Asia Books

This is a great history book on the great Mongol Empire. It clears up a lot misunderstandings and superstitions about the supposedly horrible Mongol barbarians and gives a reliable account of their rule in this time period. It covers Temujin's (aka Genghis Khan) beginnings to the end of his forebears rule. It has pictures from the past and of re-enactments of Mongol cavalry - you will rarely find this elsewhere. The Mongol Empire was a militaristic nation, so this book lacks on the military strategy and warfare of the Mongols. Only the basics are covered.

I love the occasional suprises in life; you know the very unexpected which enriches you forever.
When I bought this book I really wasn't interested in Ghengis Khan but I thought maybe I could find out more about the group. Well, the book ws written beautifully which madefollowing the sory and timeline very easy.
I found the author had a scholastic approach to the subject which is what I sought and had the ability to incorporate mady other aspects tpo the Khans which gave me the unusual perspective that I always desire. You know the knowledge that lets you lord over others who happen to feel they are experts and expect that noone else knows. Thats my kind of fun.
Anyway, the book incorporates the necessary maps and some beautiful artwork that really enhances the book. Unfortunately, I mark up all of my good book with underlines, exclamation points and many many stars for futile future reference
The only criticism I can offer is that beside his references to many of the major cities that he invaded and then re-constructed there was no mention of the modern names of these places which requers me to search them out on the internet.
If you are a history lover and want a dry but fascinating look at this period, BUY THIS BOOK!
I fmr: Marshall reads this- well thank you for writing this book you have given me the power of knowledge.

This is a great overview of the part of Mongolian history that most intrigues westerners, the years of the great Khans. It is a very accessible book that doesn't require any prior knowledge on the part of the reader, and hopefully inspires them to look deeper into the people and the nation of Mongolia.

In the west we've all heard of Ghengis Khan, and we have our preconceptions of "barbarian" cultures or the terrible hordes of Mongol warriors; the reality behind the myths and legends is well worth knowing. I first encountered the "Storm from the East" video series on TLC and it has since re-played {but rarely} on THC. The film or video is only on offer to educational institutions at a very high price, so the most a layman can hope for is a quality tape from TV -or- this book.

The book follows the video script almost verbatum, with many of the same maps, diagrams and stills from the live footage shot in Mongolia. It's a wonderful substitute, and an easy to digest history lesson.

The relationship of the medieval Mongolian nation to China and the western European nations is fascinating, and thanks to "Storm from the East" it is easily understood. The book is written with a gentle sense of humor, but does not belittle nor aggrandize the Mongolian people or the historical Khans.

An excellent book for all interested in the rise and fall of the Mongol Empire. Written in an exciting and lively way, the reader is left thirsty for more, even though the book itself is factually complete without inundating the interested layman with boring, left-alone facts and dates.

This book is based on a BBC documentary of the same name. The book is written so that any history freak can read and enjoy it. Many, Many pictures and maps make it more understandable. Some of the pictures are even re-enactments and are very interesting to look at.

I always innately knew that my culture and people weren't the most democratic one. I wasn't shocked of the inequality and corruption that is clearly mentioned in Mr. Tashi Tsering la's autobiography. Some Tibetans will hate this book because it exposes our society as it is, especially the offsprings of the Aritocratic families and may be some monks. My believe is that Tashi Tsering has provided more for the people of Tibet than the officials working in the Tibetan Government-In-Exile based in Dharamsala.

Tashi Tsering represents the lay people in Tibet. This book is a must-read for the younger Tibetans to get perspective of the Tibet before the Chinese Invasion. I am by no means supporting the Chinese Invasion of Tibet which has literally almost exterminated our people and our country but Tibet before the Chinese Invasion wasn't a perfect country as it is often said to be. Please read this book if you want to stay away from many fabricated supercilious stories of Tibet.

