Asia Books

"Merdeka Square" ("Freedom Square")

For the Western spies on the prowl in Jakarta, 1965 was the best of times and the worst of times. The political climate was as sordid as a Turkish steam bath and just as tricky to find your way about in. But there was real intelligence work to be done. The agents saw their task as saving Indonesia from the creeping Red menace. The country's Communist Party was Asia's largest outside China and was gaining influence over President Soekarno. His wavering threatened to destabilize an already shaky Southeast Asia as the Soviet Union's influence and investments in Indonesia soured, whilst China increased its hold on political life.

The West, alarmed by the growing communist influence in Asia, funded six assassination attempts against President Soekarno and, when these failed, coerced and bribed a group of generals to overthrow their charismatic leader. Secretly, Australia deployed its SAS along the Malay/Indonesian border and for three years these special forces troops penetrated deep into Indonesia, killing the Soviet backed enemy, the skies above protected by nuclear-armed British Vulcan bombers which flew regular, covert missions over Indonesia's densely populated cities.

Among the secret service agents watching these developments was Harry Bradshaw, whose sexual adventures land him in a Soviet entrapment. His protégé is Murray Stephenson, a trained ASIS agent whose position in the embassy provides a colorful background for the sinister, dangerous machinations and turmoil which brought President Soeharto to power, resulting in the slaughter of half a million Indonesians.

Based on fact, the story commences with Murray being recruited by the Secret Service and sent to Indonesia where he assimilates easily, reporting on student unrest as university campuses are infiltrated by communist elements. Handsome, young and fluent in Bahasa Indonesia, Murray's sexual exploits lead him into dangerous liaisons with influential Javanese women, one a member of the spiritualist sect, Subud, the other an active officer of the communist women's militia.

When Bradshaw is murdered by the Soviets, his replacement, the Melbourne based ASIS chief, obviously unfriendly to his predecessor's protégé, tragically creates an air of distrust amongst the Jakarta based agents. Murray becomes reluctant to pass all his intelligence findings back to Melbourne, confiding in the Military Attaché who accompanies the agent on his mission to save the life of the man who would become the Indonesian president for the next three decades.

This is the inside story to The Years of Living Dangerously. In 1965 as three different factions move to effect their coup d'etat against the ailing president, we find the Americans backing a group of generals whilst Murray is deeply involved in the intrigue surrounding the communists own plans to effect a takeover. Secretly, the West also supports a junior general by the name of Soeharto.

-2-
During the last days of September a list is given to the communists who sweep silently into Jakarta and commence their bloody coup. Six generals are captured and murdered, unwittingly clearing the way for Soeharto to assume power the following day. Tanks fill the capital as two hundred thousand troops swarm over the city, split loyalties spawning firefights throughout Jakarta which falls to the communists for less than one day. Soeharto's headquarters face the US embassy on Merdeka Square and it is here, alongside the national monument, that the young general makes his bold move. Within hours he recaptures the capital.

The Soviets move to shore up their own position, fearing that the West had effected the coup which would result in Indonesia turning from its Russian allies. The KGB First Secretary contacts anti-Soeharto army officers, who set about plotting to kill the pro-West, General Soeharto whose forces commence their campaign of slaughter across the nation, throwing the archipelago into civil war.

Murray's communist lover Yanti temporarily escapes the purge only to be captured, interrogated and executed. His other companion, the seductive Ade, has been reporting on Murray activities to the interim military regime that attempts to execute the Australian spy.

Traitorous military elements initiate a plot to kill Soeharto, foiled by Murray who manages to prevent the new leader's aircraft from taking off with the deadly bomb on board.

Murray returns to Melbourne and, disillusioned with the Secret Service, resigns.
As he leaves the building there is a curt exchange between him and the new ASIS chief, and the reader is introduced to Stephen Coleman, Murray's replacement who takes the story into the post coup period of corruption, murder and the amassing of incredible wealth as Indonesia leaps forward. The sequel is titled "The Timor Man".

If you like Tom Clancy you will love this book. Also if you have any interest in looking into the minds of the Indonesian government or military then this book is for you. Kerry Collison writes about a subject he lived not just something he read about in history books. The writing style is not the traditional American style, which gives the story more power. Kerry carries his readers along with his characters as if you were there. Great read I look forward to reading the second in the Trilogy.

I first read Merdeka Square and was surprised by the factual accounts contained in the book. However, Jakarta has more surprises in store for the reader, and anybody interested in Asia (or who has investments there) should put this in their reading list. Collison writes a gripping account of how business is (or used to be) done in Indonesia, and details the life of a very human hero,Murray Stephenson,who may very well be Asia's answer to Jack Ryan.

Jakarta is probably Collison's best book to date. His accounts of Indonesian politics, financial troubles, and social unrest happened to predict quite accurately events that transpired after the book was published. Collison obviously knows his primary subject (the people and government of Indonesia) and has done a meticulous job of researching everything else. It is also interesting to note that his description of two nuclear power plant near-misses is remarkably close to a recent event in Scotland.

Having lived and worked in Asia,with a number of years in Indonesia, Kerry Collison's books have not only given me substantial pleasure in his presentation of life in this giant archipelago, but has also provided me with a much deeper understanding of what makes these people tick. Move over Tom Clancy! We have a new author in town!

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (3/07)

"Japanese Yoga: the Way of Dynamic Meditation" introduces the form of Shin-shin-toitsu-do, which means "the way of mind and body unification." The author describes it as "the direct investigation of universal principles for living." He believes that we can transform our lives by following this practice. It was created by Dr. Nakamara Tempu, also a sensei, when he went to India in the early 1900's to study yoga. In developing Shin-shin-toistuo-do Dr. Tempu incorporated his knowledge of martial arts, western medicine and psychology, and healing into this form.

Shin-shin-toistu-do is different from Indian yoga. It uses a variety of stretching exercises, breathing methods, methods of seated and moving meditation, massage-like healing techniques, auto-suggestion techniques, and mind and body coordination drills. Included are also principles for the unification of the mind and body. This practice is very practical and can be used in our everyday life.

We are encouraged to use this practice because it will teach us to transcend our bodies and it places a higher importance on mental and physical health over material wealth. In reading and learning about this practice, I appreciated the humbleness of Mr. Davey. He encourages the reader to look inside ourselves to find truth, not at him.

