Asia Books

If you like Li-Young Lee, you will love this book. If you have never heard of him but love poetry, buy this book. There are many great poems hidden between the covers of this book.

I have been a fan of Li-Young Lee for about four years. This started when I came across his poem "Persimmons" in an introductory to poetry class. "Persimmons" instantly captivated my attention. I bought his book of poetry "Rose and I was not let down. There are several poems in "Rose" that I hold in high regards like " Persimmons," such as "From Blossoms," "Ash, Snow, or Moonlight," and "Early in the Morning," amongst others. Lee writes a lot about nature, fruit, his father, and coming to America from China and feeling like an outsider. Lee has a very artistic mind and is able to capture daily things and express it on paper in an imagery filled, non-traditionally detailed, lyrical way. He is one of my all time favorite poets and I would recommend "Rose," to everyone.

Li-Young Lee's poems are powerful, beautiful and speak to the humanity in all of us. I marvel at his command of language, the artists eye with which he sees the world, and his ability to share these with the reader. Writing about the mundane, such as his wife's hair or a bag of peaches, memories of his father, or reminisences of being an immigrant, in each poem is a work of art. I strongly recommend this collection of poetry, especially for those who who have read little (or none) poetry - these poems are simple, beautiful and striking - a magnificent collection.

li young lee has the most phenominal approach to poetry..he will have you riveted from page one...buy this book...

Li-Young Lee, Rose (Boa Editions, 1986)

I am a longtime fan of Li-Young Lee's work, but I somehow never got round to reading Rose, his first book, until now. Sometimes going back and reading the first published work of an author is interesting in that you can see how s/he developed over the years (this is reviewer-code for "man, this book is not nearly as good as I was expecting"); such is not at all the case with Lee, whose first pieces are just as polished, professional, and deeply absorbing as his most recent work:

"From laden boughs, from hands,
from sweet fellowship in the bins,
comes nectar at the roadside, succulent
peaches we devour, dusty skin and all,
comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat.

O, to take what we love inside,
to carry within us an orchard, to eat
not only the skin, but the shade,
not only the sugar, but the days, to hold
the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into
the round jubilance of peach."
("From Blossoms")

Li-Young Lee is a fabulous poet, and if you haven't yet discovered his work, I can't recommend strongly enough that you seek him out as soon as possible. A true poetic treasure. **** ½

Rosie is adopted by a family with different coloring than her own hair. This book expresses some of the anxiety that adopted children may feel such as anger and sadness at their birth parents and adoption parents. Being an adoptive mother, I felt that a little more positive spin could have been placed on the story. There are only one or two pages of happiness for the adoptive family. I recommend reading with the time to share and explore all elements of this story with your child.

I really like this book. It explains adoption in very child-friendly terms, and addresses some of the common concerns that adopted children have. While acknowledging the differences between family members, it also stresses the ways that they are alike.

Christine Mitchell, author and illustrator of Welcome Home, Forever Child Welcome Home, Forever Child: A Celebration of Children Adopted as Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Beyond

The author addresses so many issues that adopted children, and their parents, will encounter. One issue that hit home with us is discussed when Rosie asks why she looks different than her adoptive parents. Well, our children are from Eastern Europe and they also have wondered why their skin colour is different from ours. The beauty of this story is that the children are captivated by Rosie the Beagle and the message she shares. Having the children gain an understanding of these sensitive issues can only better our relationship with them.

We bought this book to help explain adoption to our nieces and nephew but the book turned out to be a great book for us. It may be a bit to advanced for young children but it is a great book to help an older adopted child feel better about thier adoption.

My husband and I just love this book. Our daughter is not yet 3, so it's not really for her yet, although she does love to look at the pictures when we read it to her. We love the fact that Rosie's parents encourage her to ask all sorts of questions about her adoption, the tough questions that Rosie asks, and the honest, loving answers her parents provide. Highly recommend.

