of them tasty and easy to make. The one thing I disagree with Martin Yan on is his saying "don't stare-fry, stir-fry," meaning that you should always keep stirring the food around in your wok (or fry pan). I've found many recipes benefit from a little charring here and there, so less stirring can often add tremendous flavor in some of the dishes. Anway, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have over the years! It's one of the best in this genre of cookbooks.

This is one of the best books I have read. I loved the Indian culture connection.I loved it when they went back in time.It is an amazing book.

After picking up her first book in the series, I knew I had to find out if I could find the sequel. I really love her style of writing, spare yet there are no loose ends in the story line. The story is tight and smooth, the characters are richly imagined-although the main character Anand is the focus of most of the character development. This is a happy fantasy series about magic and adventure in historical India that you won't want to miss and will draw you in regardless of your age, with positive morals and themes that are great for children. If you like books like Harry Potter, you'll love this.

With rich, sumptuous detail and admirable clarity Chitra Divakaruni draws us into the Conch Bearer Anand's journey for a second time. The difficulties faced and lessons learned by the Brotherhood of the Conch in this newest book combine to create an enchanting story. Both The Conch Bearer and The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming provide vibrant descriptions, especially concerning culture and food. These books are delightful adventures wholesome enough for any age group to enjoy. Happy Reading

This book, the sequel to The Conch Bearer, mixes the sense of excitement that every book needs, a wonderful use of magic realism (which is illustrated by the fact that Anand, the main character, travels from the present day India to the ancient India, who'se realistic features are marred by the fact that Anand is a magician) , an overhanging gloom and really, really, really great writing.

This was one of my favorite books and I would definately recommend it to anyone!!!

Anand is the Keeper of the Conch. He gave up his family and his home so that he can help the world, as a Healer in Silver Valley. His friend Nisha comes with him, the first ever female healer, and the master healer Abhaydatta is one of his instructors. As Anand struggles with his studies, he hears a warning from the wind and views an alarming scene on a wall. The Healers must take action; they know it is their duty to protect the world from the "evil that stirs." Abhaydatta and a young healer called Raj-bahnu embark upon a quest to find this evil, leaving a heart-broken Anand behind. However, just before he leaves, Abhaydatta gives Anand a pearl necklace that will change color if he is in danger. In yet another alarming scene, Anand views Abhaydatta beside a lake with an unconscious Raj-bhanu at his side. He knows they are in danger, but the pearls are nowhere to be found. The Healer's Council will decide upon a course of action in the morning, but Anand knows that by then it will be to late. The Conch agrees to transport Nisha and Anand to the lake, but something goes slightly awry. Can Anand find the Conch, Abhaydatta, and Nisha before evil destroys the world?

The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming expresses just how powerful love can be. Adventure, fantasy, and mystery intertwine to form an exciting novel with many important lessons. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni has created a world of fantasy that involves so many of life's true feelings and emotions that it seems real; a world full of hardships and triumphs. Readers young and old who love an exciting novel will definitely enjoy The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming, and anyone searching for a book with just the right blend of fantasy and reality has just found the perfect tale.

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Rikko was a very imporatant part of the Japanese Imperial navy's offensive tactic and type 1 bomber along with type 96 (presicely speaking , "Land based Attack plane") was one of the most produced Japanese airplanes during the world war II. HOwever, it has been largely neglected and even condescendingly remarked with such an humiliated ephithet "flying Cigar". There are several volumes that covers this interesing speciman and cheery blossom like career of Type 1 Rikkoin Japan ,however Mr. Tagaya's volume is perhaps for the first time in English. Although the volume is a typical Osprey format , which mean less than a 100 page and lots of photos, text of Mr. Tagaya's insightful and often exciting, which show he has incisive knowlege on Japanese aviation in the pacific war. This is one of the best Osprey aviation volumes and I am eagerly waiting for his next volume in this series.

