China Books

In Natural Liberation, Padmasambhava (the great Tantric Buddhist master) gives very clear instructions on how one can find englightenment in at any time (and I mean at any time at all), and Gyatrul Rinpoche explains these instructiosn in detail and in a context appropriate for a contemporary English reader. The result: a very potent 300 pages, friends. If you approach this text motivated to learn and put what you learn into practice for the good of all that is... well, that's the attitude Gyatrul Rinpoche asks of you, so you are on the right track.

Natural Liberation is appropriate for those committed to the Buddhist path, and is quite rigorous without being particularly difficult stylistically or intellectually. Here is a representative selection of Gyatrul Rinpoche's commentary: "Here's the critical point: experientially inquire into these issues until you come to complete certainty. Even if youpractice this meditation a little bit, if you do not gain certain knowledge, you will never gain competence in this training" (p 118). If one is interested in an in depth examination of the inquiry process, one might consider a close study of Tarthang Tulku's brainchild: Time, Space, and Knowledge.

Thank you to Padmakara, Karma Lingpa, Gyatrul Rinpoche, and Alan Wallace for giving us this treasure!

This book is a good follow-up to Gyatrul Rinpoche's commentary on portions of Karma Chagme's 17th century text, "The Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen." The 2 volumes are entitled: "Naked Awareness" and "A Spacious Path to Freedom." All 3 are translated by B. Alan Wallace and, I believe that, the introductions make the connection between the two original texts. "Natural Liberation" and is attributed to the earlier master Padmasambhava. However, even the 3 together are not a complete exposition of the Union. Chokyi Rinpoche also wrote a small commentary on Karma Chagme's text entitled: "The Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen." All 4 of these books are well worth reading. They are among the clearest and pithiest of currently available English translations of Mahamudra and Dzogchen texts and help one to not only understand their relationships, but more importantly to understand the underlying truths within them. They also provide considerable practical guidance for the practitioner. Mahamudra is contended to be the highest teaching within the Kagyu tradition (among the 4 Tibetan Buddhist traditions). Dzogchen is similarly regarded for the Nyingma tradition. Thus, such original works can be said to address the very highest Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhist) teachings. It is obvious (even in translation) that both Karma Chagme and (the much celebrated and revered) Padmasambhava were great, enlightened masters. This volume contains a wealth of valuable material and is highly recommended.

Padmasambhava's teachings on the six bardos is truly brought to life by Gyatrul Rinpoche's commentary, and B. Alan Wallace [as usual] does a superb job of translation.

This book should be read by all those who are interested in practicing Buddhism, whether of the Vajrayana, Mahayana, or Theravaden tradition. Here you will find the words of a master, whose words will engage you and urge you to change your life. Those who find this book and begin its practices are indeed fortunate.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those involved in making this book availible to the public.

Comprehensive- well translated- and with extensive commentary, both erudite and pratical,by Lama Gyaltrul, on this famous Masterpiece of Tibetan meditation technology,a hertofor untranslated section from a large set of cannonical works known collectivly as Karma Lingpas "Shi- Tro Bardo Rangdrol,{from which the well known Tibetan Book of the dead is also derived}A jewel of a Dharma book-brings one of the best Lamas and most highly qualified translators of 20th century(Gyaltrul and Wallace) togather with one of the finest works previous generations of Tibetan scholars and meditators so as to make this book a completly traditional,while at the same time up to date modern classic a welcome addition to any library,Buddhist or other.

Occasionally - very rarely - the wish-granting gem is placed in one's hands. This text, a skilful interweave of the root verses by Guru Padmasambhava and a commentary given recently on the US West Coast by the Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche, is exactly one such opportunity. As a long-term practitioner of the Düd'jom Lineage of teachings, and translator to His Holiness Shenphen Dawa Norbu Rinpoche, I cannot too strongly recommend this book to all those who feel they would like to undertake the Buddhist path. The Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche skilfully steers the practitioner - be they beginner or mature student - through the various reefs of hope and fear attached to such an undertaking, and brings them clear to at least a vision of the path that leads to the other shore, beyond, and back again. He is to be thanked profoundly for his great compassion, humorous skill and wisdom.

