Interesting tidbits, like any book, but I thought this book was stereotypical japanologist..., and this is the exact type of book japanophiles should steer far, far away from. I didn't find his explanations for "kata" a reason why japanese culture is the "superior society". Nor he does he explain "kata" in dilligent detail. This book really wasn't about japanese bows anyway. While I don't doubt De Mente has written some good books, I think this book was his attempt at flattering and complimenting japan for cash.

The author has written quite a few books on how Japanese persons behave, but this one goes a level deeper to try and explain why they act the way they do. To do this, he puts forth the concept of analyzing behavior through the lense of kata, forms for the proper way of doing things in a Japanese context. Using this as his key, he outlines what he sees as about 15 influential kata patterns and how they've been incorporated into various levels of Japanese society. Going beyond mere description, he offers a critique of the weaknesses of a kata based culture, and gives some idea how things will change as the kata patterns are weakened by foreign influences.

Boye Lafayette De Mente has a handle on the origins of Japanese culture and conveys that knowledge in a fascinating manner. Just buy it!!

What more can you say to attract a reader than this book is the story of a southern lawyer who begins as a member of the Ku Klax Klan in Alabama and ends his career as one of the most respected members of the United States Supreme Court. WOW! The truth IS stranger than fiction.

This book was written by one of Justice Black's former law clerks on the Court. It is well-written and gives great insight into the man, his methods, convictions, passions, and flaws.

Highly recommended for those who are fans of the Court's jurisprudence during the era of expanding protection of individual rights.

Justice Black was (and is) a fascinating study in American constitutional theory -- an unabashed and lifelong Democrat, Black surprised many, especially toward the end of his life, when he often refused to join in the Warren court's adventures into judicial activism. Newman's biography is comprehensive, touching on all the key points of Black's life both on and off the bench, including a lenghty examination of his now-famous First Amendment jurisprudence. Black emerges in three dimensions, as a complicated and passionate advocate and jurist. Three minor flaws: first, Newman, obviously in awe of Black, occasionally misses an opportunity to fairly criticize some of his opinions; secondly, the book does not always flow smoothly, but often advances in a rough, staccato fashion (a venial flaw, considering the complicated subject matter). Finally, toward the end of the book, Newman becomes somewhat overly-sentimental - hardly a page goes by without Newman describing the "tears pouring down Black's face" as he recalls his youth and public service. Again, given the author's clear love of his subject, this is forgiveable.

Overall, a fantastic book - a must read for any Supreme Court scholar.

This is a towering work on the life of Justice Black, who, more than any other man, shaped our concept of what civil liberties were in the late 20th century.

While author Roger K. Newman clearly worships Justice Black, he isn't blind to the almost inexplicable inconsistencies in Black's thinking: how, for example, the civil libertarian who fought to extend the prohibitions of the Bill of Rights to state action could dismiss the importance of the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable search and seizure! Newman's account of Black's voyage from lifetime membership in the Ku Klux Klan to champion of equal rights is a much more clear-eyed look at the inherent contradictions thereof than Black's own fumbling efforts to explain his paradigm shift.

The author strikes a delicate balance between the intricacies of legal reasoning (of probable interest only to law students like myself) and simple storytelling which will fascinate the uninitiated. He tells you enough, but not too much!

This book amply fulfills the primary purpose of all recent histories--it gives the reader a much clearer understanding of how we got where we are today from where we were at the turn of the last century.

Useful, interesting and easy reading. Interestingly, quite a number of entries are classical wisdom from the Book of Changes (I King/Yi Jing) although not always indicated. A note of caution : romanization is based on pinyin but not always accurate, with entries not quite in alphabetical order. A number of the Chinese characters described are plain wrong (though homonyms). Still, enjoyable and worth buying.

there can be no doubt that language is a major component of culture. but what is the relationship of language to thought? especially to subconscious thought? this is no academic introduction to the complexities of chinese thought.culture.language but rather a few pages dedicated to explanation of some meaningful and common chinese idioms, both single words and phrases. a must read for any student of china, even for a traveler there who might hear and remember the book on a few key words like quanxi. thought provoking, a little political and pointed at times. i wouldnt show it to just any english speaking chinese i talked to, it is not flattering to either the political culture or to the herd mentality that we westerners often see displayed in china. but it shows remarkable taste and scholarship from someone who genuinely likes the chinese and their 5000 year old complex culture as mirrored in a very interested language.

We bought many books on China before we traveled there for pleasure and a bit of official business. By far this was the most insightful and helpful book that we purchased. We got a good look at their culture by learning about the phrases and words(that are listed alphabetically) AND the book gives you the English pronounciation as well as the Chinese character. The depth of explanation of the Chinese sayings was perfect. Friends on the trip were borrowing the book to better understand phrases as well as cultural issues about the people we were visiting.

