2 comments about Across Asia on a Bicycle: The Journey of Two American Students from Constantinople to Peking.

1. Another publisher has a much better done edition of this book at roughly half this price. It's newly typeset rather than a facsimile and contains some additional material about their journey.
   
   Across Asia on a Bicycle: The Journey of Two American Students from Constantinople to Peking



2. A fast moving narrative, interesting and full of twists of fate. Two young men take on the world in bygone times, when nations allowed such things. Riders of today will wonder at the challenge - but the same lure that drives cross-country cycling today is certainly in these pages.

1 comments about Conquering the Desert of Death: Across the Taklamakan.

1. This is truly an amazing true story of perseverance and determination to go against the odds and to conquer an unknown territory. With thrilling and page turning episodes of death defying days of true grit, Blackmore pens a tale you cant put down. With a team mix of British, Chinese and Uyghurs, this expedition treked almost 800 miles of nothing but sand dune upon sand dune, often up to 1000 feet high. Led along to carry their supplies were over 30 camels, without them the mission would have been impossible. The team experiences both the beauty, solitude and spiritual peace of this unblemished land, but also hand in hand came hardship, fear, extreme weather conditions of over 120 degrees in the heat of the day to often below zero freezing conditions at night. It took the team over two months to cross the ocean of sand and within this time friendships were cemented, arguments and team leadership questioned, and at some point each member experienced medical issues to the point of fear of death. This is a story both beautiful and scary, the reader is at all times in awe of the accomplishment and determination these people braved through a harsh and formidable land. Dont' miss out on reading this adventure, I'd recommend this to anyone who loves true adventure travel narratives and to readers who like survival stories as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish.

No comments about WUHU DIARY: THE MYSTERY OF MY DAUGHTER LULU.

No comments about Géographie moderne, rédigée sur un nouveau plan, ou description historique, politique, civile et naturelle des empires, royaumes, états et leurs colonies: ... notes et augmentations considérables. Tome 1.

4 comments about Across Mongolian Plains: A Naturalist's Account Of China's Great Northwest.

1. Across Mongolian Plains is one of the classic accounts of early 20th Century Hunting in Central Asia. It is also an excellent account of Mongolia prior to the Communist takeover in 1923. I can find no faults with the book as written by Andrews. However, my personal opinion of this edition is that it is not worth the money asked for it. It is a poorly made paperback, and the publisher has not reproduced any of the original photographs with the one exception being the frontis, which in my copy looks like a cheesy Xerox. This book is still available in the 1920's Blue Ribbon reprint, in hardback with photos for less than this "new" paperback. I am VERY dissapointed with this edition. Save your money and search out an original copy, you will find it far more satisfying. The first edition D. Appleton & Co. edition is still available as well.



2. I found nothing wrong with either the book or the printing. This is a simply fabulous book, from either the viewpoint of a real-life adventure story, or for historical details for somebody studying the period.



3. I have a copy of the 1921 Blue Ribbon "popular' edition (possibly an undated later reprinting) of "Across Mongolian Plains," and will not contribute to the debate on the quality of the paperback edition (see the two earlier reviews). I do think it is important to point out that the book belongs to the early twentieth century, and reflects its values. Readers should be prepared to make allowances for this, or not bother. Of course, those who pass it by will be missing some first-class storytelling.
   
   Andrews, who first came to the attention of scientists as a skilled taxidermist, shows his enthusiasm for turning live animals into specimens for mounting. Despite praise of individual Asian acquaintances, he falls into ethnic stereotypes whenever he deals with nations or groups for any length of time. Some of his judgements on foreign cultures must have seemed odd, even at the time. Maybe the decline of Lamaism would restore the "virility of the Mongol nation" -- whatever that means. But if it means anything, why would he find it so desirable? If Andrews didn't remember Genghis Khan, the Chinese and the Russians certainly did!
   
