5 comments about Pakistan: In the Shadow of Jihad and Afghanistan.

1. An excellent account of what may be the insurmountable challenges facing Pakistan today. Rife with sectarian and ethnic conflict, a stagnant economy, a political leadership that may have moments of tactical insight but gross strategic stupidity, Pakistan may well be the world's next failed state... assuming it isn't already. Adding nuclear weapons to this combustible mix is a recipe for unmitigated catastrophe -- think a nuclear 9/11 in each of Haifa, Chicago and Chennai.... and perhaps in Tokyo and Seoul via North Korea.

   With an intimate portrayal of General Musharraf's quirks and obsessions (e.g., choosing to risk the death of elementary school children rather than land his plane in India), Weaver gives credibility to her claim to understand Pakistan. Additionally, unlike other writers (e.g., Eric Margolis) she 1) doesn't make false pretentions in commenting on neighboring countries without ever having been there or only knowing them cursorily, or 2) fall for romantic notions of jihad. A hard-headed realistic book.

   The quibbles I have with this book are minor, but they add up. For example, Weaver's excessive focus on the politics of Islamicization versus the demographics. A chapter could be easily devoted to the literal annihilation of the 30% Hindu minority that existed at the time of partition, and to the current effects of Shia-Sunni strife. Additionally, a chapter on Pakistani economic structure (e.g., the uneasy veneer of capitalistic modernity on what is largely a hidebound feudal society) would have been helpful in understanding the motivations of the principal characters, and would better explain why the madrassas can produce so much in the way of cannon fodder even with the massive Saudi funding of jihadist education which she documents well.

   All in all, however, 4 stars.




2. Up close and personal -- terrific intro to the country.



3. Up close and personal -- terrific intro to the country.



4. Much has been written about Pakistan since September 11th. But as Ms. Weaver points out in her wonderful book about the only Islamic Republic in the world, much harm could have been avoided if only we were more aware of this country and its problems BEFORE the terrorist attacks. Weaver's experiences as a journalist in this country form the basis and the strength of this book. Having covered this country for two decades, she provides a depth of experience in tracing the recent social and political ills of this nation. Her basic thesis is simple and seems chillingly accurate given current events. She convincingly states the case that U.S. foreign policy set up the country for much of its woes by at first supporting Islamic violent jihad in Afghanistan in the 80's, then abandoning the country completely after the Soviets withdrew and the Cold War ended. While it would be unfair not to assign some responsibility for their current predicament on the Pakistanis themselves, especially their failure to achieve economic growth and political stability, Ms. Weaver's writings on how the situation in Afghanistan destabilized Pakistan to the point where it is now practically as ungovernable as its neighbor is well taken.

   Of course, other nations in the region can share the blame for this as well. The chapters on rich Gulf Arab states and the conflict with India in Kashmir are particularly revealing to see how this country has been neglected by other muslim nations and neglected by the United Nations which has been horribly inept in dealing with Kashmir problem. (One can make a convincing argument that Kashmir is the U.N's greatest failure, but that's for another book). Also, the chapter on the Saudi Bird Hunting parties should be read by anyone with an interest in the Middle East.

   I heartily recommend this book for anyone traveling to Pakistan, and wishes to learn a bit about this country prior to their visit. It's very well written and succinct. Overall an excellent read.




5. Pakistan is both a terrorist haven, a den of corruption, and the probable battlefront of Islamic terrorists. This report considers its pivotal role in world politics, blending a history of the country through two decades of eyewitness reporting with portraits of its leaders. Pakistan In The Shadow Of Jihad And Afghanistan is an excellent source for any seeking an understanding of the history and politics of modern Pakistan.

5 comments about Lonely Planet Read This First: Asia & India (Read This First Series).

1. I found this book very helpful in planning my trip to Asia. While I wouldn't use this book on my trip, it got me focused on what to think about when getting ready to go and deciding how I wanted to divide my time in such a large region.



2. no, this is not a travel guide. it does not give listings and directions for sights, food, and lodging. it is a practical guide for backpackers (and other independent travelers) heading off to asia. this guide lists visa requirements for all of the asian nations (for visitors from many countries), gives suggestions on routes throughout asia, generalizations about transport, lodging, and meals, recommendations on what to take, and insights on what to expect. it is a very useful tool, packed with necessary information. you could leave for asia without it onhand, but do not leave for asia before reading it.



3. This could be useful if you've never traveled before in your life, but it's a bit too simplistic to be of use to anyone else. More than half of the book is "general" content, basics such as how to pack and eating precautions, that really doesn't apply to any more to Asia & India than to anywhere else in the developing world. There was only 4 or 5 pages on every country, and most of the information was trivial. There was less than a page about what there is to see and do that is unique or interesting in a given country. Most of it was taken up by things like visa requirements, which are useless, because you'll have to check with the embassies anyway to make sure there hasn't been a change. There are a few suggested itineraries for each country (a line on a map), but they are useless because they don't even give a one-sentence description of what why a particular city is of interest.

