Asia Books

I really enjoyed the book and felt it was a worthwhile read. Told from the perspective of an insider,(Yuan-tsung Chen) it expanded my views and knowledge of China and how it became what it is today.
I highly recommend the book for both the entertainment and education value. If you have or hope to have business or investments in China, the book could be of great value.
Thanks for your work Ms Chen,
Brad Linder

The drama of RETURN TO THE MIDDLE KINGDOM unfolds like an adventure film, such as INDIANA JONES, filled with exciting actions, one leading to another and each becoming more gripping than the previous one. I just follow the narrator and feel compelled to explore farther and deeper into the strange, mysterious, intriguing Middle Kingdom.

This book provides an in-depth account of how events in the past 100 years have shaped the modern China and the involvement of one family during this period. A must read for anyone who is interested in China and likes good story telling!!

Opening the book, I see a map marked with the three routes which the three revolutionaries of the Chen family take, from places inside the Great Wall to the Gobi Desert. The next page is the Cast of Characters which hints at what I'll see if I follow along the three routes. The first character is the Republican Senator from Idaho, William E. Borah, who helped Eugene Chen (the second revolutionary) expose President Wilson's secret pact with Japan, double-crossing China. Right under his name is Mikhail Borodin, a Communist International agent who was sent by Lenin and who helped Eugene implement the "Russia-oriented" policy. What sharp and dramatic contrast! I can't help being lured into the story.

The book has great characters as well as a great story line. It opens with the appearance of Ah Chen, the first revolutionary of the Chen family. He was born nearly 180 years ago in a totally alien land. I saw such a creature in old, yellowing photos, who looks to me like a different species from another planet. But after reading a page or so, the boy Ah Chen springs to life. He is just like the little boy next door, mischievous, playful and friendly. As he grows up, he has a dream of pursuing success and happiness just my friends and I have.

This book is compelling on so many levels. Not only does Lisa take you with her on her journey to different locations around the world, she takes you on a journey to her heart, mind and soul. I would consider this a must read for everyone.

WOW! The author (Lisa Rhodes) allows the reader to take an exciting journey to the most exotic locations on Earth. Destinations include the far east, the middle east, Africa and perhaps the most exotic, her heart and mind. This journey is a clear illustration of how travel can expand one's self.
Highly recommended!!

Roads To Existence is a real page turner. I couldn't put the book down. I trotted the globe with this author to places that I didn't even know existed. The book has so many levels to it. The author takes you on a journey to remote places in the world and at the same time to remote place within her soul. The way Lisa Rhodes transitioned from the collective experience to the personal expereince was masterfull. I couldn't help but ponder my own existence. I loved the way she interacted with the 'real' people, off the beaten path. The book is rich with emotion. I laughed and cried. I was outraged and inspired. I'm in awe of the courage that this woman had to travel around the world by herself and at the same time to look so deeply within and heal. I enjoyed the journey immensely. Thank you Lisa Rhodes for sharing your story!
S Jennings
Colorado Springs, Colorado

I expected this book to give me an insight on the local cultures of communities around the world, and it definitely met that expectation. What I didn't expect is the emotional journey that the writer puts the reader through. I started reading the book when I sat down for a long flight. And when the plane landed I was disappointed since I hadn't finished reading yet. I just couldn't put the book down. As soon as I got to my parents place, instead of visiting with them, I decided to finish the last few pages of the book before starting my visit. I love visiting my parents, but I think I made the right choice. This book is so eye-opening, they should make it required reading for everyone.

This is an amazing book. Reading it was like taking a journey with the author through countries I've always wanted to know about but wouldn't dare go to on my own. The same goes for the emotional journey Ms. Rhodes takes us through. Her life story and personal evolution give the reader rare insight unto the workings of a remarkably brave female heart and mind. I couldn't put this book down!!!!!!!

This book is a great resource for anyone with an interest in what MACV-SOG was doing during the war in Vietnam. In addition to a plethora of never before seen pictures, the book follows the story of a young man (the author) from Basic Training to Airborne and SF training, deployment to Vietnam, and, ultimately, assignment to MACV-SOG.

Fascinating, just fascinating.

This was a very informative book.These men saved many lives by doing the things that they secretly did, the recognition is well deserved.

