Thailand Books

Having been to Thailand many times I thought this would be a worthwhile book to have as it covers many of the sights I've seen there. Unfortunately, the pictorial content looks average, and the sections I've read all seem only moderately inspired at best. But what really disappoints me is the cheap cardboard cover. Given what I've paid for the book it really should be a cloth-covered (or "buckram") hardback. Instead, this is the cheap-type cover you see on the discounted books at your local bookseller. I'm afraid the craft of fine book-making is declining even in these so-called fine art books. This is very unfortunate. A good book should be an investment, especially at this price, and this book is not a compelling product for the money. I'd rather have a nice paperback than a cheaply done hardback.

I've got to admit that the reviews below are somewhat misleading. I really have to disagree with the author's husband that the book is "breathtakingly beautiful", and can't understand the other reviewers' comment about the photos being "gorgeous".

In fact, the photography is an utter disappointment, and nowhere close to being what I'd call professional quality.

Focus is weak in far too many photos, and most of them have no compelling centre of interest. This being the case, the reader has to rush to the caption to try to understand the relevance of the photo, and in far too many cases is left puzzled by how the photo is meant to match the description. A good example of this, taken at random, is Photo 110 where the centre of attention, and the only subject in focus, is a man's head poking about a street vendor's cart. In the foreground, a single out-of-focus young girl stands with her back to the camera. The caption, however, reads "Little girls dress up for a New Year's Eve party". I'm afraid that the quality of photography and lack of relevance of the captions are equally bad in the majority of the photos. They really are very disappointing photos.

The writing *is* generally "clear and lucid" (first reviewer), but not what I'd call "beautiful" (second reviewer). It also suffers occasionally from statements that betray the lack of detailed understanding of Thai history and culture ... but to be fair, only country specialists would pick up on most of these inaccuracies. The writing is not the problem with this book.

I would not recommend anyone to buy this book without having a chance to look through the photography and decide for themselves if it is worth the money. Personally, for me it was a great disappointment.

This is the kind of map that looks fabulous in the bookstore but turns out to be fairly useless once you actually arrive.

The printing is excellent and the cartography is alright, but the map just isn't detailed enough. Might be useful as an overview of Bangkok to plan a trip, but there's not enough detail to be helpful when you're lost somewhere on city streets.

My biggest gripe was that there weren't enough landmarks on the map. Also, the Skytrain overlay is extremely hard to read.

Based on a quick browse through a Thai bookstore, I'd recommend the Groovy map over this one. The Lonely Planet map was actually worse in terms of detail.

In general,this book is good for picture but can not use it for getting to know THAIS and THAILAND. I am ,Thai who live in America,very disappointed to see the book that represent my culture and heritage was not proof before published.for example,The picture on page 31 shown Wat Phra Kaew but the book said:"Grand Palace,Bangkok.This building houses The Giant Reclining Buddha" instead of the Emerald Buddha.On page 87."The traditional WAI greeting,performed at a dance festival." We are Thai and never performed "wai" . More than that , 85% 0f the name of places, festival,locations,food,fruit,flower and map were wrong! Some picture was borrow from another source don't even get a credit. So,Thank for trying to do a good book about Thailand,but make sure to triple proof all information be fore it print.

The book just contains a brief description about the food and people she encountered. The book is more like a travel log or journal. There is nothing significant about how the food come to be and the history behind the devolopement of cuisine culture.

I was not satisfied academically. It is like a PhD thesis with a strange theoretical argument. I was disappointed.

There's no streets drawn on Ko Samui!! The route numbers are actually printed, along with hotel names and attractions, but there are no roads printed on the island whatsoever...The rest of the map seems ok, but if you need Ko Samui, don't bother with this one...

I felt that this book was poorly researched resulting in inaccuracies. It is also rather superficial in its treatment of Thailand. Of all the various guidebooks I bought, and I bought quite a few, this one proved the least useful when I traveled there.

In this study of foreign assistance of Johnson's "More Flags" policy, Blackburn uncovers the international reaches of Johnson's need for international acceptance of the U.S. action in Vietnam. Unfortunately it unravels quickly as an argument when he introduces the literal meaning of 'mercenary' in conjunction with morality. His bias logically would extend to any soldier who receives pay for duty based on the political objectives of their nation. It is a work rife with the emotion of his Vietnam experience that draws little from the international need of assistance in conducting war in geographically remote areas. Blackburn pays little regard to the request from South Korea's president Pak(South Korea played the largest share in the "more flags" program) to ensure the request for assistance came from The Vietnamese provisional government or that the North Koreans had already pledged their support for the North Vietnamese people with troops and pilots. In a sense this became an extenuation of situation faced on the Korean peninsula. It is a valuable resource for research however as a polemic study it leaves much to be desired

Yes, the pages are prettier than other guides such as Lonely Planet and Rough Guides, but we have been to 3 of the recommended hotels and they were bad... the information given about them was incorrect (close to the center, easily accessible) and the appreciations poor. The practical information here is grossly oudated. To be used with precaution in conjunction with another, more practical guide.