Asia Books

ITMB maps are excellent. We have purchased ITMB maps on several previous occasions for various countries... and have never been disappointed in their accuracy and ease of reading. I look forward to getting to use my India map this summer!

I brought this map mainly to put it up on the wall - but its not designed for that. The map is on both sides of the paper - divided by regions. Its water-proof and does not tear easily - so its great if you want to use it as a driving guide.

i WAS IN iNDIA WITH A GROUP IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR AND I WANTED TO MAP OUT JUST WHARE WE WERE DURING THE TRIP.
THE MAP WAS VERY USEFUL IN HELPING ME SEE JUST HOW FAR AND HOW MANY MILES WE TRAVELED IN 15 DAYS.
THE MAP IS CLEAR AND VERY WELL LAID OUT
KEN

This map is great because it can be stuffed into a backpack and sweat and rain will not damage it. The detail is good, and the information helpful.

When I was a very little girl, we lived in Indonesia and were in Japanese concentration camps during WWII.
I was interested in reading this book, because my brother was taken away at 11 and sent to a men's camp all by himself. I wanted to know what he had gone through.
This book will tell you a little of what we all went through in those years. It is written from a young boys view point and that was helpful to keep it less of a heavy read.
I think very few people know how many of us suffered hunger and illness in POW camps under the Japanese. It is history and hopefully we won't have to re-live this.

A decided to read this book after I heard the news that a movie based on it staring Jane Seymour will be filming next year. I read it only to better understand the movie, and was extremely surprised at what an excellent story I found it to be. It is told from the perspective of a little boy, about his struggles and triumphs, and the little things that help him cope with life in a concentration camp run by Japanese. If you think this is your typical "WW II survivor story", guess again. As I was reading I forgot the book was about a concentration camp. It became the story of a ordinary boy and his mother, and their day-to-day life amidst a horrific background. The harsh reality is it is a true story. I hope the movie does it justice. This book is extremely under-rated. It is up to par with Oprah's book club books. Please read it, and I think you will be surprised. If anyone knows how I can contact the author, please let me know.

The story is beyond an ugliness of human nature.How any one dare to challenge "How about Hiroshima ?" The boy is above all these and almost religius. The Japanese Emperor and the Governmentaologized for the undue cruelities inflickted on the internees, but the most interesting thing is that they did no do so to their own people who were victims themselves under the Japanese Military systems.

i am 16 years old and read this book for the first time last year. i truly enjoyed reading the book. i am not into books which have a difficult plot or a lot of long words but anyone can undersatnd this book. i cant imagine what the boy would have went through and had to keep on reminding myself that this actually happened. i definitely do not think that this book is given the credit in which it is worth. reading the book makes you realise what a good life you have compared to what the boy went through. so go out and read the book now. p.s. have a box of tissues ready!!!

Jac Weller continues his admiration of Sir Arthur Wesley (later Wellsley and Duke of Wellington). Here we take a step back in time to Wesley's earlier career in India. For many this will have little known territory. Those who have read the Sharpe novels may have some idea of the period in question, and they will certainly get the historical background for those novels here.

Wesley certainly learned his trade in India. Much of what he learned here in terms of supply, organization and diplomacy would stand him in well in the campaigns of Spain and Portugal, and of course Waterloo. In terms of tactics readers might see some differences. In the sub-continent our hero aspired to an aggressive stance. The trick to defeating large cavalry type armies whether Mysore or Mahratta was aggression. Wesley always believed that these unweildy masses should be attacked whenever possible with the smaller, disciplined and more maneaverable Anglo-Indian forces. This is a different form of generalship than what we would see in the Peninsular and Waterloo. Again, Wesley was a supurb tactician, and adaptable. He was always learning and researching better methods of supply, intelligence, etc. This combined with his brilliance and coolness under fire certainly made him one of the best generals of the Napoleanic period.

One tactic which the reader will see employed later was his distribution of artillery among his infantry units. The guns were never massed as the Mahrattas preferred, or indeed the French. One marvels how at Assaye the 78th Highlanders were able to frontally attack all those guns. The key was speed and elan, combined with excellent and flexible generalship. India would see Wesley's ability to be everywhere on the battlefield. Because of Orrick's mistake at Assaye he would never truly trust others to carry out his orders. It was here where he developed that personal mega-detail style of generalship that won all his later battles. He was also fortunate never to receive any wounds, even though at Assaye he had two horses shot out from under him! Also, his steady horsemanship and ability to conduct extensive recces on his own or with a small staff was something many generals of the period never took too seriously.