I'm still working my way through this book - which might take some time, considering its size! So far, most of what I've tried has been pretty good. You have to use some of your own common sense and general cooking knowledge. (And yes -- ok, it keeps calling for jimbu, which you just can't get in the U.S. and really has no substitute.) But I'm thrilled to have a Nepalese cookbook that has many, many more that three ways to cook dal! It's very user-friendly -- pretty straightforward and easy to read. And I have to agree that it's a great reference book. I don't think there's anything else in print that comes close (even the cookbooks I got in Nepal don't compare.) Overall, it's definitely worth having in your library, and it's a great read.

I am a first generation Nepali-American who grew up eating Nepali food in upstate New York. I received this book as a gift in May 2007. Now I am in college and started cooking on my own. I tried several recipes from this book, which has made me an expert in Nepali cuisine. The book offers practical instruction, very helpful glossary, Nepali-English name for every recipe and serving suggestions. I highly recommend this book to any one who wants to learn about Nepali food, culture and traditions. This book is a wonderful resource, as well as a wonderful gift.

Outstanding Rich and Unique Culinary Heritage of Nepal: For the first time,a Nepali Cookbook has won award at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards as a "BestForeign Cusine Book-2008". This book was also recognisedat the award ceremony (April13, 2008 at the Olimpia theatre in London) by giving the book "Special Award of the Jury". Congratulations to the author for making this book a bridge to the rest of the world. I hope winning the international award will help bring Nepali culinary and heritage and culture in the world market.

After a year of using " Taste of Nepal Cookbook", I am impressed with the thoroughness of the purpose and enjoyed trying out the mostdelicious and healthful dishes of Nepal. As a person of Nepali origin,and have lived in the USAfor over forty years, many facets of Nepali cooking had slowly evolved fom my memories. The vegetable chapter of the book reminded me of so many varitiesof vegetables available in Nepal. I have seen these in in various Asian sores in the USA, but had faint memories of how it is cooked. Fiddlehead Ferns (neuro), Taro Leaves (karkalo, gaaba), Pumpkin Vine Shoots (farsiko munta), Luffa Gourd(gheeraula) werecooked occasionslly when I was growing up Nepal. I found some of the vegetables at the produce markets, but was not brave enough to bring it home as I lackedthe process of cooking method. Books like this will allow me to refer and will help me bring back my nostalgia. Even thoughI am moving away from fish and meat intake, I find it refreshingto see the comprehensive authentic recipes of my childhood favorites.

Pictures of the finished product would have been excellent addition to the book. Thatprobablywill requiremore expense, advance photo shoots, food styling, outlays and other process.However I will suggest her to do so in future, if possible. I shall also recommend the auther to show caloric value of each dish which I firmly believe is not high as compared to many foods available in the market. I really enjoyed beautiful black and white drawing (pencil sketches) in the book. I highly recommend this book to all health consern consumers. All recipees in this book is very healthy and healing (due to unique seasoning).

Reviewed by Amar Giri, Ph.D. Food Science.

This is the most comprehensive English-language Nepali cookbook available. It contains almost 500 pages and 300 recipes. If you want to know how to make a particular dish, the recipe will most likely be in this book. I am incredibly happy this book was published because I no longer have to bother my mom for her recipes. Most recipes also have a brief, but helpful commentary.

For those unfamiliar with Nepali cooking, there is also an ingredients/equipment section and a brief glossary.

Allowing for variations in cooking styles and tastes between individuals, I do have serious issues with the quantities listed in the recipes. Having made about a dozen dishes from this book, I am convinced that many of the recipes were not tested. I am an experienced cook and grew up on this food, so I was able to make the necessary adjustments. For instance, a dal recipe requires twice as much water as listed; some dishes are woefully undersalted; the maalpuwa requires more enrichment from milk and clarified butter, and the sel completely falls apart in the oil if the batter is made to the consistency of "heavy cream" as directed. Someone unfamiliar with the cuisine might require a few tries to get it right, or might end up with the wrong impression of how the dish is supposed to be.

