China Books

I'm thoroughly enjoying this book! It is full of beautiful stories about the lifestyle and people of the intense Buddhist spiritual culture in Tibet in the last century. So many anecdotes bring the whole scene to life. The flavor of that whole world comes through so clearly. I'm not a Nyingma practitioner - so I'm not talking as a devoted student per se - but it's such a rich read and I'd recommend to anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism.
I've hardly read anything that gives the same depth of detail and cultural ambiance as this.

This volume is wonderfully fresh and accessible. It is like sitting, listening to stories told by a dear friend or relative. There are charming details, remarkable personal observations of many of the greatest lamas of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, down through Dzonsar Khyenste, Dilgo Kyentse and the 16th Karmapa. A deep theme throughout is that of the "terton", the gifted soul who uncovers "treasures" or "terma" hidden by Padmasambhava to be discovered when the time and times are correct. The author's great grandfather, Chokgyur Lingpa, was one of the last and greatest tertons, and the teachings thus uncovered - how and where they occurred, who was involved, the lineage of those who received these teachings, and so forth - is central to the story. I have found nothing like this in any of the many I've read on Tibet and the Tibetans.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche tells stories of these events that go back a considerable ways before he was born, into the 19th century, when Tibet was a world unto itself. He ends the book with a relatively brief description of the work he undertook at the direction of the 16th Karmapa to build a monastery near the great stupa of Boudanath, near Kathmandu, many years after his departure from Tibet in 1955. One sees glimpses throughout the narrative of the coming debacle; remarkable prophecies, side by side with engaging tales of his encounters with masters of the Dharma. It is a unique account, not to be missed, especially by those who seek a deeper understanding of how the great lamas of Tibet in that time lived their lives, related to each other, maintained their lineages and looked forward to preservation of the Dharma in a changed world. Altogether enchanting!

I found this book fascinating. It gave me a window to view the way of life of an elite sector of traditional Tibetan society - the high-born lamas of Eastern Tibet - and their complete dedication to the pursuit of spiritual attainment within the context of the buddho-shamistic culture of their people. Written from deeply within the context of the Tibetan spiritual worldview, this narrative brings to life the character of many great masters from pre-communist Tibet, and puts the teachings that survive them within the context of their traditional way of life. If you are interested in awakening to Truth, the Dzogchen teachings, and traditional cultures, you are sure to find this an interesting read, providing that you are able to navigate the many dozens of Tibetan names and words that occur throughout the text (glossary included.) :) The greatest thing that struck me from reading this memoir was how profoundly the society of Tibet supported its spiritual practitioners - and in contrast how lacking our modern society is in this regard. Truly, despite all of its failings from a modern humanistic perspective, traditional Tibet was a sacred society.

This is a biography of the late, great Ati Yoga master Tulku Urgyen (TU)--via descriptions of interactions & legacies from his masters. As per much religious literature (Buddhist & otherwise) it mixes mythology, allegory, & historical fact--as much hagiography as biography. It stems from anecdotes/stories recorded by Erik & Marcia Schmidt et al under TU's tutelage. There are advanced teachings hidden amongst the exoteric & mythological--some being controversial: observations on Tibet's lack of preparation prior to Chinese occupation despite graphic omens p. 294: "It is amazing how a country like Tibet could have the merit to host so many great masters & at the same time lose everything;" pp. 179-80: the story of the river parting (like the Red Sea); & his uncle & root guru Samten Gyatso's statement p. 233: "One thing is for sure: there will not be any direct reincarnation. For that I have no wish. On the other hand, someone will probably come along capable of benefiting the Dharma & sentient beings, who will be given the title `Samten Gyatso's tulku.'" This certainly puts a different perspective on tulkus and reincarnation!

There are also pithy observations--p. 114: "Chö is to benefit others by cutting through ego-clinging," p. 11: "When training in Mahamudra, do not busy yourself with virtuous deeds of body & speech," Milarepa explained, "because you risk losing thought-free wakefulness," p. 307: a master who acted childlike, ignoring social conventions upon reaching "collapse of delusion," p. 312: a master noting that "The Way of the Bodhisattva" is a rudimentary text, & Samten Gyatso's p. 101: "emptiness isn't anything you can possibly cultivate."

There are also some interesting takes on preconceptions: p. 327: "Today's meat & cream is tomorrow's shit, p. 342: By abandoning activities you approach the nature of nonaction. That's the entire reason for staying in mountain retreats, & p. 387 note 172: Erik Schmidt--The hell realms are not real, physical locations but resemble horror movies played out in the minds of the beings there.

It's a long book (especially if you aren't into hagiography & hyperbole), but if you persevere, there are gems herein. You have to dig to find the gold or wish-fulfilling gem. If you want some of his actual teachings, try his very fine Rainbow Painting: A Collection of Miscellaneous Aspects of Development and Completion or the collection of his pith instructions, Vajra Speech: A Commentary on The Quintessence of Spiritual Practice, The Direct Instructions of the Great Compassionate One or his lengthier As It Is Vol. 1 (As It Is) & As It Is, Vol. 2.