I found this book is the most comprehensive guide to learn Shaolin Sword. The picture and the explanation are clear and detail. I recommend this book for sword practisioner. I hope someday Dr. Yang will also produce "Southern Shaolin Sword" book.

History, Exercises and Forms are all in this book. I believe it has 3 complete forms. The forms are easy to follow and I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good sword book.

To begin, I believe that books are an inadequate didactic medium within the martial arts world; only a live instructor can point out the subtleties and variations in the motions of the arts. However, many books, this included, are a valuable resource to practitioners.

Although the greater part of the book was very thorough, I have some caveats about those parts which are not as acceptable. The beginning covers a brief history of Chinese swords (mainly of the jian variety). I'm not sure if this is a misconception by the author or a mistake in editing, but some of the pictures misrepresent the weapons they are supposed to illustrate; a slight rearrangement would fix this in most instances, but the fact that they are not arranged properly may result in trouble for the less cautious reader, or for the amateur. I further disagree with some of Yang's descriptions of the jian; the paragraph about the "blood groove" in especial. Although he is a respected martial artist, I maintain that those writers who know little about the weapon itself should write less; knowledge of its use does not, in many cases, signify knowledge of construction/history.

Yang does not go into as much detail as I would like in some aspects; the martial merit of some techniques should be explained more deeply. In many cases, he suffices to say that these techniques were efficient and worked, but did not really provide any reason besides vague references to balance or qi.

However, I am impressed with the thoroughness with which Yang tackles the subject. He covers basic stances, guards, and attacks, and depicts three very detailed forms (he dedicates approximately 100 pages to the first!). I was also pleased to note that he included the hanzi for many of the terms he uses, although he uses the English translation of the terms throughout the text rather than the Pinyin; e.g. he would refer to the Horse Stance rather than to Ma Bu. As something of a purist, I would rather see the Chinese than the English, but some may prefer the contrary.

One last point with which I was pleased was his enthusiasm to warn the reader that his book is NOT a comprehensive manual, and that actual instruction is required to reach any real level of skill in jianshu. I agree with this whole-heartedly. Even though this book is excellent for beginners, no beginner should rely solely on it to attain skill.

Overall, a very decent book indeed; certainly worth a look, and a good foundation for building new skills or for refreshing old skills.

Thsi is one of the best books on the subject of northern shaolin sword. The Yan martial arts company is one of the best academies around. This book covers various cencepts, including stances, attacks, and various forms. I strongly suggest you buy this book as it conains a lot to learn.

I've been training with swords of various types since 1985 and this is the best book I've ever read on the Northern Shaolin (jiang) sword. This straight sword is the toughest to master in the Chinese martial arts. Most practitioners start with the broadsword (dao) and progress to this weapon only after years of diligent practice. Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming is a true master of his art, a fact easily discernable in this fine text even if you have not read his bio. The fundamentals, forms, and step-by-step illustrations are masterfully written, thorough, and illuminating. The san cai jian (three-powers sword sequence), the kun wu jian (Kun Wu Mountain sword sequence) and the qi men jian (Qi family sword sequence)are covered in detail. The overlay arrows really make these static pictures come to life, adding real educational value for the reader. I particularly like the tandem sequences. The solo training techniques are very good as well, particularly the internal power drills. This tome is an outstanding and comprehensive work on the jiang.

My only argument with this book is the "blood groove" comment that other reviewers have picked-up on as well. I hate to nit-pick on such a fine work, but that concept is simply wrong. Fullers (grooves) were created to lighten a sword and increase its strength/flexibility. Historically, blades whose primary purpose was to slash (e.g., broadsword) were more likely to be fullered than those whose main use was to thrust (e.g., rapier), simply due to weight. It is not worth downgrading the rest of this excellent text for one bad paragraph though...