Steve Stacy

Greco described this book best by calling it the "scrapbook of a covert organization never meant to see the light of day." (Acknowledgements, X) This is exactly what this work is. Not only does it reflect his experiences while serving in SOG, but it reflects the overall experience of running highly classified missions into enemy controlled territory.

Before I bought this book, I was somewhat apprehensive because I had already bought John L. Plaster's book "SOG: A Photo History of the Secret Wars" and I was afraid that they'd be very similar in photos and content. While some photos appear in both books, they are each their own separate works and both compliment the other very well.

I am truly thankful to Greco and Plaster and the others alike who served in SOG and performed a job against such incredible and sometimes suicidal odds. Furthermore, thank you for taking the time to compile your experiences into something that can be read and held by those who were never there.

thank goodness for an interprising soldier who saved the photos and info
from a lab fire and has now shared his secret world with the masses. It
gives another and more in depth view of cross border RECON in the Nam war.
Coupled with Plaster's SOG and Harris' Break Contact-Continue Mission, we
can mentally imbed with these soldiers as they risked all to interdict the workings of a cruel and voracious enemy. The book tells the story.
Great work Frank..

This book is right up there with MAJ (R) Plaster's earlier works. Predominantly consisting of a well-written narrative and unique, previously unpublished photographs, Mr. Greco's contribution to the history of SOG is incredible. As a historian and currently serving Soldier, this is a fantastic look into a world that the bureaucrats tried to forget or suppress, at least until the next war where they needed something like it again. Great work!

I bought this book to find out and learn what my Dad went through as a flight engineer on C-130s in Vietnam (he had two tours there). He would very seldom speak of his experiences there; he did tell me of a time when mortar fire damaged the aircraft, how high the pucker factor got, the repair he and the loadmaster did, and taking off with the cargo ramp down with enemy fire coming up at them. Or the time he witnessed the aircraft in front of them crashing into a mountain. Or the time they had to carry body bags out. Though this is written from a pilot's perspective I felt a connection with my father. It is well written, but it helps to have some knowledge of aircraft (I served a career in the USAF as an aircraft mechanic) and of military procedures. The way the author describes his fears and anxieties will hold you in it's grip...especially when he describes "Runway Visions". Intense.

Runway Visions is the appropriately titled story of Captain Vaughan's experiences and "bringing up" as a C-130 aviator in Southeast Asia from February 1967 to April 1968, from a newly ordained aircraft commander (AC) at Dyess AFB to "new guy" novitiate in the right seat, progressing to the left seat as AC with a crew, and both seats as an instructor pilot, to check out the "new guys". Early in his fifteen-month tour, he is introduced to the harrowing landing required of An Khe Golf Course, relieved by the construction of a new runway nearby (An Khe Main), then back to the dread of the Golf Course when the new runway is closed for further improvement. Missions to Khe Sanh during his tour are described, the crew's Christmas dinner at the chow hall providing signs of the future siege.
Airlift operations during this time in that part of the world have been little documented, so this journal of a C-130 pilot is a welcome addition to the literature of military aviation for the period. Most pilots seem to have the most vivid impressions of their landing strips, regardless of time, place, or aircraft flown, and this book would be welcomed by many, especially those who know that runways are not always straight and level, or paved and lighted. Perhaps it would prove an awakening for those who don't, and should, as well.

I found David Kirk Vaughan's book about his experiences as an airlift pilot in Vietnam impossible to put down. His descriptions of action in and out of the cockpit are done such that they are very easy to understand, even if one is not a pilot. Yet, even the experienced military aviator will find some intriguing action there for him too.

Vaughan's description of landing at the "golf course" is but one example. Written in such a manner that the novice can appreciate the extreme difficulty of such a task, an aviator will nearly be in disbelief, especially after seeing the landing strip in one of the several photos that the author took during his tour and which are included in the book.

Of course there is plenty of action outside the cockpit, too. Again, I found Vaughan's descriptions superb as he related his travels throughout Thailand, Vietnam, the Phillipines and back "home" in Taiwan.

If one wishes to have a better understanding of the life of a military transport pilot or to have a record of Vietnam war airlift action, then this is a must buy!

Runway Visions is a memoir of a young pilot who volunteers to go to SE Asia and fly Hercules C-130 supply missions during the Viet Nam war.

