Oceania Books

I've been to French Polynesia using this LP. The guidebook was helpful (all places I've stayed in were found in LP). Contact information was correct and full. But somehow almost every emotion/opinion described in my LP never matched my own :) However, one would not invent a wheel by saying that French Polynesia is not a place where standard expectations for price/performance can be met.

All the information that you will need to travel through the South Pacific. Outstanding as usual.

I used this Guide to plan my travels in the Western Pacific and although it is a bit 'old' I found its information is still mostly up-to-date and really useful. Great tips that correspond to real places, foods and opportunities. Have already planned on several more Pacific islands using this guide's tips.

The Tiger's Whiskers and Other Tales from Asia and The Pacific is a great little book that I just accidently happened upon while browsing Amazon. The short stories are thought-provoking, dashed with some humor, universal themes, and intrigue. I like Courlander's easy-going, storytelling style. The black & white illustrations are excellent and well-placed within the text. The text print size is good---not too small for reading, which makes the experience more comfortable for eyeglass wearers.

This book would be appropriate for tweens, teens, and older---students who are studying humanities, cultures, folklore, mythology, etc. I'm hoping the publisher will reprint the book so that many more people can have access to it. Right now, it seems to be a product of resellers.

Here's a quick list of some of my favorite stories from the book:

The Scholar of Kosei (Korea) // This is my favorite story about a forgetful, but lovable scholar named Pak. I just love the bit where Pak leave his hat on the bush, then finds it later!

The Tiger's Whisker (Korea) // A young wife searches for a magic potion that will heal her war-worn husband.

The Tiger's Minister of State (Burma) // Politics makes for strange relationships!

The Trial of the Stone (Burma) // Oh that wicked thieving rock that "steals" a boy's money! :)

The Hidden Treasure of Khin (Burma) // Classic tale of "bloom where your planted" A young man goes a long way to realize his dream.

The King Who Ate Chaff (Burma) // Keeping a king's secret is ever so hard! But secrets have a way of getting out where you least expect them.

The Musician of Taguang (Burma) // Relics and time make musicians greater than they were in life.

Some other selections from this book that may appeal...

The Ambassador from Chi (China)
The Prince of the Six Weapons (India)
The Travelers and the Nut Tree (Kashmir)
The Counting of the Crocodiles (Japan)
Abunuwas the Trickster (Arabia)
The Philosophers of King Darius (Iran)
The War of the Plants (Malaysia)

**The book contains more stories than are listed in this review. :) Seems like there is 31 in all. Thus, the book definitely honors diversity.

Cool feature: the book contains a "Notes on the Stories" section that is very helpful in putting the stories in context of their home cultures and / or alerting one to translation information.

With tales stretching form Persia to Polynesia, this book is a nice, rich collection of Asian tales containing some well known folklore and a diverse mix of fairly obscure tales from exotic locales like Laos, Sri Lanka and Yap. With stylistic black and white illustration scattered throughout along w/Courlander's simplistically elegant prose this book makes for a nice, light read. Perfect for the discriminating reader of all ages.

Well I was first skeptical about this book. But all of a sudden I just began reading,reading,and reading until I read the whole book twice. The book can teach you about other cultures and their beliefs from the Far East. my favorite story is of course, the tiger's whisker. Theses stories will definitley "whisk" you away.

I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this book by Jennifer Fulton. I've read and enjoyed everything else she's written - under all three of her pen names. However, this older book has been sitting on my shelf as I've been reading new releases. Finally making time to read this one is one of the better decisions I've made in a while.

Similar to Saxon Bennet's style, Fulton brings a myriad of characters to the table. At first they are difficult to keep straight, but the story is well-written and is easy to follow.

A group of women get together to openly discuss their dating woes. They agree to always be honest and to never date each other. Of course, as they begin supporting each other in their failures, sub-relationships begin to form and that's where all the fun really begins.

A well-developed story with (mostly) likable characters, this not-so-recent release is sure to keep you entertained.

At first I thought this was simply a well-written entertaining look at lesbians on the prowl for love and sex. But Fulton really brings surprising challenges to the story and depth to the main character. I hope she writes a sequel.