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

Excellent. I couldn't put it down. I would like to read more about the people in China and their fight for democracy. I hope Philip Pan writes another book.

I got this book for my Kindle. I cannot get in bookstores here in Shanghai. This is one big advantage of the Kindle, being able to download books that are banned here in China.

This book is great for people interested in the recent history of China.

Read this and read also Wild Swans, Three Daughers of China. Two of the best books on the last part of the last century.

Steven
Shanghai

"Out of Mao's Shadow" is an amazing book because Pan has done what few if any foreign correspondents or academic writers about China have ever done. He's not only gotten below the surface, he's dug deep, really deep into the zeitgeist of modern China. Each chapter surprises you with twist and turns. And throughout it all, Pan is there as a steady guide. Worried about China as the next superpower? Read this book and then decide.

I finished this book in two days because I couldn't bear to put it down and it was completely engaging on both intellectual and emotional levels. It's compelling, heart-breaking, compulsively readable and an incredible piece of reporting. Phillip Pan is an amazing writer/reporter and this book allows him a larger canvas to showcase his talents. But what Mr. Pan does best is that he lets others speak: he gives voice to the many individuals who have attempted to stand up to the Chinese government in order to better Chinese society. He also places this struggle in the context of Chinese history, exposing how the Chinese government's authoritarian rule is a betrayal of its original communist ideals. The stories in his book are moving and inspiring. This book is a must-read for those interested in contemporary Chinese politics and society.

As an American living in Shanghai, I've been impressed by the freedom that many people seem to enjoy here. Contrary to the Cultural Revolution, "RED COMMUNIST CHINA" image that many Americans have, the people of the middle classes in the huge coastal metropoli of this country live lives little different from those of their peers in the west, at least on the surface. The young people I meet scoff at the Little Red Book and the patriotic posturing of the Communist Party; they tend to be as cynical about politics as Americans, if not moreso. At the same time, however, there is a detectable current of discontent lurking below the surface.

Phillip Pan's "Out of Mao's Shadow" blows the lid off this discontent and reveals the dynamics of law and power in China's contemporary civil society. He shows a country that has left behind totalitarian ideology and control and replaced it with an elaborate system of amoral authoritarian gangsterism. Behind such catchphrases as Deng's "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics", Jiang's "Three Represents", and Hu's "Scientific Development Perspective", there's little true substance other than a massive kleptocracy's attempt to get rich quick off of exports and labor exploitation, or so Pan contends. At the same time, however, there is a growing middle class civil society- lawyers, journalists, filmmakers, bloggers, labor organizers, environmental activists, artists, and other troublemakers quietly pushing for change in a rapidly changing and increasingly liberal society. "Out of Mao's Shadow" is about what happens when the people and the party clash, told in a series of stories about these individuals, a small selection of modern China's heroes and villains:
-Zhao Ziyang, the liberal former General Secretary of the Communist Party, who spent the last 15 years of his life on house arrest after taking the blame for the Tiananmen Uprising.
-Hu Jie, a filmmaker who digs up the compelling story of a feisty Cultural Revolution martyr.
-Zeng Zhong, a chronicler of a period of history that the government would rather forget.
-Xiao Yunliang, a daring labor organizer from China's northeastern rust belt.
-Chen Lihua, China's richest woman, a wealthy land developer who made her millions through government connections and forced evictions.
-Zhang Xide, a party cadre who leads a brutal tax crackdown on an impoverished county.
-Jiang Yanyong, the courageous surgeon and PLA general who ended the government's SARS coverup- and then attempted to get them to come clean on the casualties at the Tiananmen massacre.
-Cheng Yizhong, a maverick newspaperman who starts China's freest and most provocative tabloid.
-Pu Zhiqiang, the weiquan (Right's Defense) lawyer who takes on a case against Zhang Xide- and almost wins.
-Chen Guangcheng, a blind student of medicine and law who takes on the country's forced sterilization program.