Nepali cuisine is almost exclusively home cooking, and even the mistakes in the recipes exemplify this notion. The only measuring devices used are the eyes and the hands, and perhaps that is why some of the quantified amounts seem to be off. Still, I have to take off a star for this, as well for the lack of photos.

In the end, I still highly recommend this book, both to Nepalis and others interested in this cuisine. I am confident that you will find pleasure in one of the least known and healthiest cuisines in the world.

A must nepali cook book for any kind of nepali food. I am now able to cook all those nepali foods that I would have never been able to. It's a magnificent piece of cookbook for all.

This is an excellent book both for the casual young reader and for use in the classroom. Ms. Kasbarian has managed to encapsulate Armenian history and culture in a way that is both informative and exciting while at the same time providing just the right level of detail.
Adults who need to get up on Armenia and its people quickly and painlessly will also find this book a godsend. The author is to be commended.
It's a good-looking book, too.

A great way to research the Armenian culture , heritage and our struggles as a country. A must read for all ages.

This is a great book for anyone wanting to learn more about Armenian history and culture. It is easy to read and comprehensive.

This book is the best book I have read about Armenia and it's people. It is interesting, informative and easy to understand.I really like this book. I am half Armenian and this book helped me to feel more connected to my Armenian heritage. I recommend this book highly. C. Willis, Fla.

I presume even for an Armenian from Armenia this book would be a treasure. For a Diaspora Armenian it is also a refresher course and more. For the novice, it is an eye opener in introducing an ancient country and its people so rich and colorful and yet hitherto known only in fragments. From its title, Armenia : A Rugged Land, an Enduring People, written on the cover, the latter also made to endure and for good cause; this book reveals Armenia deeply yet with clarity and lightness. Easy to read at a glance it also gives one the opportunity to delve into its myriad chapters according to one's interest. Subjects about the land's geography, culture, culinary arts (with recipes), traditions and sayings parade harmoniously and endear the reader to the land. It is a tourist guide and an abridged history book (both ancient and recent) in one. Illustrations, pictures and the excellent layout facilitate the discovery of the land's people as well as world celebrities with roots in Armenia . Archaeology, religion, the arts, legends and fast facts are all laid out in easy to find chapters. The author, Lucine Kasbarian, invites you to her "home" and you feel welcome from the first page. She has given the layman, the student, the tourist, the educator and the specialist a wonderful gift, very hard to find. She has done the hard work many were waiting for, now all you have to do is open the book and enjoy it.

You can find an abundance of books about doing business in China. This one, however, takes a rare approach. Ad expert Tom Doctoroff confines his commentary (for the most part) to a subject he has the expertise to address - advertising - although he tends to generalize a bit about Chinese history and philosophy. He offers evidence and examples from both successful and unsuccessful ad campaigns to support his assertions about what will work if you want to build your brand in China. We find that this short book offers interesting perspectives on the Chinese consumer market, while it also provides a refresher course on the main principles of advertising and brand building in any market, whether it be East or West.

Confucius, Daoism, Communism, Industrialization, Urbanization, One-Child Families, Great Leap Forward, Education and Profit Is Good: What do these themes mean for those who wish to sell in China? They are all important influences which you need to understand. Each Chinese consumer is uniquely influenced by the combination. The result includes some pretty interesting apparent contradictions such as prudishness about sex in advertising in a country where sexual trade is wide open at the street level.

In this insightful book, JWT Greater China CEO, Tom Doctoroff explains those influences and how they operate today. That's just the beginning.

From there, he shows you case history after case history of how global and Chinese companies have done well and poorly in acknowledging those influences. I found seeing the actual advertisements to be extremely helpful in understanding the book's points.

If that weren't enough, Mr. Doctoroff goes on to provide excellent perspectives into management challenges of properly serving 1.3 billion consumers in China.

Most books about China are filled with glittering generalities that leave you just as uninformed as you were when you started. Through careful description, segmentation and exposition of specific marketing challenges, Billions makes you feel as at home in China as you would feel in marketing a new video game to American teens.