   This book is for you if you want to know about "how to travel", but it's not very useful as a tool for planning your itinerary for a pan-Asian trip. For that Lonely Planet will make you buy the guidebook for every single country you are considering visiting before giving you an idea of whether or not you want to go to that place




4. This book is not very detailed but is still useful asa pre-departure guide. it has 2 main sections. the first part ha basic travel information such as packing , getting around, hostels and transportation.
   The second, more useful section comprises of country information. for the 21 countries covered there is a map and to 4 pages of text for each country with background country information. details on visa requirements, expected costs, other resources ( books, film, internet). The most useful aspect is the suggested itenarys by country. suggested travel itenarys are provided for each country for various durations, 3 days, 1 week , 2 weeks and a month. these are also marked out on the map to give the reader an idea of how much travel is involved.
   This book is useful to those considering a Asian trip as it can help one find the places they may want to visit. It would be of little use to anyone in Asia as there are no local maps or details on where to stay, eat and drink.
   The Lonely Planet India guide and Spouth East Asia on a Shoestring guide would be a good companions to this book. use this book in your planning stages then use the regionalal guide in your travels
   As with all LP guides it has many interesting first person anecdotes that make interesting reading.



5. In the past 2 years I have been on the road for over 1 year. Most recently returning from a 7 month trip which included Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, India, Nepal, UAE, and Qatar among others.
   
   I used this guide as a general planning tool. Such as correlating the maps with the weather charts provided. As well as utilizing the helpful regional travel tips and anecdotes provided. One of them I read while in India gave me a good laugh and perspective when I needed it most! Every region has its own idiosyncracies - once mastered or "internalized," travel only gets easier - it is nice to have alot of them described in one place.
   
   While certainly not a detailed guide (No specific lodging, food, or city maps) it provided me just the right level of information to help me determine where I wanted to go, how to get to and from those points (quick border info) and roughly how much time I wanted to spend there via the sample itineraries. The maps are colorful and excellent, they include different colors showing the sample itineraries which are based on trips of different time lengths (1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, etc...) and little flags indicating land border checkpoints. Paper quality is also nice and glossy.
   
   I will return to this region again. Next time I will travel with few if any pre-bought air tickets (I was on a One World world trip ticket). This guide should be even more useful then. I generally don't like the huge regional guides (Like Shoestring), instead opting for specific country guidebooks. (Although I will note that Southeast Asia by Mark Elliott for Trailblazer Publications is an excellent guidebook using a very innovative map system instead of text)
   
   While I used specific guidebooks for most of these countries (Not all LP I'll add), as a "1 stop shop/read" in a compact format the LP RTF series is unbeatable in my opinion. Like taking it to a cafe to high level plan the next few weeks of travel! Also using it before one might have the opportunity to buy a guidebook for the next country (Especially applicable for longer term travelers).
   
   Another useful feature of the book is the chart showing all the countries listed in the region and whether a visa is required (For US, UK, Aus citizens) and the length of stay allowed.
   
   For the real adventurous this might be the only guide one needs to BRING TO the region. Confidence in travelling "lite and harder" and/or picking up guidebooks / tourist pamphlets / searching out internet sites on the way would be recommended.
   
   Great book, if used the right way. If you are only planning on going to a single country, then I wouldn't bother with this book. But, if you are planning a multi-country trip (And don't care for the big, thick, small print regional guides), or just need a better idea of where to spend your time in the region - this could be a book for you. Useful as a pre-trip planner that stays at home when you leave, or used during a long multi-month trip.

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4 comments about DREAMS OF THE PEACEFUL DRAGON: A JOURNEY INTO BHUTAN..

1. Hickman writes beautifully. This book is a captivating account of her own journey into the depth of Bhutan, which she records honestly from the bottom of her heart. Hickman, unlike most western writers on Bhutan, captures something of the soul of Bhutan, as she narrates her own emotional journey as a young woman of good sense and rich sensitivity.

   At the same time, the book is also an exciting adventure story. Anyone with good wanderlust in their heart will not be able to put it down until all the pages are turned, and will be left yarning for more after the last page is read.

   While eastern Bhutan remains less exposed to outside visitors than the western part of the country, it is now much easier to travel there than during Hickman's time. There is now a motorable road to everywhere she went on foot and ponies. Television, telephone and internet highway -- prohibited or non-existent back then -- now bring in outside information more easily to Bhutan. Most importantly, Bhutan has achieved a phenomenal increase in the literacy of her people, with English as the chosen medium of class-room instruction and as the "link" language among the country's numerous linguistic groups. As such, beyond its literary value, this book also has a place in the historical literature, capturing the ways of the eastern people of Bhutan before their greater exposure to the outside world.

