Asian Books

Traditionally, four major East Asian languages have used Chinese characters for their writing systems: Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, and, of course, Chinese. Wm. C. Hannas knows all of them, and in this book he uses that extensive knowledge to deliver a broadside against the Chinese characters' lack of efficiency as a writing system.

Anyone familiar with John DeFrancis' work on the Chinese language will recognize some of Hannas' arguments (DeFrancis writes the forward for this book and was clearly an inspiration for Hannas' work). But Hannas is more wide-ranging in his scholarship and goes further with his arguments.

The first part of the book introduces the four major languages that have used Chinese characters for their writing systems, introducing them in order of the frequency they presently use the characters. Thus, Chinese -- which is comprised entirely of characters -- is introduced first and Vietnamese -- which no longer uses any characters -- is introduced last. This part describes the history of each languages' writing system and is highly readable.

After the languages have been introduced, the second part of the book critiques the Chinese character-based writing system. This part varies between highly readable sections and some more abstruse sections that deal with linguistic, analytical, and even psychological arguments that require close readings by the layman who doesn't have an expertise or at least a strong interest in those areas. But these arguments are the meat of Hannas' book as he looks at what Chinese characters represent, reading and literacy in Chinese character-based scripts, and even whether those writing systems are really appropriate for East Asian languages as some people have argued.

The third and final part winds down with a look at why reform of the Chinese character-based writing system fails (as Hannas argues it does) as well as what the future is likely to hold for it. One chapter alone is dedicated to the effect computers are having on characters. I found this part the least plausible of the three and also somewhat repetitive as arguments made earlier were restated.

While I agree with most of Hannas' general arguments and found his book both highly interesting and entertaining, I also think he greatly overstates his case. Hannas seems to actually believe that characters are on their way out. The growth in education and wealth, as well as the general social vibrance found in so many of the societies which still use Chinese characters suggests, at the very least, that perhaps inefficiency in a writing system is simply not an important aspect to a well-functioning, modern society -- that whatever impact it has is more negligible than Hannas imagines.

But disagreements over some of its points shouldn't be a reason not to read this outstanding book. Hannas' scholarship, lucid writing, and forceful exposition will give anyone who has experience with any of the East Asian languages that use Chinese characters a wonderful read.

This, following the tradition of John DeFrancis's Chinese Language: Fact and Fantasy, uncovers the myth of East Asian languages: Korean, Japanese, "Chinese" and Vietnamese. The author provides an academically reliable and easy-to-read account of how the language works (or, doesn't work), and the future prospects for these languages and their writing systems. Read it and believe it instead of the myths running around in our societies.

I found this book to be a well written and interesting look at the use of Chinese characters. It uncovers some of the commonly held misconceptions about the use of the characters. It does a very thorough job of examining the differences between them and phonetic alphabetic scripts. The book covers the use of characters in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The view of Hannas is that the characters are "on their last leg". I have discussed this book with several of my Chinese, Japanese, and Korean friends and they all seem to disagree with Hannas and are not in favor of abolishing the use of the characters. Hannas claims that he is not writing from the point of view of a disgruntled Westerner, but sometimes this is hard to believe. The introduction by John DeFrancis states that Hannas is one of the few people (Western or Asian) to have mastered Chinese (several "dialects")Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese. I would highly recommend this book for anyone curious about East Asian languages. As an aside, I'm sure that an Asian could find plenty of things about English that do not make sense and should be changed!

This work is a highly polemical look at the writing systems of East Asian languages, specifically those that use Chinese characters. The author is out to demolish standard ideas about the use of Chinese characters in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese, and he does a thorough and persistent job of it. The book is accordingly much more exciting than a straightforward introduction to these writing systems could ever be. What is more, the author's insights are pretty well spot on, although not likely to endear him to those who entertain the myths that he sets out to demolish (which includes most speakers of these languages). Bold, refreshing, and definitely recommended.

An excellent overview of what it is to be Asian American in America today. Joann Lee writes beautifully and puts you in touch with the individual struggles and victories of her subjects. A must read.

This book by Joann Lee is an excellent book on Asian-Americans. It tells the life stories of Asian-Americans without so much stereotypical baggage found elsewhere.