Many reviewers have rated this book among the best because it tells the story of a great Tibetan teacher. Some of Rinpoche's students are well known teachers in the United States and other countries. This is a well told story that could, at one level, be a history of the lineage holders that compise the evaporating pool of knowledge of Tibetan Buddhist tradition and culture. On a deeper level, it is a teaching in the oral and Tantric tradition, and because the authors are careful to keep the narrative as told by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, it has the feel of a story heard while sitting in his presence. My only complaint is that the endnotes are so fact-filled and important to understanding the traditonal background of the story, that they probably should be formatted as footnotes, just so that one does not have to continually flip to the back of the book. This is an important book for those who care about Tibet and all that it was and still is because of the living oral history that remains accessible in spite of, and maybe even because of, events that ocurred in the last century.

Perhaps you'd have to be intersted in flying to fully appreciate this book--There is lots and lots of intersting stuff about flying under adversse conditions. However, I was attracted to this book primarily because of my interst in the history of modern China, and the transition from rule by the Guomindang to the Communist Party.

As history, it is absolutely fascinating and very helpful. The story concerns CAT (Civil Air Transport), a small (at that time) airline started as a civilian business enterprise after World War II by General Claire Chennault, former commander of the Flying Tigers. The company was put together in Mainland China while Chiang Kai-Shek was still in charge. The airline manages to survive the Communist revolution by moving to Taiwan. The author flew for the airline throughout this period, and gives rich insight into the transition.

The book also gives a new insight into the problems of the French in Indochina, and some of the feelings of resentment toward a European country which was clearly intersted in preserving colonialism (with very large amounts of American money) rather than promoting freedom. One of the main characters of the story was killed flying supplies to the French at Dien Bien Phu after CAT became a front for the CIA in the early fifites.

This book would appeal most directly to flying buffs, and to those (like myself) who are intersted in finding alternative sources for the history of this very important period. The book is very readable, and contains a number of pictures, as well as many, many intersting anecdotes, and key historical information that cannot be obtained from other sources.

Claire Chennault's legend just keeps on growing. Here is a feast for readers who can't get enough of the man who led the Flying Tigers, the 14th Air Force, and the cargo line that became Air America.

Felix Smith isn't a historian. He's a pilot--a good one, since he survived 23 years with Civil Air Transport, organized to carry relief supplies around postwar China, only to become a paramilitary arm of Chiang Kai-shek's campaign against communism.

To our great good fortune, Smith also turns out to be a gifted reporter. Better than anyone else, he evokes the sights, smells, and sounds of China in 1945, along with an economy so weak that U.S. dollars were precious enough to be washed and ironed after use, and a government so depraved that it's a wonder it lasted until 1949.

China Pilot is a a wonderful book. It belongs on the shelf of every admirer of Chennault and his unorthodox air forces.

Felix Smith is a gifted writer, who is able to describe a scene or an incident with carefully selected, compact, beautiful prose. There are plenty of flying stories for the aviation enthusiast in this book, but the writing is never too technical to confuse the uninitiated. His story of China in turmoil, and a shoestring airline staffed with unusual characters, is compelling indeed, and is thoroughly recommended.

My one criticism is the lack of historical thread of the airline after its ejection from China. The book breaks down to a series of interesting anecdotes, but the background on how CAT evolved, how it acquired jets, how Smith himself transitioned to sophisticated jet transports, is missing. I found many of the later anecdotes, though well written and compelling, oddly out of context, and wondered how they fitted into the big picture. This wasn't helped by Smith's technique of sometimes mentioning a character, and only introducing him in later pages, which has you thumbing back through the book seeing if perhaps you'd missed a passage.

But these are small criticisms indeed, and the book is a very enjoyable read of a turbulent and, frankly, romantic era of aviation.

Having spent an appreciable amount of time in Asia myself, and being an admirer of the exploits of the famed Flying Tigers (AVG), I ordered four books at one time. I saved this book for last, since Mr. Smith was not an original member of the Flying Tigers. After reading, and enjoying the others, I began Mr. Smith's CHINA PILOT. I don't know what I thought I would get out of this book, but I loved it! Felix Smith was obviously one of the very best pilots working in an Asia in turmoil at that time. His narration of the many adventures he was involved in draw the reader right into the cockpit with him. I could SEE Earthquake Magoon! I could SMELL the warm night air through the open cockpit window while flying over some jungle in Vietnam or Laos. I wholeheartedly recommend this fine book to those interested in the Far East and the many roles the AVG-CAT-Air America played during those decades of turbulence. Mr. Smith, if you happen to read this: excellent job! Both on the book, and particularly your interesting life.

Mike McCaffrey
Department of State/Foreign Service - Retired

This book is about aviation during the pioneer days in Asia - before the days of navigational beacons and proper runway lighting. More importantly, and misleadingly from the title, it is probably one of the best "on the ground" histories of Air America's operations written from a pilot's point of view. It is written with heart, soul and compassion by a man who cared (and obviously still does) for his companions, both living and deceased, as well as the people in the places where he flew.

