Reviews (26)

How does Handley look now?
One measure of a good book is that it assists us to understand events after it is published. By this measure, Handley looks very good now. Even the self-censoring Thai press has reported that the palace was intimately involved in the Sept 19 military coup.

Taksin Shinawatra paid the author to fabricate the story
The author who wrote "The King Never Smiles" should be discredited because it is generally believed that he was hired by Taksin to write the book to provide the international world a biased view of the Thai monarchy. It may be very difficult for foreigners to understand the Thai people's deep love, respect, and reverence for the King, but our King is a good, pious King --- the "King of Hearts," and Taksin's insults to the King is the greatest insult to all Thai people. It may also be very difficult for foreigners to understand the Thai style of democracy, which has the constitutional monarchy. Our King is not only our supreme spiritual and moral leader, but also the living symbol of our nation's peace and harmony who unites the people and helped us sail through many political turmoil and turbulences in the past thirty plus years.
If only it could be sold in Thailand . . .
I live in Thailand and when attempting to find out about this book, every website that mentioned it was censored by the Royal Thai Police as being a threat to national security. So much for 'Thailand' being translated as the 'Land of the Free.'
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Subjects:  1. 1927-    2. Bhumibol Adulyadej,    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. General    8. King of Thailand,    9. Kings and rulers    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Thailand    12. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    13. Biography & Autobiography / General    14. Biography: historical   

Reviews (8)

Only Rama V did better what dont you like about this book?
This book was authorized by the Thai king, there is no ban on it
Next to worthless
Without doubt, this is one of the worst books in recent memory -- and not just books about Thailand. The author, who can't write coherently and is even worse at fact checking, had unusual access and wasted it shamelessly. Your rating system should make it possible to rate items with no stars at all!

Inaccurate
This book is riddled with inaccuracies it boggles my mind how it was published.
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Subjects:  1. Biography/Autobiography    2. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    3. Biography: royalty    4. Thailand   

Reviews (1)

An absolute "must-have" for international travelers
The Treasures And Pleasures Of Thailand And Myanmar: Best Of The Best In Travel And Shopping is an absolute "must-have" for international travelers looking to obtain quality goods or souvenirs from Thailand at a reasonable price. Intended as a supplementary resource and not a general-purpose travel guide, The Treasures And Pleasures Of Thailand And Myanmar focuses specifically upon obstacles, negotiation techniques, and tips and tricks for those interested in shopping for everything from gemstones to textiles to artworks and much more. From learning how to walk away from the "touts" that try to lure tourists into overpriced stores (overpriced because the store must pay the tout a 10% to 40% commission for the service!), to a step-by-step introduction to the art of haggling, to knowing how to avoid paying thousands of dollars for what might be a cheap knock-off gemstone, to why even the locals may not always obtain the best deals (some shopkeepers can give tourists a lower price than their repeat local customers - who would expect the same bargain every time they walked through the door) to dealing with cultural differences and much more, The Treasures And Pleasures Of Thailand And Myanmar zeroes in on exactly what the money-conscious tourist in Thailand needs to know.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast    2. Southeast Asia - History    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. Asian / Middle Eastern history    7. South East Asia    8. Travel & holiday guides    9. Travel / Asia / Southeast   

Reviews (1)

excellent and balanced look at one of the lesser Tigers
The authors of this compact Cambridge University Press history of Thailand deliver on their promise. This is a vintage CUP product: balanced, full of measured opinion, error-free in typography and layout, sweeping without shallowness.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast Asia    2. Economic conditions    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Thailand    7. World - General    8. ASIA    9. Asian / Middle Eastern history    10. History / World    11. World history   

Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast Asia    2. Buddhism - History    3. Buddhism - Theravada    4. Religion    5. Religion - World Religions    6. Religious    7. Buddhism    8. Thailand   

Reviews (4)

Contemporary Thai
It's a typically and exclusively fantastic book. It helps me study and learn a lot more about contemporary Thai style to start decorating 1 of the rooms in my house in that style. Highly recommend this book to all of readers and Thai-style or Asian-style fans.

Wow, do I love Thai style now!!!
I loved this book. It's a feast for the eyes, and is a great introduction to Thai style. While Japanese, Zen and Feng Shui styles have been overexposed lately, Thai style is a secret so wonderful, it won't be a secret much longer. Visually Stimulating
I was in BORDERS BOOKS shopping for some audio tapes, and decided to check-out what was in the Home Decorating Section. I discovered this MARVELOUS book. I was captivated by the photographs on each and every page. For those individuals seeking design ideas, color options or furniture placement this is a MUST HAVE! The photographer did a marvelous job capturing the essence of Thai Design in the modern home. This is definately my next purchase when I go back to the book store. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. History    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. House furnishings    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. Interior decoration    10. Thailand    11. Art styles not limited by date    12. Home furnishing & decoration    13. Interior design   

Reviews (13)