Tashi Tsering was born a Tibetan peasant but realized early in life that he wanted an education and was able to attain this in India and America. As a young Tibetan patriot and idealist he went to China in the l960s believing that Communism could actually be a help to his country. Instead he spent many years of suffering and deprivation in Chinese jails and internal exile. Ultimately he was set free to open schools in Tibet. Fascinating to read, this book's broader lesson is about the interplay of power between the communists, the Tibetan peasants, and the Tibetan aristochracy (who want all power for themselves) and the Buddhist church hierarchy.

Finally a book that treats Tibet as a nation and a people in history and not just a land of changeless Buddhism and nomads! The book was dropped quietly from the publisher/distributor Snow Lion after initial fan-fare when it was discovered that this Tibetan author, though fervently pro-Tibet, was equally fervent against the rule of the Dge-lugspa (the Dalai Lama's sect), and he describes in detail what he had to suffer as a member of the Dalai Lama's personal dance troup. Kudos to Tashi Tsering for telling his incredible story!

I finished reading this book in 3 consecutive nights. Fascinating account of a 10-year-old boy becoming a member of the Dalai Lama's personal dance troupe as a tax obligation; how the boy grew up, worked for the exiled noble Tibetan leadership, and eventually became a Red Guard--this is the first time I've learned that there are many Tibetan red guards during the Cultural Revolution, the reasons why these Tibetans try to better their old serf-noble society, and why they joined the misguided Cultural Revolution. At the end I can't help but feel utmost respect for Mr. Tsering. Even though he's made mistakes, he freely admits to them. The amount of trauma he has gone through in his life is beyond what many people can take, yet he perseveres. Now I fully support his goal: establishing schools in Tibet for the Tibetan children. Bravo, Mr. Tsering. I hope someday this life story will be made into a movie. It will be much more intelligent than 7 Years In Tibet. Instead! of a fluff story about the "dumb natives", here is one intelligent, complex Tibetan.

There's not "one" story about Tibet, of course. Like any other human drama, especially one which has proven so emotional for those involved, there are a thousand stories from a thousand people.

But Tashi Tsering's story is an important one. He brings voice to a perspective that has been silenced for far too long in the West. I would recommend this book strongly to anyone who feels they already "know" all there is to know about Tibet; odds are, you're wrong.

Instead of using my own words... let me quote a few paragraphs from the book:

"He responded unequivocally that his decision [to return to Tibet from the University of Washington in 1963] had nothing to do with money. Instead he saw himself as a representative of the common people who wanted to help create a new, modern Tibet. The atmosphere became somewhat tense, since the other Tibetans, who were aristocrats, hated the communists and China and were committed to freeing Tibet forom Chinese control."

...

[Many years later, after 1985, on one of Melvyn Goldstein's trips to China]

"On one of my trips, Tashi surprised me by asking if I could help him publish a book about his life. He thought foreigners needed to know about common Tibetans - that is, Tibetans who were not aristocrats or monastic prelates or incarnate lamas. He felt his story could play a useful role in assisting both Westerners and young Tibetans born in exile to understand the real - non-Shangrila - Tibet."

upon reviewing the several hundred books in my library on world war II, i noticed my reading was skewed heavily to the european theatre (particularly the eastern front) ... i felt this book was a good start to creating more balance in my studies.

with a firm understanding of japanese brutality during the war ("the rape of nanking" illustrates this very clearly), i felt i needed more than the bataan death march, hari kari and suicide pilots to better understand the japanese disdain for surrendering. this book proved to be a real jaw-dropper.

i had no idea as to the horrific conditions of the prison camps or the brutal treatment received by the men who were confined in them. as gratuitous as the violence and disgusting conditions were within these prison camps the book supplies more than enough examples of how utterly brilliant man can be in his will to survive. the stories that these survivors recall so vividly will keep the reader thoroughly engrossed to the very last page.

if someone desires to gain a deeper knowledge of world war II's pacific theatre, i would definately recommend this book ... it is a superb resource.

Brian MacArthur has done a tremendous service to the people who fell under the sway of the Japanese during World War II. Since that war was sixty years ago, it is easy to forget how nasty, brutish, and malevolent were the ways in which the Japanese treated their prisoners. This book performs admirably in reminding those who forgot, how bad it really was.