   Having said that, however, Bhutan's vision of "Gross National Happiness" (being more important than Gross National Product), and the enlightened development strategy associated with it -- balancing material and spiritual gains, and valuing its historical, cultural and natural heritage -- mean that Hickman or any other visitors would find the soul of Bhutanese people not much altered since her visit.

   The book would certainly tempt many to consider visiting this unique Himalayan nation called Bhutan. Like Hickman's own, it promises to be a journey of personal discovery, leaving one to ponder some cosmic reasons why such a nation exists on earth...




2. While it's always fascinating to read about adventures in Bhutan and other Himalayan places, for some reason I found this book - and the author's style - quite irritating. Despite an acquaintance with the Bhutanese royal family, the author appears to be sailing through on a free ride, and doesn't seem to have the grasp of the country that is apparent in Beyond the Sky & the Earth, by Jamie Zeppa.



3. Reading this was a journey of enchantment for me, too. If the author had some special help in reaching the uttermost reaches of this little-known country, she paid for it with the intense discomfort,hardships, dangers, fever, and uncertainties of a journey made the old-fashioned way, without maps or roads or even a half-decent meal at the end of each day. Jolted right out of the comfort zone of planned modern travel, her heightened awareness and acute observations are the prizes she brings back in this wonderfully written and often hilarious book.
   I can't wait to find a copy of the book of photos (now sadly out of print) taken on the same journey by Tom Owen Edmunds.



4. I was anxious to read about Bhutan before and after a visit there, but I found this book a disappointment. I don't know what I expected from someone's first attempt at writing such a book, and at a relatively young age- but I didn't feel that the author was able to move beyond her own needs and discomforts. The writing is self-conscious. By chance I came across the web journal "The Elegant Variation (TEV)." Here is their definition of TEV, and it fits the writing in this book perfectly! I've not read her other books, but I hope they have matured.
   
   "The Elegant Variation is "Fowler's (1926, 1965) term for the inept writer's overstrained efforts at freshness or vividness of expression. Prose guilty of elegant variation calls attention to itself and doesn't permit its ideas to seem naturally clear. It typically seeks fancy new words for familiar things, and it scrambles for synonyms in order to avoid at all costs repeating a word, even though repetition might be the natural, normal thing to do: The audience had a certain bovine placidity, instead of The audience was as placid as cows. Elegant variation is often the rock, and a stereotype, a cliché, or a tired metaphor the hard place between which inexperienced or foolish writers come to grief. The familiar middle ground in treating these homely topics is almost always the safest. In untrained or unrestrained hands, a thesaurus can be dangerous."

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1 comments about A Guide to the Japanese Stage: From Traditional to Cutting Edge (Origami Classroom).

1. Japanese theater is at once compelling and uninviting. Compelling, due to its flamboyant and exotic nature, with the outrageous flair of Kabuki, and the obfuscation and mystery of the masks of Noh and the puppets of Bunraku. Uninviting, because of the ancient and ceremonial language, the centuries old symbolism and buried nature of the storyline. Even to Japanese people, the worlds of Japanese theater can be a complex and incomprehensible realm, requiring significant amounts of study before appreciation. Like Shakespeare, the more familiar one becomes with the meter of the language and the flow of the story, the more one can enjoy the pathos and humor.
   
   "A Guide to the Japanese Stage" is a fine introduction to Japanese theater, both traditional and contemporary. It showcases the four main styles of traditional theater, Kabuki, Noh, Bunraku and Kyogen, then offers a whirlwind tour of all the variety of modern plays and dances. The traditional theaters are covered in-depth, complete with popular play synopsises, styles of make-up, origins, famous actors, clothing and a surprising amount of detail for such a manageable book.
   
   Packed with photographs, the stunning visual element is richly displayed. While definitely not a photo-book, "A Guide to Japanese Stage" illustrates the text with examples of wigs, masks, puppets and all the stunning flair that is a hallmark of Japanese theater. There is a nice collection of Yakusha-e, popular woodblock prints of Kabuki actors that have been sold over the years during performances. Further illustrations detail the male, female and special masks of Noh, the significance of the make-up styles of kumadori Kabuki make-up and the various quick costume changes and special effects of Kabuki.
   
   Unlike most books on Japanese theater, modern theater is given its due as well, covering such things as Super Kabuki, Takarazuka's all-woman musical revue, Western-influenced Shingeki, and the grotesque dance of Butoh. Japan's theatrical tradition certainly doesn't end with the four classic styles, and an amazing breadth of work is on display. This is a rarely-covered area, and very interesting.
   
   Immediately after reading "A Guide to the Japanese Stage," I went to see a Kabuki performance and it was astounding how much more appreciation I had from previous performances I had seen. Able to recognize the "mie" poses, knowing the purpose of the onnagata dance, and able to piece together the plot from the "typical play" synopsises of the book, it was a much more rewarding experience. True appreciation of these theater forms does only come from years of study and exposure, but this book is an excellent place to begin this journey. I look forward to learning more, and to experiencing more Japanese theater armed with my new insight.

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