While there are many books on China hitting the shelves right now, there's only one like this. Pan combines incisive political commentary with personal profiles in a style that smacks of Peter Hessler (River Town, Oracle Bones) meets Fareed Zakaria (The Future of Freedom, The Post-American World). In between optimistic "business hype" titles and political paranoia tracts, Pan's "Shadow" is something completely different- a "boots on the ground" look at the untold stories of modern China. While there are a few places where I disagree with Pan's tone; while the CCP is undoubtably very corrupt, I would not characterize them as evil incarnate; there are many elements to their rule that are quite benevolently paternal, and, as Pan points out in several places, the country is progressively liberalizing under their administration, if at a fairly slow pace. Despite this minor critique, I give this book five stars for great writing and unique material you won't find anywhere else.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in contemporary Chinese politics and society.

I wish I had read this book 20 years ago. It would have saved me years of confusion. I would have understood the male and female bodies -- their nuances, differerences, modes of response, etc. -- in a deeper, more profound way. The book promises to turn sex from a pastime to an art form, and it delivers on that promise. It also turns sex from a means of pleasure to an instrument of transformation, for each individual and for relationships. That, I think, is its greatest strength. Any couple who takes this book to heart will find their lovemaking -- and as a result, their health and well-being -- taken to a new level. I expect to be referring to this book for decades to come, as it seems to contain a large supply of new and exciting treasures to be discovered.

The books content is straight forward and to the point unlike other books that "sugar coat" definitions, etc. I enjoyed learning about the Ancient Chinese.

Felice Dunas has written a book that starts off with health, historical and cultural perspectives on love, sex and relationships and then progesses through to very detailed observations and ideas for enhanced contemporary sexuality. It combines age old ideas with common sense and will allow you and your partner to rediscover yourselves. She explains the benefits of monogamy and makes you look forward to exploring what an enduring, trusting relationship can really offer. It is a book that maturely treats many sexual taboos that would make your mother blush (or worse) and makes them accessible. The topics are presented in such a way that it allows couples to consider practises that they would not normally allow themselves. If you are thinking about it, you should be getting it.

Excellent book! Well worth every penny I spent on it. It offers unique view of sexuality. Concrete excersises and good explanation of underlying concepts make it a must read for anyone interested in expanding their sexual experiences.

Felice Dunas has replaced the give and take, zero sum game Western approach to sexuality with a give and give approach that has withstood the test of time. Frustrated sexual partners who want to tune into the loving energy that brought them together will find their answers in this poetic yet practical book. To anyone who wants to return love to their sex life and improve their physical health as a nice perk, this book will be a welecome guide.

(...)

It is set at the turn of the 20th century when Westerners were exploring and mapping Tibet without the Tibetan government's permission. Thunder's adventures revolve around his meeting of a foreigner, then his life in a "gompa" or monastery, after he has been banished there for meeting the foreigner. Also involved is an ancient (real life) prophecy implying that when foreigners invade Tibet, Tibetans will be "scattered like ants" around the earth. Sadly, that's happening to Tibetans today, prompting my interest in Tibet.

Lots of complex ideas are subtly introduced, such as the Buddhist concepts of karma and reincarnation. We even meet a yong "Tulku"--a child being raised to become a high lama. All in all, the book offers adventure for the kids, and easy access to a vision of Tibet for them and adults, too!

I think everyone should read this book. It was great. I learned new words. I loved how there is a glossary at the back. It is also very exciting. Everything about Tibet seems different from America.

Tibet has always been very difficult to understand, so different from Western culture. "Rebel" lets a reader see Tibet from the inside, through the eyes of Tibetans at home there, not through the eyes of Western visitors. It gave me a feel for what it might be like to actually be Tibetan, and helped me to see how people from other non-Western cultures might think and feel. Definitely not just for teenagers.

It has your not so typical bad guy in it. It's thrilling. It's fiction, yet you learn about Tibet! It's action filled. It relates to every day life but with a twist of exoticness. The main character is pretty daring and brave.