The book concentrates on the plight of the British and Australian POWs that were captured primarily in the fall of Singapore. While this may seem restricted, it is actually a good grouping as most of the war in the far east was fought by Americans and another recent book - Conduct Under Fire - covers that ground. It is an interesting exercise to read these books in close proximity to each other - as I did, inadvertantly!

The story is told in essentially three parts. The first part focuses on the building of the Burma-Thailand Railway and the horrors of the initial descent into the hell that was a Japanese POW camp. A film that was produced some decades ago also showed this event which was called "A Bridge on the River Kwai". The author takes umbrage at the movie and spends many pages comparing the reality to the fictionalized version and indeed, the movie was a complete whitewash and a twisting of the real events. I say it was a whitewash because after reading the accounts of the suffering workers, it is impossible to see the movie's opening sequence with the lines of actors cheerfully whistling "Colonel Bogey" as having any connection to the reality.

The reality was that the prisoners were mistreated and abused horribly, torture was practiced by the Japanese as a tool for slaking their sadistic tendencies and starvation was a tool to slowly kill off the prisoners. Clearly the goal of the Japanese was to get the most amount of work out of the prisoners as they could while spending the least amount possible to maintain them. We read over and over again about how the Japanese kept food and medicines away from the prisoners preferring to hoard the materials rather than save any lives.

The second part of the book chronicles the lives of the surviving prisoners after the railway was concluded. Many of the prisoners were transported around the theater by ship and many stories are told about these "Hellships". I thought it was instructive to note that more people died on the Hellships than did during the construction of the railway which was the object of the first part of the book! The only discordant note in this section was when the author describes one set of events and points out that throughout the war, only Americans descended into killing their own in this one event. That was an unnecessary and gratuitous slap at a group of fellow prisoners.

the final part of the book is simply a collection of disparate anecdotes. The author recounts the horrors of some of the worst-known events - for example an island where a force of 2401 prisoners were building an airfield and only 6 survived it - as well as focus on the prisoners in Japan and their efforts. The final set of chapters tell the story of the end of the war, the release of the prisoners, their journeyes home, and their unwillingness and inability to tell their story. A poignant chapter towards the end of the book tells the story of what probably turned the author on to the writing of this book - it is a newspaper article authored by Brian MacArthur of the final meeting of the association of POWs that decided to stop meeting while their few remaining members still had any dignity left.

This book was a fascinating read and served to remind me of the difference between real atrocities as committed by the Japanese and the so-called atrocities of today at Guantanamo. Reading this book places these two events in such a different light that it makes me think that mankind's future is hopeful.

Brian MacArthur has written a stirring account of the plight of the prisoners of the Japanese during WWII. The book goes far beyond David Lean's fictional "Bridge on the River Kwai," presenting details and first-person accounts that Hollywood never could. The book reveals the scope of Japanese abuses in individual camps, as well as the distribution of these camps throughout SE Asia. And while the story is heart-wrenching at face-value, there is an overriding theme that words are inadequate to express the misery that was actually endured by these tortured souls, many of whom never made it home. The mortality rate among prisoners of the Japanese was five times that of the Germans, a fact that may surprise many who get most of their history from the media. This book represents a new look at the darker side of the Pacific War, and is a glowing tribute to the perseverance of the allied prisoners of war.

I couldn't leave the book. The author's ability to describe the prisoner's horrific treatment kept me spellbound.

I read this book in a matter of days simply because it was so moving and fascinating that I could not put it down. It is an horrific account of the atrocities that occurred in the Japanese POW camps during WWII and the way the prisoners dealt with the injustices and hardships that were dealt upon them on a daily basis.
If you are interested at all in learning the truth about the shocking way our soldiers were treated this book is a must.
I highly recommend it.