The Betty is a famous japanese ww2 bomber, but on his operative are until today few notices. The book is the n° 22 in the growing Osprey Combat Serie; as usual is very well done, with rare photos, many colour plates, some orders of battle for the various air group and enough details on operative use. The evolution of the Sentai strenght and the appaling losses suffered from the aircrews are also well detailed. The action against the Force Z on december 10, 1941 and the use versus US Navy ships in the Guadalcanal campaign, is enriched with day by day account of the mission. I found the book in some way better than others in the same serie, with a particular attention toward new informations on the "Betty".

Osamu Tagaya is one of the world's foremost researchers on Japanese naval air forces. His superb command of the subject material is evident on every page of this volume. The illustrations are excellent as well. A valued part of my personal library.

-jon parshall-
Imperial Japanese Navy Homepage
http://www.combinedfleet.com

The Betty is a famous japanese ww2 bomber, but on his operative are until today few notices. The book is the n° 22 in the growing Osprey Combat Serie; as usual is very well done, with rare photos, many colour plates, some orders of battle for the various air group and enough details on operative use. The evolution of the Sentai strenght and the appaling losses suffered from the aircrw are also well detailed. The action against the Force Z on december 10, 1941 and the use versus US Navy ships in the Guadalcanal campaign, is enriched with day by day account of the mission. I found the book in some way better than others in the same serie, with a particular attention toward new informations on the "Betty".

Osprey has again come through with the goods with this 22nd volume addition to its series. It is filled with the same highly detailed aircraft and unit data readers have come to expect, and receive, from Osprey publications. It has this and a great deal more. I found it insightful and hard to put down. If this volume has any shortcomings it would be that it is so readable that it will be quickly digested by the reader! Mr. Tagaya held my interest through every chapter. I eagerly await the next volume by this gentleman (D3A Val Units) as a result of my satisfaction with this fine piece of research. A great deal of insight from various and numerous Japanese sources is very much in evidence here. Readers are exposed to the G4M Betty and the hardships of the aircrews/units that flew it to be sure, but as an added benefit Mr. Tagaya's research sheds light on the chasm of differences between Japanese and American air campaign theory and management in WW 2. Anyone with a more than casual interest in the subject will quickly realize its value and want to keep this reference readily available. Worth every cent you'll pay, and more!

Myths of Light is a compilation of articles and lectures given over the years by Joseph Campbell. The topics explored in these pieces are quite varied. However, the main theme that ties these works together is that they all explore aspects of Eastern belief, mythology, iconography, and symbolism.

Written from the perspective of the outsider taking a look into the beliefs and mythology of the East, Campbell provides an insightful overview. Campbell takes the stance that whether our stories are based upon fact or are merely fiction meant to illustrate proper behavior really isn't the issue. The truly important thing is that within mythology, dogma, and ritual we see the remnants of belief.

I believe it is this viewpoint that allows Campbell to look within the various belief systems of the Eastern World with wonder and objectivity. Quite interesting. Perfect for new to the study.

This book was a lovely, focused introduction to Hinduism and Buddhism, with a little Jainism and Taoism thrown in for good measure. I loved Cambpell's ability both to find the lovely, telling details in each of these traditions, and to find the overarching themes--especially the idea of Brahman, which he sees as underpinning all of them. I also particularly loved Cambpell's sense of humor--in one section he's describing the reincarnation of the soul, and says it's putting on and taking off bodies "like a shopper at Macy's trying on scarves"! That page is marked in my copy by the tea I sputtered because I laughed so loudly.
The only downside from my point of view was an emphasis in the sections on Buddhism on Mahayana as opposed to Theravada Buddhism. Though he does discuss the older branch of the Buddhist tradition, it is somewhat in passing. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book enormously.