As an example of how focused the book is, Billions provides:

-- Ten basic tips for effective Chinese advertising
-- Five mistakes most often made by multinational companies in China
-- Five structural barriers within Chinese corporations that harm the development of strong local brands
-- Three areas of Chinese domestic brand stagnation
-- Three areas of Chinese domestic brand progress
-- Six effective MNC-counterattack strategies to offset the domestic Chinese brands
-- Ten ways to shape international brands into global icons with Chinese characteristics to serve the Chinese community world-wide.

I thought that the description of how the Beijing Olympics should be pursued as a branding opportunity was worth the price of the book alone.

Usually, companies send second-raters to markets like China. JWT obviously sent its best when Mr. Doctoroff took over. Read and learn to profit!

Great book if you would like to obtain an indepth view of the Chinese Consumer. A MUST read!!

BILLIONS: SELLING TO THE NEW CHINESE CONSUMER comes from a CEO with direct experience selling into the Chinese market, and discusses the code of marketing as it relates to modern China. Many companies come to China with ideas on how to apply Western thinking to their very different marketplace: thus BILLIONS' tips are a necessary set of instructions for any who would break into the Chinese marketplace. From cultural influences in buying patterns to investment challenges and multinational lessons on winning and losing in China, BILLIONS is a recommended pick for any company who would consider entering this new, large market.

Love this book. Focus group, quantitative analysis, qualitative research, or any else you learned in the Marketing Research course at the MBA curriculum, may not work in China. WIth 1.3 billion customers, this is the dream market for any multinational corporations: Unilever, Ford, Nokia, Motorola, Sony, Samsung, Protor Gamble, DeBeers(DTC), VW, Shell, Pepsi, Coke, Nestle, Avon, Nike, Siemens, IBM, Dell.... While they are compeitng, the locals are copying quickly: Haier, TCL, Konda, China Mobile, China Unicom, Lenovo, CNOOC, Yili Diary, Sedrin beer, 999 Pharmaceutical..... hundreds of them doing shampoo, shoes, ....every thing under the sun. How can you win? That is the beauty of this book. It got many strategies laid out in the step-by-step fashion. It is a must read for any one who is doing business in China. The book will be better if more comparison can made on the effectiveness of the ad such as Motoroal vs a Chinese brand.

Thankyou Mr. Mason for helping me understand the Vietnam war and it's impact on those who fought. I was born about the time that you were touching down at your first LZ, and only grew to know the war from television and from my uncle, who was a helecopter pilot as well in vietnam. This book is a must-read sequel that will also shed light on what soldiers returning from the Gulf area must be going through. Congratulations on such a contribution, and Jerry Fowler is right, God is working through you without a doubt. You're an inspiration, I am just sorry that you and your family had to suffer so much.

unless you stumbled onto this book somehow, you probably picked it up because you had been through the "chickenhawk" experience with him in his first book by that name. this book is the perfect sequel to his vietnam story. mason's deeds in the war were heroic, and yet,he ends up struggling for his life even more as soon as he is "home". he is brutally honest about his own misdeeds--to his wife and son, his friends and associates, and to himself.you feel that you are trying to claw your way upward with him, as his life spirals downward.his salvation lies in his ability to tell his story, and you become part of it as you read this book

This is a great book, as you can see by the previous reviewers!

What I want to know is why this book has been out of print for so long?

This book was recommended to me by a veteran that flew with the First Air Cavalry. He commented, "This book described my life in Vietnam".

The book is vivid in it's descriptions and extremely well written. I have read the book twice and both times have been moved by the ending. If you enjoy reading about flying, the Vietnam conflict, and people, this book is for you.

I have read this book three times. I know what an extraordinary story this is and have tried to turn others on to it.
Bob Mason's transformation from eager pilot trainee to jaded combat veteran/burnout, while probably not anymore remarkable a story than any other pilot's is well written and that is what makes it great! After reading the book I felt as though I know Bob Mason. Not a bad thing.
When Mason describes the deck inside the chopper,covered in blood you can almost smell it.
Serious life and death stuff with some of the funniest stories of human screw ups wrapped up in a truly memorable account of one
helluva chopper pilots' experience in Vietnam.
It's like I say:" 'Chickenhawk' is the best damn war movie they never made!"