I read all three of Leigh Wade's books, 'Tan Phu: Special Forces Team A-23 in Combat', 'The Protected Will Never Know', and 'Assault on Dak Pek', in order, and loved them all. Wade spent multiple tours in 'Nam, between '63 and '70. He was not only a professional soldier, but a professional Special Forces soldier, so his point of view is a lot different from Joe Smuckatelli the Average Grunt. These books are gritty and honest and I hightly recommend them all- Tan Phu being first in the series and covering the pre-buildup Vietnam of 1963. In fact, I think I'd go so far as to say that I enjoyed these as much or more than any other series-type books on Vietnam (and I've read a pile of 'em.)

I enjoy Leigh Wade's writing style and had read one of his other books. This book is his account of his first tour in Vietnam as a junior commo sergeant in a remote A-Team. Lt. Nick Rowe was on this team, and Wade's account of the operation that lead to the capture of Rowe (author of Five Years to Freedom) and Cpt. Rocky Versace (who was awarded a CMH posthumously for his actions as a POW) is a good addition to the historical record. After reading this book I re-read the beginning of Five Years to Freedom. It is very enlightening to read the two first person accounts of the battle. Both were accurate and insightful, and the differing perspectives helped illustrate some of the chaos of battle and fog of war. This book is a good personal record of the war from a junior green beret's point of view, uncensored and unapologetic.

This author kept my attention the whole time. Read this book, its great.

Tan Phu was the Special Forces camp from which three Americans were captured in South Vietnam on 29 October 1963. If you read James N. (Nick) Rowe's Five Years to Freedom, then you'll want to read Tan Phu to get the rest of the true story on what happened to the 12-man Special Forces Team A-23. As the cover says: "every night you fought just to stay alive." Well written, and a good book to whet your appetite for reading more history about Special Forces operations. After reading Tan Phu, rent The Green Berets video starring John Wayne, which did a good job overall in portraying the daily struggle of isolated Special Forces camps to stay alive surrounded by the Viet Cong

Leigh Wade proves that with American ingenuity, and old fashion guts, you can do a lot of damage while minimizing friendly casualties. He also shows the reader that regardless of your primary MOS - he was a commo man - while assigned to a Special Forces A-Team, you are going to fight and kill like a proven grunt, which he did well, and often. Reading Wade's story helps me put Vietnam in perspective. He tells it the way it happened to him, and there's plenty to get your attention. He - through his writings - makes me proud to be an American. Way to go, Leigh!

Tao Te Ching : The Book of Meaning and Life by Lao Tzu, Richard Wilhelm

A Harvard Professor first introduced Lao Tzu to me in the late sixties. He translated the Tao Te Ching into American from the English. Tim's version of "Psychedelic Prayers," still stands as essential Tao. The Tao many of us will travel forever.

I came across the Ching in a completely different way. I had read the introduction to John Blofeld's translation of Richard Wilhelm's version of the I Ching; not knowing it could me used as an oracle. That night a few mystifying ladies from Yale University campus, took me home and in an incense & candle lit session, showed me how to enter the mysterious consciousness of the Tao.

My concern then as now has been the philosophy of Tao. Book two of Wilhelm's I Ching teaches of the philosophical background of the pattern of change. Everything changes but change has a design.

This probably led to my trading Commodities Futures for a living.

Recently I found this magnificent Wilhelm's Tao Te Ching.

Just as in Book Two, Wilhelm dives right into Lao Tzu's mind with clarity like no one else. "Lao Tzu's Dao is higher than GOD!!"

The Tao Te Ching / Dao De Jing is said to be the second most printed, translated, and read book of the ages, surpassed only by the Bible. It is notably a challenging text to understand, even for the professional Sinologist or philosopher. It is not surprising that an ancient text that has been so recurrently translated and exposited, and which is so counterintuitive to most human culture--including the culture in which it was produced, and even to much other philosophy, should have produced quite divergent versions and exegetical opinions. Many translations and expositions travel wide of the mark (just ask anyone with a contrary view!) and this has been the case since distant antiquity. As with the Bible, schooled commentators have been happy to bend their expositions so as to conform the text(s) to their own views. The most popular `translation' of recent years is perhaps the worst (Stephen Mitchell's).

