Asia Books

This is a coffee-table style book: hundreds of beautiful, color pictures, with a short, informative essay. In fact, the nearly 50-page essay is better than many coffee-table books are. If you're interested in pictures, this is your book. If you're interested in descriptions of beliefs and practices, this is merely an introduction. Unfortunately, I don't know of a good book for that purpopse, although I've looked around both in Vietnam and the United States. Also, this book doesn't cover Hoa Hao, Vietnamese Catholicism or the Montangards' religions at all, and only the most famous Cham and Cao Dai sites.

I highly recommend this beautifully photographed and well document book on the art and culture of Vietnam. I loved the pictures of many sacred ceremonies and Ms. Unger's descriptive text. It is a miracle that these buildings still exist after what Vietnam has endured. The only reservation I have with the book is that it does not cover ancient Vietnam history in depth. Otherwise, the book is extraordinary.

This is a great book one never gets tired of looking through. It is full of a great variety of beautiful color photographs, all of them giving you a different glimpse of religion in Vietnam. Some shots show you the outside of the sacred temples and pagodas in all of their ornate architecture, others the insides of these buildings as people--priests and lay folks--pray and carry out rites. And many others still focus on the icons, the deities being worshipped. One excellent thing about these latter shots is that the deities are always situated in their ritual contexts (incense burning, offerings spread out before them) and not in the abstract like museum pieces. By the end, one is left with a vivid sense of the deeply intense and heart-felt religiosity of the Vietnamese people as they really live it.

The essay at the beginning is quite helpful, preparing you to generally have an idea what you're looking at (so that the images are not just exotic sound and fury signifying nothing) and doing a fine job of showing how several different religious traditions have flowed together to inform and shape Vietnamese religiosity. The treatment is careful and well-researched while written in a very accessible style.

I'm not sure who wouldn't like this lovely book. Anyone interested in Vietnam and its culture should, for sure. Photography buffs will also find something here, I'd think. But I think scholars of Religious Studies should also take note--sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, and a book like this is invaluable in approaching lived religion. Finally, this is a super book for any armchair travelers out there; it's the next best thing to actually going to Vietnam in person.

I had the pleasure of travelling in Bhutan with my father for 4 months when he was painting some of the work in the book. Shameless plug here for him, I know, but the designer did a wonderful job and the content ain't half bad either. Cheers!

I had the pleasure of travelling in Bhutan with my father for 4 months when he was painting some of the work in the book. Shameless plug here for him, I know, but the designer did a wonderful job and the content ain't half bad either. Cheers!

A Painter's Year In The Forests Of Bhutan by scholar and painter A. K. Hellum is an impressively presented artbook offering unique botanical and visual insights into the flora and culture of the land of Bhutan. Featuring color illustrations of more than 100 rarely seen Bhutanese plants, Hellum's extensive and thoughtful commentary enhances the gentle, museum quality illustrations, and provides the reader with a thoughtful perspective in the form of an exotic giftbook which is most especially recommended for lovers of nature and students of botany.

I love this book, I have found it to be very informative and having shown another friend who loves needlework, she can't wait to get her own book.
The pictures and details are lovely, it is well written and easy to understand,

I have the 1979 version of this book. This book inspired me to pick up a needle and for the last 25 years, strive to create my own needlework masterpieces.

excellent book. There are 16 stitches to learn and they are well ilistrated. Also with each stitch explainaton, there are photos of embroideries using the stitch. There are 19 projects with detailed directions. The most amazing feature is that the colours for the projects is keyed to the DMC floss colours.