A WONDERFULLY TOLD CAT-TAIL! THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE LOVELY AND APPROPRIATE TO THE PLAYFUL THEME OF THE BOOK.

This is a fantastic story. It sparks children and adults (I'm 53!) the imagination and creativity that will help make the world a more beautiful place. I hence started to write my own children's stories. Amy Tan is my inspiration, and I hope she becomes yours.

I am the mother of 2 boys and have little knowledge of "girl" books. I bought this book for 2 little girls ages 4 and 5. The parents of each girl said their daughters were thrilled with the book and asked that it be read to them twice the day the book arrived. I bought the book because I love Amy Tan's novels and assumed that a child's book would be just as engaging. Amy Tan's story and the beautiful illustrations did not let me down.

The most exquisitely illustrated book I've ever owned! A fun, fictitious way to describe how white siamese kittens get their colors.
It's a bit long for a bed time story, but really fun! Kids ages 8 or 9 and up may be able to read it themselves, but the beginners may have a hard time.

I've read Amy Tan's "Joy Luck Club" and "Kitchen God's Wife" and had no idea that she's a wonderful children's author as well. I learned about this book from watching the same titled PBS series. The series is cute for kids, but the book is a wonderful story, rich in history and beautifully illustrated. Tan is a gifted writer that children and adults can appreciate.

love this book broke down many times on some of the letters great book!!

This marvelous little book offers a parallel and human voice to the more academic books about Vietnam.
There is no "agenda", here just a selection of moving, articulate, impassioned voices talking about their experiences and feelings at the time they were there. Some of the most moving, of course, being those from young people who would die shortly thereafter. We see through the letters in the book that even on the front lines this "war" was seen through a wide diversity of opinions, from those that were totally committed to it, and why (though they tend to become less prevalent as the years pass), to those who came to believe it was not a worthy effort to justify the consequences. And the majority, just confused. A must read.

This book captivated me so that i could not put it down, untill i had finished. It touches your heart and soul. Wonderful read!! Please put it on DVD!!! Thank you :-)

This is a wonderful book for anyone who wants to see the Vietnam war from the eyes of those who were there. The book is a collection of writings from Vietnam veterans that were written during there time in country. This book shows the War as more than casualty numbers and battle field dates. A good read for everyone.

After the amazing documentary about Vietnam that solely exists of actor voice overs of funny, goofy, anxious and heartbreaking letters home from soldiers at the battlefront in Vietnam, accompanied by graphic footage of the war itself, this book came out. It contains the letters read out in the movie, and additionally has some more background information about the soldiers who wrote the letters.

Even without the trained actor voices reading the letters out loud to you, and without the grim and realistic war images, this book is a pageburner. Heart-wrenching accounts of the legacy of war written by the soldiers that fought it, as well as by the people they left behind.