I think that this is a great book for anyone interested in meditation and healing techniques. I think that people with a passion for the Japanese martial arts will really benefit from the training. It is in no way difficult to follow and Mr. Davey keeps it very interesting. He also provides resources to accessing instruction and supplies, and a glossary for quick reference.

My personal interests lie in Japanese martial arts and healing. I am pursuing my third degree black belt in karate and have been attuned to mastery level in Reiki. I was very excited to read "Japanese Yoga," because I felt that in addition to assisting me with my everyday life, it will also help me to achieve my next levels of training in the other art forms. Physically and mentally, I will benefit, especially as I feel myself physically aging. I also think that incorporating something new into my life will bring an additional excitement to my training.

One of the key principles of Japanese Yoga or shin-shin toitsu do is being and staying positive. When you stay positive, the ki or the energy starts to flow in you. When you turn negative, the ki stops flowing. It is as simple as that! H. E. Davey writes in a simple and most effective manner to instill in one this simple principle.

If you are practicing Yoga for some time, you will know that Yoga is not all postures. Living life to its maximum is yoga; letting that universal energy flow through you uninterrupted is yoga. The author writes about the teachings of his master - Nakamura sensei. While acknowledging the roots of Japanese Yoga lies in the ancient practice from India, Nakamura sensei went on to form the foundations of Japanese yoga through his own interpretations and experiences.

As with staying positive, concentration of the mind is a big part of the book. There are several exercises/techniques (candle gazing, listening to the fading of the ringing bells to eternity) explained in the book and how, with such exercises once can connect to the universal energy. The exercise with a pendant is a simple and profound way to illustrate the effects of the mind on the body. You will find the many gentle stretching and ki stimulating exercises easy to learn and practice. This is one of the yoga books that I could read through without the express need to 'know' the steps of postures, the sequences and combinations of different categories of postures, etc, etc.

I found the book to be simple and devoid of the numerous asanas that one needs to learn to 'practice' yoga. You need to read quite a bit of the book to get a sense of what Dynamic Meditation is. That's how this book is different. If Yoga were to be condensed into a two-page booklet readied for a crash course, then there wouldn't be so many books on the subject. Each author and each way of yoga uses a different and often unique way to get the message across. H. E. Davey speaks from his own experience and practice in writing this book and in it you will find a different and welcome way of practicing yoga. This book will be a unique addition to your Yoga library.

`Japanese Yoga' is comparatively an easy book to read and to follow. The author has a good gasp of Japanese culture and its philosophies. His explanations are relatively easy to follow. I think the paradox of Japanese is that they don't say much as most of their communication is through their actions and Davey has managed to explain many of demonstrated action into simple words. Although the book has fewer illustrations of yoga techniques which was rather disappointing but the explanation behind `Japanese Yoga' concept was well handled by the author. I will certainty recommend this book to any student who is keen to understand the basic principles and the source behind various exercises discussed in the book and those who are keen to understand the primary connection between the body and mind.

'Japanese Yoga' is a surprising book that affects your daily life from day one that you practice it.
The fact that i keep on practicing it everyday is a solid proof that the exercises are helpful in many ways.

The author H.E. DAVEY reveals in a clear and instructive way the teachings of NAKAMURA TEMPU SENSEI.
Both the psychological and spiritual background of his method are written in a down-to-earth way and without acting as a 'guru'.
Each of the principles has a PRACTICAL pendant as an exercise or test to make you really feel what is meant. In this way these principles are not mere assumptions, but become true and real, here and now.
For example : the principle that the mind moves and controls the body : the author includes several tests and exercises to make you find out for yourself what is meant.

The practice of Japanese Yoga has a lot to offer : stretching exercises, improvement of posture and breathing, centered movement, healing skills, meditation etc. These are not too difficult for most people, if practiced in the right frame of mind. And they are beneficial indeed.

The author suggests that there could follow a second volume of this book. i would be very pleased to read and learn more about Japanese Yoga.

H.E. Davey also wrote "Living the Japanese Arts and Ways", 45 paths to meditation and beauty. This volume
further explores the Japanese Ways (do) and is equally interesting and revealing. It looks at "body-and-mind-

unification" through the traditional crafts and arts of Japan.

If you're just interested in whether I liked this book or not, I'll get that out of the way first. I enjoyed this book and I expect to read it again in the near future.

I should mention, before discussing the contents, that this book is well-constructed. I like to read on airplanes and took this book on several short trips. It not only fits well into carryon luggage, but also withstands the rigors of travel and hotels extremely well.

This is not just a how-to type of book. Readers will not be overwhelmed by images of slim, svelte individuals in contortionist stances or situations. Rather, this book discusses the mental process of meditation. Any physical postures or exercises mentioned seem to be designed to facilitate the meditation process, not merely to lose weight or
fit in with the burgeoning yoga crowd.

I don't think there is any one good manner of addressing the mental processes, especially those of meditation. It is just too complicated an area. This author takes the approach of discussing some of the short-term goals of the incremental steps of his method, Shin-shin-toitsu-do, rather than ephemeral discussions of long-term, years-down-the-line goals. He
repeats important points, usually from different angles and perspectives. This approach can be heavy-handed and burdensome, if not done correctly.
Mr. Davey keeps his approach light. Just when it seems he is going to spoil things, he is off on another tangent that brings the reader back to the same goal.

I couldn't read this book in one sitting, although it is not a ponderous tome. I felt the need to break it into many short, educational readings. Sometimes just a snippet, sometimes reading longer. The material was presented in an easy manner, free of self-importance, yet not disrespectful. I know I probably didn't pick up all the important material
discussed, but I put it down with the feeling that I had found something that was important. I will read this book again, soon.

Suzanne Olsson is to be commended for her perseverance in trying to get the world community involved in the scientific and archeaological study of these graves and the people of Kashmir. This book is so much more than her personal travel journal, which it started out to be. The ideas and ancient eastern history are fascinating to consider. Any one who is on their own personal journey to understand and appreciate the historical Jesus will gain much from reading this book. The world thanks you, Suzanne!!!

As a lifetime resident of Kashmir,and author of several books about the life of Jesus in Kashmir, I have devoted my life to research into the tomb of Roza Bal.I feel this book will help
change the world.

The references, the words, and the thoughts are about the real story of Jesus, written by his decendent.