Jac Weller describes how the Wellsely's, Arthur and his two brothers, vastly improved the British position in India. In fact they did too good a job as the conservative East India Company grew tired of their rapid advances with additional expenses. The Wesley's introduced a notion of good government over the growing empire in India, an idea that had profound influence in that nation's future development under British rule. Jac Weller may come across to some as a colonialist, but many of his arguments make sense within the concept of the time. India's peasants were no doubt better off under the British than their own petty and often murderous rulers. Mysore and the Mahratta kingdoms were certainly not about improving the lot of their own people, and there was no notion of a greater India at that time. The work of the Wellsleys would play no small part in developing a greater nationalist outlook in India.

Be warned, Jac Weller is very pro-British. The Iron Duke is his hero, and there is little that he can do wrong. Judgeing from what was accomplished here one tends to agree with that. Still, this is a fine work with many fascinating details, and wonderful tactical descriptions of battle. No one describes Napoleanic warfare better than Weller. Though an older book, no one has come out with anything better since so I strongly recommend this work, especially if you have read his other two works on Wellington in the Peninsular and of course at Waterloo. All that he later accomplished there was first worked out in India. There are also good maps and an appendix on the army's and weapons. A classic work.

Jac Weller's "Wellington in India" is a highly readable study of Arthur Wellesley's formative military experiences in India, and one of remarkably few books devoted to the topic. The book in battlefield level detail sketches the future Duke's 1797-1805 campaigning against a variety of native opponents. The battlefield narratives are closely informed by Weller's understanding the terrain, based on having walked all the principal battlefields. In addition, Weller lays out the complex political environment in which the young Wellesley operated. What emerges from this portrait is a young, ambitious, and professional officer who operates with increasing confidence and success in a challenging battlefield and political environment. From his experiences in India comes the future Duke's understanding of the importance of logistics, intelligence, planning, and the careful deployment of well-trained troops on the battlefield. Wellesley's long apprenticeship in India and later in the Peninsular War of 1808-1814 made him a master of battlefield tactics and operational-level planning, skills that would serve him well in the decisive battle of Waterloo in 1815 against Napoleon. This book is highly recommended to the serious student of Wellington's military career and of the Napoleonic era.

Jac Weller's Wellington in India is a truly excellent book. It is very readable and flows extremely well. It is one of the few books of its kind that I've read literally cover-to-cover - forward, preface, body, and appendixes - everything. The detail of the book is also exceptional. He tells the reader why and how Wellington achieved his successes not just when.

When Wellington's name is mentioned, people tend to think first of Waterloo, then of the Peninsulars Wars. It is easy to forget that he got his start in India, and that is the period which Jac Weller covers so well in this book. This was a completely different kind of warfare than that fought in Europe, and Wellington (or Wellesley, as he was then) had to contend not only with far superior forces, but also with the climate, which caused Europeans to die like flies. Two things above all should be remembered: first, that when Wellington was asked what his greatest victory was, he said not Waterloo, but Assaye; and second, Weller's three books about Wellington's campaigns were named by Bernard Cornwell as the best source material for his Sharpe series.

This book is the epitome of excellence, the characters are intriguing, especially the fox. The use of 3 voices is just phenomenal. Read this book.

I was almost put off by the three different voices narrating this book, but it was easy to read from the first page. The characters are so interesting, you will want to read it all at once. It is very woman-focused and addresses issues of sexuality and ethic identity in a low-key way that does not take away from the story.

This must one of the most remarkable and readable magical-realism books ever written in English. In her part-mystery, part-historical novel, part- fantasy, Ms Lai manages to lead us in and out of different dimensions without the slightest degree of confusion. I was never a fan of this genre but have become entranced with this skilfully and delightfully-written work, which uses fantasy to teach us to look at ethno-cultural identity and belonging in a new way. Chapeaux off to Press Gang for a fine production job, with a delightful icon-in-the-margin trick to save the innocent reader from confusion.

Written in three narrative voices, moving between China and Vancouver and between centuries, this is a wonderful tale. While the fox moves towards a thousand, and immortality, we also journey with a ninth-century female Taoist poet, and Artemis, a young Asian-American woman living in contemporary Vancouver.