   Ironically, the expedition seems to have made both the first and last Western observations of some traditional Mongolian Buddhist religious observances, later swept away in the aftermath of Russian and Chinese revolutions.
   
   Anyone hoping for accounts of fossil-hunting in the Gobi Desert will also be in for an unpleasant surprise. That belonged to subsequent expeditions, in later years.
   
   Readers interested in the context of this and later Andrews expeditions will probably find Charles Gallenkamp's "Dragon Hunter: Roy Chapman Andrews and the Central Asiatic Expeditions" their most helpful guide.
   
   (Reposted from my "anonymous" review of September 10, 2003.)



4. This edition is the anastatic copy of the original 1920's book. As all attempts of this kind it has its drawbacks, that in this case consist mostly of the absence of the photographs, that in the original edition were by Andrews' wife Yvette.
   This book is the abridged journal of what was successively known as the Second Asiatic Zoological Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History carried out in 1920 in Mongolia and parts of China. Roy Champman Andrews was a great explorer and comunicator and had already written two books one on whale hunting and another together with his wife of a previous expedition in China in 1916-17.
   After a brief introduction on the history of Mongolia and its political turmoils, the book is essentially a journal of a year of roaming through the rolling plains of Northwestern China and Mongolia, with the intent to hunt animals for the Museum's permanent exhibitions. The first journeys are by car, from which it is easier to shoot at the fast antelopes and wolves of the plains. After a stay in Urga (the modern Ulan Batar, capital city of modern Mongolia),that is maybe the book's most interesting part because of the description of the temples and cerimonies that do not exist anymore, Andrews and his wife decide to spend some time as the nomads do on horse back. They hunt marmots and enjoy the plains among the friendly nomads.
   Successively Andrews decides to visit the Northern Forest above Urga, but the hunting is to dangerous for his wife, that is left back. Together with Harry Caldwell they look for and savagely hunt roe buck, waipiti, argali, goral and whatever else moves.
   This book is obviously dated, and if a modern naturalist reads it the hair will surely stand strait on his head. The last chapters are really a slaughter house of some of the worlds most beautiful animals with the intent of conserving them for knowledge of the future generations. However, if read in the appropriate frame of mind it is a fantastic documentation of long ago ideals, mentality and facts, that are described with impartiality but absolutely no empathy differently to what will successively be done by for example Lattimore and others.
   Andrews reaches almost a poetic evocation when he describes landscape and colors, expecially that of the fur of the animals he kills.
   This book reminded me of the film "Dersu Uzala".
   A very interesting antiquarian read.

No comments about Chinese Business Etiquette: The Practical Pocket Guide.

No comments about Insight Pocket Guide with map Crete.

2 comments about Tibet: The Secret Continent.

1. Another book by Peissel. This one, much to my syrprise, is atually quite good. Various aspects are presented in self contained chapters. It is also telling for what it doesn't say. For istance, Peissel writes he's been trekking Tibet for the last 40 years. I believe him, but where are his personal experiences in this book? Also he (almost)glosses over the Chinese invasion and the horrors that followed. I guess he needs a visa to visit Tibet in the future... Nonetheless, this is a wonderful book. Great photos and a succinct description oth the country. Well worth the time and money.



2. This book differentiates itself from others that I've seen and read about Tibet. If your looking for indepth political comentary on the Chinese-Tibetan struggle you won't find too much here. The focus of this book is more about giving you the reader a sense of the people, the place, and the history behind it.
   
   The book, though never going into vast detail, does a good job of presenting many aspects of Tibetan life and culture. It ranges from marriage customs to plateau animal and plant life. It brings together the detail and reliability of the scholar with the varied interests of the traveler. The other reviewer has remarked on the lack of personal stories. While I could see how here and there it might add something to this book, if that's what you're looking for why not go purchase a traveler's account? I personally perfer something a little more systematic and less prone to misinformation.
   