David Vaughan tells a compelling tale, one that haunts me. It is not a story full of heroic rescues, though there is a little of that. It is the tale of a man looking back at himself and trying to make sense of what he did and saw. He holds little back.A difficult book to describe, but one that this reader found very satisfying. One of the best books I have read in a long time.

I bought this book because I am going into the Air Force Reserves as a C-130 pilot. I, of course, found it very interesting and informative, but I don't think I would recommend it to any non-pilots and would hesitate to recommend it to a non-airlift military pilot. A lot of people would find the topics he discusses very boring as compared to a fighter or bomber type memoir book. Nevertheless, I thought the stories he told were awesome - he talks about almost every mission the Hercules performs - hauling mail, booze, troops, dead bodies, ammo, and medical litters of injured troops. He also details the short-field capability of the C-130 flying into all of those fields in 'Nam. There are several hair-raising stories that he depicts where they are supplying the Marines at Khe Sahn during Tet and others where he is landing in bad weather, runways with craters, dirt strips, etc. He also mixes up the book with some details of the social life in Thailand, Taiwan, and the Philippines (he parallels the airlifting stories with stories about a chick he "hangs out" with in Bangkok.)

Anyway, I thought it was a great read, but I doubt most folks would think so unless they were very into the C-130 - like me.

Reading these poems is one thing, hearing them sung in person is another. And for those of you who cannot hear him speak, read the gracious words of someone who has seen the worst in mankind, and yet still looks at the world with hope for the future. This is a must read for everyone!

I met the author and heard the poems at UH Manoa in both Khmer and English as they are also laid out in the text. It would be interesting to have an oral form/spoken word for this book. If you have an interest in Southeast Asia, Khmer Rouge,genocide or the human struggle this book offers enormous insight to all.

It is tragically moving in some parts and although I am not much for poetry it is one of my prize posessions.

I know little or nothing about poetry but the flow of the poems are not rythmic or fluid, but the words are essential. The author said he wrote in the style of Walt Witman which was a major shift from traditional Khmer poetry with it's oral and melodic style.

This book is heavily based in myth, spirituality and hardship of a man who's life has seen the most extreme in hills and valleys.

I recommend this book to anyone. For deepar understanding of the life of the author the Three Wilderness memoirs are also good.

This is a stunning collection of poetry presented in a bi-lingual layout that provides an extremely moving and spiritual diary of a poet that witness and survived the savagery of the Pol Pot years. What is more interesting is that the author U Sam Oeur has stretched the traditional and very formal structure of Khmer poetry and brought his own love and admiration of Walt Whitman to create a new kind of Cambodian poetry. I had the fortune of attending a reading by U Sam. His translator, Ken McCullough read the english translation which was followed by the author's sung and chanted rendition of the poem in Khmer. The author told us that when his family was finally able to return to their home in Phnom Penh, while everything else had remained, his entire library of some 2,000 books had been removed and apparently destroyed. The only thing that he discovered from his collection was a single page from a book of poems by Emily Dickinson.

I was fortunate to hear Mr. U Sam Oeur read his poems in person at UW-Madison a few weeks ago and I bought 2 books on the spot, one for my mom and one for myself.

I am so happy that there is someone trying to bring back the art of Cambodian poetry, it would be a tragedy if this art form were to disappear. Mr. U Sam Oeur is a wonderful person and so passionate about his work, his reading (or singing rather) of one his poems was so breathtaking and emotional.

Despite the horrors of the Khmer Rouge period, this book is a testament to the Cambodian spirit in which Mr. U Sam Oeur and others like him seek to re-establish important Cambodian cultural traditions. This will not only benefit the younger generation of Cambodians in Cambodia and around the world, but will also serve to enrich the realm of poetry in general as Cambodian poetry is an important form of oral tradition that is unique and intricate in style and structure.

These are poems of downtrodden and endangered people, for whom I once unofficially dubbed U Sam Oeur poet laureate.

This slight Cambodian poet, a survivor of the Pol Pot regime who committed his horrifying experiences to Khmer verse in Sacred Vows, several years ago gave one of the most soulful readings I was ever privileged to hear.