-A good dictionary in Pali, the language of rich classic Buddhist texts, isn't just for left-brain dweebs -- it can add irreplaceable depth, enjoyment, and accuracy to your practice. Dictionaries have limitations, to be sure, but in Pali (as in English) if you are confused or curious about the precise meaning of a word you have no substitute for a good dictionary, and incompletely translated terms can significantly interfere with your understanding. This is as true for your native language as for a technical professional discipline.
-Here's an example. I recently prepared a talk on the Dhammapada and commented on Byrom's translation of verse 95 (yes, yes, there are far more literally accurate translations, and you bet I backed it up with Carter and Palihawadana and Thanissaro, but Byrom's stylistic beauty makes it a popular text which most people in the class seemed to be using. Other translations have challenges, too). Byrom describes arahants as "yielding like the earth." Yielding? This word conjures up images of a passive, floppy, Alfred E. Neuman attitude which would be indifferent to grave injustice. That just didn't seem right, but other translations only threw confusion on the issue. Well, when all else fails, read the directions in the original language. The dictionary showed the Pali word meant "without resistance; without hostility." So...in the original language, the verse probably meant one could resist injustice and untruth, but one could never skillfully do this using hostility. Problem Solved. Consistency Re-established. This is but one example where a dictionary, especially in a precise and meaning-rich philosophy like Buddhism, is enriching and even crucial, especially for one not fluent in the language. Goodness only knows how many other misconceptions I have, based on inaccurate or incompletely explained translations.
-Other dictionaries exist, including web-based ones, by competent scholars and I've used most (though not all). But -- when I first looked into this text my jaw literally dropped because of the dictionary's comprehensiveness. The entry for "kamma" had 4-1/2 pages! It was like comparing a pocket dictionary with a Webster's Unabridged. The authors are the only ones I've seen who consistently give root verbs and Sanskrit analogues, which are enriching and crucial for understanding the Pali. Translating or explaining difficult terms without them amounts to malpractice. Furthermore, it is organized like my friendly old Macdonell's Sanskrit Dictionary, also a useful masterpiece of scholarship and precision. The authors also briefly introduced the problems any dictionary will have, including accuracy and precision.

-No one with an intermediate or advanced level of interest in Buddhism should be without an adequate Pali dictionary to further explain difficult and controversial topics. End of discussion. Period. Dot. The Buddha taught no one should let someone else do their thinking for them! This Pali dictionary is far and away the most comprehensive and the best I've seen. Its main problem (being out of date) is far more easily rectified than having a trendy, modern text or translation which is neither as comprehensive nor as accurate. One really picky thing is that it doesn't give the Pali alphabetical order, but that's easy enough to correct by making your own chart (I'd suggest tabs, too).
-If you like the Dhamma as explained by Theravada Buddhism, then buy this dictionary, even if you think attachment to material things is bad.

This dictionary is an essential tool for the Pali scholar. And yet it was first published eighty years ago and has not been revised - or so little - since this first distant edition. Does it mean our knowledge of Pali has not improved? Of course not. It only means no one has had the courage nor taken the time to go back to this dictionary and to enrich it with all we have learned about Pali. But the very first shortcoming is not that. It is the fact that it is only one way. No English-Pali half. It only works one way. It prevents what I would call cross-examinations, crossing the two languages. The second shortcoming is the very layout of the book that makes it very difficult to use. We do not see very clearly the various sections of each entry and we have to scrutinize the entry to find the end of the etymological section of it, for one instance. Another shortcoming of the same type is that all similar entries are not always built the same way, with for verbs for instance first the etymology, second the various forms, third the meanings. At times some important elements are missing : all nouns are not specified as for gender. This is rather easy to improve. Then we can deal with the more semantic shortcomings. This dictionary opposes gerund and gerundive but Rhys Davids is the only one, with Geiger, to do so; and no explanation is given, not even by Geiger. This dictionary should contain a short survey of all the grammatical forms and concepts of Pali, a short grammatical presentation of the language. At times it is not very easy to follow some derivations that are not clearly identified or connected. We can find the causative of some verbs but not the basic pre-causative form. We are not always provided with the passive verb of an active verb, though we may have the past participle of this passive verb. So we are obliged to run around in circles from one book to another to supplement what's missing. The last remark I will put forward is that some Buddhist concepts are not always either explained properly or translated in agreement with the meaning. It is the case of "dukkha" for example. It is reduced - as a noun - to meaning "fraught with pain, entailing sorrow or trouble" which is alas in phase with the traditional Christian vision of life as a valley of sorrow or tears. But as Rhys Davids says: "There is no word in English covering the same ground as dukkha does in Pali. Our modern words are too specialised , too limited, and usually too strong." And yet he reduces dukkha to suffering which is totally false. Dukkha is a direct and global reference to the natural cycle of birth-decay-death-rebirth, to the fact that nothing is permanent and everything is evanescent, to the principle that there is no good, that man has no soul, no divine part in him, that the only future of man - if he does not get out of the cycle of dukkha - is to die and be reborn into the cycle again. But at the same time the force and energy necessary to get on the Path to nirvana is in this very materialistic dukkha: it is the mind that can, through concentration and meditation, detachment and clear vision, build the slow process that will get us out of this very cycle of birth-decay-death-rebirth, on the Path of Enlightenment beyond. In other words dukkha states that there is no salvation since there is no saviour, but it also states that we can be the artisans of our own salvation, or rather escape, and that the engine of it is precisely embedded in our very dukkha. It is thus wrong to reduce dukkha to a meaning that implies something completely different when literally and narrowly translated, word for word, into our European and Christianized languages. And yet this dictionary is the only tool we have so far if we want to penetrate the words of Pali.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine and University Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne

The Critical Pali Dictionary project presents the language in much greater breadth and depth. But it is a multi-generational project and seems to have run out of funding after the first few letters. Margaret Cone has begun a project and covered the first few letters. This is still the dictionary to consult for complete coverage. (The notion that this dictionary should have covered grammar is simply silly. Works on Pali grammar are available separately.)

This book, which should be entitled "A day in the Life of Vietnamese" is the creation of Rick Smolan of the "Day in the Life" series.

In 1994, 70 photographers descended on Vietnam for a week to take pictures of the Vietnamese at work from north to south. They caught people in the middle of shopping, selling, eating, working, napping, and so on. The result is a fascinating book detailing the life of Vietnamese during that week.

While most pictures are interesting and original, a few are unique to the Vietnamese society.

PASSAGE TO VIETNAM (Against All Odds/Interval Research, CD-ROM for PC and Mac, $39.95) With its 400 photos, hour of video, lilting indigenous music, and insightful essays, this landmark disc transports you to contemporary Vietnam, where pigs squawk, mothers tote babies on their backs, and peddlers hawk dried sea horses. This Passage, produced with Scorsese-like lushness by Rick Smolan, is no swanky animated program, but it is virtual reality of a high and literary nature because it makes you dream. Without wasting words, the photographers eloquently tell the stories behind their pictures--stories of people at work and play. Though we can't help but remember the horror of war, Passage helps us to see that time has begun its healing. A+ --Harold Goldberg

Vietnam is one of the most picturesque countries and colorful cultures. Yet it remains as one of the least understood countries in the world, despite having been one of the most publicized. This photo journalistic journey allows pictures to speak volumes. Look into the eyes of the children, the lives of the rice farmers. The art, the economy, family and community interaction -- are all visible and life-like in this representation of life today in Vietnam

I purchased this as a source for a class presentation. If my professor had not required that I have three sources, I would not have needed anything else. Great, up-to-date, practical information from someone who has been there. Great buy!

This succinct, highly readable guide to understanding Israeli culture and dealing with Israelis in business and social contexts makes observations solidly supported by academic research on the subject. Topics range from negotiating with Israelis to hot-button issues like religion and politics. The bibliography of books and Internet sites provides additional resources for those who want to know more. A must-read for Americans seeking successful intercultural communication with Israelis, whether in the U.S. or Israel.

I had originally purchased this book to use for a school project. While the book was extremely useful for my Human Resources class, I also found the issues and topics presented in the book to be of great interest. This book is easy reading, short and to the point.

.. A sad fact about an ethnic group that has served other Nations with distinction whenever it was called upon. While a lot of this information in caroe's book is not as relevant as it used to be, it remains the best English book on Pashtuns. For a more contemporary book I recommend read Spain's The Pathans of the latter day.

I bought this book in hopes of learning about the nature of Pathan history and its roots... I must say this book was a sheer delight although a little heavy on history... It is not for the casual reader. However if you seek to get a good knowledge of Pathan history.. then this is the book.. For some, the historical essence of this books might be somewhat compromised by the romantic overtones of the writer towards the pathans however for me it was an added delight since it comfirmed to me the involvement of the writer with the subjects of his chosen topic. Overall, if are a serious reader than this is the book for you.