It shows Asian-Americans as people. Instead of the shallow, stereotypical views found in the movies, it gave me a deeper view of what it feels like and means to be a person of Asian descent living in America. And it does so honestly. It gives the reader a view into a very intimate but often overlooked part of life in America.

I recommend this to all who are interested in this topic.The book reads well and easily.

Enjoy!

This book provided many personal accounts of Asian Americans. The people and their experiences are very different from one another, but they are all considered as one category 'Asian American' perhaps because of similar social problems they've encountered living in america. The accounts portrayed truthfuly, and give an honest look at racism and prejudice, and the complexity of the issue. very inspiring

Studs Terkel meets Asian America. The author, affiliated with Queens College at the time the book was compiled, records oral histories from first through fourth generation Asian Americans from China, Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, and Pacific Islands. (Chinese immigrants began to officially arrive in 1848; they were not allowed to apply for citizenship until 1943. Japanese and Koreans were not allowed citizenship until 1952; Filipinos and Asian Indians beat them by six years) These histories are grouped into three major section: Living In America; Americanization; and Refections on Interracial Marriage. In "Living In America", selections include Will Hao on being a true Hawaiian, and Andrea Kim on being born and raised in Hawaii, but not being Hawaiian. Sam Sue, a Chinese American lawyer, talks about growing up bitterly in Clarksdale Mississippi during a time of segregation. The Americanization section includes stories of escape and exodus, the bumpy road of acculturation, 3 stories just on run-ins with traffic cops (driving while Asian), and over 9 stories on Americanization, racism, tension, being Asian versus being American, and even on being a minority within a minority. Cao O discusses life as an ethnic Chinese in Vietnam and being Chinese-Vietnamese in America and dealing with social service agencies in Chinatown that is staffed by Hong-Kong born Chinese. In "No Tea, Thank You", Setsuko K. discusses the subtleties between the generations, such as politeness and their hidden meanings (when "no" means "yes", and "yes" means "no"). In a sub-section of nine stories about family, Cao O discusses the idea of `obligation', while Hideo K talks about the "Company as Friend". Tony Ham discusses Mah-Jonng as a family social focus. In a sub-section on religion, there is an interesting piece on Koreans and church membership. In one of eight stories on "Interracial Marriage", Jody Sandler writes talks about "So He's Not a Jewish Doctor", in which a 23 year old Woodmere Long Island Five Town girl marries an Asian America and faces pressures from family and friends, and contrasts Tony's values with those she grew up with in Five Towns.

It is China's burgeoning energy demand which has nurtured an increased interest into the energy reality in Asia; and yet we still lack the conceptual lens through which to analyze the way that energy markets, and by extension geopolitics, are affected by the profound asymmetry between the demand for energy and the supply of resources in Asia (and East Asia in particular). It is this gap that Robert Manning bridges with the "Asian Energy Factor."

Mr. Manning's angle is captured in these words: "Whether they [Asia-Pacific nations] gravitate--as some have already begun to do--towards market-based solutions and realize the myriad commercial possibilities of foreign investment, regional integration and privatization, and deregulation or older dirigiste models may be the difference between increased conflict or increased cooperation in Asia." Alone, this sentence offers a useful conceptual take on the energy challenge which confronts us: how to push the world to geoeconomics rather than geopolitics in the scramble for energy. Exposing this broad dilemma is the book's prime contribution.

Mr. Manning is also useful in showing how one should approach the analysis of energy questions. Although some of his information is dated (the book came out in 2000), he demonstrates that energy is intricately linked to politics, economics, and geography; any analysis which fails to take so inclusive a view is bound to fail. (His section on Central Asia, in particular, is very good at this integrationist approach.) Mr. Manning's argument that Asia's energy situation can produce sufficient interdependence for cooperation is also very interesting.

To be honest, I diverge with Robert Manning on two counts: he confuses a country's domestic energy realities with its foreign policy. It is possible for a country to combine a commitment to markets with an aggressive foreign policy (there are various times when America and Britain would fit this profile). By referring to many countries' market friendliness he logically concludes that the prospects for conflict are diminished; but in assuming an identity between foreign and domestic policy, I believe that he errs.