The stories, in civil aviation terms, are amazing and while some of them are terribly sad they keep alive the memory of many good men who would otherwise be forgotten. Aside from the narrative, this is a tremendously well written book, and one that if you love aviation and are interested in and care about Asia, you will not want to put down. If the Author, (Felix Smith) writes another book, I sincerely hope that he finds a ready publisher and many readers, as in this day and age this genre of literature and narrative quality of real life experience is truly rare.

Reid's book is great. I read it, and tried the Breathing exercises....WHAM! I felt so energetic since! FUll of vitality! I applied his advice on diet & food too, and my past digestive disorder and stomach bloats and aches are history! I listened to him and start conserving my 'jing' if you know what i am talking about, and I feel on top of the world! READ THIS BOOK!

I happened across this book in a bookstore and bought it on a whim. I was not before interested in Taoism, but fairly open minded. THIS IS THE BEST, MOST INSPIRATIONAL BOOK I HAVE READ IN YEARS. I don't want to go too over the top or I'll lose my credibility, but this book quite simply has changed my life (ok, that's over the top). If you enjoy cooking with fresh ingredients, the book gives great advice about food combining and which ingredients are most healthful. Reid also gives a few recipes at the back of the book that he considers "healing" recipes. The recipe for Hunan chicken was worth the cost of the book. I have been cooking for a decade and that recipe is the most delicious dish I've ever made. I really can't say enough. I am less interested in the sections on Chee-gung, but they are still useful as a way of understanding the importance of quieter, less strenuous stretching/activity. I bought this book 6 months ago, but I would say that I pick it up to read sections at least once a week. I have lost 15 pounds, am full of energy and feel more positive and refreshed than I have since I was 21.

This book is nothing short of spectacular, and this is because it motivates to start doing some of what Daniel Reid. explains. Reid, a Westerner living in Asia since the 70's, comes with Western scientific explanations (where possible; modern science isn't yet developed enough to understand and acknowledge nature of some things) of why Taoists do things the way they do.
Books subtitle is "Guarding the three treasure" - and by that he means the body, energy and spirit, he touches all of them. After reading it I understand a lot more things about the world in general. A lot more...
I first started reading his other book - "The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity", and I would recommend starting with that one, because it is more basic and easier to chew by the Western mind. This books is also very clear, and you don't need other explanations, but reading the other one first would make some things easier. Personally, after I finished this one book, I understood some of his teachings in "The Tao..." that I had skipped at that point and started doing them now. One good example of this is to do skin brushing every day. Why? Stimulate lymph movement, especially helpful for people living sedentary lives every day. I intend to reread both of them many times, and hopefully pick new good habits with each pass. I'll probably look into his other works.
So, what's in the book?
It starts with explaining the Taoist cosmogony, starting with the One source, Tao. You probably already know its mark, it' that circle with black and white "tears", each having a small spot of the other inside it.
They are the two poles, Yang (male/active/warming/ascending, white with with black spot) and Yin (female/passive/cooling/descending).
There are three powers - heaven, earth and humans, the latter mixing the treasure of spirit and awareness from the heaven (whose laws are named "destiny") with the nourishment and essential building blocks of the body.
There are four foundations -blood, energy, nourishment, and resistance (e.g. immunity), and you need to develop all of them. They depend on each in many ways, and each could be overactive or underactive. They should be balanced for a vibrant health. There are remedies for all of them. While everyone is more likely to know that that chlorophyl is good for blood, did you know there are energy supplements? Yes, such as air ionizers, and, suprise, crystals (wear one around your neck), plus modern stuff (pulsed field generators, cranio electro stimulation and others).
There are five energies (water, wood, fire, earth, metal), and each is associated with some colour, foods, vibration, season, bodily organs, taste, time of day, feeling, and more. For example, this fits with the Western knowledge that each organ is most active at a specific time of the day. BTW, looking at some list of symptoms, I figured that I have underactive kidneys, and inspired by this I went to an acupuncturist/chinese doctor and he confirmed it. Now that the problem is confirmed, I know what foods to emphasize, what breathing exercises to do, etc.
There are six evils (of environmental energies) - wind, heat, dampness, dryness, cold and fire, each more prevalent in a specific time of a year, and could combine (e.g. cold dryness). BTW, I should tell that in Chinese medicine body is treat as a whole, except for injuries, it's your lifestyle that's the problem, and several symptoms that seem totally unrelated point to the same thing. Alcoholism creates 'stomach fire' and 'liver fire', heavy smoking, sugar creates 'internal dampness', exposure to electromagnetic pollution creates 'internal wind'. Everything fits together, with easy to understand words, yet all having Western scientific equivalents, albeit way harder to follow.
Seven emotions (Joy, Anger, etc.) - for Chinese healthy and non-excessive thoughts lead to physical health. This is harder to understand - in the West people are referred to psychiatrist for mental issues, yet there are many cases of curing psychological problems by diet, and, reversely, get sick by thinking negatively. I would suggest Deepak Chopra's books (e.g. Quantum leap healing) for an scientific explanation of how this works. Basically it's a positive (as in self-enforcing) feedback between nervous and endocrine systems.
Eight indicators: Chinese doctors follow a four stage process: interviewing (remember, everything matters: chills/fever, stool/urine, diet/sleep/sex), observing (way of moving, talking, breathing, skin color; tongue and face analysis are true arts, both having parts corresponding to internal organs), and ends with touching (flesh, internal organs, accupresure on vital points which become tender in sick people, and taking pulse, which is again an art). After the initial state is evaluated, different remedies might be prescribed (massage, accupuncture, diet, breathing), looking for the eight indicators (yin/yang, internal/external, cold/hot, empty/full). Symptoms come and go during treatment, change one into each other, and so do the remedy but at the end the body and internal organs are balanced, the evil energies are removed. It's very hard to be a good Chinese doctor, you need to learn a lot, because everything relates, from anatomy to nutrition to breathing to environmental exposure to lifestyle.
This was the first part of the book, and there were three of them.
It then talks about diet and nutrition, what foods go with with elemental energy (and thus with what organ), talks about food profiles and effect on the body (sugar, meat, fats, etc.), about gradually improving the diet and how to watch for detox signs. Avoid unhealthy fats (such as (partially) hydrogenated vegetable oil), pasteurized milk (not even calves can live on it), eat lots of fermented foods, drink pure water, and other sound advices on food combining (don't eat meat with potatoes or bread, for example). He talks about enzymes - spark of life - and how overcooking destroys them.
Regarding the energy "treasure", he explains about the bioenergy and the bioenergetic model of human body as determined by ancient acupuncture practitioners, how Western researchers have confirmed and validated them (look for Robert Becker - he rediscovered acupuncture points and proved that we are influenced by planets through the endocrine system) and then talks about electromagnetic pollution. He emphasizes chee-gung (chi-kung/qi-gong) - "energy work", slow movements synchronized with breathing to balance endocrine and nervous system, improve the energy stored in the body and thus build immunity etc. There are even specific chi-gung exercises for each elemental energy imbalance (read: affected organ). There are special sexual yoga solo exercises.
Finally... meditation. All the above can help with meditation. He explains why one should meditate, and from this chapter I understood what hermites in caves, enlightened monks, yoga gurus, taoist masters, martial arts experts all have in common. It is hard to explain, and reading the book might not be enough. In short, you might not be prepared to accept it. This is it... it's like religion. Suffice to say that the meditation chapter changed my life. I hope it will change yours. I actually preffered to write only about the meditation chapter in this review.

