Asian Books

I have used over 20 recipes from Greeley's book and have not been disappointed in any one of them. I have given two dinner parties (each with about 12 people) and used only recipes from this book.Results were outstanding. Every guest asked for recipes, or decided to buy their own copy of the book. My husband's particular favourite is the Yellow chicken curry.

What I really liked about this book is all the information. The author covers a lot of Asian countries, and she writes about the differences in styles and common ingredients between them. She also discusses the ingredients - what they are, what the flavors are, and including a discussion of the many types of rice. The recipes are nicely organized, and easy to follow. I've used a few of the recipes, and one is now a favorite.

We love soups. They reheat well after a long day at the office and they are soothing to the throat, very filling but lighter fare. It suits us for an evening meal when we really don't want something heavy but do want something hot. Since we've traveled extensively in Asia and love the cuisine, this book was one we just had to try. I am glad to report that "Asian Soups, Stews and Curries" is a wonderful book for the Asian cuisine lover.

The first recipe we tried was Kalbi Tang, Korean Short Rib Soup. This is a famous Korean dish, almost as famous as Bulgogi and Kimchee. The instructions were interesting; in order to achieve the beautiful clear broth in which the meat and onions float, you must soak the ribs overnight, or boil them and discard that water to remove the scum (which is the albumin and meat bits that coagulate when you boil meat.) I followed this direction, and the other stipulation to remove ALL visible fat from the ribs. After then making the stock and refrigerating the soup overnight to remove the rest of the fat, I made the ginger, sesame and soy sauce-based seasoning that flavors the soup. Wow! What a taste--rich, yet with a clear, flavorful broth. This was an enormous hit at our house.

After watching my husband practically stick his whole head into the Korean soup pot, I decided there must be more good stuff in here. The next one we want to try is Cambodian Fish Soup with Pineapple and Tomatoes--pineapple is surprisingly good in curry type clear soups.

Just about everything is in here from Japanese Chanko-nabe (Sumo Wrestler's fatten-up stew) to Mulligatawny. There are quite a few lentil based curries (nice, we love lentils), noodle soups, meat soups, fish, vegetable and rice soups and stews. This is a fascinating book and one with some very nice and unusual recipes, good for light evening one-pot meals or fancy entertaining or pot-luck. This is fast becoming one of my favorite cookbooks.

A very well written and informative book. The author has a strong point of view, but is not overly strong in presenting it.

Meticulously researched and full of detail. Very well presented and useful for novices and academics.

A must read for those interested in the history of the Middle East or anxious to understand current events. I give it the highest possible recommendation.

This book is a must in the library of any one who is interested in the fate of peoples who are threatened of extinction. It's the result of an unprecedented effort of the many tours undertaken by Frederick Aprim in several countries where there's a presence for the Assyrian people. He endeavored to employ the energy of his thoughts to accomplish a monumental task and not merely a set of texts but rather a scientific research analyzed in an intelligent method, whereby the author mentions many errors and comments personally on them in a very logic manner.

The author dealt with the truth about the identity, language, land, studied the Assyrian community and its continuous national existence highlighting the greatness of the Assyrian perseverance since the fall of the Assyrian Empire in a transparent yet well built manner.

The author also turned the undisputable references into proper supports for the Assyrian thought. Thus, this book was born to be a source which would refute the theories that lead the Assyrian people to being marginalized in their identity, equality with others, right of self determination, and the schemes which distorted the Assyrian people's civilized image which was present even before the birth of Christ.

While waiting for Frederick Aprim's next book that will deal with the persecution of the Assyrian Nation in modern history, we recommend reading "Assyrians: The Continuous Saga".

Ashor Giwargis - Beirut

This book is a must in the library of any one who is interested in the fate of peoples who are threatened of extinction. It's the result of an unprecedented effort of the many tours undertaken by Frederick Aprim in several countries where there's a presence for the Assyrian people. When I accompanied him in one of those trips, I saw an Assyrian person who was able to overcome the process of melting within the sea of Diaspora. He endeavored to employ the energy of his thoughts insisting steadfastly to obtain details and documents in every area we visited so that to accomplish a monumental task and not merely a set of texts but rather a scientific research analyzed in an intelligent method, whereby the author mentions many errors and comments personally on them in a very logic manner.