This book is an extremely useful work for historical reference, probably the only one in its category extant. It can be regarded as the magnum opus of its subject. The main merit of the book lies in the fact that its presents a detailed genealogical history, as well as a narrative of the area, its places, language and dialects, and culture of this race - with valuable first hand background information by a scholarly author who was also the top colonial administrator of this area, having reached that position after a long record of lesser tier appointments and experience in the same place. And nobody then or since, has attempted another such work in any language concerning this crucial and extremely troublesome race, whose region is now a crucible of turbulence. One of the book's chief drawbacks is that it dates to the time period of 50-60 years ago, and given the nature of 20th century developments, not just "water" alone but a whole ocean has flowed under the bridge since then, to modify the cliche realistically. Also the narrative of its writer is heavily tinted with his own maudlin emotional sentiments and rose tinted romanticism--and he has acknowledged these feelings openly while describing to the reader the nature of his book in the preface--therefore this aspect of the book robs it of any credibility in presenting the reader with the actual picture as it obtains on the ground, especially nowadays. After all, analysing a society doesn't wholly depend on facts and figures concerning what its inhabitants eat or wear, or the group its language belongs to. Even emotional involvements must be seen as to whether they are deluded or appropriate. So, as a reviewer, let me take up on the subject of this book where its British imperialist officer, yet somewhat giggolo-like author, fails. The Pathans are perhaps the most criminal society on the face of the planet nowadays and have been for since long. The people are extremely proud and boastful about their negative "dangerous" qualities, extremely jealous, grasping and malintentioned, bellicose and vindictive and can nurse the pettiest of slights and grudges for years, ending in explosive results. When the British ruled here for a century, there was a semblance of order and justice, but after 1947 the area quickly started reverting to its protean tribal lawlessness, and following the Afghan revolutionary upheavals of 1978 the reversion was complete, if not more intense than ever before. Government exists here only as a verneer on paper; even that is made up of the obsolete rules the British colonialists had drawn up. Those "elders" in power and authority are bandits and things get done through favour and patronage and contacts. Nobody is ashamed of this. For a Pathan, its "normal living". Drugs and smuggling make up their economy, robbing the state treasury makes up their top officials' salaries and no taxes are paid. Of course, when the top dogs indulge themselves thus, everybody else feels they have a right to do the same, here... There is no public or civic life, and one's safety and survival are dependent on the jungle law, survival of the fittest (or the cunning). Public works suffer for lack of money or planning. "Justice" is meted out by informal gatherings of toughs and "social influentials" known as "jirgas". Thus the place is rundown and ramshackle like an American frontier town's scenario from the 19th century Wild West, where rude, boorish macho tribesmen rule the day. It is the home base of the Taliban and Islamic extremist terrorism. Here the only women you can be relaxed with are your mother and sisters. Sex is only "permissible" in marriage, and for that you have to send a party of relatives over to a person's house to choose and "reserve" his daughter for you. If a man tries meeting a "stranger" female normally, he and the woman risk getting shot dead by her father/brother(s)/cousin(s) for violating their family's "honour". (Women here, you see, are objects of honour for their tribe and family. They are there only to be given or sold to husbands at their males' liking. With due apologies to gays, Pathan men are normally bisexual, and society doesn't bat an eyelid about it). The police treats such killings as "honour killing" between the two parties involved, and leaves it to a "jirgah" to mete "justice", usually settled by payment of blood money or yet another forced marriage, known as "swarrah". Of course in reality, Pathan women are among the most oversexed and "hottest", but all liaisions are strictly "underground". I was born a Pathan - from Charsadda district - and because of various constraints am still living here. But in spirit, I'm a normal human being, not a Pathan. In short, this is a society beyond redemption. The Pathan spirit refuses to change in any aspect. And they try to prevent others from doing so to, who want to change. This society truly merits the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) to wipe it cleanly and efficiently off the face of the earth as a sevice to the ideals of normal, modern civilisation. And I think one day in the near future, responsible leaders will be forced to take that path out of dire necessity. But at the moment, this evil blot on the globe continues to exist just because America and the West support it, and don't give a damn about how bad its people are. Anyone who is "proud" of, or likes such a society or situation - needs to be stood to a wall and shot.