I got a lot out of Rebel: A Tibetan Odyssey and my kids really enjoyed it too! Not only is it filled with adventure and excitement but we learned so much about Tibetan culture. We couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen to Thunder, the main character. This is a great story to read out loud and a wonderful first book by Ms. Whitesel. Hope she writes more!

". . . medieval sources do not allude to specific Shaolin fighting methods, Indeed they neither mention how Shaolin monks fought, nor which weapons they employed in battle. Attributing their descendant's martial arts to Tang Shaolin monks would be anachronistic." (The Shaolin Monastery. M. Shahar, pg. 52)

This is a serious, academically critical, look at Shaolin Monastery, and a
good critic of what is being practiced at Shaolin today.

Rik Zak
[...]

This is a deep and throughly researched book detailing the true aspects of Shaolin history and it's strange but interesting link between religion and martial arts.
Everything you needed to know about ancient Shaolin that can be found in ancient records is detailed here.
Other books do not come close and even lie.

A much more readable book than the previous review suggests, desoite its thoroughness, and a welcome antedote to the self-serving mythology that passes for history in most book about Shaolin. Meir's discussion of the roots of some of the most familiar Shaolin-based styles of will be especially absorbing for fans of kung fu movies.

I came to this work as both an academic and a practitioner of a Shaolin style of pushing hands. The evolution of the Shaolin arts from staff fighting to unarmed styles is explored in great detail from a variety of sources (many of which are primary and have been translated here for the first time).

This is one of the first books I've read that makes a scholarly attempt at explaining how the Buddhist monks of Shaolin successfully negotiated the cognitive dissonance caused by commitment to Buddhist principles of non-violence on one hand and mastery of martial arts on the other.

The book also succeeds in recognising and clarifying the role of Daoist thought and cultivation practices (namely the Dao Yin) in the development of Shaolin Gung Fu.

Some of the conclusions (especially in relation to the unarmed styles) lend some support to Nathan Johnson's (2000) thesis 'Barefoot Zen'. After long and careful study of the forms of Shaolin Gung Fu and Karate Kata, Johnson contended that these arts were never intended for fighting (whereas Shahar would likely contend that fighting was not their sole purpose, p.180 and p.200).

Meir is the foremost expert outside of China (and possibly even within China) on the history of the Shaolin Temple. An academic book by an amazing scholar, and a must read for anyone serious about learning the in-depth history of Shaolin, and martial arts, as he traces the history back 1500+ years. Scholarly, well written, peer reviewed, with loads of annotations...

A great book if you're seeking insight of the origins of Kung Fu If you are not seriously interested in martial arts, and their Shaolin China roots, this book is probably not for you.

I discovered this book at the library, renewed it several times, and then decided I just had to have it. I love fiber arts. The work from the countries of Asia stupefies the mind with its intricacy, delicacy, and sheer beauty. The book explains the meanings of many of the designs and weaves history with aesthetics. The author is an accomplished needle artist herself.

I splurged and ordered this book, and am I glad that I did. It was a jaw-dropping feast for the eyes, and well-worth ever penny spent on it.

The photographs are absolutely amazing, the details are brought to light
exceptionally well, and the text illuminates this Asian craft world just
perfectly.

One of the best features of this volume is that one can readily SEE in detail the various works of the needleworker's arts from each timeper-
iod, providing as an added bonus, inspiration for one's own embroidery.

I highly recommend this book, for needleworkers and designers and for
the aficionado of handwork arts.

This comprehensive account of East Asian embroidery is a must for any textile collector. Beautifully illustrated throughout and wonderfully informative it educates and feasts the eye. The photographic details are very clear and provide a good indication of the different textures. There is also a useful, fully comprehensive bibliography encouraging further exploration of this fascinating subject.

Silken Threads leads the reader through a wonderful journey charting the evolution of the embroidery of the East Asian region.

