Asia Books

Although many historical accounts of the cold war largely address the standoff in terms of the interrelationship between its most easily recognizable major players--the U.S., the People's Republic of China (PRC), and the U.S.S.R.--Steve Tsang's The Cold War's Odd Couple provides a fascinating alternate perspective. Tsang's book examines the manner in which the Kuomintang-controlled Republic of China (ROC), from its exiled position on the island of Taiwan, played a fundamentally important role in influencing the international balance of power during the cold war's critical early years. This book examines the complex web of interrelationships that developed between the ROC, the PRC, the UK, and the U.S. during the early cold war period, and also explains the significant impact that the Korean War, and the two Taiwan Strait crises of the 1950s, had upon these relationships. The book demonstrates that, even though the UK severed all of its formal diplomatic relations with the ROC in early 1950 in favor of official recognition of the PRC government, the ROC and the UK were nonetheless able to cultivate a mutually beneficial, informal relationship that had a significant impact upon cold war politics and that, by 1958, had evolved into an unintended partnership between the two governments. Because Tsang's book examines the South Asian cold war theater from a multinational perspective, it lends itself to a diverse array of readers. Students, researchers, and historians working in a number of fields, including cold war, Korean War, Taiwanese, Chinese, U.S., UK, and Hong Kong history, as well as post-colonial disciplines, will find that The Cold War's Odd Couple provides an enlightening new look at the cold war, its relationship to South Asian politics, and the twentieth-century origins of the contemporary, tenuous Taiwan-China relationship.

I bought this book because of its intriguing title. I was not disappointed. I did not realize Britain was the only country that maintained a consulate in Taiwan and kept a naval liaison officer there after it recognized China in 1950. Nor did I know Britain was the first country to attempt a `positive engagement' policy towards China in the 1950s, and failed miserably. Equally interesting is the revelation of the importance of the Suez Crisis in affecting Britain's position and policies in East Asia. The special relationship between Britain and the US was changed by the Suez fiasco and this was reflected in how Britain handled its relations with the US and Taiwan over the two Taiwan Strait Crises of the 1950s. There are so many interesting and important new findings in this highly readable book that I recommend it strongly.

This is an excellent book on the Cold War that is written in nice prose and argued cogently. I had not realized Britain and Taiwan played such important roles in the Cold War in Asia. Even less did I know Taiwan (which is what the Republic of China is) was not just a pawn but a key player itself, not least in the two Taiwan Strait Crises of the 1950s. As a bonus this book provides the best and most convincing explanation for Maoist China to start these crises. There is much in this book that is new and insightful. A highly recommended book not only for the specialists but for general readers as it is an easy read.

I wrote this book! It is my best work to date. It gives the reader the best information available. It includes a glossary, index, great illustrations, marks sections, listings, values etc. A must for dealers, collectors, appraisers and anyone interested in Oriental Decorative Arts.

Covers all of the ceramics and textiles I needed to research -- plus has great info. on woodblock prints, metal, markings, makers, restoration, museums, etc. A great value guide for anyone who collects Orientalia.

An excellent quick reference for the beginning collector as well as the advanced. How else can all the related lexicography be retained without an easily portable volume such as this? Just remember that the values given can vary significantly in reality due to quite subtle variables.

This is a basic introduction to the thought of Confucius. It provides the historical background to the emergence of his thought, and also outlines the historical role Confucius' teaching has had in the educational and political system of China. The first value of Confucius' is ' learning' and the educated Man is the ideal product and bureaucrat- administrator in the Chinese ruling system. Education and learning are for not for isolated ivory tower reality, but must be directed to social action. The Confucian teaching is generally regarded as secular and does not invoke ordinarily the supernatural. The focus is on human relationships and considerable emphasis is given to ritual ( li). The Confucian ideal is for the person to show ' jen' which is a kind of respect and understanding of the other. The understanding ( shu) means something like putting oneself in the other's shoes and not doing to them what one would not want done to oneself. The emphasis on ' right action'in relation to others has special weight in family relations. The relation between parents and children, and between members of the family and older brother are given special emphasis. People are expected to show respect for their parents and provide for them in life, and also show respect for them when they are not in this world. The Confucian ideal became the norm for Chinese society for tens of generations and through the greatest share of Chinese history. When the Communists came to power in China they blamed the Confucian ideal for not having adjusted and trained China to be a part of the modern world. Yet in many ways Dawson makes clear the Confucian way of seeing the world remains strong in Chinese society. The strength of the Chinese family connection is evidenced throughout the large Diaspora of the Chinese.
This is an excellent , clearly written introduction for someone like myself who knows very little about Chinese thought. The parallel to certain elements in Jewish thought ( The emphasis on learning, and on being a ' mensch' ( jen) are two apparent elements here is striking. But of course in Judaism the emphasis is on human relation to a personal God, and walking in the ways that God prescribes.
In any case I highly recommend this small work.