Readable and well-done
It is, of course, impossible to cover every aspect of a nation's history to everyone's satisfaction in a single volume, or in any series of volumes for that matter.My expectation of Wyatt's effort was that it would narrate the origins and development of the Tai and Thailand on a general level.Wyatt did an admirable job of fullfilling my expectations.For those who bother to read prefaces, the author begs forgiveness from other scholars who would balk at the necessary incompleteness such an outline implictly entails.
Not worth the time or money
I bought this book a few months before a planned trip to Thailand hoping to learn more about their origins.I did not get anything from this book.I thought that it was terribly unreadable.I have two major complaints:
great book
This book by Wyatt gives a good introduction to Thai history for everyone who wants to know more than just what is found in Lonley Planet. It is also well written, and if not planning for a Ph.D in Thai history, all you need to grasp the major point in the history of modern Thailand. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. General    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Asian / Middle Eastern history    7. History / Asia    8. Thailand   

Subjects:  1. Aerial operations, American    2. Air Force    3. Air bases, American    4. History - Military / War    5. History: World    6. Military - General    7. Regimental histories    8. Thailand    9. United States    10. Vietnam War, 1961-1975    11. Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975    12. Air forces & warfare    13. Aircraft: general interest    14. History of engineering & technology    15. c 1970 to c 1980   

Editorial Review

Once revered as semidivine beings and collaborators in the hard work of transporting goods and materials, Thailand's elephants have fallen on hard times. With the destruction of their forested habitats, a consequent nationwide ban on hardwood logging, and the decline of traditional agriculture in the rapidly urbanizing country, their numbers have declined from tens of thousands just a decade ago to only a few thousand today. Many of the surviving elephants have been put to work in traveling circuses or used for black-market labor, subject to overwork and all manner of abuse.Read more

Reviews (3)

Interesting and Beautiful
This book has many pictures and covers the material well.My only disappointment was that it was written to appeal to a slightly younger audience than I had hoped.However, I do not regret my purchase.I would highly recommend this book.

Beautiful Book
This lovely book is important proof of the highly evolved state of consciousness in elephants -- mental and emotional. It has wonderful photos of actual paintings by elephants, and is written in an amusing and witty style. It is an inspiring read for anyone interested in animals, but I think also helps cross the gap between those who already attuned to animals and those who need to have their eyes opened to what animals are really like.

Dissapointing
Beautiful photography and interesting text, but I was interested in the actual art as painted by the elephants, but there is very little of that. Mostly pictures of jungles. If you like that you will like the book. If you want to see the acutual artwork you will be very dissapointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animal Rights    2. Animals    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    5. History - Modern (Late 19th Century to 1945)    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Popular Culture - General    9. Art / Oil Painting    10. Conservation of wildlife & habitats    11. Domestic animals & pets    12. Painting & paintings   

Features

• Illustrated

Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast Asia    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Asian / Middle Eastern history: c 1500 to c 1900    6. Asian / Middle Eastern history: from c 1900 -    7. Asian studies    8. Ethnic studies    9. History / Southeast Asia    10. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    11. Myanmar (Burma)    12. Thailand   

Reviews (2)

A Good Reference to Add to an Existing Fashion Library
Even though I wish that these were photos, I recognize just how much work went into compiling this book and others that John Peacock has produced.This is a great book to help one understand visually subtle changes in fashion over the decades of the 20th century.I found it very interesting and feel that I will constantly reach for it for inspiration and ideas.

Excellent source book
I first saw this book in Casa Mila museum shop in Barcelona and later regretted that I didn't buy it. I was delighted to find this book on Amazon. It contains pages after pages of very detailed colour drawings of men's and women's accessories through the century including the explanations. Moreover, included are the pictures of the complete look of each decade. It is an excellent, complete and clear source book which can be a great aid for such a perfectionist like me ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Antiques / Collectibles    3. Art    4. Clothing and dress    5. Dress accessories    6. Fashion    7. Fashion & Accessories    8. History    9. Reference - General    10. Graphic design    11. History of specific subjects    12. Thailand    13. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (1)

the Asian Paradise Flycatcher of bird books
BIRDS OF THAILAND is the reason the prestige university press and its zero-tolerance approach to schlock products exists. Princeton University Press has done itself proud with this condensed and focused version of author Robson's BIRDS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA.
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Subjects:  1. Birds & Birdwatching - General    2. Birds & Birdwatching - Guides    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Biological Sciences    6. Birds & birdwatching    7. Birds and Natural History    8. Nature / Birds & Birdwatching    9. Thailand   

Subjects:  1. Asian / Middle Eastern history    2. Thailand    3. c 1800 to c 1900    4. History   

Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast Asia    2. Ethnic Studies - General    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Social History   

Reviews (11)

Inspiring
An awesome book.Far more than just history.Read this book, it will change your life.

Incredible Principles and soon to be a major movie
The book--a true story--has incredible principles even though it is not well written.It was hard to put it down.The author showed how creativity could spring forth amidst horrendous cruelty, starvation, and isolation when military prisoners of war forsook their own selfishness and began help others.It not only saved their own lives, but because it gave purpose to their otherwise hopeless situations, an environment was fostered that gave true hope and purpose in their existing situations. TO BE RELEASED AS A MAJOR MOVIE DECEMBER 6TH 2002 IN LA.