"I am the ambassador of the silenced," he said at the opening of his reading, noting that the Cambodian people remain imprisoned in their own land. He would read first in English (translations by Ken McKullough) and then chant his poems a cappella in a voice as vibrant as it was heart-piercing.

What a lowing my wife put up
when she gave birth to the first twin.
Very pretty, just as I'd wished, but those fiends
choked them and wrapped them in plastic.

This stanza from "The Loss of My Twins" seared my ears as he read the clean, crisp language of loss.

From this voice, one remarkable fact is eminently clear: Indigenous languages can be inhabited even by strangers. John O'Donohue once explained it like this, in terms which themselves danced on the edge of a poem:

Language comes from that restless space between loneliness and experience. It lives through people, but without them as well. Poetry is travel to the inner language, and every poem is a threshold crossing between the ancient and the [now]. Even when one does not understand these languages, the poems speak.

Indeed they do.

--Alyssa A. Lappen

For those who cannot read Japanese, there are few options with regards to publications and studies on Sakamoto Ryoma. Jansen's extraordinary work simply a 'must have' for all who wish to better understand the Meiji period and one of the most important men in all of Japanese history. Simply phenomenal.

Professor Jansen's book is the first English-language biography of Sakamoto Ryoma, the most celebrated historical figure in Japan today. It is also an in-depth study of the political and socioeconomic situation during the turbulent and fascinating years of the Meiji Restoration, the dawn of modern Japan. When I first read this book fifteen years ago, it struck me as an invaluable college-level textbook for students of Japanese history. It also made me aware of the need in the English language for a more probing analysis of Sakamoto Ryoma, the man. It was then that I began the 7-year process of researching and writing RYOMA - Life of a Renaissance Samurai, which I believe is a true-to-life portrait of Ryoma - blood and guts, heart and soul.

This proves to be one of the better books on the Meiji Restoration movement and Sakamoto Ryoma who was the one of the primary movers of that movement as Japan moved to a more modern government and society. But I would be honest to say that this book is NOT for casual readers since the subject matter is so alien and complex to many English speaking readers. Meiji Restoration is a complex subject matter even for Japanese history students but Jansen should be credited for bringing such a matter to clearer light in his book.

Who is Ryoma Sakamoto? He wasw a samurai in the middle of the nineteenth century. He is considered a hero by his native Japan. His story begins when Commodore Perry brings his American ships to open Japan by force. Many samurai were insulted by this gunboat diplomacy. Sakamoto was one among many who called for the government to expel these foreign interlopers. However, it was more easily said than done. As time passed, Sakamoto came to realize that Japan was in no position to challenge the West because the West had vastly superior weapons. He came to admire the position of strengthing the country through international trade and emulating those institutions that were admirable in the West. For Japan to defend itself, it had to become a strong country and the only was to do that was by modernizing. To modernize, the military government of the Shogun had to be overthrown. This leads to the Meiji Restoration in which the Emperor takes back the power to rule from the Shogun. Unfortunately, in the process, Sakamoto is assassinated, which made him a martyr for the process of modernization.

This book follows the events leading up to the Meiji Restoration, and it especially focuses on Sakamoto's role in setting it up. It provides an overview leading up to this period and shows that there were many factors which lead to the overthrow of the Shogun. Perry's arrival was only a trigger that unleashed years of frustration. To get a better grasp of Japanese politics, I think this book is an excellent source for understanding the founding of the modern Japanese state.

If you really want to understand Japan's amazing journey from feudal swordsman to world power in just 50 years... Then you need to learn something about the Meiji Restoration. If you want to learn about the Meiji Restoration... then you must spend some time learning about the life and times of Sakamoto Ryoma. Ryoma, as he is affectionately known by his adoring cult of fans in Japan, is a true legend in Japan, a sort of "Daniel Boone" of Japan, if you will. In spite of its age, Jansen's work is still the definitive biography in English, and is likely to remain so until America's interest in the outside world rises above its currently meager level. To be fair, doing Jansen one better would require an extensive knowledge of one of the world's most difficult languages, and why try when there are still so many corners of Modern Japanese history that are untouched by Western scholars? Do you want to get inside the head of a truly old-fashioned, "swashbuckling" hero who quite literally changed the world by contributing to Japan's entrance into the modern world? This, then, is still the place to start.