The books also has food recipes (balanced according to the teachings), herbs and some herbal recipes, plus lists of suppliers to get products from.

Dan Reid has an approach so that both Eastern and Western knowledge should be used and combine to create a better life for all of us. He certainly does combine them - Eastern trued and tried practices with Western technology (e.g. herbal remedies with vitamins, enzymes, cofactors and nootropic; modern energy supplements.

This is just a one page review. Of course the book is much more thorough. Just go get it, study it and practice from it even as you are still reading it for the first time. You'll never regret it. Mark my words.

I do not know who to thank for curing me of a chronic digestive disorder whose underlying cause had eluded allopathic physicians and Western nutritionists for the past 30 years: Daniel P. Reid or the ancient Taoist masters?

Mr. Reid's books are truly gifts to the modern Western world and to those who sense that there is something more to life than a mass-produced culture and lifestyle. Ancient wisdom does have a wealth of knowledge to impart today in order to live a better tomorrow. If you are a newcomer to Taoism, spirituality, and traditional health practices, this is an ideal book to help you begin your journey towards enlightment. Those with a little more experience will also benefit from reading this book and adding its little gems of wisdom to their library of ever-expanding Taoist knowledge. Somehow, years of higher education and exponetially expanding university tuition never taught me the beautiful, life-affirming, and liberating simplicities expounded by Taoism. Begin your journey with these books.

I also highly recommend Mr. Reid's "The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity" as an excellent companion to "The Complete Book..." However, I caution you to exercise maturity, responsibility and personal accountability as you read and practice the ancient Taoist arts. You should be fully aware that there is no way for the author to be familiar with your particular ailments or life-situation. In this regard, I recommend that you pursue your studies under the guidance of a qualified instructor and to seek health advice from a Traditional Chinese Medical practitioner. If you heed the caution and advice you will gain tremendously. There is genuine gold in this ancient wisdom. You will find yourself asking the question: "Why doesn't the rest of the Western world know about this?"

Good luck to all of you as you travel the Tao of life-enrichment through ancient wisdom. I encourage you to pursue this seemingly miraculous path towards a better life. Learn from it and spread the word. You, and others, will never regret it.

There are thousands of books published about Chinese Medicine,but none come close to this one for readability, enjoyment, clarity,and detail. While I don't agree with every single interpretation that Reid makes, I find that I am constantly referring my patients and students to this book.

It is a great place to begin your exploration of Chinese Medicine in its broadest scope. Reid writes intelligently, and yet simply, about the full range of Chinese Medical practices and the foundations of Energetic Medicine too.

His format takes the reader, step-by-step, along the path of understanding this rich tradition of self-care, personal evolution, and natural healing. You will find plenty of personal stories in this book and a fair share of scientific findings which support the understanding presented.