Here you will follow the family sagas as they roamed between worlds. What had begun with Adam and Noah, ended with the deaths of Mother Mary and Jesus. You will learn surprising new clues for the real reasons of the crucifixion: why Jesus, the new king, was brought before Pilate. You will visit the tomb of Roza Bal in Kashmir, and be shocked to find out what has been deliberately hidden from the world because of petty religious intolerances, jealousy, ego, and greed. The ancient tomb and its artifacts and documents will prove the identity of the man buried within. Jesus died in his old age: at his side was his lifetime companion John, the Bishop of Edessa, member of the White Brotherhood who was known to the Buddhists as Anjuna. You will find how Jesus' life and teachings touched upon every culture and religion in the world in ways you could never have imagined. Readers will be startled, then pleased to see these new details about this most extraordinary man's life, and the most extraordinary adventures he lived.
What you will find is an affirmation of many faiths. Approach this new information in the spirit of seeking
the "what-if" truths, for scattered herein is an incredibly new trail of leads for you to follow. There are places herein for an occasional smile as well as some frowns, and this perks up the reading of lengthy genealogies and confusing names and connections weaving across the millennium.

Kashmir had been a secret place of refuge for this Hebrew family for many millenniums.The aim of this book is clearly to inform the west that the east does have more unpublished
information about the historical Jesus. The life and works of Jesus are of vital interest to the people of the whole world. The wonderful prophecy made in Isaiah is clear that Jesus, being descended of King David, was to live. To have survived the crucifixion is to have truly fulfilled the prophecies. To have survived the crucifixion is the true message of the cross. To understand the true historical Jesus, this book is an absolute requirement.
Professor Fida Hassnain, Srinagar, Kashmir
author: 'Search for the Historical Jesus'
http://www.spinninglobe.net/histjesusearch.html

As a child growing up in India, I used to travel each summer to Kashmir along with my family and spend a week in what we considered to be paradise. The shimmering Dal lake, the beautiful gondola-esque Shikharas, the apple and cherry orchards, the wonderfully ornate houseboats and the pristine air. We had to stop visiting Kashmir from the 1980's once the separatist movement gathered steam and paradise became hell with bombs exploding virtually each day. The slight improvement in the situation today is overshadowed by the resurgence of the Taliban in the Northwest Frontier province of Pakistan as well as the shaky political climate in Pakistan.

Viewed against this backdrop, the fact that Suzanne Olsson was able to achieve what she did in Kashmir is truly commendable. Having spent the last two years writing my fictional account on the Rozabal tomb, each and every word in Suzanne's book makes me understand the extent to which she has sacrificed a considerable part of her life to the cause of Rozabal. Her book, more than a terrific tome of research for generations to come, is also a desperate plea to ensure that Rozabal is not lost. It is far too precious!

There were so many things that I loved about Suzanne's book. Where do I begin? Do I tell you about her observations (on page 45) as Kashmir possibly being the closest thing to Shangri-La? Do I tell you about how (on page 82), Suzanne reveals the Brahma-Abraham and Sara-Saraswati connection magnificently. Or do I talk about how (on page 108) she talks about the 354 idols in the temple of Mecca before they were cleared by Mohammed and establishes the connections between Hinduism and Islam more firmly than probably anyone else before her? Or do I talk about her heartfelt plea for religious tolerance (on page 359) and her feeling of helplessness with the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha by the pre-9/11 Taliban regime of Afghanistan? Jesus in Kashmir, The Lost Tomb is NOT about The Lost Tomb. Well, yes it is... BUT it is significantly more important than that. It is a testament to the fact that world religions are much more closely related to each other than is revealed by those who guard such secrets and that religious intolerance is rather ridiculous given these close historical and philosophical relationships.

The alternative explanation to the Jesus story is presented in a comfortable and clear-headed style that will leave the reader wanting much more. In fact, if you are serious about wanting to know more about Jesus in India and the reasons why Rozabal could very well actually be his final resting place, DON'T read my book, The Rozabal Line which lays no claims to serious scholarship and instead attempts to simply provide a "fun read" using historical material that is already out there thanks to dedicated researchers such as Suzanne), and instead pick up a copy of Suzanne's book which is truly a remarkable work of scholarship, dedication and commitment. I salute you, Suzanne!

We have extensively researched the core aspects of this incredible and detailed account gifted to the world by Suzanne Olsson. The years of research and dedication to truth are overwhelmingly obvious in reading this book.

Our independent research sourced documentation dating back thousands of years and, we believe, supports the findings in this book.

From our position of health care we understand the need to reduce barriers and unfounded fears that prevail. Fundamentally all core religious teachings are from the same platform.

What is outstanding within this book is that greater wisdoms in the most prevalent religions are the result of one man and his key followers. No one person has achieved such a profound and sustained creation of spiritual wisdom since Jeshua. Not only was his work of great importance, he bridged the borders and boundaries of the world's greatest faiths and brought greater awareness and alignment to all.

Many myths are dissolved by this research, all of this information reduces fears and boundaries that have been created through centuries of errors.

The universal importance of this work should be applied Srinagar, Kashmir. It is the place where science needs to continue the work.

Now is the time, in the ancient traditions of Chaldi Colleges (pronounced Kaldi), that these referenced historical records are brought together in a way that people of any faith and persuasion can freely and readily explore for themselves the thousands of documents and books available in little known places. It is time to bring scientific process to play and go forward with the scientific investigations, proposed within this book. Of immediate importance is the undertaking of the authorised DNA investigations at Roza Bal and at Muree. Expanding this work by comparing the findings with similar DNA research at the Tialpot tomb and the mummies of Egypt, many of whom were also considered princes, kings, and holy people, will lead to exciting growth in our understanding of history.

The foundations for tolerance and peace will be enhanced by this work. Such important developments have profound positive contributions to health and growth of all communities.

Such constructive undertakings may well lead to a major and much needed economic industry in Srinagar as a result of this non-partisan development.

John Doel - Chartered Accountant - for Pascas Health

I found this book to be fascinating and informative and very well researched. Although it is obviously the author's opinion, she makes a very solid argument for the presence of Jesus in Kashmir and challenges the popular opinion of the outcome of His crucifiction. It is far from being just the the story of Jesus though, as she dilengently traces the connection of many other historic Jews, including Moses, Solomon and Abraham to this ancient section of India. In addition, she lays the ground work for the theory that Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism and Christianity all have roots in this area and were influenced by (dare we say related to) each other. Ms.Olsson's mission appears to be to draw attention to this grossly neglected part of the ancient world and it's priceless artifacts before their history and their message is lost forever in the destruction that seems to be the mandate of certain Muslim sects that dominate the area. Her first hand accounts of her extensive travel in this region and her use of current and archival photos and maps made this a riveting and provocative read. I highly recommend it.