Like many people I've read a few translations of the Tao. The best I've read to date is probably Wilhelm's edition. Wilhelm's German translation is now almost a century old, and an English rendering of his translation was first printed less than thirty years ago. Wilhelm's sinological scholarship and philosophical sensitivity to the Dao and to the mysterious nature of its distant history, as well as his knowledge of other ancient Chinese texts, bring trustworthiness to this translation. His introduction, commentary and notes are excellent.

This translation, along with two others (those of Wing-Tsit Chan and Paul Carus), provides the best explanitory introduction of this ancient Chinese classic. Wilhelm's Introduction and Commentary on Lao Tzu's teaching are unique in opening the English reader's eyes to the philosophy in the text that he might otherwise miss out on. It is also a good idea to read a translation based on more a recently discovered Chinese text. Still, here one will find the essential teachings of an ancient philosopher who had a remarkably good grasp of human nature and of the importance of our loving peace and co-operation and self-helpfulness/self-reliance over strife and competition and servile dependence.

The title-page of my earlier Arkana (1985) edition of this book (which
does not include the later supplementary material by Darrell T. Liu)
reads: "TAO TE CHING - The Book of Meaning and Life - Lao Tzu -
Translation and Commentary by Richard Wilhelm - Translated into
English by H. G. Ostwald." Wilhelm's German translation was first
published in 1925 and appeared in Mr Ostwald's clear and vigorous
English in 1985.

Richard Wilhelm, of course, is better known for his
translation of the 'I Ching,' a translation that has had an enormous
influence. His remains the key edition of this classic for English
readers, and was so well done it is unlikely ever to be superseded.

In the present work, Wilhelm has given us a remarkably fine edition
of the 'Tao Te Ching,' a text whose author he feels was greatly
influenced by the 'I Ching.' His edition breaks down into three main
parts.

After a brief Preface we are given an interesting and
informative 20-page Introduction which covers The author, The text,
Historical context, and Content. Although relatively brief, Wilhelm
covers a lot of ground in this Introduction, and the general reader
might find the fourth part of it heavy going. It seems clearly
intended for the serious student who is prepared to come to grips with
some of the deeper philosophical implications of the text.

As for the text itself, I've
no idea what Wilhelm's original German is like, but Mr Ostwald is to
be congratulated on having given us a brisk and lively English
translation. Much of it somehow seems more readable than other
versions, possibly because Wilhelm himself found a certain amount of
drama in the 'Tao Te Ching' that other translators have either
overlooked or tended to ignore, and one often gets more of the feel of
a real person speaking. Here is a
brief example from Chapter
30, with my slash marks added to indicate line breaks:

"Whosoever in true DAO helps a ruler of men / does not rape the world by
use of arms, / for actions return onto one's own head. / Where armies
have dwelt thistles
and thorns grow. / Behind battles follow years of hunger" (page 40).

The translation is followed by a 30-page
Commentary on 'The Teaching of Lao Zi [Tzu]' which covers the DAO
[TAO], The phenomenal world, On the attainment of DAO, Worldly wisdom,
State and society, and Daoism after Lao Zi. The book is rounded out
with 28-pages of detailed chapter-by-chapter Notes, and a brief
Bibliography of Chinese and Western sources.

All in all, and
although the translation could be read with pleasure and profit by
anyone, Wilhelm's is a scholarly edition for the more studiously
inclined who are interested in such things as the historical and
philosophical context, and who may already have a certain amount of
background.

The general reader who is new to the 'Tao Te Ching,'
and who would prefer a more straightforward edition, might be better
served by the text-only editions of Gia-Fu Feng or John C. H. Wu.
These too read very well, and there's something to be said for the
immediate exposure to the text that such editions offer. I don't
think Lao Tzu would have had any quibbles.

By far this translation stands out as the absolute best in my eyes. We will never have a "word for word" translation of this old book, and so we are left with comparing one translation with another. I study and practice Zen, and although The Tao Te Ching in a technical sense is not considered a Buddhist work, I would dare say it should be included as a Buddhist Sutra. This translation, for those of us who speak primarily in English, is quite illuminating and very deep.