The author dealt with the truth about the identity, language, land, studied the Assyrian community and its continuous national existence highlighting the greatness of the Assyrian perseverance since the fall of the Assyrian Empire in a transparent yet well built manner.

The author also turned the undisputable references into proper supports for the Assyrian thought. Thus, this book was born to be a source which would refute the theories that lead the Assyrian people to being marginalized in their identity, equality with others, right of self determination, and the schemes which distorted the Assyrian people's civilized image which was present even before the birth of Christ.

While waiting for Frederick Aprim's next book that will deal with the persecution of the Assyrian Nation in modern history, we recommend reading "Assyrians: The Continuous Saga".

Ashor Giwargis - Beirut

For me, the highlight of this text is its depiction of faith, not as a blind grasping towards the truth, but as trust with conviction. The difference is important in today's world where the meaning of faith has been eviscerated of its positive affirmation of a path - conviction arising from a sure understanding, rather than just an adopted belief - to become more a label of anti-experiential assertion. Thus in today's world to have faith is to believe in the absence of evidence, while in this context to have faith is to have become permeated with the enlightened aspect of Suchness. The value of a text such as this is not the programmatic ideas that it presents, but the underlying understanding that these ideas point to. If one merely forms an attachment to the conceptual ideas, one is not developing faith.

The translator's introduction and commentary, much of which is taken from a few Chinese and Korean scholars, but especially that of Fazang, is generally excellent. One caveat is that there are a few places within the text where the typographic style of setting off the commentary from the base text is not adhered to (ex. top of pg 65 of reprint edition), potentially confusing the reader.

The introduction to the reprint edition by Abé is suspect. He starts with a whopper of a misunderstanding when he states: "... the Awakening of Faith boldly posits as the ultimate reality the minds of sentient beings in their everyday existence." The "minds" (plural and individuated) are presented as the permeation of ignorance and not the "ultimate reality". So I recommend caution in reading these remarks.

James Corrigan
An Introduction to Awareness

This is an indispensable text in the Mahayana and, within the Mahayana, Zen traditions. The translation is interspersed with extensive notes and commentaries from classic ancient Chinese and Korean commentators, and includes honest discussions of possible variant translations of difficult phrases. Highly recommended to anyone with a serious interest in the root texts of the Mahayana tradition.

A must read for all cultivators. Down to earth reading about having faith in the path and getting onto the path. When you awaken some day to feel that something is missing in your life and question what is it all for. This book, read with an open mind and heart will push you into the right direction.

this is an outstanding personal account of fifty years jewish history, starting with the first signs of the approaching holocaust in th late 1930`s, describing personal experiences in the nazi ghetto`s and concentration camps like auschwitz an buchenwald, and culminating in the participation of the struggle for a jewish sovereign state in british mandated palestine. apart of the authors authentic role in rescuing his younger brother, age 7 who is today the chief rabbi of the state of israel, he also played a most significant role in the political and public life of the state of israel, as a journalist and as a diplomat. this book is a true description of the jewish drama of the twentieth century.

for fifty years naphtali lau-lavie put the trauma of the holocaust behind him. all his energy was concentrated on establishing his own family and on actively contributing to the state of israel as a soldier, writer, spokesman for the ministry of defence and finally as consul general in new york. writing "balaams prophecy" must have been emotionally traumatic, forcing him to recall the nightmare years of suffering in the nazi death camps, the memory of which had long been suppressed.but he is not a man lacking in personal corage and, like much of his life`s work, this book is a posistive contribution to the legacy of the jewish people. you can not read this book without weeping. it is a beautifully written, intensely moving personal memoir. lau-lavie`s testimony is unique. as spokesman and special adviser to moshe dayan and shimon peres,lau-lavie was involved in some of the most significant political processes which concerned the very survival of the jewish state, including drafting the all-important peace treaty with egypt. he describes some of these episodes with wry humor. unlike many political and religious leaders, lau-lavie`s experiences eqipped him with a broad perspective and an understanding of the viewpoints of many of the opposing forces in israel. this unique insight made him intenet on bringing the secular and religious together. balaam prophesied about the nation of israel that `it is a people that dwells alone and is not reckoned among the nations...this is a nation that rises like a great lion`. in the merit of those whose `ashes are strewn on the fields of germany and poland`, to whom this volume is dedicated, lau-lavie has played a great part towards the realisation of this prophecy.