Perhaps most importantly, you will be able to apply the basic principles, as described so clearly here, in your daily life. This is truly a book that can help you get started on the path of natural healing in your own life.

If you are in the healing profession, you will discover a world of refreshing insights, challenging questions, and beneficial protocols to explore.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is sincerely interested in Chinese Medicine or Qigong.

I finally found a copy of this book.Knowing how good these "Complete idiots" series books are this book is just what I had hoped for.

This book explains I-Ching in simple to understand English with some technical explanations throughout.An ideal book for anyone even if you are just starting to learn I-Ching.Its is an enjoyable read.One of the most enjoyable I-Ching books I own.

Each hexagram is covered by a double page and covered in great detailed but doesnt drag on.Step by step instructions,advice on what kinds of questions to ask and how to interpret your reading.Even has a section on Feng Shui.I like the hexagram reference section at the front of the book,in colour too.Nice touch.One of the more thorough books on I-Ching.

I hope the publishers reprint this book.

Elizabeth Moran and Master Joseph Yu did a wonderful job in writing "The Complete Idiot's Guide to The I Ching". Yijing is a powerful divination tool in traditional Chinese culture. It has been intriguing and difficult to understand thoroughly. This book is well organized in explaining from the historical background to tts modern day application, as well as how to utilize the knowledge further to open our mind and improve our life. It is thoroughly enjoyable reading. Thank you for a job well done.

I think this is surprisingly good, one of the top five for sure. I would recommend it. HOwever, after using it over a long period of time I began to notice the commentaries had some peculiarities. For one thing, the man is telling you to "sever the relationship" way too often. To me, that goes against the philosophy of the i ching which is to bend with the wind and take the moderate approach. Running around severing your ties with various people is an extreme act and not moderate. I'd be wary of that, if I were you. And it's not like he just says it in one or two places, but in SEVERAL places. One of the hexagrams he even names "severing" so that every line is about getting rid of someone in your life. Even on hexagram 50 (the cauldron) line five, which usually is a very positive line (about the handles on the cauldron being upgraded to jade or something) he says something like, "people have betrayed you--rid yourself of them." I don't know how he got that idea out of that line. No one else has anything remotely with such a negative connotation.

He also says often that people are gossiping about you, betraying you, etc. It's kind of like he's paranoid. There's a time and a place for that but I don't think people in general are so much like that as this version indicates and, besides, this guy needs to think more about forgiving people for their bad behavior instead of jettisoning them out of his life like one of the machines at a target practice range that hurls clay pigeons out onto the grass: sever the relationship! sever the relationship! sever the relationship! It's really too much.

That said, this version has a lot going for it, just be warned. I noticed it's also over-priced for one that's used right now. It's not THAT good--I'd just buy the one by alfred huang and stephen karcher's may be a little overly optimistic at times but is excellent. Good luck.

While new to I Ching, I find myself fortunate to find this work. It brings a structured simplicity with comprehensiveness that is essential in order to give the I Ching veracity and approachability. Excellent.

Usually, the "Complete Idiot's" and "Dummies" books give you the basic information on their subject, with some depth, but nothing too encompassing. I was very surprised with this book -- it gives in-depth information about the I Ching and its history, as well as touching upon other things like synchronicity. The translation of the I Ching included in the book is also rather well done, and better than some stand-alone translations (for example, "The Taoist I Ching"). I learned a lot about the I Ching from this book. Recommended.

The story of this book is just wonderful. I just remembered it at random, and knew I had to have a copy. I grew up with this book - it was my late mother's favorite. It's a well written fairy-tale with an Asian twist. The moral is that you can't judge a book by its cover.

The irony is that you CAN judge this book by its cover. The illustrations are not just good, not just beautiful, these illustrations are fine art! I want to get a good copy and maybe frame some of these beautiful pictures.

If you want a WONDERFUL gift for a child or adult, buy me a copy... oh, I mean buy this for your loved one!

"Give me something to eat and something to drink and speak to me politely," said the small, fat man with a bald head, "and I will save the city."

"Nonsense and piffle paffle," thought the rulers of the city. "Get out of the way!"

Well, the Wild Horsemen of the North were just outside the gates of the City of Wu ready to destroy it and all its inhabitants. And only the dragon god could save Wu from this terrible fate. But the dragon god wasn't sure he wanted to. For you see, this old man IS the dragon god. Or so he says. And this is no way to treat a dragon.

[Picture book traditional tale suitable for grades primary through intermediate.]

This story of a child's acceptance and trust in the midst of adult rejection and scoffs is a classic morality tale. Mercer Mayer's wonderful illustrations combine authentic Chinese painting styles with familiar "Little Monster" type characters. If Little Monster was human and Chinese, he'd look like this!