I have read all of Fulton's books and I must say that I was a little bit disappointed that this was not the happily ever after that the previous ones were-however-once you get over that the book is a laugh out loud peak into the world of some kinda unhealthy lesbians.

Daniel Rodgers' thesis in Atlantic Crossings is simple and direct: "the reconstruction of American social politics was of a part with movements of politics and ideas throughout the North Atlantic world that trade and capitalism had tied together." (3) He concludes that from the 1870s through World War II, America was not an internalist or an imperialist nation, but instead these years saw an "opening" for social reformers in the U.S. to import foreign models and ideals from other North Atlantic countries. Furthermore, these imported policies and reforms (mostly from Britain and Germany) were not adopted in America (if at all) unchanged upon reaching the Atlantic's western shores, but instead were adapted to the peculiarities and idiosyncrasies of American society and political structure. Finally, Rodgers argues, the seeds of the New Deal can be found in the activities and positions of the social reform activists of the last two decades of the 19th century and the first thirty years of the 20th century.
Rodgers convincingly supports his thesis by describing "a largely forgotten world of transnational borrowings and imitation, adaptation and transformation" (7) from the 1870s through the 1940s, a time during which Americans had an abundance of solutions to the myriad social problems of their day. This "borrowing" was a process that changed significantly over time. Initially, Americans were primarily recipients of reform ideas from abroad. Later, during the prosperity of the 1920s, a more even exchange of social solutions took place among North Atlantic countries, which eventually led to "a great gathering...of proposals and ideas" in the New Deal. Finally, by the end of World War II, the differing experiences of the nations of the North Atlantic world and the varying effects suffered by each from the conflict largely ended the former transnational exchange, and saw the Cold War rise of American exceptionalism.
Rodgers provides numerous convincing examples of the cross-national exchange process of ideas and reforms to illustrate his arguments. Workmen's compensation insurance in America, for example, was based upon a pre-World War I British model, a "ready made solution with a history of success behind it" (248) that made similar acts in the U.S. possible. Additionally, housing, health and streetcars were a major concern of American social reformers in large cities, who often borrowed ideas about municipally-guided urban and industrial projects from experiments and visions in Berlin and London. As Rodgers notes regarding the new "self-owned" city, "municipalization was the first important Atlantic-wide progressive project...[that] borrowed experience and transnational example." (159) European precedents gave American progressives "a set of working, practical examples." (144) "He describes, however, in chapters 5 and 6, the impossibility of wholesale American import of strong European municipality due to the unique and equally strong traditions in the U.S. in favor of property rights, a tradition buttressed and maintained by legal tradition and the courts. One need only look at excess condemnation, widely practiced in Paris and London, to see an example of reforms disallowed by the courts, which held that public interests of taste and beauty did not surmount the rights of property owners. Housing in America "was a private matter," (196) unlike the European examples progressives saw.
Although some reviewers have taken exception with Rodgers' claim that within the progressive movement's ideology one can see the footers of the New Deal, his argument is convincing. What New Dealers "did best," he asserts, "was to throw in to the breach, with verve and imagination, schemes set in motion years or decades before." (415) A large number of New Deal projects came out of the old Atlantic progressive connection, and in "gathering in so much of the progressive agenda, the New Deal gathered in large chunks of European experience as well." (416)
Perhaps the weakness in Atlantic Crossings is that which is left out, not in the arguments Rodgers articulately presents. First, it is surprising that Rodgers presents no detailed discussion regarding education reform, particularly when this issue was so important to the Germans at the time. Second, one would never know that there was an American South during this time period, a region where progressives were active even despite a lack of urban areas there. Nevertheless, Rodgers has done a masterful job of comparative history by emphasizing trans-national borrowing and cooperation.