After having compared Richard Wilhelm's translation with 3 other sources, I've concluded that his is the most alive. I feel that my practice with Zen allows me to see this more clearly, so to me this work is synonymous with Zen Buddhism. I recommend that anyone, of any religious affiliation or philosophical background, grab this book immedietely. I don't think you will at all be disappointed.

Enjoy!:)

This is one of the best cookbooks I know of. And it's also one of the healthiest - there's no dairy in it. It's a shame the book's out of print because the recipes are simple and delicious. Worth tracking down a copy.

One of the most authentic thai cookbooks I've used. English and Thai names of the recipes are included as well as great pictures that inspire. Lots of tasty curries which I love (have only tried a couple so far but all have been tasy). Ingedients are all things we can find in the store or easily online for something like kaffir lime leaves. Highly recommend this one.

I wish I had found this book a long time ago. It would have saved me much $$. This book has all the classic Thai recipes you would want (and for some reason many Thai cookbooks aren't all inclusive) - Pad Thai, Pad Si Ew, Mee Krob, Laad Nah, Curry Pastes, etc., etc. And, judging from past experience and other books I've read, the recipes look genuine, practical, and delicious. I'm vegetarian; however, you could easily add meat into these dishes if you'd like. If you only looking to get one Thai cookbook this is it.

For people who long for a taste of true Thai cuisine, this cookbook offers recipes for many well- and little-known authentic Thai dishes. For example, my mother used to make the "White Radish Cake with Beansprouts" for me when I was growing up, but I've never seen it on any menu in the States. Now I can make it myself!

A few of my friends have bought this cookbook, and without exception, each one loves it. A couple of my favorites are the hot and sour vermicelli salad and chickpea curry.

These recipes are the genuine thing and even if you're not a vegetarian, you will enjoy the recipes. If you are a vegetarian, you will be delighted with the variety of tastes and textures to discover.

I tried 4 recipes from this cookbook today and there wasn't one that I didn't want to eat straight from the pan! They were flavorful and delicious. I've always enjoyed resturaunt Thai primarily because i'm nuts about basil but I wanted to expand my repitoire. As explained in the book these aren't dishes with the meat left out, these are recipes that were created from scratch without meat even being a consideration. The ingrediants are easy to find (with the exception of Bitter gourd I NEVER can find that) with enough variety that you won't become bored. I was also pleasantly suprised that the dishes I tried weren't volcanically hot. They were pleasantly spicy much on par with Indian food but won't upset your stomach. I highly recommend this book.

When deadly riots broke out in Tibet, Steve Lehman captured that terror in his outstanding photographs. Lehman continues to chronicle the Tibetans' courageous struggle for human rights, and his work is a major contribution to understanding the Tibetan story. -Congressman Tom Lantos Co-Chairman, Congressional Human Rights Caucus

i just wanted to say how incredible i thought this book is. the layout and design really highlights the power of the photos. perhaps most important, the book allows the reader/viewer to gain some insight into the complexities of the tibetan situation. the author's passion for the people and culture there is profoundly moving.

sue simon

THE TIBETANS is a beautiful portrayal of a courageous, earthy, and spiritual people struggling for survival under the tremendous burden of late twentieth-century colonialism. It is a must read for those who want to understand their planet. -Robert A.F. Thurman President, Tibet House

A stirring photographic essay which gives texture and grit to the reality of life in Tibet. A timely reminder of the ongoing ecogenocide and obliteration of Tibetan culture in its painful recent history under the Chinese. -Peter Matthiessen, Author