I had this book as a child, given to me by my late beloved grandmother and was thrown away by a wicked stepmother. Over the years, I remembered the book vividly having amazing pictures and missed it terribly. Of course 20+ years later, as well, it was hard to find and out of print. I searched all over the net to buy a copy for my own daughter. I found a wonderful bookseller here on Amazon who sold me my copy for $25 and what a bargain that was! I would have bought it for so much more just so my daughter could come to love this tale as I do. May it teach young ones that they should always be kind because they never know what good may come of it. Out of love for a great story, this is my review. dk~

Han, a poor orphan boy sweeps the gate of the city of Wu, which is sandwiched between China and the land of the Wild Horsemen. Threatened by the horsemen, the city leaders pray to the Great Cloud Dragon for help. One day an old, fat man comes to the city and announces that he is a dragon. Han takes him to the palace to meet with the city leaders. The old, fat man offers his assistance if the leaders will show him courtesy. The city leaders scoff at the old, fat man and send him away. Han gives up his own meager meal to the old, fat man who decides to save the city for his sake. Han tells the story to the people of the city and is called "The Honorable Defender of the City." Mercer Mayer's illustrations have the appearance of ancient engravings with expressive faces and intricate detail.

This story shows the folly of judging by appearance and the rewards of kindness. This lesson is reinforced when the city leaders - the Mandarin, the Captain of the Army, the Leader of the Merchants, the Chief of the Workmen, and the Wisest of Wise Men - explain that surely dragons must look like Mandarins, Army Captains, merchants, workers, or wise men. Unfortunately, the source of this tale is unclear. Is it a traditional folk tale or the author's invention?

This is an extremely inspiring and amazing tale of a woman and her quest be a missionary to China.
She indures many hardships and successes that can only be attributed to God. One of the best books I have ever read and it is an amazing adventure. Both my boys ages 9 and 10 and I throughly enjoyed this book. It held their attention on every page.

I love this book. It is down to earth and very clear for the younger children to understand. It gives a clear picture of Gladys' life. I definitely recommend this book to all young readers. The life of this missionary is exciting and leaves you feeling inspired!

I read this to my children a few weeks ago, and I found it incredibly moving. I am not one to get sentimental over books, but I found this story so inspiring and really incredible. The book begins with Gladys being told by the head of a missionary school that she would never make it on the mission field. She isn't cut out for missionary work. She is urged to go back to being a professional housekeeper. Instead, Gladys stubbornly chooses to pay her own way to China. God uses her in a mighty way, eventually bringing the mandarin (similar to a governor) to faith in Christ. I was so touched by how God was able to use her in spite of what others thought that it brought me to tears.

I've come to the conclusion that any book by these authors is worth reading -- every book I've read of theirs is excellent.

Gladys is my heroe. I was spellbound by not only her difficulties but her tenacity to stay the course when circumstances said to throw in the towel. I've never had a book grab my heart like this one. I immediately bought two other versions of her story and the movie, 'Inn of the Sixth Happiness' based on her story. Lord help me to be as focused as Gladys was.

It is incredible to think that a single young lady could accomplish so much in such a short lifetime. Only someone sold out to God could be used in wonderful ways like this. Thank the Lord that people like Gladys Aylward do answer the call to spend their lives serving Him. She gave up all of the normal comforts of western life and totally followed God's will. She even sacrificed the hope of a husband and family, but God gave her a bigger family than she could have ever imagined! She dared to head off into the unknown with nothing but her faith in God. It proved to be more than enough and God blessed her with spiritual fruit beyond our understanding. You must read this book! It is so well done and inspiring! It would be great for the whole family. I pray He will call out many more people like Gladys Aylward into the dark corners of the world.

this is a beautiful book that provides background information and MORE for Palin's Himalaya TV series (also wonderful) :)
I usually buy used, but couldn't wait for this book (or the DVDs of the series).

This book accompanying the TV series DVD is a beautiful account which I enjoyed thoroughly.

The author's journey along the crest of the Himalaya, eastward starting from Khyber Pass on the Afghan-Pak border, through India and Nepal, into the Tibetan plateau, then onto India's Northeast Frontier and finally down into the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta in Bangladesh definitely calls for a look at this interesting part of the globe.

The book is embellished with amazing photographs which capture not only the grand landscape but also the life and spirit of the land. Palin and his team have done well in connecting with the people, which to me was one of the highlights of the book.

And if you like a sprinkling of British humour, Michael Palin will surely add more than a smile to your countenance.

Compiled from the diaries of Michael Palin's extraordinary journey, and read by the author, Himalaya is the unabridged audiobook chronicle of Palin's personal determination to climb the full length of the Himalaya including the Khyber Pass, the valleys of the Hindu Kush, the ancient cities Peshawar and Lahore, and the peaks including K2, Annapurna and Everest. Altitudes as high as 17,500 feet, some of the world's deepest gorges, and the background threat of strife in political hotspots such as terrorism-plagued Kashmir were among the many hardships and risks Palin confronted in his expedition. His story tells of natural wonders and daily life, civilizations in the shadow of a global landmark, joy and suffering in a casual, easygoing manner that will nonetheless enthrall the listener. A captivating experience, and "must-read" for anyone planning to climb dangerous or potentially fatal peaks, Himalaya is surely the next best thing to personally being there. Consisting of 9 CDs with a total running time of 11 hours 32 min, Himalayan is especially recommended for library collections.

This book is amazing and is part of the reason I will be travelling to some of the places he visits in this book. Well written, with pictures to die for. He is a master story teller and really urges you to strap on your backpack and go. Thank you for another fantastic journey Mr Palin and co.