Absolutely awesome graphics. Text is a sort of summary of other books of Turnbull. Anyway this book is very interesting, expecially for "rookies".

The Samurai - in modern society, it's a shallow shell of what it formerly was - exaggeratedly awesome warriors capable of sundering tanks in two with there swords. But who were the real Samurai? "The Samurai Swordsman: Master of War" is an examination of the true Samurai, who dominated Japan during its feudal era, much like Knights once dominated Europe. Going deep into the nature of Samurai as complex individuals and not just swords with legs, it looks at everything - the Samurai statesman, the Samurai artist, and more. Enhanced with full color paintings throughout, "The Samurai Swordsman: Master of War" is highly recommended for community library history and art collections and for anyone who has always had a fascination with this warrior caste.

I have read most of the way through, and am *very* happy with this book. The text is engaging and full of interesting facts and anecdotes, the abundant illustrations make for an excellent collection of Japanese art, and the author's command of the subject matter is apparent. This is one I will read through several times.

I'm not certain why the "Samurai" bug bites readers but in my case I lived outside Yokohama, Japan, on the Kanto Plain for 25 months between October, 1962, and December, 1964. (Please see also my review of Oliver Statler's early 1960's book, "Japanese Inn" for additional detail of this area).

Living only a stone's throw from the ancient Tokaido Road, once capital city Kamakura, and medieval Odawara castle, among many other sites, caused me to this very day to have an avocational interest for Japan in general and the Samurai in specific.

I have several of Stephen Turnbull's books, feeling him to be very well versed in all aspects of this field to the point of being a notable expert in that area. The term "expert" is bandied about these days oft times without substance or merit, but in Mr. Turnbull's case it is well justified.

This particular book is one I purchased a year ago, and for the price was very pleased with its content. Should one look into it a reader would find it a good, comprehensive guide to the Japanese warriors known as 'samurai'. There are specific armor and weaponry illustrations and descriptions, as well as four "see-through vellum sections" where each layer of clothing and protective armour offers insight into the dress of these warriors. The text flows evenly and can readily be understood. Should the reader be new to this area of study this volume would easily serve as a great introductory volume.

This oversize book is amply illustrated in color, and in 256 pages offers magnificently "the story of Japan's great warriors".

Semper Fi.

This book would serve as an excellent introduction to someone who has read little or nothing on the samurai; it covers their history from the days of the Yayoi tribesmen to their overthrow during the Meiji Restoration, and provides much readable detail on their culture, organization, religious beliefs, armor, clothing, and most interestingly, the full range of their deadly arsenal.

Though I have maintained a strong interest in the samurai for several years and have read many books on them, I still learned some things from this book (notably that they used axes in battle, as well as clubs and maces). Anything by Stephen Turnbull can be pretty much guaranteed to be well worth one's money. In short, this book would be especially good for beginners but worthwhile for veterans of Japanese military history as well.

"Air Commando pilot Bill Guenon has written the only first-hand account of the incredible 1970 raid to free American P.O.W.s held deep in North Vietnam. Guenon, call sign, "Cherry One" flying his C-130 low, slow...20 knots below landing speed...in the dark of night operating in radio-silence, led six rescue helicopters to Son Tay -- then orbited the scene deploying flares, battle-sound simulators, and napalm bombs for ground beacons. His story is up close and personal with behind-the-scenes anecdotes that tell "the rest of this amazing story", including some surprising details. This one's a must for the keen, aviation book collector.

[...]

The Son Tay POW raid was one of the most daring and adventurous events in the Vietnam War, and sitting in the cockpit of the lead aircraft made Bill Guenon eminently qualified to tell the story as it really happened. The book is well written and filled with details, some heretofore unknown. But there is more. The sensitive account of his return to Son Tay years later as a tourist provides a poignant counterpoint to the story. Secret and Dangerous: Night of the Son Tay POW Raid
is a must read for history buffs and those interested in the Vietnam War Era.