Having devoured Campbell's work in the nineties, I'd almost given up on his unpublished essays and lectures ever seeing the light of day. Then came Thou Art That and now Myths Of Light. These books are just perfect echoes of Campbell's comparative conclusions, only more concise. After a lifetime of work, his lectures honed his thoughts into great clarity. These two books are actually great introductions to Campbell's thoughts and work. They touch here and there on historical evidence, but mainly stay in the line of clarifying what occident and orient mythology entails.
If you've been waiting a long time to read more Campbell, you'll have bought these books already. And if you haven't, you'll be very surpised.

I heard about this book at the Campbell Foundations website and was very interested--I'd always wanted to learn more about Asian religions but had found the books I'd looked at either too hard-core academic or too new-agey or too obscure. I tried reading the Bhagavad Gita ten years ago, and thought it was cool, but couldn't really understand it.

This book really gave me an insight into the mindset that lies behind Buddhism and Hinduism. I'd always thought the emphasis on reincarnation was a little creepy, but now I have an idea of what its about. Campbell tells some wonderful stories and connects the dots between what seem like really random ideas. And the short section on the Bhagavad Gita was really eye-opening. I went back and reread the book and feel like I finally understand it.

This is a perfect book to start your exploration of Eastern Religion.

Having not much more background in Asian religion than a Zen Buddhism class I took to fulfill a distribution requirement in college 20 years ago, I approached this book with some anticipation and some anxiety. My main memory of those long-ago days in that lecture class was of reading and discussing religious texts that seemed to have been written by another species--the basic assumptions were beyond me, and my professor (who had spent his adult life immersed in the study of esoteric Buddhism) had a hard time understanding why we didn't just get it. But I'd been fascinated by what little I'd understood and always wanted to find a more accessible guide to the ins and outs of Asian myth. This book is it! Campbell, who I knew from Power of Myth, lays out the basic principles that underlie Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism (and he touches on Taoism too) with the same sort of humor and wisdom that I'd expected. What a fun book to start the summer reading season with!

While in Nepal last year I found this book to be exactly what I needed to get around as easily as possible. I usually use Lonely Planet Guides when traveling, but in this case - the Rough Guide is superior. Now if I can only get it back from my friend....

great guidebook. Describes in detail the good, the bad and the ugly of Nepal. The language section was extremely useful. A few hours spent learning some useful greetings and phrases will pay off tenfold upon arrival in Nepal. Being able to bargain or ask for directions in the native language is a lot of fun and much appreciated, especially since most travellers do not take the time to learn anything more than "Namaste."

This book has given me comfort and a wealth of information about what I would like to do and see in Nepal. Having a well planned trip in advance is smart and this book will probably tell you everything you need to know about anything, and more. Food, health issues, places to stay, sights, special points, etc. Definitely worth the investment.

I just returned from Nepal using this guide. The book was very well-written with lots of practical advice-- everything from how to book an airline to what kind of diahrrea you may have picked up. Very accurate information re. hotels, modes of transportation, etc. Useful vocabulary list.

The best thing about this book is its vast coverage; especially those places off the beaten track. It has a lot of practical information and despite being 2 years old now, it was still fairly accurate. Other travel books attempt to be encyclopedic about Nepal,... documenting everything without prioritizing the places that people actually do visit. David's book goes into a lot of detail about places of interest, both historical and practical info. For example, the book had an excellent section on Chitwan national park. In fact, on our recent trip it saved us from getting a guide. I thoroughly recommend this book. The author even keeps a website to update the readers. Great.

There are a lot of high quality photographies of very wonderful netsuke, interesting design, good advice how to do the photographies of small netsuke better! This book is very good for beginning carvers, galleries!

Symmes does a wonderful job of composing this text. He gives a nice history of netsuke, covering the span of time from feudal Japan to the present. He includes a small section on netsuke manufacture, and another on photographic techniques for macro photography and design, and then the text opens into a wonderful collection of full-page photographs of several varied and incredible pieces, some dating back to the seventeenth century. He includes brief descriptions of the netsuke, although he could have elaborated on the Japanese (and Chinese) fables that inspired many of these creations for Western audiences. Many of the pieces in this book are available today in reproduction form, and the netsuke are composed of several different materials, not just the "typical" ivory or wood. This text is a must have for any collector, beginning or advanced, as it will inspire readers to research their private collections as well as create the desire to build them! The reproduction of detail from the photographs is amazing!