   Where this book really sets itself apart is in the respresentation of more outlying parts of the Tibetan kingdom, such as Ladakh, Guge, and Mustang. It is interesting to see how their interaction with other peoples has created physical and cultural differences. (I showed some of the pictures of these people to a Tibetan friend and he just said, "that is not Tibetan", lol).
   
   Lastly, but not leastly, there are beautiful pictures in this book. BEAUTIFUL! They are diverse, covering people, landscape, buildings, and some animals too. They are clear and bright, and alone merit the purchase of this book.

5 comments about Insight Guide Taiwan (Insight Guides).

1. I think this book has great photos and perhaps the places are well known...but it needs to present both Mandarin and Taiwanese pronunciations because BOTH languages are widely used in Taiwan. The author apparently has been misinformed...and brainwashed by the Nationalist Party and KMT's textbook version of who the Taiwanese are. It treats Taiwanese as just ethnic "Chinese" and fails to discuss the DUAL ancestral heritage of the Taiwanese. It fails to discuss that the Hoklo (Hokkien)and Hakka who came to Taiwan and intermarried with women of the then existing Lowland Aboriginal peoples (pingpu) who lived over much of western Taiwan. It also fails to acknowledge even 100% pure aboriginal households who were forced to assimilate into the Hoklo culture from Fujian during Cheng-Kung's time. Like I said...Dual Ancestry. Check out DNA studies by George Mackay...and a brochure from US called "The Taiwanese Americans".

   The book does mention Taiwanese Aboriginal peoples such as Paiwan and Atayal...but these are the Highland and Mountain Aboriginal tribes.

   This book also states that "Min-nan-hua" is the more "correct" way to refer to "Taiwanese Language". Taiwanese language is derived from the "Hokkien" Language of Fujian Province, yes. However, Min-nan-hua includes another variation called "Teochiu, or Chaozhou hua" which is different. So Min-nan-hua is more broad...whereas "Hokkien" is narrowed down further...and is most similar to Taiwanese outside of Taiwan. Then again, "Hokkien" actually refers to "Fujian" and the people/culture/speakers of "Hokkien" are called "Hoklos".




2. Although the photographs are brilliant, and the descriptions of Taiwan's more famous sights are interesting; the practical travel necessities are sorely lacking.
   
   There is hardly any mention of the means to arrive at the locations illustrated in the book, and relevant information regarding cities or transportation is nonexistent.
   
   If one is looking for a book simply to admire Taiwan through photos and occassionally insightful prose, Insight Guide Taiwan is an adequate choice. However, speaking from experience, for helpful travel information, stick with Lonely Planet.



3. Beside many detailed maps and interesting photos, this book also contains wonderful essays showing the authors' "inside" knowledge of Taiwan's history and culture, apparently written by expat residents who have lived in Taiwan for many years.
   
   Information such as hiking excursions or setting up a cell phone account is very useful, but the book will benefit from a lot more Chinese characters and more tone markings of the Chinese language.



4. This is a good alternative guide. No, it isn't packed with penetrating insights into Taiwan's unqiue culture nor would it suffice on a huandao luxing (round island trip). Rather it is a supplementary guide filled with lovely photgraphs, very good maps, and lots of introductory blurbs. A good second choice for a book, or a first choice for those coming just for a short time.



5. 
   The Insight Guide to Taiwan is an excellent work, but needs to be used along with another work such as the Lonely Planet Guide, which has more practical information.

1 comments about Business Republic of China: Tales from the front line of China's new revolution.

1. Each chapter of this book is written in story form and covers a different situation that foreign investors in China are likely to find themselves embroiled in: disputes over intellectual property, staffing issues, or localized corruption, for example. These are based on real experiences, and Jack Leblanc explains how the problems are often created with the unwitting help of foreign investors themselves, who jinx their own investments even before the first products roll off the production line. According to Leblanc, joint ventures often turn into unplanned joint adventures. This is an enjoyable, easily digested read which will appeal to anyone interested in cultural differences, and those brave souls planning to do business in the People's Republic will gain valuable insights from this book.