I agree with the previous reviewer; it's a clear and concise introduction for someone who wants to get acquainted with some of the basic Confucian tenets. Too bad its o.p.

Excellant study of Confucius's teachings organized by topic.
Here are the chapters: 1. Confucius, 2. Learning and teaching, 3. Ritual and music, 4. Humaneness and other virtues, 5. Gentlemen and knights, 6. Government and people, 7. A Confucian China.

I am delighted as the editor to make the first volume of Sir Ernest Satow's Japan correspondence (1895-1900) available as part of a project to introduce more of the Satow Papers held in the National Archives of the United Kingdom at Kew, London (ref. PRO 30/33 1-23) to scholars and make them accessible to the general reading public.

Most of the letters in this book are addressed to Satow rather than from him, though he sometimes summarises his answer on the letters themselves. They paint an intriguing and unusual picture in English of the concerns and daily work (staffing problems, trade returns, jurisdiction issues etc.) of British consuls in Japan just before the end the 19th century.

This volume includes letters to Satow from the Foreign Office, the Tokyo Legation, and the consulates in Kobe, Nagasaki and Hakodate. The next volume(s) when published will include letters from the Yokohama consulate and other correspondence related to the British Court in Japan, letters from the Japanese Foreign Office, fellow envoys, foreign residents etc.

Ian Ruxton, editor of Sir Ernest Satow's Private Letters to W.G. Aston and F.V. Dickins: The Correspondence of a Pioneer Japanologist from 1870 to 1918, The Diaries of Sir Ernest Satow, British Envoy in Peking (1900-06), Vol. 1, The Semi-Official Letters of British Envoy Sir Ernest Satow from Japan and China (1895-1906) etc. (For a full list click on my name under the book title at the top of this web page.)

Ian Ruxton follows up his extensive volume of Ernest Mason Satow's diaries and letters with this collection of correspondence, mostly to Satow, during Satow's last major posting in Japan, as British Minister at the end of the 19th century. Of particular interest to a general reader is what the correspondence reveals of British perceptions at the time of the value of relations with Japan in terms of relations with France, Germany, Russia, and China. Incidental observations of the development of Meiji-era Japanese society also provide interest.

Firstly, let's dispel a myth that the subject matter would be deemed by many to be elitist in nature and therefore attractive to only the same, and boring with it - bunkum - it's great. This is a fascinating series of correspondal exchanges between Sir Ernest Satow, British Minister in Japan at the rapidly closing Victorian era, and many of his subordinates, and a goodly stack of letters and notes etc which flew to and fro between his peers and superiors, from his own Department and others, at home and in Japan, throughout his tenure. There are letters which are concerned with the possible dire implications if the correct protocol etc was not adhered to. There are the more usual 'grist to the mill' within the Diplomatic Service musings, of trade problems involving China, Russia, Germany and France, and of course, the UK ( I am British, so please allow me this perspective! ), in relation to Japan, its trade relations and even its marine accesibility - and even a quintessentially British exchange in the face of possible disaster of, wait for it - 'I don't like the climate!'Who else but a bowler hatted Englishman abroad with rather itchy tweeds in the Far-East? Technically, this is a work of great devotion, skill, diligence and application in the salvaging and digital preservation of the sepia-tinged Bull Dog Spirit, ironically manifest here in the formal comfortably reserved words of a British Diplomat of a gone but not forgotten age, complete with salary of £4,000 PA Plus £1,000 for 'outfits'. If this 'money for clobber' was Per Annum, then I'll have to see 'Er Indoors' - I don't even get that now! Well done, Ian Ruxton, on the excellent presentation of another window into Britain and Japan's Diplomatic past. Cheers, and here's to the next instalment.
John Haines

If you own just one curry cookbook, this should be that book! Recipes are well explained, easy to follow, and each is accompanied with a detailed color photograph. I am a novice curry "chef" and after scouring the local public libraries for comprehensive but easy-to-follow curry cookbooks, I found this one at Amazon and now look no further! From basic to more complex, each recipe brings a bit of "fire and spice" to the kitchen, and palate. This is a book curry lovers should not be without!