(In a later article he exposes the dilemma in these terms: "It is unclear how Asian policy-makers will view the global politics of Asian energy markets. Will they view it through the lens of traditional geopolitics of real estate and sea-lane security? Or will they view it through the lens of geo-economics, where international investment, joint ventures and global cooperation rather than competition for resources and conflict is the prevalent means to satisfy energy security requirements?" But he resorts, again, to looking at domestic politics.)

My other disagreement is with Mr. Manning's unwillingness to explore the ways in which energy can lead to conflict; although I agree with his assessment that energy is often a mere manifestation of underlying geopolitical rivalry, it is still important to uncover the mechanics which can link energy to conflict. By choosing not to explore this idea in detail, I believe that is evades a very important subject.

These disagreements aside, the "Asian Energy Factor" is one of the most important contributions on the subject; by debunking some of the most important fallacies, Mr. Manning allows for the debate to focus on the significant topics. This is even more useful today than it was when the book was first published.

Without a doubt, energy will be among one of the most important factors determining diplomatic behavior and relations in Asia in the coming decades. The Asian Energy Factor tackles this emerging geopolitical concern through an intriguing analysis of Asia's growing demand for energy and its global political, economic, and strategic consequences. Unique from other authors addressing this under-examined issue, Robert Manning sets the stage by exposing the myth that the world is quickly running out of oil. Technology and new methods of both collection and use of energy have made the impending energy crisis espoused by the doomsayers less of a concern. Manning proceeds to focus on the regional powers (China, India, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia) and where their individual energy abilities and needs puts them on the collective strategic map. He examines the commercial and political dynamic between the countries demanding increasing amounts of energy (China, Japan, and India) and those with the reserves (the Middle East and Southeast Asia).

As The Asian Energy Factor aptly points out, energy security is the crux upon which the economic, social, energy, and military policies of Asian nations converge; it is among the most critical issues in the coming decade. Manning delves deep into these economic and strategic complexities and continues to challenge the prevailing wisdom about Asian power structure and energy competition.

An excellent work from one of our most important scholars on Asia. Riddled with numbers and graphs, the book is still readable for those just encountering energy politics. The referencing is also excellent, and allows one to delve further into the topic.

His initial chapters on environment/pollution and population growth/demand, and scarcity are important by themselves. Understanding the differences between a scarcity of resources and political limitations or economic bottlenecks on those resources is essential to being able to really forecast the strategic environment. Consequently, the time Manning spends belittling Paul Ehrlich and the Club of Rome is well spent. The country analyses are also very useful, and give one a sense not only of the economics of energy, but of the two way impact of energy and political relationships between countries. With our noble leaders beginning to evoke various fears about Asia, this is very important in understanding the nature and degree of "emerging threats."

Manning might be too bold in divorcing extending military interests with growing energy demands, but it is worth reading the book to develop an opinion on the subject.

I also recommend checking out the Energy Information Administrations's website, which Manning used heavily. It was of great use to me in a recent project: www.eia.doe.gov

Also useful is the cover piece of the January 2001 'Atlantic Monthly.' The piece, "The New Old Economy: Oil, Computers, and the Reinvention of the Earth," in helping advance perspectives of the oil industry. See: http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2001/01/rauch.htm

Robert Manning covers a lot of ground in this book, from the Caspian, to India, to Northeast Asia, and challenges a lot of established notions, but two of the points he makes really stand out:

First, he argues that energy interdependence is a potential positive force for Asian regional stability. While a number of analysts (from the serious scholar Kent Calder to the more shrill "Blue Team" types) have argued that China's entry onto the stage as a major oil importer will have serious negative consequences for regional stability, Manning argues that this is far from clear, and that it may actually have positive consequences. Other energy development issues looming in the future, such as the need for natural gas integration in Northeast Asia, can only be addressed by cooperation among regional governments and some degree of mutual interdependence.

Second, Manning points out in his preface how little contact and exchange there is between American analysts who focus on political and security issues, on the one hand, and those who focus on energy from an economic perspective. (As an example, he points out the differing views of the South China Sea between energy specialists and security policy analysts.) Energy issues involve tie-ins with a broad range of national security, economic, and environmental issues, and Manning argues that the policy community could benefit from more dialogue between these two separate sets of analysts. (I've long known this - since my own academic and professional background sort of straddles both groups.)