Professor Rigger's inaugural work shows a great deal of talent and promise. She argues convincingly that it was the very institution of local elections, conducted even in the darkest days of the Chiang Kai-Shek era, that made a crucial contribution to the island's later peaceful transition to democracy. Very insightful and informative.

An outstanding contribution to understanding the current status of the political scene in this part of Asia and its implications for the greater world community. It is comprehensive, well organized, and very readable, even for the relative novice to the field.

'Politics in Taiwan' is an extraordinarily well researched, elegantly argued and very readable book. It concisely contends that Taiwan's 'democratic miracle' is a result of a long history of local elections that have taken place on the island, inculcating democratic skills and nurturing a viable opposition to the authoritarian regime. The book comprises an equal blend of theoretical reasoning and empirical richness. Professor Rigger nicely captures both the dynamics of historical development and the contingencies of real-life politics. A must-read for those interested in contemporary Taiwan and/or democratization, and very suitable for the college classroom.

I have loved this series. I usually don't like historical fiction but this one is one of the best books I've read. It doesn't matter what genre you prefer. You can even read it with the pretext of learning more about India's history. Even though I wasn't interested in that aspect, I have learned a lot. I have given some notes about the third, fourth and fifth, seeing how the first and second are already done.

The third book in Kalkii's exciting Ponniyin selvan series, The Killer Sword reveals aspects of the characters which have not been seen before. Who will be your favorite and who will you most dislike by the end of this story? I think you shall be surprised. I certainly was. You don't know anyone until you read this story.

This series is one of the best ones I've read. The fourth book, The Crown, is just as intriguing as all of the others. In this one Aditha Karikalar takes the spot light near the end but you may not like what he does. To be fair you must realize the stress he's under. It leaves Aditha, and the people around him, in a rested but defiantly not finished position and lets the next book start elsewhere.

The first part of the fifth and final book of the Ponniyin Selvan series starts with Arulmozhivarmar (Ponniyin Selvan). Earlier, every time when we were with Arulmozhi someone else was featured. This time he is highlighted and puts it to good use. You won't be disappointed.

Maya Cutkosky, 8th grade., WJHS, Columbia, MO..

I don't read much in Tamil even though I'm from the region. Having heard a lot about Kalki and his writings I was quite eager to read this translation in English. I have to admit I was skeptical initially about how well the English version will stand up to a translation of what is not only Tamil fiction but also one that is entwined with the history of the Tamils and the culture of 1000 A.D.

After finishing both Vol 1 and Vol 2 in about a few days I am simply awestruck by the imagination of Kalki and also about how nicely translated this book is -- didn't feel for a moment that I was experiencing the wonderful drama unfolding in a foreign language! I recommend this book to all that are curious about the culture of the tamils from about a 1000 years ago and would also like a fast paced novel full of intrigue and drama. Now I can't wait for Vol 3, 4 and 5 to appear. Mr Karthik Narayanan assures me Vol 3 and 4 will be out in a few weeks with Vol 5 sometime away. Please speed it up!

I have read Ponniyin Selvan - the entire version in Tamil. I longed for a proper english translation of this epic for a long time. This book provides the english translation without losing much of the original values of the culture of the ancient Chola empire. I feel a little more help should have been provided for readers not from India by means of explanations about the region specific cultural or linguistic expressions. However, this book is worth every penny and I am eagerly awaiting the translations of other volumes of Ponniyin Selvan. The novel Ponniyin Selvan definetely stands among the best historic novels ever written about any ancient emperors. The number and depth of characters and the thickeness of plot, the intricasies of spying in a time where no modern communication mechanisms were there is simply mind boggling. I recommend this for any reader, who is interested in fiction (historical or otherwise).

A Luscious book - with inspirational photos, in both quality and selection. A valuable book for educating those new to this trend in building, so they can abandon old ideas of prefab and look at the hot creative and even green possibilities.