This is phenomenal book! There's a slight bit of difficulty with so many Indian names, which are unfamiliar to Western ears and a bit difficult to keep track of. My solution was to turn around when I finished the book and immediately re-read it. I was totally unaware that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands even existed until reading this book, and now I'm mad to see them for myself. The story of the destruction of these ancient tribes over the last 200 years is one of the saddest things you will ever read, and it makes you root even harder for those people on Sentinel Island, who have resisted all attempts at contact by the "civilized" world and are shooting Stone Age arrows at our airplanes when they fly over. Let's hope they're able to maintain their independence--

Madhusree Mukerjee's writing is so compelling I didn't want to stop reading. The historical background she relates is based on solid scholarly research, but the book should easily appeal to popular audiences. Readers will admire the author's persistence on her visits to the Andaman Islands in striving against bureaucratic resistance and other difficulties to search out, experience, and report on the current situations of the aboriginals.

In reading the book, I continually found myself, as the author did, identifying with the native peoples in their confrontations and interactions with the invading visitors, settlers and administrators. Mukerjee has an excellent way with words, including the manner in which she describes the many ironies and the bunglings by the governing bureaucracies. Regarding the resulting messes, she uses perfect imagery: "One could always blame the previous administration, a long line of pointing fingers fading into history."

It's unfortunate and sad how, over much of the world, so-called civilized outsiders continue to arrogantly and ignorantly devastate other lands and their inhabitants, intentionally, unintentionally, and through greed and indifference. Even though the facts recounted in the book eloquently speak for themselves, the manner in which Mukerjee frequently relates her own reactions and feelings on her visits seems entirely appropriate. Hopefully, this book will draw considerable attention, both in India and worldwide among concerned citizens and officials positions to influence policies.

The book is excellent, beautifully written, even poetic in places. The author describes the history of contact by the 'civilized world' with the people of this lost world on the Andaman Islands, a world about which I knew nothing. She uses an interesting novelistic device of weaving together past and current events to described the world of the Andamanese and of her trials and tribulations of trying to work through an uncooperative bureaucracy to meet the fascinating original inhabitants. The cast of characters is huge and includes historical figures from as far back as 1771 to people of today. The role of the author is that of compassionate observer. Ultimately the tale is sad; thoughout I kept asking, "What are we doing?".

Discussions of endangered peoples often invokes stories about Amazonian natives, Kalahari Bushmen, and Australian aborigines to name a few. The people of the Andaman and Nicobar islands are seldom mentioned however. Mukerjee does a great service to the indigenous people of these islands by exposing the destruction wrought upon them by modern intrusions.

The Andamanese and Nicobarese have lived in isolation from the modern world in the Bay of Bengal for thousands of years. They were portrayed in travelogues, including Marco Polo's, as ferocious, cannabilistic, and uncivilized to the highest degree. These impressions were often based not upon direct interaction but rather on distant observation of a unabashedly naked people with a hunter-gatherer culture. When actual interaction did occur primarily by the British, the Andamanese and Nicobarese were often ferociously defensive as can be expected when confronted by an imperialist power intent on conquering and also gathering human specimens to study and display on the mainland. Even in the face of these dangers, they attempted to maintain some peaceable interaction with their conquerors and displayed the great attributes of their cultures.

Mukerjee spent some time in the islands in an attempt to interact with the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa, Nicobarese, and Sentinelese and in the process, has exposed the Indian government's wrongheaded and destructive policies toward these indigenous peoples. It is apparent that most Indian bureacrats in the islands are there to live the easy life and make a quick buck, and the few who desire to make change often are faced with insurmountable obstacles in their attempt to improve policy toward the natives. Mukerjee describes her subjects in affectionate detail, and her love for them and her sorrow for their plight are evident throughout the book. Her feelings for them culminates as she approaches the Sentinel Islands, home to possibly the most undisturbed culture on earth. As her boat nears the islands, she begins to regret her intrusion and thinks to herself "Please please please, let us not destroy this last haven."

Unfortunately, disease and war has wiped out most of the islands' population. Construction and deforestation is wiping out native habitats. The islanders are impotent to change the situation, and the Indian government will ultimately be responsible for protecting these vulnerable and beautiful people.

I highly recommend this book to anyone concerned with the disappearance of a people who have not been able to fight back and are quickly disappearing from our earth.

_The Land of Naked People_ by Madhusree Mukerjee is an interesting and informative account of one of the last stone age peoples in the world (or what is left of them), native peoples of the Andaman Islands, a archipelago located north of the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean, a people that according to archaeologists, linguists, and geneticists have been isolated from the rest of the world for tens of thousands of years. Mukerjee interwove personal accounts of travels to the islands and interviews with government officials, researchers, activists, local residents, and the tribesmen themselves with vivid historical narratives of early contact situations, warfare with, and research on these aboriginal peoples.

The people of the Andamans, long known to Asian and European travelers, were feared for centuries as cannibals and headhunters. They were often referred to as "dog-people," as sub-human; in the nineteenth century some were displayed in the Calcutta zoo, where Bengali visitors took them to be descendents of the monkey god Hanuman, and as late as 1925 a paper published in _Man_, a journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, defined the Andaman as a new species of human, _Homo mincopoeus_. Simultaneously intriguing and repulsing Arab, Chinese, and British travelers by their casual nudity (the natives wore virtually no clothing), ferocity towards outsiders (many of the historical accounts are of hostile first encounters and "punitive expeditions" against islanders), and their physical features that were more African than Asian, the islanders were little bothered for centuries, the islands mostly unsettled despite being located on major trade routes between India and China. Though outside civilization has become increasingly dominant in the last 200 years or so, there are still remote areas in the archipelago; the one hundred or so individuals who make the island of North Sentinel their home are still very much a stone age people (though many technically no longer use stone but rather work metal from nuts and bolts that wash up on their shores into arrowheads) who may be among the most isolated humans on earth (though how long they will stay isolated is a matter of some concern).

Mukerjee divided the Andaman islanders into four groups. About ten tribes (at one time during colonial times comprised of as many as 5,000-8,000 people) made up a group called the Great Andamanese, occupying most of the Great Andamans (the South, Middle, and North Andaman Islands) and several adjacent smaller islands. They were at war with the elusive Jarawa, a small group that numbered at one time as many as 600, a group that lived in the dense western forest of South Andaman. Seven hundred or so Onge tribal members lived on Little Andaman, a sizable island farther south, and a hundred Sentinelese lived on the eighteen square miles of North Sentinel off to the west.