Dr. Chung apart from being a Master Embroiderer, and probably the only women in the word who has had a Museum named after her in her native Korea, is also a well respected Art Historian. This is not a "how to" book but a serious study of the history and art as it relates to the embroidery of China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

It is well illustrated and reflects the many years of study that Dr. Chung has spent researching this absorbing area of study.

Silken Threads is real winner ! Collectors, Asian Art scholars ,and Costume designers ,both fashion and theater,will find this book an indispensable reference work in the field of East Asian embroidered textile and costume. What this book is NOT is a "how-to" on embroidery.

Dr.Chung gives a comprehensive history of the evolution of East Asian embroidery and the significant contributions it has made to the cultural history of the region. The influence of China and the dissemination of Chinese techniques , motifs and artistic convention on other regions in East Asia are thoroughly discussed. The author examines in depth a wide variety of embroidered costume ,accessories,household furnishings and religious textiles.

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of this book,and there are many,is its pioneering effort in the field of Vietnamese textiles and
costume,a subject largely ignored before this publication .

Silken Threads is a exemplary production of scholarship,beautifully illustrated and completely documented .Dr.Chung's grasp of her subject represents the culmination of many years of extensive research by a leading authority on East Asian embroidered textiles .

This book and CD have been very helpful to our family as we attempt to learn the language we will need to communicate with our new child.

I started off with ambitous plans to learn Chinese before our adoption but have never been able to make the time needed. This product (book and CD) focuses on a critical few phrases that I think I can handle and gives me the tools to do so. I strongly recommend it.

I have searched and searched for a simple, easy to understand, Chinese language book with the basics to communicate with our child when we adopt. I received the book this week and was so pleased with the size and the content. This is the easiest language book and CD that I have ran across to learn. With the English on left page, and Chinese on right, with the exact pronunciation......there's just no other book like it, if you want something to just simply communicate with your child. I have no doubt this book will be extremely useful in our adoption. The CD is great and very easy to understand and follow with a great Mandarin speaker! In my opinion, this is the perfect book to allow you to speak to your child for the first time on "Gotcha Day", and will make the transition for both parent and child smooth. Plus the size is small and easy to fit in a purse, diaper bag, or back pocket.

Great resource for an adoptive parent! The CD has a native Mandarin speaker who speaks slowly and repeats it for practice. The words in the manual are listed in English, in Mandarin with the English alphabet and also phonetically. We used a similar resource when we brought home our 5 year old daughter from China two years ago. This one is a bit nicer as the CD quality is better and the speaker is easier to understand. We are in the process of adopting a 13 year old girl from China now, and this resource will be invaluable to us! We play the CD in the car so that the whole family can learn.

Our family is in the process of adopting from China. It is important to us to learn enough of the Chinese language so that we will be capable of offering some comfort to our new baby girl. This resource is easy to use, and, as another reviewer mentioned, the size of the book makes it small enough to fit in a purse or diaper bag so that it is readily available when it's needed. My seven year old son has already learned many of the phrases, and I am beginning to feel a little less intimidated about coping with the language barrier that will surely exist between us and our new daughter. I highly recommend this resource for anyone adopting from China!

This is an amazing cookbook. If the bilingual recipes didn't give it away, the recipes would -- this is incredibly authentic and varied cooking. The other positive reviews here are exactly on the mark. The photos are a good indication of the real food you will cook.

After having now tried almost every recipe in this book, I can say that they are all absolutely delicious! This cookbook is essential for anyone who wants to learn how to cook Indo/Malay/Sing food. My boyfriend is Indonesian and had been bugging me for some of his childhood favorites such as Lontong. The satay is the best I have ever had, in or out of Indonesia. The recipes are also super easy. There is no complicated preparation for any of the recipes. Even someone who is a novice could make these with ease (and they will taste great!). I live in Tallahassee and we have one not too big Asian market. With a little searching, I found virtually all of the ingredients needed. Most of the ingredients are readily availible in your average grocery store. If you do have an Asian market, even a small one, they can often find something that you need, so don't be afraid to ask. The book itself is perfectly laid out and there are color photos of every single dish. I highly recommend this cookbook!