I had this book on my Amazon wishlist and got it for Christmas. I couldn't be more pleased. I made Kashmiri Chicken & Potatos with Saffron Rice last night and it was delicious! The recipes are very easy to follow. Don't let this book fool you, not only are there tons of curry recipes, but rice bread & veggie recipies as well. This book also shows you how to make your own curry pastes and powders as well as an "about" section for the exotic and even not so exotic ingredients you'll be using. I'd highly recommend this book for anyone who is a connoisseur of far eastern cuisine.

If you are looking for an easy to use authentic curry cookbook, then do not hesitate to buy this one.

When I first read about this book in the papers I picked it up for my mom but once I started reading it I couldn't put it down myself! Great stories written from the heart and with a lot of heart plus great pix from around the South East Asian region. I loved the introductory story about the author's grandmother as I felt she was talking about my own grandma, who was a great unifier of the family when she was alive and a great cook as well. A definite must on this year's Christmas list for all my female friends. Good job!

The book is a fusion of both cookery and history. In it, there is a beautiful pictorial glimpse of the women in Asia. I can vividly see and start to understand how their lives are affected by differing cultures, lifestyles and experiences. The reading experience is unique because we are also given a diverse range of food recipes to literaly taste the different cultures. Well done!

This is the kind of feminism we have been looking for! Our bra burining sisters of the sixties had their hearts in theright place but the stories of some of these incredible women in this book give the term amazing grace a whole new meaning for me. wonderful book.

One, of not the only book, I have ever read about Conscientious Objectors in the military. Each of the stories told in the book bring to life the Viet Nam war itself, but the war in the minds of the men themselves. It is a different kind of bravery that is revealed here.

I was in Shreveport, Louisiana, in the 1980's doing some painful rehabilitation work. My psyche was only a shadow of what it once was or what it became later with a renewal of my faith, insight, and energy. I was browsing through the library and saw an ad in the back of "Mother Jones" anout this book in the making. I contacted the author and was interviewed via telephone for a couple of hours. It was at a pay phone and I literally screamed my way through the interview. It was a return to the roots of my dissent. And a healing.

The author has captured a fragment of the in-service dissent during the Vietnam War. When I started my dissent action, I was alone, and endured lonliness. This book has cemented us together in a deepest solidarity. Now I am available for support to others in this dilemma, should the need arise. Heaven forbid. What a nightmare. What a journey. What hope!

"To hope til hope creates from its own wreck the thing it contemplates."

Shelley (peace sisters and brothers)

This book is very real, it emits an aura of what it's really like to fight in a war. Great for all people interseted in the military.

Tim Huxley book, Defending the Lion City is a well written and detailed analysis of the Singaporean Armed Forces. Huxley begins by proving the reader with the history of the SAF, following Singapore independence to its break from Malaysia. Huxley then examine all three branches in fairly great depth as well as Singapore's likely strategic environment. All in all, a excellent book and a must for anyone interested in the Singaporean Armed Forces.

I found this book to be very informative. It gave a great history of the Singapore military and is very relevant to today's situation. Good, solid introduction to the Singapore Armed Forces. I recommend it.

The book succintly compiles a plethora of information into a easily understood and accessible trove for the average readers who are keen on the military capabilities of the SAF.

While it seems that it has revealed much of the hitherto obscure information of the SAF, it must be noted that this is probably just the tip of the iceberg of the true might of the SAF.

I enjoyed the book thoroughly and have been constantly referring back to it for more information after the first read.

Of all the battles that took place in the last half of the twentieth century, the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu was probably the most significant. Their defeat at the hands of the communist Viet Minh forever destroyed French military power in Southeast Asia and led to the involvement of the United States in the region. Unfortunately for Vietnam, America and the rest of the world, it took three more decades before the true lesson of Dien Bien Phu was learned. In the long run, the Vietnamese led by Ho Chi Minh were going to control all of Vietnam. Foreign military intervention could delay that fact, but never, ever make it impossible.
This book is a history of the circumstances that led to the battle, the incredible mistakes made by the French and the actions of General Giap as he planned and executed his battle plan. At first, the French had a good idea; their plan was to draw the Viet Minh out into a pitched battle between the two armies. On the surface, it was a good strategy. At the time, the French forces had superior firepower and total control of the air. However, the French military leadership completely underestimated the Viet Minh resources and their resolve to win. These were the same mistakes that the American leaders made during their involvement in Vietnam. The French military leadership also overestimated their capability and made a bad choice regarding the location of the battle. Finally, the fortress was sold as impregnable and the battle was labeled as decisive by the French before it ever took place. Therefore, they turned their defeat into one that would be decisive, motivating the Viet Minh to fight that much harder to achieve it.
For while the French defeat in Indochina was inevitable, their loss at Dien Bien Phu was not. As Stone points out, the Viet Minh suffered considerable losses and there were times when it was possible that the French forces could have staved off the defeat. Had they had more M-24 tanks and better logistical support, the French forces could have survived much longer. While the Viet Minh forces would have continued to fight, at times their losses were so great that some units temporarily lost their fighting capability.
One of the best aspects of this book is the explanation of how the Indochina war was presented back in France. The war was so unpopular that it directly led to legislation forbidding conscripts from fighting there and it played a part in the later fall of the French government. Stone also is very meticulous in chronicling the facts regarding the forces arrayed on both sides, including both the strengths and weaknesses. In the end, France could not hold the line in Southeast Asia and it is sad to note that many of the mistakes made by the French were later repeated to a greater extent by the Americans. Which should not be surprising, as both were operating based on the same set of false initial assumptions, namely that their presence could make a difference.