The author painted a vivid picture of an interesting group of people. Though only distantly related to the Congo Pygmies, they were originally similar in many respects; they lived in dense, moist tropical forests in small bands, had peppercorn hair, painted their naked bodies with clay (a practice which the author discussed at length), used bows, arrows, and nets to obtain food, and had extraordinary botanical knowledge. Hunter-gatherers, they subsisted on a variety of plant products, fish, sea turtles (a favorite), dugongs (now virtually extinct in the islands), and a number of forest animals, the most favored of which was the wild boar, believed by some to have descended from the southern Chinese pig. The natives cared greatly for children; among the Great Andamanese it was considered a compliment and a mark of friendship if a married man, after paying a visit, asked his hosts to adopt one of their children; these parents would in turn not only visit frequently their own but adopt others. Several of the groups had taboos against killing certain creatures. The Great Andamanese for instance ruled that it was taboo to kill a certain spider, a type of beetle, two bird species, two fish species, a certain mollusk, and two types of trees. Cicada grubs were much coveted in several of the islands as food, but many were fearful of upsetting Biliku, the northeastern monsoon wind, whom the cicada was the child of; the islanders would be "silent as a mouse" during early morning and late evening singing of the cicadas, not doing any work or making any noise.

Unfortunately much of the book is about the very sad state of the Andaman Islanders. Massive, often illegal, deforestation, even in the protected tribal reserves, has resulted in huge erosion problems, silt runoff that has killed nearshore corals and local fisheries, and deprived the islanders of much food and shelter on every island but North Sentinel. Only 42 Great Andamanese remain, most of them alcoholics (a dependency on alcohol and other substances in the past deliberately encouraged by the authorities), suffering from malnutrition thanks to a diet largely of oil and starch, and many of the children fathered by the welfare staff who are supposed to care for them, Mukerjee documenting how the social workers sometimes took cruel advantage of them. The remaining 100 or so Onge are only a little better off. Disease in the past devastated the islanders and still thins their numbers to this day as they are a people without previous exposure to such illnesses as pneumonia, mumps, and even the common cold. The Jarawa are famous for their resistance, having fiercely fought logging and road construction in their forests, killing laborers and travelers as recently as 1998. Much feared, laborers required guards, police had to escort travelers on the road through their forest; one person told the author, if asked if he ever saw a Jarawa, replied, no, "To see is to die." Though there have been some reverses in favor of the Jarawa in the end it seems that they are doomed to be assimilated into Indian culture if they don't perish from disease and deforestation first.

During the Pacific Conflict of WWII, the Japanese where characterized as brutal imperialistic conquerors, hungry for more territory and more resources as well as greater control over their asian neighbors in China, Korea, Southeast Asia, and the Phillipines. The United States is viewed as the pure of heart liberators who had come to rescue and aid such people. It is a sad and shameful fact that America had roughly committed the same act of vicious colonialism on the Phillipines years before Japanese troops set foot on the islands.

After the fall of Spanish-American War, rather than attempting to help the Fillipinos to rebuild their occupied homeland, the United States government, in a deeply disturbing turn to greed and arrogance, opted to occupy them just as their Spanish adversaries had done. Huge divisions of soldiers where sent to the Phillipines. The Fillipino guerillas and resistance fighters found themselves battling an enemy that they had considered a friend and ally only a few years before. Though a "successful" counterinsurgency, the Phillipine Insurrection is often thought of as a precursor to the American experience in Vietnam.

This is a conflict that the history books should stop trying to ignore. I love this country but if we want to avoid brutal and senseless campaigns like those in Iraq and Vietnam we need to take into account the wrongdoings of our country such as the occupation of the Phillipines. In fact, during WWII many Fillipino guerilla groups where reluctant to join forces with the US troops and even considered attacking BOTH sides to ensure that either Japanese or American occupation would not happen.

Those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it.

(click the author's name for several other editions of this book)

From: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 26, 2003 SECTION: 8

"LITTLE BROWN BROTHER" is the title of the book Leon Wolff wrote in 1961. It was an eye-opener not just for Filipinos but for Americans as well, most of whom had grown up believing the American seizure of the Philippines, along with Cuba and Puerto Rico, before the turn of the last century was done with the noblest of intentions and wrought through the most benign of intrusions. The original title of the book was "Little Brown Brother: The Forgotten American Bid For Empire Which Cost 250,000 Lives," which was eventually shortened. The subtitle pretty much sums up what the book is about. The 250,000 lives were of course the Filipinos', the American occupation force, as in Iraq more than a century later, suffering few casualties.

Wolff's book told not just of the way a good portion of the new colony's population was wiped out but of the way the entire population's memory was wiped out. The first claimed only 250,000 lives, the latter the souls of nearly every inhabitant of the island. Superimposed on the horrific reality was the general patronage movie version of the occupation, not unlike Fernando Poe's, which told of the making of the "little brown brother," the sidekick, with the face of Dencio Padilla, who would forever be at the hero's side. It was to become the cornerstone of "special relations," relations which have proven especially comfortable for the United States and especially excruciating to the Philippines. "


From The Washington Post, February 24, 1985:
The story of how, and why America liberated the Philippines from Spain and then took the islands back from their inhabitants two weeks later is a complicated one, already well told in one of the classics of American historiography, Leon Wolff's Little Brown Brother, published in 1960.



From BusinessWorld October 21, 1998:

"Little Brown Brother." The author is Leon Wolff, who also wrote the celebrated "In Flanders Field." The subhead on the front cover title and the introduction by the publishers provide an idea of the contents:

"America's Forgotten Bid for Empire Which Cost 250,000 Lives - At the end of the last century, when British imperialism was at its peak, the United States embarked on an acquisitive venture unique in that freedom-loving nation's story. The extra-ordinary circumstances of the annexation of the Philippine Islands and the bloody three-year war that followed the insurrection of its eight million inhabitants (a war in which a quarter of a million U.S. troops and Filipinos died) are today all but forgotten, even in America...

"It was after America's easy Caribbean victory in the war with Spain (1898) that the imperialist faction in American politics, whose leaders included President McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, provoked a political controversy of almost unparalleled bitterness. Meanwhile, ten thousand miles away in the western Pacific, Filipino patriots under Emilio Aguinaldo, who had helped the invading Americans drive out the hated Spaniards, found themselves betrayed by their liberators and saddled with a fresh domination - against which they promptly revolted."