Between the introductory text and the stories attached to each picture, this book serves to both educate and whet the appetite. I struggled with the desire to own each of the pieces that Symmes so lovingly photographed.

As author Symmes says, netsukes have the "power to influence people and pocketbooks." This statement is true in several aspects. First, the collector of netsukes will find that they are expensive. Second, the purpose of a netsuke is to fasten an "inro," or case holding valuables, to an obi or belt. "Ne" translates as "root" and "tsuke" translates as "to fasten." An inro's cords are held tightly by an "ojime," or bead, to keep it closed and the netsuke keeps the inro from falling off of the wearer.

The highly-detailed photographs of netsukes are in harmony with the scenery and objects surrounding them, so lusciously artistic that you may consider framing them.

HIH Prince Norihito of Takamado, who wrote this book's foreward, says he looks for "warmth, wit, and a certain twist" in his own netsuke collection. To fully appreciate a netsuke, "hold it, feel it, and examine it closely in one's hand."

Netsuke figures have stories associated with them. Many figures are puns in which the same word may have several meanings. For example, monkey is "saru" which is pronounced the same as "to leave," so it would be unlucky to marry in a monkey year.

If you are not familiar with Asian astrology, this book will teach you much about the associated legends. One tale that fascinated me was about Daruma, the 28th patriarch of Zen Buddhism. Daruma meditated for 9 years, sitting so long that his legs lost their strength. My sister, who lived in Japan for many years, sent me a wooden Daruma doll with two blank eyes. When you knock over the Daruma doll, it pops back upright, reflecting an undaunted spirit. Here's what you are supposed to do with a Daruma doll: you color one eye to make a prayer, then you color the other one when the prayer is answered.

You'll learn much about Japanese life and legend from studying these tiny netsukes -- and Symmes provides us with a fun way to learn.

This book is a lot like the netsuke themselves. At first, it looks like it might be something interesting, so you pick it up, look a little closer, and...you are inside a whole different world. Something deceptively simple shows itself to have hidden depths.

I had been interested in netsuke for awhile, ever since buying a little ivory sumo in an antique shop in Japan one day. There was something about the miniature wrestler that fascinated me, and I found myself going back to the shop over and over again, just to look at it. I finally knew that, even though it was expensive, it had to be mine.

This is much like the feeling that author Edwin Symmes describes, leading me to believe that it must be a universal experience amongst netsuke appreciators. He is someone who loves the stories behind the tiny figures, who tries to find their personality rather than figure out their rarity or value. In "Netsuke: Japanese Life and Legend in Miniature", he combines his fascination with his skills in photography, creating small vignettes incorporating the figures with appropriate settings, such as an ivory tiger emerging from real bamboo, or a wooden Daruma nestled inside a rock cave. Next to each image is a story, detailing the legends behind the figure, or maybe a little something about the carver, something that you wouldn't know just by looking but which deepens the understanding and appreciate of the figure.

What this book is not is a collector's guide to netsuke. Anyone new to the art form, and looking for a "How to.." guide to give them tips as what to look for, isn't going to find that here. Not that it is entirely lacking in practical information. There are sections describing the history of netsuke, their original use and their evolution, but that is not the focus. To those who's interest lies in photography, Symmes includes a fascinating section on photographing netsuke. But the real joy lies in looking at the pictures, reading the stories, and sharing the love of netsuke that radiates from this book.

It's a fascinating book and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone seeking to get a hold on the North Korean regime's mindset. It also amply shows the current situation to be far more complex and historically rooted than our politicians and media suggest in their 'they're just evil' mantra.