This novel combines aspects of Chinese mythology, medieval China, and life in modern-day Vancouver to revise the myth of the Fox (a figure who can inhibit women's bodies in order to cause mischief) and to explore some of the identity and dislocation issues experienced by migrants. Ms Lai's imagination results in a tale that continues to haunt long after the story is told.

'When a fox is fifty, it can take the form of a woman. When it is one hundred, it can take the form of a beautiful girl. When it is a thousand, it can speak to Heaven and will never die. '

Recommended to both lovers of fantasy as well as to those who enjoy well-crafted fiction more generally.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I thought I'd read everything & experienced all Viet Nam had to offer. Bill Merritts book has refreshed my memories of Cu Chi and Phu Cuong. I was on the bridge with Bill Merritt before it blew. We played chess, and he remembered the names of our Chinese/Vietnamese soldier friend-"Ha"-and our housegirl "Loi". I have pictures of both. His memory of dialogue and events is astounding, and I believe I am one of the characters in his book. I loved it, even though the memories are not good.

Bill Merritt's account of his service with the 65th Engineer Battalion, 25th Division, in 1968, never got the attention it deserved, but it is one of the best memoir-style books to have emerged from the Vietnam War. The writing is rich and layered, the dialogue utterly real, the stories frank and fascinating. Highly recommended for anyone interested in what Vietnam was like for a junior enlisted man, and a must for any serious reader of Vietnam War literature.

A fine memoir of a Vietnam veteran. My brother met the author and secured a signed copy for me which I immediately devoured. It is highly readable and engrossing. I especially enjoyed the attention to language; specifically the terms and names. Merritt uses them effectively to put us into his time and environment.

Bill Merritt's account of his service with the 65th Engineer Battalion, 25th Division, in 1968, never got the attention it deserved, but it is one of the best memoir-style books to have emerged from the Vietnam War. The writing is rich and layered, the dialogue utterly real, the stories frank and fascinating. Highly recommended for anyone interested in what Vietnam was like for a junior enlisted man, and a must for any serious reader of Vietnam War literature.

I really enjoy this book. Of course the subject matter is tragic, and the pictures and text reflect the terrible political actions that have created this situation. Mr. Harrison's photographs with the Ultra-Large Format camera are beautiful. Printing is very high quality. Glad I own this book.

I had the pleasure of seeing a preview copy of this book. It isa must read as we move toward understanding what it might mean for thefuture in making China richer and more powerful through trade.

This book puts a gentle face on a very brave people who have suffered not only the largest land grab of the 20th century through the bloody invasion by China (Tibet is the size of Europe) but have suffered a genocide by the Chinese that is the most widely ignored in history.

This is a beautiful book and worth the price. Add to your reading list "Tears Of Blood" by Mary Craig and "In Exile From the Land Of Snows" by John Avedon.

China will be one of the 3 big stories of the next century if we make it richer and more powerful. This book is as important as it is a beautiful undertaking. Congratulations to Mr. Harrison END

In Whispered Prayers: Portraits And Prose Of Tibetans In Exile, Stephen Harrison showcases the inner experiences of being a Tibetan refugee through a moving narration combined with exquisite photography. This wonderful exhibition is a worthy and valued contribution is further enhanced with a foreword by His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Whispered Prayers will be read with deep engagement by students of Buddhism, of Tibetan history, and all who seek an enlightenment path through perilous and stressful times.

This book is a must see and read. Stephen Harrison truly captures the personal side of Tibetans in Exile. As you read the stories behind the Tibetans portrayed in the photographs, it's as if you are in the background while Stephen Harrison interviews these most courageous Tibetan people. The portrait photography is wonderfully presented in a landscape format providing for a personal backdrop behind the emotion and suffering of each Tibetan portrayed. This is a one of a kind presentation providing a first-time moving experience each and everytime you open the book.

This book is by no means for the beginner. It's a tough, somewhat dry read which goes into detailed aspects of metaphysics; however and thankfully, it isn't a technical manual which would've overshot the purpose of this book. Personally, I found Unworldly Wise a more efficient book for a beginner as this one seems more useful for the occasional dive into more detailed perspectives.