H. J. Poole, in DRAGON DAYS, turns attention to beating our opponents in "The War on Terror". His basic approach is to enforce International Law utilizing Unconventional military techniques.
First, Poole addresses the question of whether or not the Red Chinese are involved in promulgating terror. Given that Afghanistan is proximal to its border, and that Pakistan has been a long time ally against its traditional foe India, Chinese involvement with Islamic radicals may well reflect their regard for their own interests. From a strictly national perspective, the Chinese are cogent to counter increasing U.S. and Indian influence in their own back yard. While radical Muslamic terrorists have their own agenda, Chinese involvement may not be based on ideological concerns. Indeed, a total U.S. disaster may mean that the Chinese won't receive a return on money borrowed from it by the U.S.(!)
The "War on Terror" - is it a military struggle - or International Law enforcement? Here, Poole is on solid ground recommending, in the second section of his book, that the U.S. and its allies approach terrorism in a law-and-order context. A relevant illustration is a recent event in Indonesia: after a night club bombing that claimed the lives of several western tourists, as well as Indonesians', the Indonesian authorities brought the radical Islamic perpetrators to trial and subsequent conviction. Though largely a Muslim nation, Indonesia wasn't rocked by civil unrest after the terrorists were convicted.
The techniques profiled in Poole's book are similar to those the TV viewer can find on "CSI" type programs. Poole rightly compares how a criminal case is pursued by the NYPD versus how a U.S. military unit would respond to a similar incident in Afghanistan or Iraq. Civil authorities in the "Big Apple" - and their elected representatives holding national office - would be justly outraged over military operations in New York City as these are conducted routinely in the Mid-East. Repercussions for such conduct would be swift - and career ending.
International terrorism is a breach of International Law. When the international terrorist is regarded as the equivalent of the serial rape-murderer, rather than the representative of a just cause, all societies, Western, Eaastern, Muslim, developing world - all societies will pursue his elimination. Trial by World-recognized judicial authorities, based upon forensic evidence with internationally-agreed upon validity, is the surest means to undermine any moral authority of the terrorist.
When Poole discusses small unit tactical operations, he is on his own turf in the final section of his book. While one may question his political analyses, there is no denying his experience and post military career tactical studies. The sources of Poole's tactical craft are Asian in origin. He relies heavily on North Vieetnamese/Viet Cong, Japanese Ninja and North Korean "Light Infantry Bureau" sources in his depiction of appropriate techniques, even providing the outline of a training program on "unconventional warfare".
Poole holds that U.S. "Special Operators" need a different direction in their tactical techniques, and that these unconventional skills should be promulgated to the level of the common infantry units. He stresses the significance of tactical finesse at the squad level versus the large-unit operations favored by the U.S. Military establishment. He decries the unnecessary reliance upon technology and firepower at the expense of good field craft and tactical skills. While the applicability of his touted "flying column" assault may be questioned, the tactical competence required to execute it is one the U.S. ground forces should definitely seek to achieve.
More astute readers may pay closer attention to Poole's focus on China's role and debate its applicability. There is room for a wide dispersion of viewpoints on these matters. Poole has presented his conclusions. Others may agree or disagree with him. His discussions in the tactical realm will doubtless draw more criticism: many western-inluenced military enthusiasts will, no doubt, decry his approach to "unconventional tactics". Certainly the U. S. Military establishment's predilection for hi-tech and lots of firepower aren't reflected in Poole's techniques.
However, two aspects are to be noted: 1) The current conflict in Central Asia and the Mid-East call for a much more sophistacated law enforcement-cum-light infantry approach, especially when operating among a civilian population. Enraging this population is counter productive; and, as has been noted by other observers, the U.S. forces cannot "kill their way" out of their tactical problems. 2) If only at the outset of their employment, Poole's recommended "Unconventional Tactics" may just succeed, simply because our current foes would never expect a tech-heavy, firepower-reliant U.S. force to fight in such a manner.

The author is well-known in the military and academic environments. With the last FM-100, it was supposed that everything was now mentioned. But, not. A tradition, inherited from the Civil war, exists in the USA, of saving grunts lives, avoiding the combats at close distances and using with profusion the heavy fire support to win always.
It does not serve to gain the hearts and the minds of the people, intermingled with the rebels in cities or open land, thanks to a degree of constraint that always exists from the rebels. Henry Poole offers a heap of counterinsurgency tactics. He also speaks about the own character of the possible rebels. And, especially, he creates the mixed units, at a very low level of action, of proffesional soldiers, self-defense forces and civil elements of construction, promotion and education. With them it is possible to interpose a "swarm", more active, effective and professional of loyal units, to the swarm of the guerrilla units. And to go isolating them slowly, reliably and progressively from the people, of their bases and of the rest of their operational and strategic goals.