This is the policy-side answer to Kloppenberg's UNCERTAIN VICTORY. While that book focussed on intellectual links between European (esp. German or French) thought and early American pragmatism, Rodgers seeks more practical applications, well into the 20th century. He is so well versed in the literature that scant references are made to secondary sources. It is rich in the literature of the time, particularly journals, magazines, and newspapers from several different countries. Interestingly, unlike Kloppenberg this book examines England and Scotland which provide springboards for American reforms. Rodgers' thesis is that the Europeans tried numerous policies which Americans learned about and then implemented, almost always later than their counterparts across the Atlantic--and sometimes with very limited success. The book is also noteworthy for some of the most practical applications of MODERNISM yet seen in contemporary scholarship. This is a hot topic, largely seen in discussions of art or literature. Here Rodgers takes all that knowledge, absorbs it, and then demonstrates it in action across the POLITICAL spectrum. Despite the enormous research behind it, Rodgers has written an enjoyable, readable work that is of considerable importance. After all, this is the author of the famous article, "An Obituary for the Progressive Movement," (1970) which claimed that there NEVER WAS such a movement. Here Rodgers answers his own claim, saying that the American reform impulse built upon a European foundation and produced policies which survive to the present. My only complaint is that this book is slanted TOWARDS Europe, with maybe 60% of the discussion dwelling across the Atlantic ... the format gets a little tedious, with most chapters beginning in Europe, then the Americans pick up on the policy (welfare, municipal gas/water etc) and then they try it themselves. This is nitpicking, though, for such a substantive, well-researched, lucid work that defines this generation's scholarship on the Progressive Era.

This book isn't exactly what I was looking for, but it's a great childrens book! Lots of pictures, in fact, I think there are probably more pictures than actual sentences. If you're looking for serious information on Australia, just stick to Frommers.

I really appreciate this series and the way it allows emergent readers to access sophisticated information. Nice work.

"The best guidebook [about Lord Howe island] is Australia: An Ecotraveller's Guide by Hannah Robinson," Mark Rowe, Travel Overseas, November 2005.

This is an odd little hybrid, but quite useful. With beautiful photos, like a coffee table book, but small in size; with many maps, but none detailed enough to really use; with travel suggestions, but little "getting there" or "where to stay" information, it is a little bit of this and a little bit of that. What it does, more than say "Watching Wildlife," is put the flora and fauna in an ecological and evolutionary context, explaining why a particular species or area is unusual, and worth seeing. There are many sidebars with interesting natural history, and references to recent scientific studies along this line. But it is also a guide to the highlights of where to see nature in Australia.
Bottom line is, you will need other guides to fully plan an ecotourist trip to Oz, but you will get a lot more out of the trip if you read this book first.

Analysis of the Royal Australian Navy in the 20th century. Third volume in the Australian Centenary History of Defence series. Explores the effects of changing strategic circumstance, technological innovation, and differing national needs and expectations. Reviews Australia's naval involvement in operations that have ranged from global war through to peacekeeping and natural disaster. Includes illustrations, notes on contributors, notes, further reading and index. Editor served for 20 years with the Royal Australian Navy and became the inaugural Director of Naval Historical Studies within the Maritime Studies Program on retirement in 1994. He has authored or edited several books on maritime strategy and naval history. Series editors Professor Peter Dennis and Lieutenant-General John Coates are both connected with the Australian Defence Force Academy.

This is a well written book - Volume 3 of a series
"The Australian Centenary History of Defence Services". This volume is written by 6 contributors including the editor Dr D M Stevens.
All the contributors served in the Royal Australian Navy.
The first chapter deals with the formation of The Commonwealth
Naval Forces from five colonial naval forces and then the creation of the Royal Australian Navy in 1913.
The conflicts in which the navy was engaged are covered in some detail as well as the periods of peace with all the professional and political problems of how the navy should be developed.
There are good black and white photographs as well as fold-out plans of significant ships. There is a list of major ships giving the fate(i.e. sunk sold scuttled etc) of those no longer in service.
Also of value is a list of abbreviations for reference - for example
it may not be known to everyone that a DDG is a "Guided Missile
Destroyer"!

This book is a lot of fun! Our Australian friends really do talk like this.