Cut to the quick! Read this and you won't need to read further. Doesn't matter whether or not you think of yourself as a student of Zen. Wei Wu Wei goes to the heart and throws it in your face so clearly that the only way you won't "get it" is if you resist. If that is the case then stop reading all together. Save your money and buy insurance. A brilliant classic!

"Man is a river...never the same for two consecutive seconds" says Wei Wu Wei in this collection of enlightening essays. Packed with insights and encouragement, every page of this book has something to offer. Why Lazarus Laughed focuses on what Zen, Advaita, and Tantra have in common; what essential doctrines they share. This focus provides a refreshing look at the common questions that we all share as human beings and gives us the inspiration we need to continue on our own personal journey of understanding. Wei Wu Wei helps us come to terms with and accept the inherent uncertainty in our uncertain world. Anyone needing inspiration on their search towards self-discovery should be sure to read this book at least twice!

This book is another gem from Wei Wu Wei. It is a fine collection of Zen Advaita and Tantra. It is a must have for anyone interested in the nature of THAT beyond the words or concepts.

This is a fantastic anthology of women's writings across a broad spectrum of Indian history - well chosen and edited, with an engaging and thoughtful introductory essay. I assign this book to provide some of the primary documents for my undergraduate Gender in South Asia course. Students, in particular, will find the text clear and easy to use. The only drawbacks of the work are the near absence of writings representing the Mughal period, the 18th century, and the early 19th century, but this is partly because women's writings from this period are difficult to locate or (and this is perhaps the greatest problem) pinned down in obscure books and journal articles by copyright restrictions. Nevertheless, this anthology will not disappoint, and is well worth the cost, providing excellent breadth of material and value for money.

This book was a major find for me, since I'm Indian-American and most fiction I read in college was by white male American and European authors. It's great to have a book like this one and its companion volume. Many of the pieces have never before been translated into English. For example, there is a version of the Ramayana, one of the major Indian epics, written by a Telugu woman, parts of which are translated here.

Women Writing in India is great for curling up with in the evenings, and is a wonderful resource (the ONLY resource, as far as I can tell) for Indian women writers through the ages. Buy it now!

I have ordered these books because I found them at a house I was visiting in Austin. An Indian couple generously invited me into their home to see these books after they found out I was interested in women's history. I was particularly impressed with the writings of the woman, Tarabai. She wrote a feminist treatise in 1873, excerpted in this anthology, which reminds me of a poem, Hombres Necios, written by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz in the seventeenth century. It also called to mind the work by Matilda Joslyn Gage in the U.S. a few years later, 1893--Woman, Church and State. Tarabai's words are so brilliant and inspiring. Fantastic! Our women's movement has a much longer history and a more global representation than I ever learned about in any of my schooling.