While the book does suffer a bit from poor editing in some spots, it is definitely a must-read for anyone interested in Asian security issues and/or the region's rapidly growing energy sector.

This book is certainly not a comprehensive item, but for those relatively new to Asian thought, it's a great start. As a matter-of-fact, it acknowledges this expected shortfall by providing suggested reading to expand on ideas presented in the book. It very directly presents and addresses key points and concepts within each of the major systems. I highly recommend this book for anyone that wants a little insight and a basic starting point towards understanding our Asian counterparts.

This was a required textbook for one of my college courses. It proved to be informative and interesting, but is certainly set up in textbook style.

GENERALLY
This book is nicely put together and covers most of the major religions in Asia.
I was somewhat sceptical when I saw the book at first, but pleasantly surprised when I started to realise that mr Koller had been able to squeeze down so much of well thought and worked through philosophies in this relatively thin book.


CONTENTS
However, the bigger attention is put on Indian philosophies (including sum of Vedic scripts, Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism and much more). Then again it makes sence if you go through all those different philosophies, as one can find few familiar elements here and there in philosophies/religions that come after Indian ones.

Maybe about 2/3 of the book is about (originally) Indian religions, including then also Buddhism in other countries. For example one of the chapters included there is about Japanese Zen Buddhism.
Another third is about Chinese religions as Confucianism and Taoism.

There is also one chapter about Islam. Maybe not really fair amount comparing with other religions, but still gives basic idea about it.

Couldn't find much, if anything, about Sikh religion... even if it might have been mentioned in few places. Even if not major religion, would have still been interesting to find at least a page about it.


STYLE
As for me, I rather think (concidering previous review) this book could be said have been writen from "believers" or even emic perspective.
It can slightly seam as the author could be potential follower of all those philosophies/religions, and this feeling of inside perspective is one of the best things about this book.
You can feel the respect by the writer for those philosophies he describes, and becouse of that this book is deffinetly not just another average dull philosophy book.
The philosophies come alive.

It is in same time clearly more than just some nice little philosophy book with basic facts, pretty pictures and friendly feelings, but without any depth.
There might be couple of the spots where you really have to think little extra, but this is only part of the fun when you figure it out.
If you really like philosophy, specially Asian, this is distinctly THE book to have.


RECOMMENDATIONS
This nice work has been one of my philosophy class books (yes, it does have questions after each chapter but it can be ignored or used for challenging oneself).
Nevertheless, I have been recommending it to everybody who might be interested of this kind of material and definitely going to continue with it.


Hopefully my review didn't become too long after all and can help you somehow.
If you get it: enjoy!! :)

This collection of information on Asian philosophies, from the earliest Hindu verses to the latest modern spins on Buddhism and Confucianism, is for students, not enthusiasts. It is competent, well-researched, contains ample material for personal study, but, as the discussion questions at the ends of chapters indicate, is a college textbook.

The drawback of this, is a dispassionate, sometimes tedious delivery. The discussions of the various schools of Hinduism, are mind-boggling in their implications, but also difficult. The advantage of this, is the direct converse. The subject matter demands careful attention, not adulation.

I recommend this book for students and perhaps those with an interest in culture, but especially for those who think Western thought is too logical and lifeless. Asian philosophies have a rigor all their own, and this book should tease the proselytes from the enlightened.

Although this is one of my shorter cookbooks, I absolute love it. The recipes are solid, impressingly good, fairly easy, and use a good variety of vegetables. I love Asian food; this cookbook makes it easy to enjoy items at home. The soups are wonderful, as someone mentioned.

Thanks to this book- no need to go to a thai restaurant again! My husband and I are cooking fast, delicious and authentic thai at home now. Before this book, I never thought it possible to make such great Thai food at home. Pictures in this book are gorgeous and make it easy to decide what's for dinner! The curry sauces are wonderful! BUT, IF YOU BUY THIS BOOK FOR NOTHING ELSE, BUY IT FOR THE MUSHROOM SOUP RECIPE ON PAGE 15!! 100% VEGAN (though you'd never guess) AND SIMPLY AMAZING! BEST SOUP EVER!!