Wolff presents a balanced narrative, depicting an America split between the anti-imperialists, typified by William Jennings Bryant and Mark Twain, and politicians like McKinley, with his delusions of his country's "manifest destiny," and Roosevelt (Theodore), the former Rough Rider, who lumped Filipinos along with the native Americans whom he had fought in the bloody Indian wars.

According to Wolff, in accepting his vice-presidential nomination, Roosevelt declared: "... the presence of (U.S.) troops in the Philippines during the Tagal (Tagalog) insurrection has no more to do with militarism or imperialism than had their presence in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wyoming during the many years which elapsed before the final outbreaks of the Sioux were definitely put down... (Self-government) under Aguinaldo would be like granting self-government to an Apache reservation under some local chief..."

This attitude was reflected in the way the Americans conducted the war. Two officers of a U.S. regiment leaked a particularly gory episode to the New York World, which wrote:

"... our soldiers here and there resort to horrible measures with the natives. Captains and lieutenants are sometimes judges, sheriffs and executioners... 'I don't want any more prisoners sent to Manila,' was the verbal order from the Governor-General three months ago... It is now the custom to avenge the death of an American soldier by burning to the ground all the houses, and killing right and left the natives who are only 'suspects.'"...

Liberation meant conquest
New York Times Review March 5, 1961
...Wolff also author of "In Flanders Field," condemns a few cruel men, but writes understandingly of the pressures and counter-pressures that led to inhuman conduct. The struggle became, for all the participants, a nightmare war fought in torrential tropical rains and ankle deep mud, involving incessant fatigue and hunger and a sudden horrible death along jungle trails...Wolff, drawing upon a mass of contemporary writing, published documents and the memoirs of Anguinaldo, has succeeded admirably in re-creating both sides of this nearly forgotten conflict. It is a shame that the American troops, fighting with courage and fortitude, were not enlisted in a better cause. At the time it appeared far more noble than it does today, but even then a British magazine commented, "There have never been more wicked wars than this...but never a more shabby war."

In Little Brown Brother, Leon Wolff contends that while Jose Rizal was a catalyst for the movement, Emilio Aguinaldo was "Revolution incarnate." Wolf describes Aguinaldo as a stubborn man of limited education who cleverly unified eight million people in the revolution against Spain. He reportedly had a great hatred for the Spanish and sought to prove that the Filipino was mentally and morally above the Europeans. As a result of imperialism, the US took control of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico via the Spanish American War. Although there was still an abundant amount of land throughout the world that applied to the Manifest Destiny ideology, acquiring land on opposite sides of the globe required new methods. It would not be as easy as building roads and displacing a few thousand American Indians. Controlling colonial possession thousands of miles away required a new military commitment. This commitment came by way of a modern Navy. The US steamed into oversees expansion when the Federal Government commissioned the building of several cruisers and battleships between 1883 to 1890. It was clear to the US that those countries who controlled the seas, controlled their own destiny.

Wolff has done some extensive research and has come up with a balanced account of the situation in the Philippines during the Spanish American war. Little is really known of the extent of the atrocities that were the result of the Manifest Destiny and Benevolent Assimilation ideology but Wolf is balanced in his treatment of, on the Militray side: Aguinaldo, Dewey, Otis, and McArthur. On the political side, he is clear to point out that there was opposition to this proclomation for many reasons. His extensive treatment of the debate between William Jennings Bryan and William McKinley are also very extensive. An easy book to read and a very extensive and well researched piece. I give it 5 stars.

Miguel Llora

"Little Brown Brother" gives the reader an excellent introduction to the American conquest of the Philippines. With a copyright granted in 1960, the title may be dated, but the narrative is thorough.

This book is concentrated on the Philippine theatre of the Spanish American War. Leon Wolf begins with backgrounds of the Imperialist sentiment in the U. S. and the Philippine struggle for independence. The nature of the Spanish domination of the islands, largely through control of government and church offices, is laid out.

Action in the Far East began with Adm. Dewey's destruction of the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. This left a multi-polar balance of power, with American dominance of the Bay, challenged by German and British fleets and the city under the control of the Spanish, but surrounded to landward by the Filipino insurgents. This state led to a series of discussions during which the Spanish negotiated with the Americans for an arrangement which would satisfy their pride while protecting them from massacre by the Filipinos. The Filipinos, meanwhile, were negotiating with the Americans for support for their revolution. These negotiations would lead to conflicting claims as to what was promised which would be adjusted by the American Army. With the build-up of the American Army the balance of power shifted and the American conquest began. Extending over several years, the Americans occupied first the Bay, next Manila and, after a drive across Luzon, the entire archipelago.

Much attention is devoted to the political struggles over whether the U. S. should take the islands and, if so, how much they should take. Other nations stirred in the troubled pot. Japan's offer to help govern the islands was spurned. German bellicose behavior was opposed by the Royal Navy.

American debate over taking the islands was reminiscent of more recent debates over foreign interventions. Many of the issues are similar to ones which have arisen at other times in history and which continue to arise. As the war with the Filipino insurgents dragged on, the Americans were accused of conduct which was similar to Spanish actions which led to American intervention in Cuba. Imperialists and Anti-imperialists argued over whether or not American treasure should be expended and blood spilled in tropical jungles and whether we were liberating or murdering their inhabitants. The concentration of natives in villages was not only reminiscent of Spanish measures but prescient of American actions decades later in another Asian battleground. American actions in the islands became a political football, while Filipino patriots attacked American troops while awaiting the election of William Jennings Bryan in anticipation of receiving a grant of independence from his hands. With the reelection of William McKinley, Filipino independence was deferred for over 40 years.

Throughout this book I enjoyed reading the history and comparing its issues with those of later eras. The conquest of the Philippines really set the pattern for American victories and defeats throughout the rest of the 20th Century. These comparisons provide fuel for hours of contemplation.

Throughout this work the author maintains a good balance between detail and broad themes, without ever becoming bogged down or detached from reality. It is informative and readable. As you can see from my other reviews, a really good book earns four stars from me. Only the exceptional ones, such as "Little Brown Brother", earn five.

