I have studied under this profesor for two years and he studied under one of the leaders in the field at Yale. And let me tell you he knows his stuff and this book is proof of that. All the knoweldge and expertise and time in the field pays off in this fasinating study of Chinese technology and how it applies to one of the major forces that has shaped Chinese history. If you are interested in Chinese history, engineering or the history of technology this book is a must have.

Dr. Lee covers a lot of subject matter in Cowboys and Dragrons. This is not a travel or "how to" book. This is a hands on reference piece that aims at breaking down cultural myths between the U.S. and China that have historically promulgated misunderstanding between the two countries. Dr. Lee emphasizes the necessity of having a historical and cultural understanding of the United States and China before entering into or embarking on business dealings between the two countries. He poses philisophical questions to the reader in order to uncover fundamental truths about human relationships. Furthermore, he provides practical advice on how to make a U.S./China business deal work to the benefit of BOTH sides.

If you ever wondered why Chinese bow and avoid direct eye contact versus the American norm of firm handshakes and looking someone squarely in the eye or how to better understand the nuances of business language among both cultures, this book will explain it all.

Cowboys and Dragons will surely become a must read among business school students, entrepreneurs, executives, and individuals that plan or or are currently doing business in China. Keep this book handy.

Our nation breathed a collective sigh of relief when The Paris Peace Accord was signed in 1973. It was supposed to be the end of the Vietnam War. As we would learn 2 years later, it was not. Olivier Todd originally covered the war from 1965-1973. After the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, he decided it was time to summarize the final days of the conflict. His book covers the infamous 4-month period from January to April in 1975 and the total collapse of South Vietnam. In reading this book, it is quite obvious he invested a great deal of time into interviews and research. The book not only reviews the final days but also raises many questions about the events surrounding them. The reader will find himself mixing memories with those questions in every chapter.

This book presents the English-language text of the 1876 report of the commission sent by the Chinese government to investigate alleged abuses against Chinese laborers in Cuba. These contract laborers were brought to Cuba to help ease the labor shortages brought on by the impending end of African slavery in Cuba. The text is easily readable even with the Chinese names and characters mixed in. It is a very useful volume for the historian and genealogist since it is the result of interviews made and depositions taken by the members of the commission with actual laborers. This very revealing report brings to light the patterns of brutality and dishonest against the laborers by the plantation owners. The book is arranged thematically based on the questions asked by the commission. The Cuba Commission Report singularly stands out in the field of labor and migration history of the Caribbean and Cuba.

Toni Huber has made the study of Tibetan pilgrimage his specialty and with this book he has set a new standard which all other studies will have to live up to. Drawing on historical documents and interviews with people who participated in the pilgrimage earlier in this century, Huber describes in great detail the Rongkhor Chenmo, previously one of the most important pilgrimages in all of Tibet. Unlike many sources on Tibetan pilgrimage, which content themselves with merely describing the official doctrinal explanations for pilgrimage, this book explores more deeply the motivations behind pilgrimage and how it was (and is) understood in Tibetan culture. Anyone interested in Tibetan pilgrimage will find this a fascinating and worthwhile read.

Stover is the first and only author in my experience to accurately return to first principles in the study of the nature of Chinese culture. I have lived in China for 13 years and I turn again and again to this little book to help me understand my environment. His observations about the zero-sum game of traditional Chinese civilization and about the mechanics of governance are as apropos to the modern Chinese state as to the imperial one. He avoids both the tired historical and cultural cliches that litter so much writing on China and the appeal to mysticism that is the hallmark of those who pretend to understand Chinese civilizarion. If you only read one book about China make it this one

This is the best book I have read on the history of Tibet, especially as it pertains to religion. It fairly treats the BON as well as all four Sects of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism equally. Unlike other histories or recent art books on Tibet written by western converts, this work does not reflect a personal political agenda.

This is a excellent book and was very useful for my term paper. It has a lot of background info on tons of subjects. I found the "recommended reading" list very helpful. And this book is very interesting reading. It is witty and fun to read.

For somebody who did not know much about China, this book really filled in the picture.

This is an excellent summary of the basics of building business relations in Taiwan. It can be read on the airplane on the way to Taiwan, or at home while you are planning the trip. Foreigners would be greatly benefited by taking the helpful hints that Kevin Chambers provides in this fact filled little book.

Kate Parry and Su Xiaojun have done and excellent job on assembling a series of essays from Chinese English teachers that reflect the impact of the cultural practices associated with literacy on learning English. Ms Parry participated in a program, Nanjing University/United Board College English Teacher-Training Program, in which the main purpose was to "raise the professional standards of those teaching 'College English' in Chinese universities and colleges..."(p.viii) The essays found in this book come from Chinese teachers who participated in a course in reading and writing that she taught at two separate times. The themes for the course all dealt with reading and writing in hopes that the students would improve their own proficiency, become more aware of issues related to learning a foreign language and finally through this process add to the general body of knowledge about literacy and reading. (p. xi)

I have to say that when I first received this book I was wary of the topic - literacy - and thought it might turn out to be another dry educational tome but instead found a very interesting, inviting, and thought provoking series of essays. These essays hit right at the heart of how Chinese feel about their own language and about learning English. And because they are written by teachers and from an educational viewpoint they are a great benefit to foreign teachers in understanding their Chinese counterparts and their Chinese students' struggles with English.

The book is divided into two main sections, "The Culture of Chinese Literacy" and "The English Language in China." Each main section is then divided into sub-sections. In 'The Social Context of Schooling,' in the first section, the editors and authors of the essays inform the reader of various "factors that conspire to create a classroom culture that is both teacher-centered and largely devoted to mechanical activities." (p. 35) Many of these essays focus on the examination system of ancient China and its affects on today's examination system. This section does an excellent job of linking traditional thoughts and ideas to what actually happens today in the Chinese classroom.

In the first section of the book there is another sub-section that provides deep insight into the thinking and study patterns of Chinese students, 'Learning the Written Language.' Parry, based on the contributors' essays, leads the reader to understand that the Chinese see that the "written form is the primary signifier, and the spoken is only secondary" (p. 63) and that this influences how the Chinese view language. Because the written form of Chinese, and not the spoken form, is consistent English instruction has typically been focused on the written language.

The second section also has several sub-sections that challenge the thinking of the foreign teacher. Of the four sub-sections the most insightful were 'The Social Meaning of English' and 'English in the Chinese Classroom.' The view that English is practical, useful, a tool was not new to me but I had never considered that English might be viewed as an 'imperial language.' (p. 102) Its hierarchical position in relationship to Confucian thought was mind opening.

The first section lays the ground work while the second section of the book helps answer many of the questions foreign teachers continually ask; Why do my students recite large sections of text or memorize set conversations or essays in order to prepare for class? Why is there such a focus on intensive reading and not more on extensive reading or oral English? Why do students have such a hard time integrating language skills into their own practices? Why do they insist on 'bottom-up' reading and listening and give up on 'top-down' strategies so quickly? I could go on and on with questions that before nagged at me and seemed to never have an answer. But what I really want to say is that through the writings of these Chinese teachers I have received keys to the locked treasure box of my students' minds. Now it is up to me and other readers to use what these Chinese teachers have painstakingly provided through the process of exploring their feelings and putting them to paper.