This is the first book I have read on this famous battle. The book covers the history of the region prior to the battle and the related events afterwards. Anyone who wants to read about how a battle should not be fought should read this book. The also covers how elite troops of the French army were poorly lead but put up an very couragous defense. I would recommend anyone who is interested in the French Foriegn Legion should read this book.

The latest title in Brassey's outstanding "Battles in Focus" series, Dein Bien Phu 1954 focuses upon one of the most significant post-World War II defeats that the French military experienced. An epic conflict between the French and the nationalist forces of the Viet Minh, the conflict began in November 1953 and ended in May 1954 with the collapse and capture of the last garrison outpost held by French forces, setting the stage for their expulsion and directly paving the way for the Americas who intervene in the Vietnamese civil war on the side of the South Vietnamese government. Definitively informed and informative, Dein Bien Phu 1954 is a seminal addition the growing library of 20th Century Military History in general, and the Vietnam conflict in particular.

It can be argued that, as a nation, America rushed to forget about the experience in Vietnam. As a result, many heroic acts often went unsung. John Burnam's moving book takes the reader back to a difficult time in our history to share the unique stories of a special group of heroes-- the Vietnam dog handlers and their canine partners. Burnam's conversational accounts of incredible war time situations is both eye-opening and hair-raising. Sadly, the reader also learns the chilling truth about how our government and military callously forgot the dogs of Vietnam. Their handlers, however, never forgot. Soldiers like Ron Aiello(US Marine Corps Scout-dog handler) never forgot how the dogs often saved soldier's lives. (You can read how Aiello's own life was saved by his female German shepherd partner, Smokey, on page 281.) In 2000 Aiello founded the U.S. War Dogs Association and spear-headed the drive to honor the Vietnam war dogs and their handlers with a bronze sculpture that now stands in Holmdel, New Jersey. Readers may also be surprised to learn that military dogs continue to protect and save lives today in Afghganistan and Iraq. The chapter on the rescued Iraqi dog recruited by Special Forces Sergeant First Class Russell Joyce for sentry duty ("Fluffy") is uplifting and inspiring.

Burnam's book is a great read. His telling of his relationship with his partner "Clipper" is poignant and ultimately heart-wrenching. The personal accounts and military details also make it an interesting historical record. But perhaps more than anything, it is a moving tribute to some very special heroes who's bravery and good deeds should never be forgotten.(And don't forget to read with a box of tissue--you'll need it!)

I was thoroughly enthrawled and entertained while reading this well-told story. It is precise, matter-of-fact and compelling. I highly recommend this book to anyone who owns a dog, loves animals, or wants to see what it was like to be an infantryman during a very trying and difficult war. Mr. Burnam tells it like it was, and shows what it means and what it takes to be a dog-handler during the Vietnam war. Good book.

War dogs have been used in military actions for many years. This is the story of author John C. Burnam's experiences as a dog handler in Vietnam. These dogs saved countless lives as their keen senses of hearing and smell alerted their handler to danger long before the handler would have become aware of it. And, of course, many of the dogs also lost their lives in the line of duty. This is a very personal look at the special relationship between dog and handler and the brotherhood of all those who were dog handlers in a military action. Filled with pictures taken during the Vietnam action, it includes the sad story of the abandonment of thousands of dogs at the end of the war. For anyone who has an interest in the ways dogs have helped military actions, the bond between handlers and dogs, the courage and dedication of war dogs, or just the recent history of war dogs Dog Tags of Courage is a recommended read.