I found the Bradt travel guide indispensable. I traveled to the DPRK in August 2005. I am a U.S. citizen. The trip was arranged through the National Lawyers Guild. I and another lawyer from the US represented the NLG at the 60th Anniversary Liberation Day events in Pyongyang. The trip was routed through China. I believe the NLG picked me because I have good contacts in China and I speak Chinese.

As a result of the 1945 Teheran Conference, the Soviet Union agreed to enter the war against Japan. VE day was May 8, 1945. It took several months to move sufficient Red Army forces from Berlin to the Manchurian border. Chiang Kai Shek's nationalist army never really fought the Japanese, so the whole Northeast (except for the rural base areas of the Chinese Communist guerillas) was under Japanese occupation. The US was counting on Soviet help to rout the Japanese in Manchuria and Korea, and then help with the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands. The U.S. got its wish. Two days after the August 6, 1945 Hiroshima bombing, Soviet forces smashed across the Manchurian border and liberated all of Korea and north China in less than a week. Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945. In both Koreas, August 15 (VJ Day) is Liberation Day. In the face of U.S. demands, the Soviets agreed to withdraw north to the 38th parallel. U.S forces then entered the south. That's how the division of Korea into two hostile states began.

The trip I was on was for a conference in Pyongyang celebrating the victory over Japan and pledging international support for Korean unification and support for North Korea against the threats made by the U.S. Government.

There were about 100 delegates from around the world. We all stayed in Pyongyang at the Yanggakdo Hotel on Yanggak Island in the Taedong river. The hotel was full. In addition to the conference people, there were hundreds of rowdy Chinese tourists from Beijing tour groups. Room prices are posted on an electronic sign in the lobby. All prices are in Euros. Third class rooms were 70, 80 and 95 Euros/day. 2nd class were 140, 150, 160 and 170/day. First class was 170 and 180. Deluxe rooms were 370 and 420. I picked the 80 Euro room, guessing that it would be higher and have a better view. I guessed correctly. I was assigned room 34-2. My large, new, air-conditioned room had a refrigerator/freezer, big bathroom and a great view, facing upriver toward the Juche Tower. Room prices included all meals, which were scheduled around our itinerary. I was not told that meals were free. When I paid my bill (for seven days), I was charged only 420 Euros for my room, food, conference registration and transportation. The guide/minder sought a "donation" for the minders. I donated 80 Euros. So, the cost for everything, including the tip, was 500 Euros for the week. If you have a choice, avoid this isolated hotel and try to get into the Koryo, which is downtown and near the postage stamp store and a department store. You will have little contact with ordinary Koreans if you stay at the Yanggakdo Hotel.

I got my visa in China, in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. Shenyang is the site of the DPRK Consulate nearest the DPRK border. No one was allowed into the DPRK Consulate. It looked like an impressive two story colonial building. A burley Korean was standing at a small opening in the gate and collecting stacks of Chinese passports for visas to Pyongyang. I told him, in Chinese, that we were there to pickup our visas. But he did not speak Chinese! He waived us away when he saw my American passport. A tour operator who spoke Korean interceded for us. The official eventually took our two passports and told us to return in an hour. When we came back, the burley official smiled and returned our passports. They had DPRK visas stapled inside. We next went to the DPRK airline company (Koryo) in a hotel in Shenyang. The clerk spoke Chinese. I told him we had visas and showed him our U.S. passports. As soon as he saw the passports he said, "No ticket, no way!" But I told him we already had a reservation. He checked his reservations computer and found our names. He then agreed to give us round trip tickets. The fare was $150.00, round trip, Shenyang to Pyongyang. We left the next day, August 10. It was a forty minute flight to Pyongyang. For me, the high point of the trip was the drive from the airport to the city. It's a 30 minute ride through rolling green countryside. There were cars, trucks and bicycles on the wide road. There were hundreds of busy peasants walking along the roadside carrying tools and leading water buffalo. They looked poor, but no worse than the peasants I saw in rural China, in Sichuan, on this same trip. Some of the peasants were smoking, so they must have had some disposable income. Rolling through the gradual hills I suddenly saw the monumental Arc de Triumph on the road ahead. Through the arch I could see the monument to Cholinga, the flying horse, and then huge revolutionary tablets capped with red flags. These were like the monuments around Tiananmen Square in Beijing, but they were on a much larger scale and very impressive. No city in the world has monuments on the scale of Pyongyang. Wow!