John Poole knows how to combat Islamic and Chinese-backed insurgencies by blending in both measured military & police actions. In his newest & my personal favorite book, "Dragon Days" Poole weaves in various apsects of unconventional fourth generation warfare, to include how aspects of police anti-gang operations would serve the infantrymen to disrupt the IED networks that are causing most of US casulaties. Operations in Iraq must become focused on investigating the various "networks" (terrorist & criminal) to disrupt them & turn the people against the behavior that does not allow them to return to a normal life, and their children are not killed by US forces in an attempt to dislodge militants. Police operations focus on identifying & eliminating the "bad guy" from the neighborhood. Use of force is used only IF the suspect(s) do not comply & actively resist. As in gang "hoods" in the US, even if the police are right & kill a suspect, the residents blame the police. As Poole states in the latest edition of his great books on unconventional warfare, this condition also exits within Iraq or Afghanistan. We are still considered the Great Occupiers in Islamic lands & all bad things come with this title.
Poole's book also goes over how to improve multiple counter-insurgency fucntions & methods & what has not worked in the past & why. All of his book are great reading,and full of very useful information for military & law enforcement professionals involved in 4th GW. My advice is to recommend Poole's book to fellow professionals, and buy an additional copy for yourself since once your copy is "loaned" out, it'll be passed on to others, which is how all great knowledge should be treated. Pass it on!

John Poole see's the cycles of "modern" warfare well before even the military services and three letter agencies are willing to shift focus of effort; especially in pre-deployment training programs. I used his "Tactics of the Crescent Moon" as a primer for my team before we deployed into Ramadi in 2005. It was extremely accurate and my men were able to operate without delays as soon as we arrived.

"Dragon Days" brings us around full circle to meet an organized and nationalized global threat that has proclaimed "total war against the U.S." and allies itself with insurgent and terrorist organizations as its surrogates. It won't be long before the State Department has to admit the DOD will be needed for other "troop deployments" as the Chinese continue to shape the world through asymmetric warfare. This book of Poole's has it all in there. Open source intel to study and verify and the proper tactics, techniques and procedures to meet the variety of threat we should expect to encounter once our infantry and SOF operators are distributed on the ground.

Mark S. Mosher
MSgt. USMC (Ret.)
Program Manager
Combat Training Systems Division
BMI Defense Systems

I think that John Poole set a good example for us all to follow.
If we all were as productive and current in our analysis, and furthermore managed to put out tactical and technical advice to our troops in the field, the current conflicts would end sooner with much less casualties.

But wait, we don't need to do that. Because John Poole does this for us. We only need to pick up his latest book and start to apply the tactics that he describes.

I think that John Poole's later books are improving in readability but they still keep that cutting edge of current and life saving advice.

I urge you all to pick up this book and learn.

The writers share the belief that people of different cultures can come together in mutual appreciation and respect for their differences, though the experiences they describe are at times wrenching. A superb collection, the book captures the Peace Corps spirit insightfully

"Pretty exotic" will be many a reader's conclusion, but so will "thoroughly human," i.e., funny, raffish, tragic, cruel, . . this is a powerful, engrossing collection

While this book did allow me a glimse into a far away world (Mainly Africa)only some of the stories were truely worth reading. Most of them seemed to drag on and have no particular point. Even so, the environment and the dialogue were exceptional, and i truely learned about other cultures. There were only two stories in there i thought actually deserved four stars. One was "My First Lion Hunt." This story had plot, characters, humor, and a great ending. I would recommend just reading this story! I was a bit dissapointed in the lack of depth and plot in a few of the stories, and the terrible endings (they didn't seem very well thought out). However, for the most part this was an enjoyable and educational book. FOR FURTHER READING go the PEACE CORPS web site and read some of the stories there! Enjoy!

Geraldine Kennedy's choices cannot be faulted. I don't know of any other volume that has captured the Peace Corps spirit as insightfully as "From the Center of the Earth."

The collection contains a surprising amount of humor for a book grounded in cultrual turmoil, global poverty, linguistic confusion, and a decent amount of tragedy. . .a crash course in cultural relativism while capturing the pecular sights, struggles, and smells of distant places