This cookbook is a 'must have' for those who want a taste of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. The instruction is easy to follow, and the result is amazing! My first attempt on some of the dishes featured was already a hit with friends. Among the favorites are Spicy Crab (pg 37), Grilled Fish with Sweet Soy Sauce (pg 87) and Mixed Vegetables with Grated Coconut (pg 53). Creative presentation of the dishes captured in the full color photographs is another plus factor of this book.

Authentic taste! Great for entertaining or home dining!

Finally, a cookbook that satisfies my frequent cravings for foods like padang spicy beef, sate, and hainan chicken!! After living in Southeast Asia for a number of years, I fell in love with the cuisine of this region and since then, I've been searching long and hard for a cookbook like this one to come out. It's easy enough to find decent cookbooks for Thai food or Vietnamese food these days, as a single search will turn up thousands of results, but it's truly a rare find to come across a cookbook on the foods of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore - especially one of this quality! The recipes, each of which is accompanied by a large, beautiful picture, are concise and easy to follow, and the food itself is simply amazing. Now that I have this book, I no longer have to suppress my cravings or fight the urge to fly back to the islands to get my fix of Gado Gado (Java styled salad), Kari Sapi (Malaysian beef curry), or Kangkung Tumis (spicy, Singaporean water spinach). Funny thing is, I never thought I would ever be able to make these foods myself! But what surprised me most was the fact that these dishes tasted even better than I remembered, coming out of my own kitchen no less! (now *that* is truly incredible). So do yourself a favor and buy this book - you'll not only save tons of money you'd otherwise spend at mediocre Malaysian/Indonesian/Singaporean restaurants in the area (if there even are such restaurants available to you), but you'll also be able to impress everyone with your newfound ability to cook dishes as delicious and as hard to come by as the ones shared in this cookbook. Definitely worth every penny and more!

Being a native Indonesian far away from home, I crave for the rich and savory flavor of the cuisine from these three countries. Unlike Thai cuisine, Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine is still not well known here in United States. Therefore there are limited restaurants that offer this cuisine. You can imagine my agony of having to suppress my craving until I make a trip to these restaurants in NYC or Toronto. It all changed after I bought this cookbook. This cookbook is amazing! It contains 68 recipes that are divided into Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian recipe sections. A one-page spread picture accompanies each recipe, which is very helpful for people who are not familiar with this cuisine. The author starts by introducing the countries and their cuisine followed by glossary of ingredients, seasonings, spices and herbs. It then continues with recipes for stocks, condiments, pickled salads, sambal chilli sauces (used like chutneys in Indian cuisine), and assorted spice pastes. These spice pastes are used in a lot of the recipes and they are what give this cuisine its fragrant, rich and savory flavors. This book offers specialties from Singapore (Hainan chicken rice, spiced sparerib soup, spring roll, laksa, spicy crabs, sweet coconut rice balls, etc), Malaysia (fried noodle, coconut rice, sate, beef curry,vegetable with grated coconut, etc) and Indonesia (beef rendang, eggs in spicy red sauce, java salad or gado gado, turmeric fried chicken, etc). I have tried more than a dozen of the recipes and they all taste fantastic! Most of all they taste authentic. They are a huge hit with my American boyfriend and roomate. There are some ingredients that are hard to find, even in Asian markets (especially in small towns). I had to shop online at an Indonesian grocery store to find most of the hard to find ingredients like candlenut, dried galangal, pandan leaves, palm sugar, kaffir leaves and shrimp paste. However, they are worth it. I use dried galangal because I don't have access to fresh ones. I substitute fresh red chilli with bottled ground chilli paste called Sambal Oelek. It works just as wonderful! I think this is the most authentic and remarkable cookbook I have. It is simple, clear, precise and a gem. I would recommend this cookbook if you want to bring authentic new flavors to your table. It helps ease my homesickness. Nowadays, I call my mom up to say "I made beef rendang today!"... something I had never said before this cookbook.

