Thailand Books

For a child of the 50s and the 60s, I find myself woefully ignorant of what was happening the world when I grew up. The Dragon's Pearl describes the childhood of a girl about my age - but on the other side of the world.

China was and is frightening to many of us who have grown up in the US and in Europe. But it was a complete surprise to me that the US essentially held Thailand by the noose after the war - fearing the Chinese so much that they threatened to pull needed money and help out of Thailand if Thailand had any contact with China.

This story is of a Thai child who was placed in China - as a connection of good will between political strategists in Thailand and China. It almost got her killed.

The author weaves a skillful tale - more colorful at the beginning than at the end, but colorful nevertheless. She tells a story that never appeared in MY history books, and I'm happy that I've added this book to my library.

A senior Thai politician, Sang Phathanothai, is skeptical of Thailand's Cold War U.S. connections. With the approval of the Prime Minister he sends his young son and daughter to grow up in China as a gesture of good will. The daughter, Sirin, recounts her life with Liao Chenghzi, Zhou Enlai and others forty years later.

Some absolutely fascinating glimpses of the Chinese elite (Zhou saying one thing in public while admitting to her that people are starving during the Great Leap Forward; Mao at a swimming pool with other leaders; Liao Chengzhi looking at the smashed remains of his house during the Cultural Revolution) as well as of Field Marshal Pibulsongkram, Pridi Phanomyong in exile from Thailand, and other Thai leaders. She also recounts an early proposal for Sino-American rapprochement from President Johnson, relayed to China for her father, and the painful consequences it entailed for her during the Cultural Revolution.

This book showed a new side of communism to me.
If you have read books about the life of Mao and his wife, then this is a must read. It is really well written and just shows another side of the story.

I read this book back when it first came out and can't believe there are no reviews. There is also no information about this book but, I'm 99% sure it's the one I'm thinking of. I'll do my best. Sirin and her brother are children of the Royal Thai Family. This is a few years back before the war in Vietnam but the tension and pressure to make allegances is beginning to be felt. There is debate among the royals over which superpower to cozy up to; The US or China. Sirin's father favors the Hungry Dragon, China because they are a neighbor and the most powerful in the region, and he feels it will be more beneficial in the long run. As a gesture of goodwill Sirin and her brother, the younger children, are sent to China to be brought up by the Communist leaders, Chairman Mao and Zhou, En Lai. The two of them lead a lonely but elite sheltered life until the Cultural Revolution is launched. Communist leaders turn on each other and foreigners are treated with suspicion and contempt. Sirin and her brother lose their protected status and are sent down to the countryside to shovel pig manure. Eventually Sirin marries a foreigner and gets out of China.

This story is so interesting because of Sirin's unusual position, her close relationship with Zhou, En Lai and other top ranking leaders of that era, as well as her perserverance when she goes from royalty to manure shoveling.

A young woman half-American and half-French, spending the summer in the palace in Bangkok, Thailand with her photographer father didn't waste any time finding a mystery. Lisette Paul came upon the disappearance of the Emerald Buddha very suddenly. With the help of a few new found friends and bustling city, Lisette figures out the Buddha's puzzling disappearance. I liked this book a lot. It was very descriptive. I felt like I was there and could feel and see everything. It also included a lot of truth and real facts about the palace. It combined facts, fiction and mystery all together. Just when you think it's all over, it gets even more intense.
Compared to other books, I like this one a lot more than even science fiction, which few books I've read even close to being like this were. On a scale of 1-10 stars, I give this book 8 stars.

The year is 1986. The Emerald Buddha, the most sacred religious symbol of the Thai people, has been stolen and replaced with a copy in an attempt to blackmail the government.

Peter Froste, formerly with U.S. Military Intelligence in Vietnam, and now a Dallas art dealer specializing in fine arts from Asia, is persuaded to return to Thailand to help recover the statue by his former boss, Phillip Rollings, head of CIA operations in Thailand. Froste initially refuses to become involved until he learns that his former fiance, whom he believed was killed in a helicopter crash ten years ago, is alive, involved in the theft, and a special military agent for Vietnam. With mixed emotions Froste arrives in Bangkok,Thailand hoping not only to recover the Buddha but also to contact his former lover, Francine Lemercinnier aka Colonel Vu Thuong Chu.