Rarely does one have the privilege of sharing the nearly unimaginable horrors described by the author, and learn, through his words, how he, as well as his younger brother, saved by him, literally, from death, can make a new and remarkably productive life. The message is not only one of the horrors of the past. It is of the great hopes and achievements individuals can achieve, though the number of such as these who suffered as he did is restricted. In spite of such experiences and lifelong memories inconceivable to most of us, the message becomes universal.

Other than bless the author and his family with health and with continued fulfillment, I believe it is incumbent upon the reader to see in herself/himself the privileges and opportunities presented, in whatever circumstances, to make of what is given us, for the future of ourselves and of our offspring, the very best possible.

The writing, the "tale", are superb. I would recommend the book to every living human being.

There have been other fine books that show and describe bamboo in Japan, both plants and craft, but no other book has so effectively shown how this remarkable plant has shaped a culture in all of its aspects, from the roots of its language, to its cuisine, its art, and its commerce---from the most mundane tools of daily life to the most sublime aspect of art and spirit. Beautifully designed, the book itself is a work of art, with text and photographs woven together in such a way that one finds that one has not simply read a book about a topic, but has become a part of that experience. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

BAMBOO IN JAPAN is one of the most exciting and beautiful books I've read in years. During her many years of researching in Japan, Bess discovered that bamboo contributes to every aspect of Japanese life: from architecture to religion, from household goods to children's toys. Bamboo is made into fans, baskets, kites, fences, tea ceremony whisks and scoops; into rakes, blinds, lanterns, spoons, dolls, umbrellas, fish rods, swords, and even into musical instruments such as the eerie, reedy shakuhachi. The book is filled with fascinating facts and anecdotes. Ancient documents chronicle the use of a small bamboo knife that was thought to have magical powers, and so was used to cut the umbilical cord after birth. In the 17th century an ordinance mandated that peasants plant bamboo in order to use the leaves for fuel. Did you know that some varieties of bamboo grow so quickly that one can actually watch them grow? Or that the adult plant is strong enough to support traditional scaffolding tens of stories high, yet delicate enough to be cut into fibers hardly wider than a hair? A Japanese folktale describes a bamboo cutter's discovery of a beautiful miniature princess in a bamboo shoot. Additionally, Bess includes resources for observation and research in Japan and in the US. An internationally known textile and basket craftsperson, Bess has produced a book so vibrant and colorful, it will grow and grow sky high in your imagination.

What a pleasure to see the soul of bamboo portrayed with such insight! Many examples of bamboo in use, a feast for the eyes. This book is a treasure of bamboo knowledge.

Since this book was written based on a true story, I wish I could read it once again,an utterly well written book.The book describes in one word the fall of two dictators who were brutally assasinated.Great that's what dictators deserve.

The full title is actually "Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood". I found this one of the best books on the turbulent post independence period of Bangladesh. As a matter of fact, I've reread it several times. The problem is that this book was written in 1986 during the rule of Gen. Ershad, who apparently also gave interviews to the author. While the author knew Sheikh Mujib personally and is probably fair in his assessment of Bangabandhu, his verdict on Gen Zia may be a little harsh. This may have been coloured by the desire to legitimise the coup of Gen. Ershad. Nevertheless, an excellent book and a great primer for understanding Bangladeshi politics.

Since this book was written based on a true story, I wish I could read it once again,an utterly well written book.The book describes in one word the fall of two dictators who were brutally assasinated.Great that's what dictators deserve.

This is a great book just to browse at random. The interpretations given after each haiku are an interesting twist. Reading them after letting the haiku soak in is somewhat like sharing the poems with other enthusiasts. Some of them also shed a fascinating light on the circumstances of their composition and Basho's attitudes. And if haiku just makes you scratch your head, the remarks will show you interesting ways of looking at each one. Ueda helpfully adds biographical sketches between sections to put the poems into context and provides the original Japanese and word for word translations, and although I have found better translations of individual poems, his are adequate at least and often elegant. Basho of course is great, and this is the perfect book to linger over when you're in a thoughtful mood.