I have just returned from seeing Steve Lehman's exhibition of photographs from Tibet at the Newseum/NY- PLEASE GO SEE THIS SHOW IF YOU CAN!!! I stood before some of the most touching and moving color, black and white photographs and collages with tears running down my face at the inhumanity and humanity of the disgusting situation in Tibet. How can the United States and other so-called free nations stand back and allow this foul occupation continue to take place? Not only is the culture, religion, architecture, forests, etc. of Tibet being decimated but MOST IMPORTANTLY her people are being mass murdered, tortured and ignored by the "powers that be." (The setting of the show was wonderful also with thankgas, prayer wheels and other Tibetan objects. It was also incredible to be surrounded by all the photographs in one fell swoop.) I was particularly struck by the personal, hand-written descriptions on the photographs which made them even more immediate. One could really feel for the peaceful protestors who were subsequently imprisoned and tortured. I searched their faces and was mesmerized and thought about what each person's life was like now. Even if you cannot stand before the pictures, be surrounded by the injustice of it all, do obtain the book and see for yourself. This is photo-journalism at its finest and most poignant.Mr. Lehman's photographs give ample illustration that more needs to be done to help the Tibetans and now!

Moving and extreme reality

This book reviews the aftermath of the Vietnam-U.S. war in a down to earth tone and it's impact on the people who's involvement in the war are explained in detail.Personally i like this book because of its content which voiced out the real opinion of the one involved in the war no matter whether they're the allies or enemies.It's a great book to those who wants to know more about the Vietnam war and its aftermath.

This book is worth reading for anyone interested in the history of the Vietnam War.
It is a collection of forty-eight short recollections from a wide variety of Americans and Vietnamese involved in the war, or the country, from the late 50's to the 80's. It also touches on Cambodia and Laos. Each recollection is from one-half to six pages long, and may cover one short event, or several years' experience in the country.
The book deceptively starts out slowly, and it is only with continued reading that one discovers that within this chosen group of recollections are many of the great truths of politics and military conflict in South Vietnam.
The essays cover the fatal flaws inherent within South Vietnam, which include the long history of being a colony of France, without France taking any steps to prepare the country for independence, such as training civil servants or encouraging the rule of law through local rulers. Once independent, South Vietnam was fragmented on religious lines. The civil leaders were corrupt, engaged in nepotism, and did not relate well to the peasants. South Vietnamese military leaders were promoted not on merit, but by family ties and the size of the bribes they paid to the government. For political reasons, the military zone around Saigon was intentionally unorganized and inefficient.
The geography of South Vietnam -- having all its territory within easy reach of Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam -- made it a very difficult land to defend from an enemy with safe sanctuary so close to crucial areas. This book does not mention the oppressive acts of the South Vietnamese government, which helped alienate its citizens. The book seems to understand, if not almost excuse, wrongful acts by US soldiers.
The US tactics also contributed to defeat: rules of engagement tied the military's hands in senseless ways (a SAM base couldn't be attacked under construction, but pilots had to wait until it was operational); rotating inexperienced officers through Vietnam to "punch their combat ticket" was more important than retaining experienced officers and advisors who often "got it" just before being rotated out; the battle for "hearts and minds" was often ignored; and years were wasted on ineffective strategy, until home protests compelled withdrawal.
And, yes, North Vietnam really was an oppressive regime which used terror and lies to achieve its goals.
Any discussion of Vietnam brings up many "what if's?" What if South Vietnam had a more appealing and legitimate government? What if US politicians hadn't used such ineffective strategy and tactics? Is there ANY scenario which would have resulted in a long-term stable and secure South Vietnam?
If you're at all interested in the field, this is a book well worth searching out.

Al Santoli's book, To Bear Any Burden, is a narrative of stories told by 47 Americans, Vietnamese (both North and South), and Cambodians regarding their experiences before the US involvement, during the US war, and the war's aftermath (after the departure of US troops). Each tale (from two to 10 pages in length) is riveting in itself. The book moves in relative chronilogical order beginning in 1954 and concludes with the present (circa 1985). Each tale is successfully interwoven with the next story such that there is a cohesiveness and a logical flow to the story telling timeline.

Some of the stories are quite stunning: from the description of US soldiers being called baby-killers and spat on after they returned to the US [difficult to comprehend in this patriotic post 9/11 world] to the horror stories of the Communist regimes in Cambodia and in North/South Vietnam after the fall of Saigon [after reading theses stories, one should question why the US would want to establish ties to Vietnam].