PreFab Now

For me, this was a pleasure to look through. The variety of homes covered in the book are extensive; and the photography captured the Pre-Fab installations beautifully. I plan on building a Pre-Fab in the future and I found this book to be a great source of inspiration and visual information.

PreFabNow, $26.37 Amazon.com, is a two hundred page square-format book from author James Grayson Trulove. His recent hardbacks include 25 Apartments and Lofts Under 2500 Square Feet, New Sustainable Homes, and The Modern Townhouse. This volume highlights prime examples of striking prefabricated homes on the market today - and examines facets such as cost, durability, and sustainability. The book also includes drawings, plans, renderings, and sumptuous full-page color photography from various architects and photographers.

Resolution: 4 Architecture envisioned the Mountain Retreat that occupies 18 of the first 30 pages appearing after the Contents and Foreword. This 1,800-square-foot home was assembled in a factory before being erected on-site in the Catskills. Once the prefabricated bars were raised, exterior sheathing of cedar board and cementitious panels were applied; a deck for entertaining was also added. My favorite element on this house is the butterfly roof with clerestory windows.

English countryside homes like Cedar House - designed by Hudson Architects - are enviable. This 3,450-square-foot home (utilizing off-site construction) was erected in just one week. Timber-panel floors, roofing, and walls allowed for easy installation; 15,000 untreated cedar shingles complete the exterior. Because the roof structure was lightweight, roof beams were not required - therefore the residence has soaring ceilings and vast open spaces. My favorite feature on this structure is the cantilevered corner window in aluminum-frame.

Flexibility and portability are found in the Portable House from Office of Mobile Design. This California dwelling has ample living and sleeping spaces divided by a kitchen and bath. Once the 12-by-60-foot steel frame is trucked to its site and set on a foundation, the exterior is fitted with metal siding and translucent polycarbonate panels that serve as windows. My favorite detail here is the bamboo flooring, since bamboo is a sustainable hardwood.

Another home designed by Resolution: 4 Architecture is in rural Virginia. The Country Retreat is a 2,600-square-foot house with communal areas on the lower level and private areas on the upper level. Once its prefabricated bars were raised, exteriors of horizontal cedar siding and cement-board accents were applied; a ground-level stone courtyard conceals a swimming pool. My favorite attribute of this retreat is the view from the dining/living area onto the aforementioned courtyard.

Besides the Mountain Retreat, my favorite residence in PreFabNow, is the Red Cabin designed by Alchemy Architects. Perched in the Minnesota woods, a 750-square-foot house with two bedrooms and a galley kitchen evokes the image of a tugboat stranded atop a hill. Configured from two pre-built modules, the home appears spacious due to ground level and rooftop decks. Clad in rough-sawn siding, the house is painted firehouse red to mimic nearby cabins.

Next I'll discuss the X 1 which is part of the X-Line from Hive Modular. This 2,300-square-foot modular home - also located in Minnesota - has 15 foot ceilings in the dining, kitchen, living, master and second bedroom, and study area. Its exterior is covered with maintenance-free fiber-cement and metal siding, and the windows are all black-clad aluminum. I'd say the architects at Hive Modular are fans of the artist Mondrian, based on this prototype.

Of the houses featured here, I especially like the Mod3 Riverview. This green home was designed by Studio 804 of Lawrence, Kansas. All its ceiling, floor and wall cavities are filled with recycled cellulose instead of fiberglass insulation. The exterior is home grown Douglas fir used to reduce fuel consumption associated with shipping materials from overseas. Floor to ceiling windows utilized here also insure ample natural light, reducing the need for artificial light.

While I can't imagine living in a Mobile Dwelling Unit - designed by Lot-Ek - it does possess a certain post-Millennial charm. This unit is built from recycled shipping containers. Its interior and sub-volumes are fabricated from fixtures, plywood, and plastic-coated plywood. When all the sub-volumes are extended, the square footage of the dwelling increases by ten percent. Overall, I'd say this is an excellent coffee table book for anyone that's contemplating buying a prefab home.