Mr Wolff has compiled a classic account of this savage and mostly forgotten conflict that brough America into a war that would be very similar in the sixties. A brilliant telling of both sides of the war, from the political figures, Filipino field commanders, volunteer soldiers from Oregon and Kansas, the "Buffalo Soldiers", Marines, Moros wielding their razor-edged barongs to generals like Lawton, Merritt, Pershing, Funston and Arthur MacArthur. If you are interested in this story, I recommend this book and Muddy Glory by Russel Roth to name but a few. History as it should be taught in school.

When I decided to move to Lebanon three years ago, I bought the first edition of this book, and it was like a bible for my husband and me as we got our bearings, traveled around the country, and branched out on our own. We still use it as a reference when we go back to visit our favorite places. The information is clear and easy to follow, the historical sections, information about the culture, and practical information are all up to date and accurate. All in all, this is an excellent resource for anyone coming to Lebanon. Enjoy your stay!

For thousands of years Lebanon has occupied a position in history that is entirely out of proportion to its size. Nearly every Westerner has read or heard about this tiny country, yet its past and present, its inhabitants, and the land itself hold countless secrets. Ann Jousiffe's "Lebanon" will help you explore this legendary corner of the eastern Mediterranean, discover many of its unique treasures, and savor its seemingly infinite variety. Her book provides historical, cultural, and political commentary, advice on food and accommodations, extensive background on archaeological sites, a useful language section, and a glossary. It also includes maps and color photographs.

A perfect companion to Jousiffe's book is "Recipes and Remembrances from an Eastern Mediterranean Kitchen: A Culinary Journey through Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan," by Lebanese-born Sonia Uvezian. An astounding achievement of culinary, historical, and cultural research, this masterly volume is a godsend for anyone who plans to visit Lebanon.

When I decided to move to Lebanon three years ago, I bought the first edition of this book, and it was like a bible for my husband and me as we got our bearings, traveled around the country, and branched out on our own. We still use it as a reference when we go back to visit our favorite places. The information is clear and easy to follow, the historical sections, information about the culture, and practical information are all up to date and accurate. All in all, this is an excellent resource for anyone coming to Lebanon. Enjoy your stay!

I returned to Lebanon after many years away. This book had everything! My family (who have never left Lebanon) were also amazed by the detail and accuracy of the book (even the cost of a Taxi from Homs to Beirut to within 50 cents US). Insightful and straightforward. Arranged very well. There is very good detail, even on places that the Ministry of Tourism is scant on. Highly recommended!

Having travelled a lot using the LP guides with no problems I can only recommend them... but even if your not planning a trip to Lebanon- this book is amazing as a reference to the region; making order out of the chaos of Lebanon's recent history in an unbiased and moderate historiography- unswayed by religous or cultural persuasion and remaining sensitive to Lebanon's unique history of generally fruitful co-existance and co-operation between some 15 different religous/cultural groups who inhabit and interpret such a dramatic and tiny country, especially in a region characterised by the sometimes not-so-happy collision between east and west. This is an extremely valuable guide for travellers, people with an interest in the Mediteranean and the Near East, or for that matter, any one of the 13 million Lebanese descendants living outside of that tiny piece of heaven. The section on Mount Lebanon was particularly good, though the author could have covered more of the awesome hiking trails and forest overlooking Beirut to be found in the Metn valleys (midway between Jenkins & Jousiffes Mt Lebanon & Chouf)... but no body's perfect!! :) This book is excellent and very well written- the authors deserve great credit.

You will enjoy & learn a lot from this book. One of the most pleasurable experiences I've ever had in Thailand is eating the food. There is such a wide variety food you can eat in Thailand. As you begin to fall in love with this cuisine, you will want to eat new and more varied dishes. Ordering can be challenging as you evolve into more advanced Thai foods. Yes, you can point and gesture, but if you want to more fully enjoy the culinary delights of real Thai food, you need to know what it's called, and say how you want it cooked or mixed to your spice preferences. There is a lot of important etiquette tips, that will help you if you're invited to eat in a home of a family in a village, or with associates in the city. The regional, colloquial, and relevant slang is included. This means, the author has been there and done it, having lived in Thailand for for the most of 25 years, along with superb homework & research. The photographer, Jerry Alexander helps the reader identify visually with some of the foods that are described. The dictionary at the end included many useful phrases in addition to the food vocabulary. One error though, is that the letter "G" in Thai is listed as a "K" which is only the case when it is a stop final, at the end of a word, or syllable cluster. Read, learn, eat, and enjoy.

I went out on a limb and picked this little treasure up with out even looking at any of the recipies. Glad I did. I spent years as a cook and found that most ethnic dishes are a product of the environment and what the people have at their disposal. And that most methods of cooking are the same with just different spices. These cook books have picked up on that and give you the basics. Every Thai Grandma has her own special recipie for curry but the core recipies are all here. Along with, and this is why I'm so impressed with these books, a history of the culture and it's evolution, common customes at the dinner table, how to shop in the markets, what to order when and where, a great map of the country specifying each regions specialties and (these guy's are great) a little dictionary of the Thai language and their pronunciations. These books would not only make a great gift but a perfect addition to a collection of cook books. I only wanted to buy one Thai cook book and I'm glad I found this one first. It's got evey thing you need to learn and creat great Thai food.

I thought I was an expert on Thai food as I have been living in Thailand for 6 years. However, Joe's easy to read book taught me many a new thing. This is not your average cook book. It is really a cross between a travel guide and a recipe book with a sprinkling of cultural information. I would say that it is the definitive book on eating Thai food - whether that be in Thailand or abroad. Highly recommended for anyone who has visited Thailand and has fallen in love with the food or the armchair traveler who is eating Thai food at home.

I bought this book thinking it was just a cookbook, and was surprised to find much more. Eating is an essential part of life in Thailand, and Joe Cummings gives deep insight into Thai culture -- specifically how "being Thai" comes out in the preparation and enjoyment of food.

If you're buying the LP guide to Thailand and are going there for the first time, also buy this book. You'll get a much more in depth description of the Thai way of life, as well manners & etiquette for a foreigner. And you'll want the recipes when you return!!

The Lonely Planet Guides are justly regarded as bibles by backpackers the world over. They are exhaustively researched and very reliable. I backpacked through Thailand last year and relied heavily on Joe Cummings brilliant LP guide for advice, inspiration and tips on what to eat. When I heard that Joe Cummings had written the LP World Food Guide to Thailand I knew it would be as meticulously researched and filled with the same infectious enthusiasm as his guide to the country itself. I was not disappointed. Though this is not the only Thai cookbook you will ever need - there are only twenty or so recipes - the book rightly sets Thai cuisine in its rich context, building the case that Thai food - real Thai food - is one of the world's most exciting cuisines. The story of Thai food - it's distinctive ingredients, the way it is eaten by Thais, the many regional variations, how to shop for Thai ingredients, street food, etc - is studded with relevant recipes made all the more appealing by what you have just learned. Buy it - you won't be disappointed.