Virginia Woolf created the persona of Shakespeare's sister - an equally talented writer whose creativity was stifled under the rigid Elizabethan society. Her Indian counterpart could be called Tagore's sister. Actually, Rabindranath Tagore did have an older sister, Swarnakumari Devi, who became an accomplished writer and journalist in her lifetime. However, rather than being patronized so often, had she received the same encouragement and support as her younger brother, she may have reached an equivalent level of international acclaim today. Editors Tharu and Lalita's anthology is an excellent collection of works by women who throughout Indian history have rarely been encouraged express themselves. Male critics have often ignored women's writing or have been condescending. Until the 20th century, female literacy in India has seldom been advocated. This book captures the development of women as writers in India, from early 6th century Buddhist nuns to the social reformers of the 20th century. Devotional writing provided a safe outlet for the Indian woman, and the bhakti (devotion) movement began in south India in the 8th century, and moved north through Maharastra, Gujarat and Rajasthan by the 16th century. A bhakti poet could express her feelings under the guise of religion, surpassing caste and gender barriers. For example, romanticism and eroticism is acceptable through the lovers Lord Krishna and Radha. Another acceptable method was to invoke the inspiration of Krishna, as Tarigonda Venkamamba (19th century Telugu) did before she imagined Lord Vishnu as her husband. A woman of a low caste, normally forbidden to read the scriptures, could create her own religious songs by attributing it to divine inspiration. Atukuri Molla, from a Telugu artisan caste in the early 16th century, actually revised the Hindu epic, Ramayana. She produced 138 slokas (verses) in six sections within five days, and Molla Ramayanam depicts the story from Sita's point of view. Like most women writers, she was apologetic about herself, "I am no scholar . . . " and said divine powers had given her this voice. A particular mark of the bhakti writer is the ankita - the author's name embedded in the text. An example is Mirabai, a 16th century Gujarati and Hindi writer, whose songs and poems are legendary today. *"Mira is the servant of her beloved Giridhar (Krishna) And she cares nothing that people mock her." (p. 93) Although there are no reliable manuscripts, Mirabai's songs have survived thanks to their lyrics and strong rhythm. Tharu and Lalita have definitely broadened the scope of women's writing in India by embracing the folk song. India has a rich oral tradition of singing at weddings, lullabies, and during house and field work. There is also a stronger collection of songs about with intense statements about childbirth and mistreatment by in-laws and husbands. In this collection, the readers can witness the centuries of oppression, as told by the women in their own words. Rassundari Devi (19th century Bengal) wrote of her own life -- weeping as child bride, bearing and raising eleven children, running a household on an empty stomach at times, and secretly learning to read behind her kitchen stove. She writes: *"I kept the sheet in my left hand while I did the cooking and glanced at it through the sari, which was drawn over my face . . . Wasn't it a matter to be regretted, that I had to go through all this humiliation just because I was a woman? Shut up like a thief, even trying to learn was considered an offense . . . the little that I have learned is only because God did me the favor" (p. 202) These women struggled for a voice within their own households - confronting forced marriages, abuse and neglect by husbands and in laws, the denial of education and the ostracization of widows. There is an especially moving personal and anonymous account of the dehumanizing treatment of widows in the 19th century. If she only knew that a hundred years later, her words had survived. One of the most insightful stories was written by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (19th/20th century Bengali) whose essays on the rights of women have been compared to English feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. In "Sultana's Dream," she envisions a society in which men are restricted to the murdana (men's quarters), while women are free to rule the country, and excel in science and politics. She sharply and logically details the women's acquisition of power and how they utilized it to create a utopic society. This dialogue is indicative of Rokeya's wit: *"[Men's] brains are bigger and heavier than women's. Are they not?" "Yes, but what of that? An elephant also has got a bigger and heavier brain than a man has. Yet men can enchain elephants and employ them according their own wishes."(p. 347) There are 140 women writers from 13 languages in this collection and every one has a singular story deserving to be told. Many pieces have been unearthed for the first time, while others are now translated into English. This collection is most likely available at university bookstores.

This is the "standard introductory textbook" that is also a true joy to read for any layman who wants some accurate information on early India. At the time the book was first published (1954), Professor Basham was teaching at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.Later he moved to the chair of Asian Civilisation, at the Australian National University, Canberra. His book remains a perennial despite his passing.

This is a classic work on pre-Muslim Indian history. The author's scholarship is evident on every page. While the preface specifically states that the book is intended mainly for a Western audience, South Asians especially should find this book salutary reading--it is an account of their history that is both objective and respectful, a healthy contrast to the unscientific views of history that are often put forth by right-wing politicians in India and Pakistan. The book is a little dated when it talks about the Indus valley civilization.

This Book is Great. Every page of it makes very insightful and intresting reading. It can hardly be bettered in the Subject its dealing with. But, I guess he may not be wholly impartial in his assessments and retains i guess some "Mlechha" attitude. I know the authors reputation and this might appear silly but at a few places he makes some sweeping statements which appear to be made without much proof.

Following are some such sweeping statements.

1. Comparing vedic culture to a culture that bears a generic likeness to that of 'Beowulf' who were semi-barbarians.

2.'and was somehow less advanced than that depicted in the Iliad.

3."BUT IN GENERAL THE MUSLIMS WERE REASONABLY TOLERANT "
Its tough to find any scholar agreeing with this view point. This is almost exclusively of AL BASHAM.

Lot more like this but believe me!.

Bashams scholarship is without peer, he is as comfortable translating tamil as he is in sanskrit, talks about vedic, jain and buddhist ideas with equal flair, passion and clarity.

The book presents ancient India; an idllyic society in an intellectual pursuit unparalled in any society made possible by a liberal and benign social and political environment.

His understanding of philosophy, religion, language and culture (art and prose) is just a pleasure. I am amazed to see the breadth in one person.

His timeline of history and how (only)Indian society has absorbed wave after wave or outsider and make them one in a melting pot is illuminating.