William Guenon's firsthand account of the Son Tay Prison Camp raid deep into North Viet Nam is a book you'll want to read in one sitting and then refer to again many times. His good sense of humor lightens the bittersweet scenes both of the rescue attempt itself and of the nostalgic revisit to Hanoi 24 years later. There is a lot of historical detail on these pages. The saga reminded me of several accounts of the liberation of Los Banos prison camp in southern Luzon in February of 1945, and of the similar rescue of thousands of civilians from the large Santo Tomas prison camp in Manila that same month. Wetmore's *Beyond Pearl Harbor* is a great account of the Santo Tomas experience. Guenon's and Wetmore's books, and one by Wiley (*One Hundred Candles*) are masterful historical records of relatively little known incidents that history buffs may want to own.

I have met the author. I have read the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Special Operations and POW matters. This book is an excellent complementry reading to "THE RAID", by Benjamin Schemmer. Son Tay was a technical success, but due to troubles with intellegence compartmentization, it was a practical failure. This book is by a brave man who went and did. It is written on behalf of other brave men who went and did. These were smart and dedicated men of corrage. The book contains many rare photos and drawings. It includes a section for that could be called back to SON TAY. My hat is of to the brave men of The Secret and Dangerous Raid.

It was great to see another book on the Son Tay Raid to complement the other excellent book, "The Raid" by Ben Schemmer. However, "Secret and Dangerous" is the first and only book written by someone who actually went on the raid. I have been reading military books for over 25 years and have a great interest in the Son Tay Raid. Being a commercial pilot myself, it was a real eye opener to read about this night, low level, marginal weather flight over enemy territory. It was very interesting to read about the author's mission both in 1970 to the Son Tay prison and to read about his return trip to the same POW camp in the 1990's. If you have an interest in reading about the military or just a great aviation true story, "Secret and Dangerous" will be a great addition to your bookshelf.

Before this one, many other books often provide one-sided view from Washington by war historians, scholars and analysts (who did not know off-hand the combat and strategic position at the time nor the moral, spirit and willingness to fight by these young, heroic and patriotic Special Branch Commandos). These books were based largely from declassified War Department MACV-SOG material since 1995, with few interviews with actual SB personnel. The sacrifice these Commandos made (in secrecy from 1956 to 1975) were not told the way it deserves in these books.
At Paris, in 1972, hundreds of these Commandos had been betrayed by Henry Kissinger and their American allied. The American team members got released while the Vietnamese are kept 10 years or longer in prisons. Years later, they are still cheated by many books that often lack the acknowledgement of their heroic sacrifice.

Finally this is one of the two books (the other is by Ken Conboy and Dale Andrade) about the secret war conducted by the CIA and Colonel Ngo The Linh's Bureau 45B (or Special Branch). Mr. Tourison interviewed many Vietnamese commandos & case officers and have made great effort to provide a more complete and accurate account of success and failure of CIA & Special Branch and SOG & Coastal Security Service.

Many of these Commandos died in North Vietnamese cruelest prisons, the rest spent between 15 to 22 years in hard-labor. Their stories are now finally told.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Thank you Mr. Tourison.

Before this one, many other books often provide one-sided view from Washington by war historians, scholars and analysts (who did not know off-hand the combat and strategic position at the time nor the moral, spirit and willingness to fight by these young, heroic and patriotic Special Branch Commandos). These books were based largely from declassified War Department MACV-SOG material since 1995, with few interviews with actual SB personnel. The sacrifice these Commandos made (in secrecy from 1956 to 1975) were not told the way it deserves in these books.

At Paris, in 1972, hundreds of these Commandos had been betrayed by Henry Kissinger and their American allied. The American team members got released while the Vietnamese are kept 10 years or longer in prisons. Years later, they are still cheated by many books that often lack the acknowledgement of their heroic sacrifice.

Finally this is one of the two books (the other is by Ken Conboy and Dale Andrade) about the secret war conducted by the CIA and Colonel Ngo The Linh's Bureau 45B (or Special Branch). Mr. Tourison interviewed many Vietnamese commandos & case officers and have made great effort to provide a more complete and accurate account of success and failure of CIA & Special Branch and SOG & Coastal Security Service.

Many of these Commandos died in North Vietnamese cruelest prisons, the rest spent between 15 to 22 years in hard-labor. Their stories are now finally told.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Thank you Mr. Tourison.