No, I haven't been to North Korea, but who has? This was a quirky and fun book for an armchair traveller. The Bradt travel series prides itself on going where Lonely Planet fears to tread - places like Iraq and Kabul - as well as the world's most bizarre country, North Korea. The author briefly mentions how difficult it was to write a travel book where museum employees refuse to give opening hours or phone numbers of their establishments, and where special permits are required to travel from one city to another. I suspect the author could write a second book about what he went through to write this book.

Part I consists of 91 pages of background (history, politics, entry documents, etc.), and Part II is about 120 pages of typical travel information regarding hotels (not that you have any choice), restaurants, shopping (hahaha), attractions, and so on. There are 22 color photos, 27 maps, and some black and white drawings. A brief language guide gives translations of such useful phrases as "Yankees are wolves in human shape" - the author does have a sense of humor - as well as more commonplace words and phrases. There is almost nothing here about atrocities or the dire poverty that others have noted. However, the author does coyly mention that it would be pointless to write his book in such a manner that it was banned from being brought into North Korea.

I actually did travel to North Korea, through the Korean Friendship Association. This is about the only way non NGO Americans can make their way into the Hermit Kingdom. I am wondering if this book gives Americans any advice as to how to get into the country. I would love to see past the major showcase cities we were allowed to tour. Nowadays you have to be prepared to 'Praise the Leader" everyday if you want to take the KFA trip. Not a good idea for those Americans who would ever like to visit South Korea or fly on an airplane. I bet the CIA has your picture before you even land in Pyongyang...
Alas, I heard you could use those passports the were issuing in Key West as a novelty item. Apparently they look so good, all you have to do is hide your accent and pay up at the DPRK embassy in Beijing and your on your way to Pyongyang.... I don't know if I would feel for you if you get caught though. haha
Sucks to be a cracker sometimes

Robert Willoughby's travel guide to North Korea is fascinating on two counts. In the first instance, on the travel front itself, the author has covered several far-flung corners of the country, going beyond the more accessible capital city of P'yongyang, the Diamond Mountain resort, and the tourist-oriented luxuries of Mount Myohang. Although it is not always clear how Willoughby--or those others who contributed to his book--won permission to visit these remote locations, the guide book is explicit in pointing out that few if any foreigners are free to roam the country at will. Visits must generally be part of package tours, most of which originate in China, and the severely underdeveloped road and public transportation systems limit the number of cities that can be accessed.

On the second front, that of a descriptive journal, Willoughby's guide contributes to the outside world's knowledge of North Korea, the most secretive and hermetically-sealed of all nations on earth. Nearly all daily news reporting in the United States focuses on a North Korea that is obsessed with acquiring nuclear weapons and has clearly earned its place in the "axis of evil." It is therefore a delight to be offered detailed descriptions of the country's geographic features and flora and fauna and to find out how ordinary people go about their everyday lives. It is also a welcome surprise to learn that in some areas, such as Mount Paektu on the northwest border with China, North Koreans are both gracious and relaxed in dealing with visitors.

Willoughby's book benefits greatly from his wonderful writing skills, his British sense of humor, and the careful background research he used to flesh out first-hand observations. I found many details in this book fascinating and available for the very first time, and I would have loved to have had the guide available while I was still an intelligence officer following North Korea in the 1970s through 1990s.