If you are intersted in understading Hindu's(or India); it's a must read, there is nothing as clearly written for an english reader as this.

Patwant Singh's book "The World According to Washington" offers an insightful look at America's foreign policy and the controversy surrounding it. Although much contemporary political writing focuses solely on the American perspective, Singh provides a unique viewpoint through which we can examine the actions of the United States. In viewing America from a global context, we are able to gain insight into the true ramifications of America's foreign policy. I highly recommend this book.

Noted Indian writer Patwant Singh's book, The World According to Washington: An Asian View, provides a welcome antidote to the self-centered world view of the Bush administration.
A friend of the U.S., he has written it in an effort to call attention to widely held opinion, here and abroad, that unilateral policies serving the military-industrial complex have undermined U.S. credibility and jeopardized its security. These policies as realized in Iraq have brought esteem for the U.S. to a low point in Asia.
After a brief review of the history of U.S. involvement in Asia, his analysis includes Asians' profound disappointment in the current administration's contempt for treaty-constraints, especially concerning nuclear non-proliferation and global warming. Further, he highlights ironies Asians see that Americans seem to miss: the U.S. warning Iran not to intervene in Iraq's internal affairs, for example. It is no wonder that other nations fear that opposition to U.S. policies will cause them to be labeled "terrorist" and treated the same as Iraq.
While many people in the world admire American freedoms and generosity, Singh says "after September 11 this dream has soured, as U.S. xenophobes have turned against fellow-citizens of different appearance and colour." Unfortunately this seems to confirm Asian suspicions that racism at various levels of decision-making underlay the way in which military power has been misused in Vietnam and elsewhere.
Denial of safeguards to the rights of prisoners labeled "enemy combatants" at Guantanamo weakens the rights and freedoms of Americans as well. It is not only the impact this has on world opinion, especially in the Muslim world, Singh says, that is important.
Asians have come a long way, and their creativity and innovation now can match the West's. Therefore they ask to be treated with respect. This important book is an appeal to U.S. policymakers' intelligent self-interest.

Criticism From a Friend of America -

Distinguished and prolific Indian Author Patwant Singh tells us in his introduction, "I admire America. I have been visiting it regularly for over 40 years. I have long and enduring friendships there, and relish the welcoming warmth I experience each time I visit." Written by a friend, this unrelenting explanation of how Washington is viewed from Asia -- and why-- is particularly urgent now as America's economic position becomes more dependant on India and China, and political tensions in Asia escalate. Globalization, an unstoppable force for both good and ill, has destroyed any possibility of American isolationism. In spite of overwhelming military might, The United States cannot control the world. In his final chapter "The Pitfalls of Power", Patwant Singh gives us a unique view of ourselves. This is how others see us; we would do well to take heed.

Pamela de Maigret

There is nothing in Patwant Singh's professional background which would give a clue to his mastery over international intrigue and geo-political issues. Yet, clearly he is in command of his facts. He also has the ability to present them clearly and in a racy, readable style.

The book also makes a persuasive case of how America, enamoured with its own power, has become a modern East India Company. Asians sometimes joke that America is not a nation, it is a corporation. Patwant Singh provides serious evidence and analysis to back that view.

What he says here is not new to Asian audiences anymore. In the recent years, an astoundingly large number of anaysts and intellectuals have more or less accepted that America is behaving irresponsibly. Many Asians are now resigned to an inevitable confrontation with America, over an issue or a non-issue, sooner or later. Patwant Singh however illustrates that this is not a recent change in American thinking - for the lst 60 years America has been consistently (and constantly) at war with the world. For USA, the 2nd world war apparently did not end in 1945.

At the same time, it must be added that the book does not offer a counterpoint. The conclusion about America does not build up through the chapters -- it is there right from the beginning. Patwant Singh then merely keeps adding the facts and analysis that would prove his point. This may make it difficult for an ordinary reader to make an informed or neutral assessment of his thesis.

Also, while the book proposes to offer an Asian view, most of the material appears to have been taken from Western sources. One can understand the reasons for this: the entire Asia does not publish half as much material as America alone does each year. Asian researchers are therefore wily-nily dependent on Western writers for their facts on international events.

Nevertheless, it is an excellent book, particularly relevant because it is written by an Asian.

This book has also been published in India by Rupa & Co., Delhi.