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in Basho, haiku, or Japanese literature. Ueda combines Basho's own verse with interpretations by well-known haikai commentators (including Akutagawa, Rohan, Hagiwara, and Abe Jiro etc) and entries from Basho's own travel diaries, in which he describes many of the situations that inspired many of his poems. This is a good introduction for beginners and afficionados alike, for it provides a great deal of background information and a wide scale of interpretations that add depth and connotation to the readers understanding of each verse. The book also includes a glossary of terms as well as a section of short biographies for the commentators.

this book is great as a collection of representative verses by basho, the greatest master in the haikai tradition.
i'll just add to the other reviewer's remarks that this book can also be read from cover to cover so you can get a feel for basho's development as a poet. overall, a nice book.

This was the first time that I have read Basho's Narrow Road to Oku, snd I enjoyed it a great deal. Actually I read it twice this week. The first time I read through it I tried to read it without using the notes. I was lazy, so it came out that I really didn't enjoy what I was reading because I really didn't know what was going on throughout most of the book, so I read it again using the notes, and I got much more out of it. The annotations are on the left page while the actual text is on the right page, so there is no flipping to the back of the book every time that you need to look up something. There are endnotes that give more information about the haiku Basho writes. This is a very cool book, that gives the reader a glimpse at the literary world of japan back during the 17th century.

This is a very well translated and annotated edition of this great work.

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (9/06)

Matsuo Basho (1644-94) was a famous Japanese haiku poet. In 1689, he took a 1,233 mile journey across Japan. His travels lasted five months. He was joined by his friend Kawai Sora. Basho wrote about this trip. He titled it, "Oku No Hosomichi," which translates to "Narrow Road to the Interior." This story is considered to be a masterpiece of Japanese literature. He took four years to write it and revise it.

Basho started this trip when his house burned down. He had two goals. One goal was spiritual; it involved "poetic truth." The other goal was a practical one in which he would use his travels to become well known as a poet. Sora developed stomach problems and had to end his travels with Basho. Basho wrote a short piece for him. In the second part of this book, there is a translation of "A Farewell Gift to Sora."

Basho funded his travels with donations from wealthy friends and students. He felt that there were three types of poets. The first type is confused noisemakers. The second type is wealthy people who desire to write instead of gossip. The third type is poets who work hard at writing true poetry. These poets write to "soothe their heart." Basho was the third type of poet.

Hiroaki Sato includes annotations to go along with the writings. This adds richness to the story and helps explain more about the culture and what was happening at the time. I read the story first with the annotations to gain understanding of what I was reading; then I went back and reread the story by itself so that I could feel how it flowed. Without the annotations, I would have enjoyed Basho's story, but I would not have understood much of what was written. Sato also includes pages of notes and commentaries. This is a well researched piece. "Basho's Narrow Road" is a beautiful story about Basho's travels. In it he reflects on the beauty of the countryside and the spirit of the people that he encounters.

I recommend "Basho's Narrow Road" to people that enjoy Japanese poetry, especially Haiku. It would also be a great book to use for a college literature class. I really enjoyed Basho's journey.

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.

There are plenty of recipe book out their but not many which can really claim the crown of being the best. This book really has a very good shot at it and I am saying this after trying numerous recipes from this book in last 2 years or so.

Pros:
- Good and practical book

- Lots of recipes and most use readily available(in Indian stores) ingredients or substitutes without compromising the flavor.

- All recipes are accompanied by pictures, not one but many (One image shows the finished dish while other small pictures show intermediate steps)

- Many recipes from other south Asian and neighboring countries which include Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines (I tried only Indian dishes, more than half of book is dedicated to Indian dishes)

Cons:
None

This is definitely one of the best Indian curry recipe book out their. Definitely recommended.

I am currently purchasing a third copy of this book, because my friends and relatives tried multiple recipes from it and they really wanted to have the same book as me.
I cooked about half of the recipes from this book and I recommend it for any curry lover. It explains a lot, gives choices and advices, everything is precisely measured (for all ingredients there are measurments in g/oz/cups).
I love the introduction with cultural facts and descriptions.

Summary: buy it and you'll enjoy it!

I bought this book on a whim and we use it over and over. It is
easily read, followed and thus you pull it out when you feel like a curry and its condiments. This is a book you can use when you cook during the week as well as on weekends. That is a
treat. I collect cookbooks, have taken lessons in India/Thailand and the books and recipes I returned with were not user friendly because of ingredients or technique. This one is. Kudos to the author for allowing us to share the joy of these culinary adventures.