As a vegetarian who LOVES asian food, this book was a dream for me. The price is right, and the recipes are wonderful and easy to make. The book itself is also just beautiful. The illustrations make you salivate, and the end product lives up to the image.

One of the things I love about this cookbook is that there is a picture on every page, which, to me, makes it a lot easier for me to decide what to cook. Also, even though the cookbook is fairly compact (95 pages), it still has many of the benefits of larger cookbooks with it's covers that open to a two page utensil and cooking tool guide, and back cover which opens to a three page Asian ingredients guide. The information in between the sections is also great.

Another great thing that they do with the recipes is give you nutrition facts, prep time, a not on if it's easy to prepare or not, if it's spicy, if it's great for company, refreshing, and also, a note to tell you that it can be prepared ahead of time, I think you get the point.

All in all, this is a great book for the vegetarian, or NON VEGETARIAN, who likes asian cooking. I'd have to say that this book is, penny for penny, probably the best Asian all vegetarian cookbook I have purchased!

Wonderful book. The recipes actually taste authentic. I have used for over a year and like the curry recipes especially. The only shortcoming of this one is that there are not enough recipes. I highly recommend

I read an article by Edward Said during the December 1998 bombing of Iraq which mentioned this great book. I bought it thinking that I will read a simple diary of the hardships of war. I was wrong. It is a beautiful mixture of everyday events, which Al-Radi makes humourous. It is only humourous because our tears have dried over Iraq's suffering. It is a book I recommend for Iraqis because it states all that we hear about from visitors of Iraq. I recommend it to others because the media never shows these aspects. Perhaps it will help to make people realize that the distant pictures of green lights broadcast on T.V. are much more damaging than "degrading weapons of mass distruction". That is not to say that Saddam Hussein is not a dictator who must be eliminated. The final part of the book 'exile' is particularly moving as the suffering does not end with leaving Iraq. A great book, please read it.

This is a memoir of a middle-class Iraqi artist in Iraq - during the sanctions (i.e. after 1990).

Nuha Radi presents a much needed voice from Iraq.

Ms. Al-Radi gives an amazing play-by-play of how the war (the massive bombing campaigns by the US and allied forces in Baghdad and neighbouring cities and the ensuing embargo) unfolded before her and the people of Iraq. I couldn't put it down.

Ms. Al-Radi has a knack for turning a seriously tragic situation into an almost funny account through her matter-of-fact statements. Still, somehow she manages to not lessen the impact of the tragedy.

Ms. Al-Radi does not paint an "Oh woe is me," picture but she invites the reader to walk by her as she takes us through the experiences of the people of Iraq, (her friends and neighbours, and even her dog Salvador Dali and his "friends," etc.). She paints vivid images of the various stages of the war. For example she describes, in the beginning of the war, how the Iraqis had filled up their freezers to the hilt with meat and vegetables and anything they could fit in there fearing the onset of war. But, as the first bombs hit taking out the electical plants and leaving Iraq without power, in total darkness and every refrigerator and freezer unfreezing, the Iraqis are left gorging themselves as their food begins to rot inside their quickly defrosting freezers.

Ms. Al-Radi then takes us into bowels of the war itself describing the massive bombs that obliterate and take out innocent human and animal lives by the hundreds (at any given time).

She finally steps into the final blow of the war (pun intended) -the cruel and unusual punishment of the embargo and the ensuing anarchy that it creates, in addition to the odd occurrences in nature. Her trees die, her vegetables don't grow, strange insects never before seen take a hold of the trees and shrubs struggling to live, birds die by the thousands for no "apparent" reason, the cancer rates go up immeasurably, etc.

This is a much needed book. The human face of Iraq has all but been eliminated and replaced with the menacing one of Saddam which in turn justified/s the punishment that the people had to endure(are still enduring)as a result.

It is a wonderful book. It is sad that a book of this sort had to be written in the first place.

Ms. Al-Radi gives an amazing play-by-play of how the war (the massive bombing campaigns by the US and allied forces in Baghdad and neighbouring cities and the ensuing embargo) unfolded before her and the people of Iraq. I couldn't put it down.

Ms. Al-Radi has a knack for turning a seriously tragic situation into an almost funny account through her matter-of-fact statements. Still, somehow she manages to not lessen the impact of the tragedy.