I HAVE BEEN READING TURNBULL'S BOOKS FOR YEARS EVER SINCE I STUMBLED ACROSS A OLD TITLE OF HIS FROM THE 80'S.IF WANT THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IN THE ERA OF THE SAMURAI, READ HIS BOOKS.ANYONE ELSE IS A WASTE OF YOUR TIME.

This proves to be a valued addition to the Osprey Campaign series. The author, Stephen Turnbull wrote a great summary book on one of final major campaigns fought by the Japanese samurai during their heydays.

The campaign in question was Tokugawa Ieyasu's effort to secured his family rule of Japan by destroying the only other family who had the power and prestiage to challenge him. That family was the one of Toyotomi Hideyori, son of the great Taiko, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. While Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 created the Tokugawa Shogunate, Osaka Campaign of 1615 secured it for the next 250 years.

This book proves to be well written, well research and reflects strongly on the author's command of the subject. The author explains clearly the motives, directions and purpose of the campaign. The campaign ironically proves to be some sort of a Sekigahara Part II type of scenario since so many members of the Toyotomi army were made up of survivors who lost the first battle.

The book is organized into Osprey's typical set-up of introduction, background, commanders, troop type and finally the campaign itself. The entire book is exactly 96 pages long including the index. It come well illustrated, the maps are easy to read and followed and there some which proves to be very useful. The author have also provided some very nice order of the battle as well.

Overall, the book come highly recommended for anyone interested in Japanese samurai history. This book will go superbly well with Ospery's earlier book on Sekigahara by Anthony Bryant which proves to be equally well written.

I have been reading and enjoying Stephen Turnbull's books since 1978. His latest book about Osaka in 1615 as the last battle of the samurai is outstanding. I pre-ordered it knowing it would be good, but I was blown away by how comprehensive it was.
Turnbull has a seemingly enless number of stories about the samurai. Interesting anecdotes such as the question of Tokugawa Ieyasu being killed and replaced by a kagemusha (shadow warrior)is fascinating. I am looking forward to his next book due out this fall.