I really enjoyed this book . It is well written, easy to read, and a good story. The characters are well developed and the author does a wonderful job of conveying their emotions. The descriptions of the various locations are wonderful. I felt like I had traveled to the temples of Thailand and the opium fields in the mountains. I will look forward to traveling with Benjamin Izell again in his next novel.

As Fodors does like no one else, this pleasing digestible guidebook gives practical information to the traveller for an incredibly large and diverse region. A great starting point for trip planning in southeast Asia.

I love the Rough Guides, Moon Guides, and Lonely Planet. The only problem is, they often assume you're going for 3 weeks or 6 months. I can seldom get away for more than 8-10 days at a time. Fodor's doesn't just dump a lot of destination info on you. They help you prioritize by listing "must-see" sights and presenting multiple alternative itineraries for trips of different lengths, etc.

Last December, Fodor's SE Asia guide helped me figure out that the Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore odyssey we wanted just wouldn't fit comfortably into 10 days. So we postponed that trip until someday when we have at least 2 or 3 weeks. Instead, we simply flew into Bangkok and immediately booked a 3-day Phnom Penh/Angkor tour. In all, we did 3 days each in Cambodia and Bangkok and 4 days in Tokyo. It was a fabulous trip.

This time I'm using Fodor's Japan, together with the Moon and Rough Guides (and of course the Internet), to plan a 10-day solo trip to Hokkaido. From Fodor's I get the highlights, along with a good idea of what I can expect to fit into 10 days. From the other two I get obscure (but equally important!) details, such as the fact that the little farming town of Furano (not mentioned in Fodor's) gets a lot of Japanese tourists because it was the setting for the long-running TV drama Kita no Kuni Kara (From the North Country). I've only seen a few early episodes of that show, but it's enough that now I want to see Furano too.

To sum up, I use Fodor's as my starting point, then read other guides to get extra details. I've done 2 Asia trips this way, and I'll be doing the 3rd one very soon.

I started reading Loney Planet years ago when I planned my trip to Thailand and have never been disappointed. I am an author and my memoir, soon to be released, takes place in Thailand in 1993. The beauty then and now has not changed in the outer islands. I would recommend anyone visiting Thailand to read this book first to get a feel of the country and its wonderful people.
Dodie Cross, Author of A Broad Abroad in Thailand: An Expat's Misadventures in The Land of Smiles.

Despite all SE Asia - tsunami affected guides - say: "you can update online" you don't get lot of information on their website.
Practically half of the areas detailed by this book is affected by the tsunami. The information is good, but not certain due to all the problems in the area. I've been in the andaman beaches and the guide was usefull, but I would wait for next version of this book. Lonely Planet Thailand (the next version, tsunami updated) is ready in august 2005, I think. So it's worth waiting...

Mrs. Leonowens is a fine writer. Though most of here stories have been debated whether they were true or not, it reads as a good book if not a historical novel. Ms. Morgan gives a lot of backround to the author and book and unviels an amazing truth about Anna Leonowens. I like the book because it was like a small door to the world of yesterday that is dead with only a faint memory behind. I also like storiesof history.The book is heavy like most Victorian novels I've read. It takes longer than most but worth the effort. In this copy we see a picture of Anna Leonowens herself. If you enjoyed this you ought to read Anna and the King of Siam.

The introduction to this book is as interesting as the book itself. Anna Leonowens remains a controversial character. The truth of her stories is questionable, her own biographical information may have been selectively edited or changed to reflect a more genteel background than Anna really had. Was she, in fact, an Anglo-Indian? Much scandal surrounds her still.