Tashi Tsering was born a Tibetan peasant but realized early in life that he wanted an education and was able to attain this in India and America. As a young Tibetan patriot and idealist he went to China in the l960s believing that Communism could actually be a help to his country. Instead he spent many years of suffering and deprivation in Chinese jails and internal exile. Ultimately he was set free to open schools in Tibet. Fascinating to read, this book's broader lesson is about the interplay of power between the communists, the Tibetan peasants, and the Tibetan aristochracy (who want all power for themselves) and the Buddhist church hierarchy.

Finally a book that treats Tibet as a nation and a people in history and not just a land of changeless Buddhism and nomads! The book was dropped quietly from the publisher/distributor Snow Lion after initial fan-fare when it was discovered that this Tibetan author, though fervently pro-Tibet, was equally fervent against the rule of the Dge-lugspa (the Dalai Lama's sect), and he describes in detail what he had to suffer as a member of the Dalai Lama's personal dance troup. Kudos to Tashi Tsering for telling his incredible story!

I finished reading this book in 3 consecutive nights. Fascinating account of a 10-year-old boy becoming a member of the Dalai Lama's personal dance troupe as a tax obligation; how the boy grew up, worked for the exiled noble Tibetan leadership, and eventually became a Red Guard--this is the first time I've learned that there are many Tibetan red guards during the Cultural Revolution, the reasons why these Tibetans try to better their old serf-noble society, and why they joined the misguided Cultural Revolution. At the end I can't help but feel utmost respect for Mr. Tsering. Even though he's made mistakes, he freely admits to them. The amount of trauma he has gone through in his life is beyond what many people can take, yet he perseveres. Now I fully support his goal: establishing schools in Tibet for the Tibetan children. Bravo, Mr. Tsering. I hope someday this life story will be made into a movie. It will be much more intelligent than 7 Years In Tibet. Instead! of a fluff story about the "dumb natives", here is one intelligent, complex Tibetan.

There's not "one" story about Tibet, of course. Like any other human drama, especially one which has proven so emotional for those involved, there are a thousand stories from a thousand people.

But Tashi Tsering's story is an important one. He brings voice to a perspective that has been silenced for far too long in the West. I would recommend this book strongly to anyone who feels they already "know" all there is to know about Tibet; odds are, you're wrong.

Instead of using my own words... let me quote a few paragraphs from the book:

"He responded unequivocally that his decision [to return to Tibet from the University of Washington in 1963] had nothing to do with money. Instead he saw himself as a representative of the common people who wanted to help create a new, modern Tibet. The atmosphere became somewhat tense, since the other Tibetans, who were aristocrats, hated the communists and China and were committed to freeing Tibet forom Chinese control."

...

[Many years later, after 1985, on one of Melvyn Goldstein's trips to China]

"On one of my trips, Tashi surprised me by asking if I could help him publish a book about his life. He thought foreigners needed to know about common Tibetans - that is, Tibetans who were not aristocrats or monastic prelates or incarnate lamas. He felt his story could play a useful role in assisting both Westerners and young Tibetans born in exile to understand the real - non-Shangrila - Tibet."

I always innately knew that my culture and people weren't the most democratic one. I wasn't shocked of the inequality and corruption that is clearly mentioned in Mr. Tashi Tsering la's autobiography. Some Tibetans will hate this book because it exposes our society as it is, especially the offsprings of the Aritocratic families and may be some monks. My believe is that Tashi Tsering has provided more for the people of Tibet than the officials working in the Tibetan Government-In-Exile based in Dharamsala.

Tashi Tsering represents the lay people in Tibet. This book is a must-read for the younger Tibetans to get perspective of the Tibet before the Chinese Invasion. I am by no means supporting the Chinese Invasion of Tibet which has literally almost exterminated our people and our country but Tibet before the Chinese Invasion wasn't a perfect country as it is often said to be. Please read this book if you want to stay away from many fabricated supercilious stories of Tibet.