This is an interesting book for someone who has not been to Australia. Although there are variations between Aussie English and Standard Australian English, visitors will mostly encounter SAE. "Aussie" English is used in informal settings and is useful to know - but it is not as common as this book would suggest. The Australian accent may be difficult for some visitors and the use of works describing local peculiarities (beer's, local areas, etc) may seem strange at first. The section on Aboriginal languages is extremely good and gives an accurate introduction to this unique field. However, again be aware that the majority of Australians have no knowledge of Aboriginal languages and very few white Australians actually speak an Aboriginal language. The Anangu languages of the central Australian Outback are spoken by people living in communities in areas that require a permit to visit. You will hear these languages in communities that are attached to visitor centers or by Aboriginal guides to these areas. But do not assume that because book devotes half its content to Aboriginal languages that you will hear these in every day speech. Overall a good introduction to Australian "culture" and speech, but too much emphasize for a book of this kind on Aboriginal languages.

This book has long been regarded as the ultimate on protocol and procedures in Australia. Sir Asher died some time ago but the book has been updated regularly. It is a pity that it is not so easily found in Australia. It is well written and clear. It also covers a myriad of areas that are so important. For me, particularly, it is important as I teach Meetings and Events. Protocal is one of the subjects in this discipline and therefore, particularly when managing a formal event, it is vital to understand all elements of the procedures involved as well as the general protocal. Our students handle events that could involve the Governor General of Australia (the Queen's representative) and the State governors, etc. It is very specific, especially with regard to flags that often cause major problems.

I like it!
Rgds
Gabrielle Cclara

This is the third edition of a book that is an invaluable source of information about Australian protocols and procedures, institutions and observances.

Much of the information contained here is available elsewhere. But in this handsome volume it is neatly presented in a form that invites browsing as much as it enables facts to be quickly ascertained.

Information about the Australian Parliament, and the parliaments of the states, the Constitution, flags and emblems is all included. As is information about life in Australia, the diplomatic service and a raft of other information which would be useful to those who need to work with (or to understand) Australia.

I'd recommend this book as useful addition to any library or organization that works with or has an interest in Australia. I'd also recommend it to those who like beautifully bound reference books.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

The book really presents an australia not as we know it, but one off a great divide between a strong patriotic belief, and then one of digust and resentment for the war. Never the less in the early years of the war this patroitic fever griped the hearts of many australian men, and there was great exitment and need for one to stand up and defend his infant australia, hirtho not yet recongnised as a real or threatning force to the germans or her allies. Many of these young men felt that it was not off choice to enlist but of civil duty, and in alliance to the throne and empire of england. But as the casualities of Gallipoli reched the shores of Australia and dark and realistic shadow was cast over the hearts and minds off all australians. The fantasy of war being glorious and adventrous, came to a grinding hault, the harsh reality had struck. The divide in the country had become stronger and unenlisted eliglbles were outcast from soicety, every consievalble tactic was used to encourage these men to enlist. The country was closer than every to tryanny,and there were two referendims to allow consrcriptions to be allowed.

Bill resonstructs with great sensitivity the valour and the tragedy off war. through this he shows us why the Great War was th have profound effects of the attitudes and ideals of Australians as a nation.

Australia at the time was a young enthusiastic country just wanting to be accepted in the empire and a lot of young people (about 1/2 of all young males)went away to prove themselves and were butchered - literally. Wars like these were common in the 'old world' but australlia, the land of the great social experiment was in every sense just a young child - the photo on the cover demonstrates that perfectly - a fresh faced young boy so young and whos mother would have been so proud, but so many of these people are now rotting in a strange country, no gum trees no nothing. Read the part about battle at Nek to find out what I mean - blood on the wattle means something to a lot of Australians and this is why - innocence lost but they kept on going - The best army since Genghis Khan. The diaries are so sad lost love and lost life. Literally peoples last words on this earth are noted in some of those diary extracts. the human condition at its most extreme. These days a lot of young Australians looking for role models are looking at the ANZAC tradition. These people were in every sense of the word 'superhuman' they did twice the work with half of the manpower and that's why they are still regarded so highly in france 80 years later.

I know this isn't really a book review but when i read the broken years it made me that emotional that i just want to say how it affects Australians. Others should read it too it's historical and its personal some times really personal. Some of these old guys would never say what when on in the great war but this is an insight into the rare archives which do exist. How exciting it all seemed at first then at one instant at Gallipoli realisation came, the blood shed, people told to run at machine guns, horses wailing, mateship Always remember that Australia was just little child when it entered the most gross expression of the human condition that I know of