Ms. Al-Radi does not paint an "Oh woe is me," picture but she invites the reader to walk by her as she takes us through the experiences of the people of Iraq, (her friends and neighbours, and even her dog Salvador Dali and his "friends," etc.). She paints vivid images of the various stages of the war. For example she describes, in the beginning of the war, how the Iraqis had filled up their freezers to the hilt with meat and vegetables and anything they could fit in there fearing the onset of war. But, as the first bombs hit taking out the electical plants and leaving Iraq without power, in total darkness and every refrigerator and freezer unfreezing, the Iraqis are left gorging themselves as their food begins to rot inside their quickly defrosting freezers.

Ms. Al-Radi then takes us into bowels of the war itself describing the massive bombs that obliterate and take out innocent human and animal lives by the hundreds (at any given time).

She finally steps into the final blow of the war (pun intended) -the cruel and unusual punishment of the embargo and the ensuing anarchy that it creates, in addition to the odd occurrences in nature. Her trees die, her vegetables don't grow, strange insects never before seen take a hold of the trees and shrubs struggling to live, birds die by the thousands for no "apparent" reason, the cancer rates go up immeasurably, etc.

This is a much needed book. The human face of Iraq has all but been eliminated and replaced with the menacing one of Saddam which in turn justified/s the punishment that the people had to endure(are still enduring)as a result.

It is a wonderful book. It is sad that a book of this sort had to be written in the first place.

Yachiyo is someone from a previous era whose life is very contemporary in many ways. Her struggle to assert herself and find her place in the world is constrained by her time, place, class and status as an immigrant woman. It's a bittersweet story that portrays some harsh realities about life in Hawaii in the early 20th century. Highly recommended.

i love how this play tells the story of 1919 hawaii, through the playwrites family history. very beautiful and moving.

Breathtaking. That is the single word which best describes Gotanda's "Ballad of Yachiyo". The story is very moving and, while I normally have a hard time following play scripts, Gotanda's use of imagery really allows for the reader to visualize the performance every step of the way. Each detail to the description of the scenes and the actions of the characters drew me further and further into the story. I would love to see a performance of this play! Someone please bring it to Michigan :)

A must-read, even for those who don't normally read plays. He tells a beautiful and captivating story through an exquisitely choreographed dramatic work. My complimentary words cannot do justice to him - I will just say that, as an aspiring writer, he is someone I truly admire.

On December 10, 1941, the British battleships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were sunk off the coast of Malaya by Japanese torpedo aircraft. This was the first time in history that a modern, well-armed dreadnought had been sunk on the high seas by aircraft alone. The destruction of these two battleships with such apparent ease seemed to justify the pre-war prophecies of aviation advocates such as "Billy" Mitchell and to signal the end of the battleship era. Martin Middlebrook and Patrick Mahoney present a very detailed and balanced account of this significant naval action and they attempt to assess its historical impact.

As usual, Middlebrook provides excellent background information on the key individuals, the ships themselves, their mission and the circumstances of their deployment to Singapore. Strategically, these ships were ordered by Winston Churchill to the Far East to help deter the coming war with Japan. Admiral Phillips, a high level staff officer with an understanding of war plans, was given charge of the squadron and tasked with a deterrence mission. Unfortunately, the battleships arrived in Singapore on 2 December 1941 and Japan attacked only six days later. The deterrence function of the warships was thus a failure.

Much of the book then focuses on Admiral Phillips controversial decision to sortie from Singapore in an attempt to find and destroy the Japanese invasion convoys bound for Malaya. Phillips went charging off into a very uncertain situation with only two battleships and four destroyers. He apparently believed that his magnificent warships could fight their way through to smash the Japanese convoys, while suffering acceptable levels of damage. Only a minimal effort was made to coordinate with the Royal Air Force for fighter cover prior to the sortie; a fighter squadron was dedicated to supporting the battleships but given no specific instructions.