The Gospel Lived Out
The book traces the transformation of the author's life and the life of the Japanese POW camp in which he was incarcerated.It is a beautiful book.The Japanese created an environment in which each prisoner lived for himself in a desperate struggle to survive.As a result, life was cheapened, prisoner stole from prisoner and many lost the will to struggle to live.Then, as if from no where, isolated acts of great courage and sacrifice arrested the camp's slide into hell.Men began to ask the question if there was some purpose to life beyond self.Groups formed to discuss the question.From that emerged groups who began serving others.The answer they discovered was that Jesus Christ had suffered much like they were suffering and yet was able to serve others and ultimately die for their sin.The camp was transformed. Men used their talents to serve their fellow prisoners.It is an incredible read.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Burma-Siam Railroad    3. Gordon, Ernest    4. History    5. Personal narratives, American    6. Prisoners and prisons, Japanese    7. Prisoners of war    8. Thailand    9. United States    10. World War, 1939-1945   

Reviews (5)

You don't have to be Jewish to love this book
This is an enormously enjoyable book that is both educational and thrilling.In 1999, Israeli journalist Hillel Halkin accompanied the eccentric Rabbi Avichail to Mizoram (in Northeast India near the Burma border) in order to investigate whether the Mizo people who lived there were indeed the descendants of one of the "Lost Tribes of Israel."Halkin is skeptical and constantly has to challenge Rabbi Avichail's fanatic true-believer mindset.Then Halkin's own investigative methods begin to reveal surprising things.This is a fascinating scientific mystery.Halkin entertainingly gives a clear history of the lost tribes as well as the many theories about what happened to them that have been posited by others over the centuries (including the once popular notion that the Lost Tribes wound up in North America, in which belief the Mormon Church is rooted).The Mizo people believe that they are Jews and want to get back to their true roots.They also want to immigrate to Israel for a better life.As a result they throw themselves into the study of Judaism with the zeal of Holy Rollers at a revival meeting.Rival synagogues are founded that try to incorporate Jesus into Jewish teaching.Rabbi Avichail has his hands full when he tries to explain to them that they cannot do that.The Mizo people had thrown off their indigenous religion in favor of Fundamentalist Christianity at the beginning of the 20th Century.There are very few people among them who remember anything about the former religion.Halkin tries to find out what, if anything, their former religion had in common with Judaism. His efforts are hampered, Halkin realizes, by his third-rate con man translator, who is not above creating phony evidence and altering existing evidence.His investigations hit mostly dead ends until several tantalizing clues and his non-academic approach seemingly solve the mystery in which there were next to no clues. Journalist, linguist and scientist, Halkin is a brilliant man who has written a brilliant book.I found ACROSS THE SABBATH RIVER a very satisfying reading experience.Highly recommended.Five Stars.

Scholarly Work Flawed by Few Graphics
"Sabbath River" is well researched and well written, but it suffers from the absence ofgraphics: maps, timelines, and tables.Halkin would better serve his 21st century audience with visuals.Call me intellectually lazy, but I would have been fully on-board this "great adventure" had the author used graphics.As it was, I read the first half and thumbed through the latter half-unable to trudge through the details that could have been fleshed-out graphically.For example, in the final chapters much is made of various obscure texts, but these are never put into perspective on a graphic that shows their temporal and spatial context.In another case, the author cites a "lost," then "found" will of questionable provenance.I wanted to see the picture of the will-a picture of the will with arrows pointing to all its questionable features.This books is attractive to the curious, but it suffers from an insufficient number of graphics.

A Great Narrative
Hillel Harkin's study of the fabled 10 lost tribes of Israel succeeds because he is not an anthropologist or biblical scholar.Indeed, if one is looking for an in depth study of the lost tribes and their hypothetical present locations, this probably is not the best place to go.However, if you are looking for a story rooted in history, told by a world traveler who writes sweeping narratives and locale descriptions, than this is your best bet.Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. China    3. Civilization    4. Description and travel    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. India    9. Jewish - General    10. Jews    11. Lost tribes of Israel    12. Middle East - Israel    13. Thailand    14. History / Israel    15. Judaism   

Reviews (2)

Plenty of info. view, plans, sketches. must have it
I find this book very useful for Thai style house reference. It gives the over all views to understand of relationship between cultures and inhabitant. It is very well illustrated the different of each region style. Very nice sketches, plans, photos. The best so far for books published about Thai style house.

The Best Book Yet on Traditional Thai Houses
This book is absolutely well-written by experts, whose alma mater I share, in the subject. It contains accurate and informative information for those who wish to know all aspects of tradition and culture that go into designing and construction of traditional Thai houses. The photos in the book are abundant and very beautiful. I bought this book sight-unseen and what luck! I am Thai and this book contains some details even a Thai person does not know. I hereby offer my highest recommendation! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Domestic    3. History - General    4. History - Specific Styles    5. International Architecture - Asian    6. Architecture / General    7. Residential buildings, domestic buildings    8. Thailand   

Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast Asia    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Islam - General    6. Islam - History    7. Asian studies    8. Islam    9. South East Asia   

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Asia - Southwest    3. History - General History    4. Middle East - General    5. Travel    6. Asian / Middle Eastern history    7. Thailand