This "straight from the hip" narrative is recommended to anyone wishing to learn more about the scenes from a participant's point of view.

I first read To Bear Any Burden when it was originally released in 1985. This has been a 'must-read' classic of American involvement in Southeast Asia since it was published. For it, Santoli interviewed, in depth, 47 individuals representative of that involvement from 1945 into the 1980s--Americans, Viet-Namese (communists and anti-communists), Cambodians and Laotians. The book is so artfully compiled as to flow like a single narration; yet the 'cast of characters' are separate in time, space, culture and social rank--an entire spectrum from ambassadors to villagers, soldiers to politicians, in one volume. No ones education about the Viet-Nam War is complete unless they've read this book.

Sharon Collins shows a real talent in capturing these unusual images. Each image evokes interest in the subjects: what are they doing? why are they doing it? what does it mean to be Buddhist? An excellent collection.

This is an enchanting book. The pictures simultaneously sparkle with fascinating subjects and evoke trance-like timelessness. But there is something else that is special. The photos exhibit an intimacy with her many subjects that belies the patience of someone not fearing that this is her only life:) The monks and other Buddhists seem to be ignoring her entirely. The travel stories in the endnotes reinforce the character of rugged temperance that we might guess the photographer to possess. The photographer shares with these devoted people an appreciation for the sacred landscapes of South and Southeast Asia.

I loved Sharon Collins's book! Having traveled in many of the countries she photograhed, I was immediately transported back to enjoy the amazing landscapes and intimate protraits of daily life in Nepal, Tibet, Thailand, and Myanmar. Buddhism is beautifully depicted, not just as a religion, but as an integral part of everyday life. Ms. Collins has accomplished an important goal through her photography. I felt as if I were traveling again in her footsteps through Buddhist Asia.

Ms. Collins' book, with its vivid photographs and excerpts of Buddhist philosophy, will enlighten and refresh you. Are you having a particularly stressful holiday season? Are you having a hard time in your life? Sit down with "To the Light" and be transported to Buddhist Asia and a more accepting, peaceful and long-lived philosophy than we in the West are accustomed to. This is a beautiful book which you will pick up again and again -- I know I will.

The reader/viewer is gently led along a path filled with beauty humor love comfort and peace. Stylistically each photograph displays a compassionate understanding and depth of feeling for these areas of the world seemingly untouched by modernity ... simple, still and open.

Anyone moving to Tokyo will benefit from this book. In addition to great information on sight seeing, entertainment, and even outings with kids, there is also essential information on international schools, finding a doctor and other medical needs, introductions to neighborhoods where the typical expat lives, and more. I wish this book was available when I first moved to Tokyo. After more than 3 years here, I find this a great resource for making my life easier.

Anyone going to Tokyo needs to have this fact filled, interesting and fun book. A real life guide.

Tokyo Here and How is not only an easy-to-carry travel guide, it is a must have for anyone attempting to navigate the streets or subways of Tokyo. It is written without favor to the businesses and companies it highlights, so the reader is given accurate information about what is truly the best of Tokyo. This book gives the experienced Tokyolite as well as the novice travler to Tokyo, valuable information about how to navigate this city...from where to buy clothes that will fit, to how to take a bullet train out of the city, to the best places to take your kids for lunch that won't cost an arm and a leg! This book is packed with power, just like the remarkable women at the Tokyo American Club Women's Group who published it!

Moving to Japan is the first step in an incredible adventure and this book takes the questions out of visa issues, shopping, living and the best part: traveling. Filled with coupons, fun facts and more information than you could get from any seminar, relocation consultant or stack of books. This book has all the answers whether you will be in Japan for two weeks or two years. If only this had been written before I lived there!

A must have for any expat moving to or living in Tokyo! Lot's of great tips, that take a new arrival years to find. These ladies did their homework and were accurate and detailed. The coupons included with the book take you to some of the best "finds" in Tokyo!