"Himalaya" is a book written by Michael Palin as an alternative account of a trip that was filmed and first shown as a TV program on BBC TV. (This program has also been shown on many other TV stations, and is now available on DVD.) In addition to the text in the book there are many beautiful pictures by Basil Pao, the stills photographer who accompanied the BBC team on the trip.

This was a very interesting trip in beautiful and exciting places. Many countries around the Himalayan Mountains were visited, some of them well off the tourist track and some of them with security problems such that the team needed armed guards. Specifically, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Nagaland, Assam, Bhutan and Bangladesh were visited. A total of 3000 miles was traveled during 125 days (6 months), and many beautiful and exciting images, encounters and interviews resulted.

High points (ha, ha) of the trip include several treks on foot up into the mountains, visiting the Dalai Lama, milking a yak, talking to a retired headhunter, buying booze in Pakistan, having an almost-encounter with Maoists in Nepal, watching bull racing and no-rules polo, and giving an elephant a rub-down. There are also many interesting encounters and interviews with local people who are special in one way or another.

In my review of the DVD version of "Himalaya" I complained that the program wasn't really about Michael Palin's trip, as such, but was simply a string of encounters and events that made "good TV". The program ignored the travel aspect almost completely, and jumped from place to place in search of the images and people that the TV viewers would find exciting.

The book version of "Himalaya" is a more complete account of the trip, including a lot of material that was skipped in the TV program, and some experiences not even included in the extra material on the DVDs.

But still, the book account of the trip is not really a day-by-day account of the trip either. For example, I'd like to know what happened on "day 6" and "day 11", etc. These days are simply not mentioned in the book.

One nice thing about the book, as compared to the TV program on DVD, is that Michael Palin's personal opinions are more evident, as is his enjoyment of traveling and experiencing new people and places. There is more of a "personal touch" to the book, and his wit and charm make it very readable and enjoyable. Michael also writes candidly about the health problems he experienced and the reservations he had about travel in the places where there were security problems. All of which makes the book better than the DVD version in my opinion.

Finally, a note about the audio versions of this book. There are both abridged (6 hour) and unabridged (11 1/2 hour) versions in existence, and some resellers are selling the abridged version as unabridged, so beware. Michael Palin himself reads both versions, and he does a great job.

Highly recommended.

Rennie Petersen

I'm not going to question the poetic and inspirational genius of this book. Reading it is almost nirvana in itself. However, there is one thing which distinctly bugs me, and which never seems to be addressed in any of the Mila info-depots I visit. My question, which on reflection sounds rather childish and superficial, is no more than this; why, in all the visual depictions I see of Milarepa, does he have a rather prominent set of breasts? See, you're laughing. I thought it might be to emphasize the androgyny of enlightenment or... something. Maybe nettle tips have a feminizing effect? For sure this yogi had lean times, which is why this confuses me so. Any insight, email me at legion_saint@yahoo.com. Thanks, and may all beings be happy!

This book almost single handedly converted me to Buddhism.
Milarepa's songs are some of the most inspirational and
educational scriptures the human race has produced. More than
great, this book is a lifelong treasure. It's also very fun reading as well as profound. Dont hesitate for
a second. Buy it, read it all, learn and enjoy.

No point in trying to 'cap' the other reviews, which have given Chang's translation the credit it deserves. Much is the pity, then, that certain 'Tibetophile' snobs have faulted Chang's work - discriminating, it seems, purely because (a) Chang was Chinese, not Tibetan - and (b), working as an academic in an American University. I had the pleasure of corresponding with Chang while at Pen State Uni. 'Garma' Chang was a gifted translator, and no mere dry academic. He had practised with Lama Kung Ka -among others, and had the degree of Cha-gyur Khan-po conferred upon him, which means something like 'Master Interpreter/translator of the Tradition' - a background few academics have had to support their work.

Milarepa's enlightenment-poems meant something real and vital to the translator, who put his heart into the task of turning them into pellucid, expressive English. By the same token, Chang's study of the Hua-Yen (cf. The Buddhist Teaching of Totality) was permeated with the lively insight of one who had transmuted the living meaning of Buddhism from the ore of tradition. Chang Hsien-sheng came from a generation of Chinese Buddhists who knew the Dharma well, his Buddhist background and excellent command of English idioms making him an ideal translator. Chang's version of 'The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa' was much more than a 'translation' - it was a labour of love, conveying well the whole spirit of Milarepa's life and work.This book conveys kalyanamitrata in the truest sense of the term. Highly recommended.

For a wonderful introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, or a source of limitless inspiration for the seasoned meditator, one could hardly find a more powerful, joyful, and evocative work.

This book is a treasure. I humbly suggest to readers with any kind of spiritual inclination that reading this book with care, attention, and some willingness to learn will earn one a lifetime companion. The nature of that companion (oneself, God, the Buddha-mind...) I leave to the scholars.