This book is the source, along with her other book The English Governess at the Siamese Court, for Margaret Landon's better known work Anna and the King of Siam. This book has the story of Tuptim, the concubine who was executed for running away, disguised as a priest. It is written in a typically Victorian elaborate style, so can be heavy going for some people. However, if you are curious about Anna herself, this is a must-read.

This is an inspiring and uplifting book. Rooted firmly in a particular time and place - Thailand of the early 1990s - its message is universal. 'Depending on how we live our lives, different seeds are watered. When we are in a conflict, the seeds of anger can easily sprout and come to the surface. When we are calm and at peace, the seeds of happiness come forth' (p. xv). Sulak Sivaraksa writes no abstract theory but the lived experience of one who has been a light of inspiration for compassion, respect and democracy within and beyond Thailand. The book is a series of essays collected in two main sections. Part One, The Politics of Greed comes out of Sivaraksa's social and political activism, a stance that led to his exile from his homeland. Here he critiques consumerism and large-scale 'development', offering in its place his own version of 'development as if people mattered.' Despite the ravages of globalising capitalism imposed on his country, most clearly seen by environmental disaster and a whole culture of prostitution, Sivaraksa remains hopeful and determined about the future: 'Asia's new vision of reality must be spiritual and ecological. If we can develop in this way, the future may be bright'. (p. 54)

Part Two, Personal and Societal Transformation, reveals the explicitly spiritual grounding of Sivaraksa's social vision. Here he considers the significance of religion for social change, describes his own vision of 'Buddhism with a small "b"', and discusses The Five Precepts, the role of women in Buddhist society and Buddhist nonviolence. He concludes with a call for the construction of 'a Buddhist model of society' - the sangha as 'one prototypical form of the emerging counter-civilisation' (p. 102). The book ends with an appendix of essays relating specifically to the political events of the early 1990s. They give an insight into the personal risk the author's principled position has led him to undertake. Sivaraksa is clearly an eloquent exponent of what has come to be known as 'engaged Buddhism'. I read this book because I wanted to know how this strand of dharma works from within a traditionally Buddhist culture, rather than from a 'western' perspective. I was not disappointed.

Never before have I read one book with so many answers to so many problems, save for the Gospels perhaps. Ajarn Sulak Sivaraksa for years was a much-criticized, crystal clear voice for positive social change and human rights during the dark days of military dictatorship in Thailand. Unfortunately, with the realization of democratic freedom in that country starting in 1992, most influential Thais used their freedom not to rediscover the fundamental values of human decency as taught by Buddha and Christ, (and which made Thais world famous as a loving, generous people), but to embrace the new gods of consumerism and development in pursuit of their own financial gain.

The result of that idolatry is an economy in shambles today, thanks to a "Rich then Green" economic approach which placed wealth for a few above quality of life for all. In this setting, it is appropriate for Thais, (and foreigners who love Thailand), to discover or re-discover "Seeds of Peace," and it's message of human spiritual transformation -- starting with each of us -- expanding outwards (much like Bobby Kennedy's metaphor of rings of water in a pond) to transform families, communities, villages, cities, states, nations and the world.

Although the political message is somewhat outdated -- Ajarn Sulak wrote "Seeds of Peace" in 1991 while a political exile hated by the military/police Thai government which was run out of power in the May 1992 pro-democracy demonstrations -- the spiritual, social and activist message is one that is more vital than ever today. Thais are now faced with the proof that profit and material wealth -- as both Buddha and Christ taught -- destroy us as spiritual beings, and they cannont guarantee happiness. The Thai government's answer to the economic downturn has been to put more faith in an export economy in which child and under-paid labor is still rampant, and to accept IMF bailout schemes which cripple local decision-making ability and hobble the rights of the workers even more. By reconsidering and returning to the traditional values of Thai Buddhism, and by embracing "engaged buddhism" as a social and activist model, Ajarn Sulak believes that Thais can regain some of the qualities of Thai life which now exist mostly as sentimental recollections.

And this book is by no means applicable to Thailand, or only to those who acknowledge the wisdom of the Buddha. Ajarn Sulak applies his beliefs to a world out of balance, drawing on conditions and social criticisms which apply to all nations.