Prior to this account, I had always believed that the battleships were sunk rather easily by a well-coordinated Japanese air attack. In fact, the Japanese squadrons were low on fuel and disordered, the attacks conducted piece-meal. HMS Repulse did a superb job dodging about nineteen torpedoes before receiving fatal hits. On the other hand, the much better-built HMS Prince of Wales was crippled early in the fight by a lucky torpedo hit that caused massive flooding and knocked out most of her electrical systems. The Japanese achieved 11 torpedo hits out of 49 launched and 2 bomb hits of 23 dropped. Just as the Prince of Wales was sinking, ten British fighters arrived over the scene. Admiral Phillips had never radioed for air support and this squadron only arrived due to the independent call for assistance by HMS Repulse. Middlebrook notes that had Phillips called for these fighters just two hours earlier, they could have disrupted the unescorted Japanese bombers and probably have helped save at least one of the battleships.

The main culprit for this disaster is Admiral Phillips. Middlebrook asserts that, "throughout the operation, Phillips continued to show a disregard, almost a contempt, for the dangers of any type of air attack" and, "Phillips was confident that his ships could defend themselves and that he was determined not to ask for the help of another service." Finally, "two great ships and many good men were lost because one stubborn old sea-dog refused to acknowledge that he had been wrong." However, despite this focus on the inter-service bickering as the main culprit of the disaster, the authors then go on to pass judgment on battleships as a whole. After this disaster they assert, battleships were little more than "floating artillery" that could only operate under conditions of friendly air superiority.

I must start this review with telling you that I have read this book at least 10 times.
It covers both the backgrond, both why the ships were sent to Singapore, but also insight about capital ships record until dec. 41. Both losses and successes. One thing often ignored is that no battleship had been lost at sea previously and therefor some decisions from Philips may look more logical to him than to us armchair admirals.

The voyage to Singapore and the events that lead Philips out on his foray are described and also Japanese moves.
Then the attack, hits, damage and so on are described with good detail almost like a report from the damage control officer.

By bad luck the first torpedo hit made massive damage on Prince of Wales and effects of this hit are shown with drawings over flooding and effects on electricity, pumps and other areas are described also.

Then the final round that ended in the sinking of the ships are described, after that comes rescue, aftermath and analysis.
All this are the whole time enrichened by lots of witnesses from people involved (massive number)both British and some Japanese that bring the story almost to a film, you can see everything going on in your mind, and a book that gives you that feeling is very good.

I always likes books that are balanced and not afraid to critisize your own leader, and Philips surely get his share.

One thing that strike me when you compare the demise of IJN Yamato and Musashi is that often the IJNs AA are critized but as I remember those ships shot down at least more US aircraft than POW and Repulse with their fantastic score of three IJN aircraft (heavy not agile twin engine bombers). This may be a testimony more to the fact that all ships (both axis and allied)were equally poor against aircraft early in the war but that VT fuzes, 40 mm Bofors and sturdier aircraft made life much more difficult later for IJN whilst IJN did not improve enough.

The death of the battleship is the theme and this is
a book that you should not miss and also good value for money

This book covers the story of the HMS Prince of Wales and the HMS Repulse from their arrival in the pacific in late 1941. It starts by covering the decisions which led to these ships being sent to the Far East despite a still viable German navy, then discusses the ships themselves, their crews, and their histories.

The book is written in a narrative style and makes heavy use of actual messages radioed to and from the vessels. These do an effective job of establishing the situation and give the reader insight into why certain decisions were made. Also used are official Japanese documents so the reader gets a view of the battle from both sides.

Diagrams of the ships show the locations of bomb and torpedo hits. During the interludes between air raids, the author covers the damage inflicted thus far in an almost checklist manner: pumps, counter flooding procedures, communication status, ventilation and lighting, steering, anti-aircraft armament... I can almost picture the officers taking account of what they have to work with and forming plans on how to prepare for the next assault.

After the sinkings, the remaining chapters cover the rescue of the crews and an analysis of the battle and its aftermath. Overall it's an easy read and presents an interesting view of a battle which was one of the first to prove Billy Mitchell right.