Tourison provides a long overdue account of ill-conceived covert operations which achieved little other than to demonstrate the bravery of the naive young Vietnamese men who undertook these missions. This is a group which suffered some of the worst treatment dished out in the Vietnamese communist re-education camp system. Readers of Vietnamese should seek out the lengthy memoir "Thep Den" written under the pen name Dang Chi Binh, which covers the recruitment, training, missions, capture and imprisonment of one of these operatives. Sadly, when some of these men arrived in the refugee camps of Thailand during the late 1980s they had trouble convincing the officials screening them for refugee status that their far-fetched backgrounds were indeed true. That some small measure of financial compensation has finally been provided to this group by the United States government is a welcome gesture, but no gesture will erase the guilt of those responsible for dispatching these men to certain death or imprisonment.

I admire Tourison for revealing the truth about the Gulf of Tonkin incidents which led to an escalation of the Vietnam conflict. The book tells of the CIA's Operation Plan 34a which directed commando raids against N Vietnam which resulted in PT boat attacks against American destroyers in the gulf where they seemed to be supporting the commandos. Those attacks resulted in the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave the president extraordinary war powers which began an all-out war, although it was never declared as such by congress. It was great to learn how the war *Really* began. Sad to say, it was started by us :-(

Before this one, many other books provide the one-sided view from Washington by war historians, scholars and analysts (who did not know off-hand the combat and strategic position at the time nor the moral, spirit and willingness to fight by the young and heroic Special Branch Commandos). These books were based largely from declassified War Department MACV-SOG material since 1995, with few interviews with actual SB personnel. The sacrifice these Commandos made (in secrecy from 1956 to 1975) were not told the way it deserves in these books.

At Paris, in 1972, the Lost Commandos had been totally ignored by Henry Kissinger. Their American team members got released while the Vietnamese are kept 10 years or longer in prisons. Years later, these Commandos are betrayed again and cheated of the praise they deserve in many books by American writers.

Finally this is one of the two books (the other is by Ken Conboy and Dale Andrade) about the secret war waged by the CIA and Colonel Ngo The Linh's Special Branch. Mr. Tourison interviewed the Vietnamese side and have made great effort to provide a more complete and accurate account of success and failure of CIA & Special Branch and SOG & Coastal Security Service.

Many of these young SB Commanods died in North Vietnamese cruelest prisons. The rest spent between 15 to 22 years in hard-labor prisons until 1982.

Their stories are now finally told...

Persian Images, are fascinating to begin with right? However, what brings more interest to this book, is that most of these pictures come from a collection that was purposely destroyed in the early 1900's,by the Iranian government. The stories shared in reference to each photo are as interesting as the pictures themselves. There happens to be a much larger collection both in Iran, and in the states, but sadly they did not make an appearance in this particular book.

If the area of your study or/and interest involves Art,Photography,History of Asia and Near East this is a must have book. Sevruguin went to Iran and stayed there for almost all of his life. This book is a collection of the first photographs from Iran (that of course he took). Through Sevruguin's eyes the reader/viewer is able to discover a new world. Not only this world is new to you if you are a western viewer, but also these photographs reveal yet another angle for a native viewer, such as myself, since many of these photographs have never displayed back in Iran. I think, in a broader sense, as long as one keeps in mind that these are representations of one culture through the eyes of an outsider, this book is useful and interesting.

One of my favorite photo essays on the old middle east. Wonderful collection of photographs and fascinating history.

this is a great collection of some excellent photos of iran at the turn of the last century - it chronicles everyday life, including peasants, and the aristocracy and monarchy - there is a great picture of tehran's bustling main street, with horse-drawn, rail carriages, and the throngs of crowds, some of whom are temporairly mesmerized by the photographer perched on some rooftop. A must-have for iran-history-nastalgic buffs. Only wish there was more...

"Sevruguin and the Persian Image" presents the Smithsonian's collection of one of Qajar Iran's preeminent photographers. In addition to the photographs, the volume contains valuable histories of early photography in Iran, the career of Antoin Sevruguin, and how the collection itself came about. The double entendre of the title refers to how Sevruguin's art was informed by and catered to the Orientalist tastes of a Europe in which he was educated. Yet as an Armenian Christian who was born, lived, died and was buried in Tehran, he presented a different image of Iran than the typical Orientalist photographers of the day. "Sevruguin and the Persian Image" is both a solid examination of a photographer's art as well as a thoughtful analysis of the Western image of Iran in the late nineteenth century.