Sulak Sivaraksa precieves with crystal clarity the cancers that are inside all of us -- greed, anger, mistrust, hate, ignorance, indifference -- and demonstrates how they infect our entire world on a global scale. But he also offers the answers with equal clarity, of the good, peacefulness, unconditional love and optimism which we hold inside of us as well. That part of us, our "higher selves," are "seeds" which can transform not only our life and the lives of those we love, but change our entire world as well.

I'd agree with John Markwell's review. This is a wonderful book, and a really useful reference to any cook who seriously wants to recreate S-E Asian food. As the world gets smaller, it becomes far easier to get the essential ingredients for authentic recipes - curry leaves, tamarind, etc. Well worth your dollar.

I have been using an earlier edition of this book for so long now that it is 'dog eared' and in need of replacement. Fortunately, it is still going strong, and why not.
It is a terrific source of concise, reliable, and authentic recipes.

I have lived, worked, and travelled in Asia for many years since first using the book, and my appreciation of it has not diminished in the slightest. In my mind it has easily passed the test of time and is a mini classic.

However, this book is not for everyone. You must appreciate Asian food and understand the rewards of creating dishes more or less from scratch and using good ingredients. It also helps if you have some experience with Asian food preparation under your belt. Presentation is largely up to your imagination but once you are comfortable with this, all the essential information for producing a variety of delicious meals is there.

Overall, highly recommended.

I lived in Thailand in the early 90's and this is one of the best Thai cooking books I've seen. There are so many dishes I haven't seen since I left Thailand, it made me homesick. I miss the food so! I miss Thailand too. Great cookbook with authentic food, not the American restaurant variety.

This is a fun book, a combination travelogue and cookbook. Kahrs begins with some basic elements of Thai culture and society, word pronunciation, kitchen implements, ingredients. Then he breaks the cuisine down by regional variants. The photography is lush and beautiful, and the recipes are easy to prepare and delicious.

I love cooking, and I love Thai food, but attempts to make my favorite dishes at home always seem to come up short. The flavors aren't quite right, it doesn't look the way it is supposed to, and all the recipes I try don't quite cut it.

Good, authentic Thai cooking is never really that easy, as evidenced by this book. "Thai Cooking Made Easy" does an admirable job making Thai cooking accessible. The directions are easy to follow, the spiral bound format is perfect for the kitchen,, and all of the recipes have great pictures to help you pick your challenge. But...

While it says "delectable Thai meals in minutes," almost every recipe has substantial prep time, with an hour being standard, and several being much longer. Possibly the biggest barricade is the ingredients required by the recipes. You will either need a specialty store, or else a truly excellent supermarket before you attempt these dishes. How many of you have roasted rice powder, galanga root, kaffir lime leaves, tamarind juice and roasted grated coconut in your pantries?

Attempts at shortcutting on ingredients or preparation account for the second-rate dishes that I have been eating. If you want that magical taste, you have to be prepared to work for it! "Thai Cooking Made Easy" is a great guide and a solid cookbook, but don't expect to be whipping up authentic Yum Pla Muk or Tom Som Pla in the same way you would dash off a grilled cheese sandwich.

I have only made 3 of the recipes from this cookbook, but those i made came out absolutely perfect. The "Thai sweet and Sour shrimp" recipe was the best sweet and sour dish I've ever tasted. I've already made this one a couple of times with other meats. The Fragrant Beef Panang Curry" was delicious. It was the first time I could get this dish to come out as good or better than in a restaurant. There isn't many recipes in this cookbook, but many of the classic Thai recipes can be found here. The author only gives the Thai names for some of the recipes, so if you have a favorite Thai dish and only know it's Thai name you may be out of luck. On the plus side every recipe has a good full page color photo, so you can shop for a dish by browsing through the recipes. The author does give a short introduction to Thai ingredients, but it is incomplete compared to other Thai cookbooks such as "Thai Home-Cooking from Kamolmal's Kitchen".

Don Egger