Osaka 1615, Stephen Turnbull's latest Osprey effort, is a welcome addition to the sparse English sources on Japanese warfare. Much of the information in this volume is presented in English for the first time, and Turnbull does a good job of detailing the movements and maneuverings of the two armies. I found his coverage of the many small battles occurring at the beginning of the Winter Osaka Campaign to be particularly well done and helpful. The orders of battle are highly detailed and extensive. As always, Turnbull excels in his ability to breath life into what could otherwise be a straightforward military history with many stories of the `glorious' (and not so glorious, as in the case of a commander who was lying drunk in a brothel as his fort was being captured) deeds performed. The volume is loaded with prints, woodcuts, and modern photos of the battlefields from Turnbull's archives (one of the best and most diverse sources to be found outside Japan). Colorful and detailed maps round out the volume. At 96 pages, it's not quite as extensive as could be hoped for, but hey, that's Osprey.
I'd like here to address some points made by another reviewer that I found rather odd, as Turnbull covers them all in his volume.
1)"Unfortunately, Turnbull is somewhat weaker on examining the actual military aspects of the campaign, such as why the Tokugawa won (yes the artillery was important, but simply not decisive at this point in history due to slow rate of fire and limited battlefield mobility)"
Artillery fire WAS the decisive factor in the Winter campaign (and henceforth the campaign as a whole). After several failed assaults on the Osaka castle defenses, Ieyasu decided to take a different approach. He knew his best bet was to prompt Lady Yodo (Toyotomi Hideyori's mother) to coerce her son into entering peace negotiations. Ieyasu knew Lady Yodo well, and his keen insight into her nature led him to believe that opening up on her living quarters with his artillery would have the desired effect...and he was right. The artillery bombardments of the keep (along with the entreaties of Yodo's family members sent as envoys by Ieyasu) drove the Toyotomi to a disastrous agreement with Ieyasu that ended up leaving the castle stripped of much of its defenses. The superior range of the Tokugawa cannon meant that they could bombard the keep at will without fear of retaliation. Rate of fire and mobility were simply not important factors, and for that matter even the physical damage they caused. Without the artillery, it's likely that the siege would have taken many extra months or perhaps years...if the Tokugawa coalition held that long.
2)"...or how many casualties occurred."
Turnbull doesn't discuss this for the simple reason that there exist no contemporary records of casualties for the battles as a whole. Anything on his part would be no more than wild speculation.
3)"Turnbull's methodology for the most part ignores how units fought or operational decisions in favor of spotlighting individual behavior."
Welcome to the world of samurai warfare, where operational decisions many times tended to be on the `There's the enemy-go get them!' and `We're being attacked-go get them' level. Some armies such as the Shimazu or Uesugi would pull off well planned ambushes and assaults, but these were the exception rather than the rule.
4)"After reading the description of the main actions on 3-4 June 1615 I found it difficult to gauge from this volume why exactly one side prevailed (other than the obviously higher level of initiative on the Tokugawa side)."
As Turnbull explained, the Toyotomi forces (outnumbered two to one) found their initial assault blunted as the Tokugawa continually brought fresh troops into the battle (while the Toyotomi forces became more and more tired and depleted). When the assault ground to a halt, the Toyotomi commander (Sanada Yukimura) was killed and their exhausted forces broke.
The book is not without its faults (I'd give it 4.8 stars rather than 5)...there are a few typos (for example, Kyushu is spelled Kyosho on page 9). The map of the battle of Domyoji on pages 70-71 has some mislabeling (there are two number 3's on the map-one of which should be #2-and number 1 & 2 on the map should both be labeled `1'). The same map also shows further troop positions on the Toyotomi side that do not agree with Japanese sources and appear to be incorrect. There's also some statements made to the effect that the walls and outworks of the castle look now just as they did in 1615-not so, as the original Toyotomi walls and structures were covered with dirt and built upon for the `Tokugawa' version of Osaka castle built around 1620. Likewise, the present keep is said to be based upon the Toyotomi version of the keep-however, the dimensions, number of roofs, and even something as basic as the castle's color are completely different.
All in all, however, Turnbull has done an exceptional job with the book given the limited space. There's something to be learned here for both serious scholars and casual readers. Highly recommended for any aficionado of Japanese history!

In Osaka 1615, Osprey Campaign #170, Samurai expert Dr. Stephen Turnbull provides an interesting summary of the final battle that unified Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate. I have been reading Turnbull's work since I was a student in Japan in the early '80s, when I also had chance to visit Osaka Castle. In short, Turnbull has a huge wealth of Samurai-related knowledge that he is able to convey on these pages to fascinate readers who enjoy Eastern tales of derring-do. Unfortunately, Turnbull is somewhat weaker on examining the actual military aspects of the campaign, such as why the Tokugawa won (yes the artillery was important, but simply not decisive at this point in history due to slow rate of fire and limited battlefield mobility) or how many casualties occurred. The author presents the reader with one Samurai account after another, but after awhile they start to appear as ciphers since we really don't know much about most of them. Turnbull's methodology for the most part ignores how units fought or operational decisions in favor of spotlighting individual behavior.

The volume follows the standard Osprey campaign format, with the usual 2-D and 3-D maps. Dr. Turnbull divides the campaign narrative into the winter and summer phases. I must admit that Dr. Turnbull adds good insight into Tokugawa Ieyasu's character, but most of the other leaders remain obscure. After reading the description of the main actions on 3-4 June 1615 I found it difficult to gauge from this volume why exactly one side prevailed (other than the obviously higher level of initiative on the Tokugawa side). Since the author admits that the final battle could have gone either way, this question deserved better analysis. Overall, this volume covers the subject fairly well, although it remains aloof from military issues, such as logistics, intelligence.