Milarepa is interested in practice and real work in the phenomenal world, even as he abandons the imperatives of that world order. Meher Baba asserted that Milarepa had attained the highest state of consciousness (or being, if you prefer) possible for one in human form to attain. Milarepa is important. His teaching style and emphasis on nondualism bears useful comparison to Sri Ramakrishna (see The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna) and Meher Baba (see God Speaks).

Good stuff. Enjoy!

This is my favorite English edition of the I Ching. However, I mostly wanted to post this review to partly correct a comment made by another reviewer named "szechuan", who says that the matrix of hexagram numbers in this book is incorrect. This is only true of the first printing; it was corrected for later printings, and even that first printing originally came with an errata sheet that gave a corrected matrix. I guess szechuan bought a used copy that no longer had the errata sheet. The error is actually very simple and easy to correct -- the trigrams across the top of the matrix are in the wrong order. They should be in the same order as the trigrams going down the side.

I first started using a different translation of the I Ching by another author about thirty years ago. I stopped because the answers I got didn't make sense most of the time. Four or five years ago, I bought this version by Kerson and Rosemary Huang and have been amazed ever since. I agree with most of what the other reviewers have written so I won't repeat that, but I did do something else for this review. I asked the I Ching if it had anything to say about using the I Ching for the reader of this review. The response was Hexagram 39 (changing line 6) turning into Hexagram 53. The changing line reads "Following the wise counsel of a trusted advisor can give us a sense of strength and purpose and a feeling of confidence about our undertakings". If you are looking for a I Ching, buy this one.

I have been in love with the I ching since my teens, yet other translations have never resonated with me as this one. I recommend knowing this book-It is with me all of the time.

As other reviewers have noted, this is a translation which de-Confucianizes the I-Ching and goes to a literal interpretation of the original text. Be aware that there are some serious misprints in the matrix of hexagram numbers at the back of the book; you'll have to either use their symbol/code system to look up your hexagram, or use a matrix from some other book. The Huangs also differ in how they read a moving line in the coin toss method (i.e. if heads are yang, three heads equal a moving yang line, other books read three heads as a moving yin line). This probably isn't a problem as long as you decide which system you'll use before you cast your coins. I gave it three stars because I found it most useful as a background supplement to other versions that I use (the I-Ching Workbook by R.L. Wing and The Complete I-Ching by Alfred Huang), but depending on your situation, this barebones translation may work better for you than it did for me.

One can predict the orbit of Moon with great accuracy - that is the realm of physics, and the first author IS a physicist of considerable repute and distinction. But when it comes to predicting the future in a given human situation, one is left with no widely-accepted way, or a theory. Yet, as the authors recoganize, it remains a human need. Whether nature meets this need, or not, cannot be deciphered by majority opinion. One must experiment with a theory, and see if the theory works. It is in that spirit that this "I Ching" comes to us from the Kerson and Rosemary Huang. The authors have done away with the "ten wings" and added a much smaller wing of their own to some extent. The authors provide the minimal, though sufficient, historical background that is necessary, and here very helpful, to understand and use this ancient tool, this ancient Chineese work called "I Ching," of predicting possibilities in a given human situation. Whether this ancient chineese craft works, or not, must be decided by each individual. Carl Jung apparently used "I Ching," along with night dreams and visions of his subjects ("patients"), to gain knowledge of the relevant human factors and possible actions - or inactions - as suggested by the combination of these diverse elements of the subjective life. For a western reader the question remains: are there information-carrying currents in the universe that can affect seemingly random events, and if yes, does "I Ching" act as an antena to these currents? Experiment, and decide. Huangs' have brought a three-thousand old craft to us in a way that, I think, carries certain poetry of its own, and on the way tell us of how nature may know the left from right and what part "I Ching" played in one physics office at Princeton - where Kerson Hunag was a postdoc then, and C. N. Yang a physicist, a few months away from his Nobel Prize with T. D. Lee.

The book arrived on time and the condition was as described (new). The secondary packaging could use improvement as the box had broken and opened at the bottom. The primary packaging was excellent and prevented the book from damage when the box broke.

This book is about U.S. marks.

.... So, if you need a piece of U.S.A pottery identified, then this book probably has the mark. (Please note that this book is not about finding markings of European pieces. As stated on the cover, this book is strictly about U.S. marks).

P.S.: This book also includes all the U.S. RESTAURANT-WARE markings. Very helpful if you collect "RESTAURANT-WARE", along with other American pottery and china.

This book is a definite 'must have' for anyone dealing in or buying collectible ceramics. I have just started selling glasswares and have come across a lot of different pottery marks. Without a reference book, you cannot determine an items' real worth.
This book has thousands of different marks and artists' marks! This book is by my side when trying to determine the ceramic items' origin and age.

This book is prodigious in scope: the pottery marks (with huge varieties within each company) and historical information are both invaluable and interesting. However, the indexing is weak, which leads one to thumbing through pages trying to find an elusive mark. This is such a well-researched, vast collection of marks, however, that laborious searches are rewarded.

This book is jam packed with pottery marks, a great value for the price. I had no idea that there were so many. It is extremely informative, giving a brief history, manufacture dates and much more information for each company listed. I would definately recommend this to anyone with an interest in collecting or selling pottery.