This very readable account of the folly of Force Z was very thoroughly researched, using official documents, logs, interviews and other conventional sources. The book combines a narrative of events with analysis of the strategic and tactical aspects involved, a detailed technical rundown regarding construction, armour, armament, and much more of the POW. The authors alternate between academic discussion and survivor's narratives, thereby maintaining tension and interest from beginning to end. It is interesting to note that the King George V class of battleships (of which the Prince of Wales was the second ship) was quite a mediocre design (see combinedfleet.com section on battleships), this a direct result of Britain building only two battleships between 1918 and 1936, resulting in a starvation of design innovation and shipyard expertise. Central in this book is the description of the errors and folly of the voyage of Force Z, and this leaves the impartial reader with deep regret upon reading of the unnecessary sacrifice of so many, who fought very bravely.

What more could anyone ask for. Beautiful pieces of artwork woven with stories that enlighten.
A great detailed work with tales of the Hindu Goddesses in all her manifestations.
I view it constantly and I am inspired.

Excellent imagination and portaits of the Goddesses, looks like photos instead of art!

This oversized book of Hindu iconography is lovely, representing the work of two very gifted artists. All of the major goddesses are represented, including several who are generically related (Durga, Kali, Tara, e.g.). Happily, there are major images of Kali, including the famous one of Her treading upon Shiva--a very important and meaningful image in Hindu iconography.

Less agreeable is serious distortion in the textual treatment of Kali. Almost unique in my reading of the literature about Her, which includes devotional texts, academic studies, and volumes of Tantric art, Kali is here presented as a goddess really best avoided, and not suitable for the better class of people. While this does accurately represent the politics of mainstream Brahminical Hinduism, it is a disservice to both the goddess and to those who worship Her--and Kali is one of the most venerated deities in India! It would have been much better if a Tantric perspective had informed the text, rather than the arch-Shaivistic viewpoint that emerged. Kali is widely worshipped as a loving mother--hence the expression, "Kali Maa." Has the author never heard of Ramakrishna?! Kali is also the destroyer...of illusions. She is the liberator from Karma...as well as the drinker of blood, the action of destruction that ensures life.

I regard the dubious portrayal of Kali as a major fault of this book. Still, the imagery is wonderful and lovely to look at.

This is without doubt an exquisitely beautiful book. The illustrations are by some of the best Indian artists alive today. Their paintings of the Vedic goddesses in this book are simply stunning. Complementing the artist's celestial skills is Krishna Dharma's elegant and engaging text. Drawing from the epics and the Puranas he presents many fascinating stories that wonderfully illuminate the Goddess's divine character. We hear about her pastimes on earth and in the heavens, how she sometimes assumes a human-like personality and at other times displays her full godly power. Often moving and dryly humorous, these stories are an entertaining introduction to the Goddess as she is depicted in India's ancient Sanskrit writings. As with Krishna Dharma's other writings, this book is written very much with the reader in mind. Perfect as a gift or to augment one's own collection of authentic Indian literature.

This book not only talks about the Yanze river and three gorges dam but it also gives a very interesting lesson on the history of China. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in China.

A superb book. Drawing from her life experience, the author gives vivid picture of people's life along China's Yangtze River. The construction of the super-dam will greatly alter people's life there. We should thank the author for recording, thus preserving the past that will be gone forever. Scholars, especially scholars of China Studies would get detailed description of the daily life of Chinese people. Travellers would also find the book useful. The author was among the first group of foreigners who worked and travelled in China after 1976. Thus, her story is really invaluable since not many foreigners had the chance to witness China around 1980. Overall, the book is informative and insightful. Wonderful work.

December, 2, 2002. I just returned from my first trip to China which included 4 days cruising through the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. My good fortune was having this wonderfully and scholarly written book by Ms Chetham.

This book was invaluable to me because it gave me a full perspective of China, it's people, it's culture, and it's economic development. With this book as my traveling companion along with 43 good friends from San Francisco our group visited Beijing, Xian, Chongching,350 miles of the Yangtze River, Wuhan, Shanghai, & Souzhou. In each locale we had english speaking guides who were born and raised in the area. The combination of the local input, our observations, and readings from this book created a "trip of a lifetime" for me.

If you plan to visit China this book is a must.

This book encompasses the history of the Yangtze, as a history major I enjoyed learning about the history pertaining the Yangtze. Moreover, it discusses the political motives behind the construction of the dam. Also, this book addresses the social as well as environmental costs of TGD. It is a great book for students, travelers, environmentalists, historians, and those who have an interest in China.