When I was preparing to visit China, I sought for more knowledge about China and their culture. Additionally, I wanted to know what things I should look when shopping. Americans buy so many things that say "Made in China", I did not want to bring home one of these items. This book "Look What Came from China!" by Miles Harvey was very helpful. There was just enough information to lead me to further investigate items for which I was interested. I have read this book several times to my grandchildren. They like to play a game with each other trying to see who can name the most things that came from China.

Mr.Harvey's series on the different aspects of life in other parts of the world is an excellent way to introduce grades 2 through 5 many other cultures! This is very well organized information! I highly recommend this book and others in the series.

This nonfiction book gives many interesting facts about things that come from or were invented in China. The book is well organized because there is a table of contents and the book is divided into sections. Along with a glossary, a resource page is also included, which lists other books and websites about China. The book is very educational, and the information presented is clear and direct. The photographs help capture the essence of China's great inventions. The most exciting thing included in the book is the Mandarin language, the official language of China, for some English words. The calligraphy is given first, and then a pronounciation key is provided. The one and only flaw in the book is the illustrations of ancient Chinese people making paper from pulp. The illustrations are vague, which makes it hard to understand the process it took to make paper. This is a great resource to have in any classroom library. Teachers can use this book to introduce a lesson about China. If students are doing research about China, they can use the book to learn valuable information.

If your preschooler likes pictures, and you as the parent like educating, then this is a fun, educational book! I love to use it to teach my chinese daughter about her birth country!
Kay

As a teacher of history, one of the most important lessons I hope to convey to students is why the study of history is of such importance. One reason is, the study of history helps us to comprehend why we are the way we are. In other words, we must look to the past to understand why we eat what we eat, wear what we wear, and view the world as we do. This book admirably supports, with clear, concise prose and colorful illustrations, why the China's history is everyones' history. It is also great fun to read!

I love this book; the unusual way the author created fan shaped pages is delightful.

I used this book in a demonstration in my children's literature class. It was great, the illustrations & pop out pages are great & definately keep the readers/class entertained.

I'm a firm believer in the power of The Magic Fan. I'm sure you will also be after only one reading. This book holds a powerful lesson behind it's beautiful art -- that of self-discovery, independence, and character. I highly recommend this book to parents, adults, and kids of any age!

When my youngest child, now 15, was in kindergarten, I read him this wonderful book. Each year after that he took this book out of the school library the as soon as he could. He enjoyed the story, pictures and learning about another culture. Now I am buying this book for my grandson so he can enjoy this book also. My son can't wait to read it to his nephew.

Currently I am a student teacher, and I used the Magic Fan as one of my selections to discuss multi-culturalism in my class. The Magic Fan is a wonderful example of how different people within a village can help each other while still continue to follow their dreams. Yoshi's discovery that the magic for his great works came from within and children should look and trust what they see within themselves. My class was rivited to the reading and had some very interesting discussions about other projects Yoshi might have attempted. This is a wonderful book for any child's home library!

In another book called The Commanding Self Idries Shah says that the desired effect of these Teaching stories depends upon someone not knowing the intended effect. And this in a Teaching narrative that next tells us that the person he said this to, an editor for one of his books, then asked for an introduction explaining the intended effect of the stories. If you don't think thats funny, you probably won't like this book. There are no explanations here, no descriptions of spirituality, or theories about personal development. What is here, is very finely crafted Teaching stories and narratives that Shah collected from both oral and written sources, adding some of his own when "Sufic comprehensiveness demanded it". The stories are beautiful, challenging, disturbing, and often banal. And then one reads them again and finds that they are none of these things; that those were simply some of your own personal reactions to them. This book is a remarkable acheivement; a mirror for what can't be written down.

This book not only entertains, it educates as well. The tales and vignettes in it are called Teaching Stories because teaching is precisely what they do. They teach the reader how to escape from the confines and limitations of usual, normal thinking processes. They do so by showing the reader to himself or herself, reflected in the actions and motivations of the characters in the tales. The reader can learn how to operate more free of bias. The effect is similar to suddenly coming across riches, the riches buried within ourselves. Repeated readings reveal more layers and depths, each guiding the reader to greater understanding and freedom. 'The Magic Monastery' is, for these reasons, quite a catch.

About Sufism, it has been said that "in the West it's become very complicated because spiritual authority is understood on the wrong levels."

Shah's delivery is often times directed toward certain constructs of the ego within this reader's psyche. Painfulness is almost always imminent because he is capable in pointing out the fractures of this reader's brittle comprehension of Life. He points out how I can be my own worst enemy that keeps me from taking necessary steps needed to live a healthy and fulfilling life. In this sense, his tone can, in some instances, become characteristic of a stern father, a strict sensei, or a tough coach helping me steer clear of self-imagined obstructions. These moments aren't really ever pleasant, as they tend to turn my insides, and I feel singed. But, with some help, I am able to understand that this is an essential prerequisite for transformation in the Sufi way; therefore, I choose to understand these types of stern approaches in terms of "tough loving" that help bring equilibrium to my egoic ratios (inflation:deflation), and step in the direction of freeing myself of myself.

The Sufi stories within the Magic Monastery are, for me, the best times of diligent reading and mindful inner listening. I definitely become more aware of any inner voices compelling reactions and responses. Self-punishing? or self-rewarding? You make what you want of it.

Do you want to get to know yourself? That's what I did. Each of these stories is an opportunity to discover another aspect of your personality. Like me, you will find stories which you will like or find amusing, perhaps others that will annoy or startle you. Each is a mine of possibility that enriches with subsequent readings. Spend time with Idries Shah... and get to know You.

Here are 157 pieces of literature, most on a single page. Each one is like a room in a monastery; not the one in the title story, which is the product of the illusions of the greedy, but a genuine, inner one. Some rooms have windows through which to see the world around us more clearly. Some rooms have mirrors in which to see ourselves more clearly. Both windows and mirrors are specialized to help us see subtle things that we would otherwise miss. Then we realize that the windows have become mirrors, and the mirrors, windows. A handbook for inner work.