WHEN I WAS IN JR. HIGH SCHOOL IN HOUSTON IN 1964, THIS WAS THE FIRST NOVEL I EVER READ. IT LAUNCHED ME ON A LIFETIME OF READING AND A LOVE OF HISTORY. IT'S TREATMENT OF THE "HERO" ALLOWS ALL OF US TO RELATE TO HIM. HE IS JUST A PLAIN YOUNG MAN WITH AVERAGE ABILITIES, AND HAS AVERAGE SUCESS IN THE COCKPIT, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT HE STAYS ALIVE.

THE BOOK TRACES THE EXPLOITS OF CHARLES SELDEN FROM THE TRENCHES THROUGH FLIGHT TRAINING, THE LAFFAYETTE ESCADRILLE, AND INTO THE U.S. ARMY FLYING CORPS WHERE HE IS SHOT DOWN AND CAPTURED. THE BOOK CLOSES WITH HIS ESCAPE AND RETURN.

THE REGULAR MEN AND WOMEN AND THE HEROS OF HISTORY ARE VIVIDLY PORTRAYED TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU SEEM TO KNOW THEM ALL AND MAKE FRIENDS WITH CHARLES SELDEN. IT'S 1999 NOW AND I HAVE ONLY AVERAGE MEMORY, BUT I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN THIS SPECIAL BOOK EVEN THOUGH I'VE NOT READ IT SINCE 1964. IT'S THAT GOOD.

For anyone interested in the air war of WWI, I have to recommend "Falcons of France." A wonderful read from the first page on. All the drama of friends, combat, capture and escape are in it. And when your done with "Falcons of France," you must read "Fighting the Flying Circus" by Eddie Rickenbacker. The two books parallel each other until the mid point and then go off in two directions. I got a better understanding of "Fighting the Flying Circus" after reading "Falcons of France." I highly recomend "Falcons of France."

Falcons of France is a novel of flying, World War I, growing up, and the moralities of the time. Written by two American veterans of the Escadrille Layfayette (who later wrote Mutiny On The Bounty), both the action of battle and the routine of the aerodrome are immediately believable. I first read Falcons of France as a teenager, barely younger than the novels characters. Having reread it numerous times over the years since, the saga still facinates, still captivates, and still ends sooner than I would wish. Reading this novel is the closest any of us will ever come to being a young World War I fighter pilot struggling to stay alive in the skies over France.

Leslie provides a good view of childfree living that is more personal than statistical. For the most part, the book is very positive, although there are parts where it's clear she feels that childree couples are victims and are somewhat slighted in society.

WDYHK is a book that covers the pros and cons of parenting and non-parenting. Should be required reading for all people of reproducing age. The facts of the villainization and pressure on those who willingly chose to not reproduce are frightening. I found this book a fantastic support for the subject that is not often discussed or even thought of.....that biology is no longer destiny, and parenting is a choice that should be taken seriously.

Having survived 10 years of infertility treatments and the social ostracism, the financial burden, the emotional scarring that come with it I wholeheartedly recommend this book. If you are beyond the treatment stage and are beginning to look at adoption vs living childfree you need to read this book. The author doesn't gloss over anything. She doesn't use flowery phrases or give pat answers. If you want to really think about your decision, this book is for you!

An in depth poetic journey which challenges the spiritual sincerity of our religious training. An honest cry to the Creator and a display of unconditional love. A must read for anyone who is searching to find their true spiritual purpose in this journey. Know who you are and that God created you that way...in love!

I work in the New Orleans French Quarter and we get a lot of guest from all walks of life and most times i pick up a book like this to learn a few words to help them out and most times, by the end of the book i can put together sentences and speak to my customers better, but because of the confuisng japanese sentence structure i found that hard after this and the book wasn't much help on that. I did, however, learn to say most of the things that i need to to speak japanese to them and get an idea across

There is a wealth of useful information here. This book has helped me to better understand the Korean culture. The explanations seem complete. I knew about many of the ideas before reading them here. The book accurately describes the ideas I am familiar with and gives me confidence that those I am not familiar with are also accurate.

I bought this tape (on e-bay BTW), for the aerial content, but remember it for the highly evocative depiction of Americans fighting at the Battle of Belleau Wood. This is not trench fighting, per se, but a breakthrough and counterattack. Not at all what I expected, and it was a pleasent surprise. The stuff in the air is less memorable, unfortunately, but you won't go wrong by buying this tape.

I was reading away happily at the original French version (struggling occasionally over some of the older vocabulary) until I realised I really didn't have enough time (essay due in tomorrow evening), so I quickly nipped round to a friend and borrowed this translation.

And it's not good, people, not good.

While parts of it have travelled quite nicely from French over to English, a lot of it is very badly done - some word for word tranlations and FAR too many repetitions of words. For example, I'm sure I came across 'agitation' three times on one page, and I can tell you I ended up more agitated than Mlle de Chartres ever would be after trying to scrape my way through it.

Needless to say, I'll be allowing more time to read these books beforehand so that I don't have to delve into another poorly translated version again.

Get it in French.

This book is written in an unusual format, almost at a remove from the main character. This however, only serves to heighten the passion of the doomed lovers. In some ways it reminds me of mme de tourvil in dangerous liaisons. Unable to help herself falling in love. Knowing she was doing the wrong thing, and hurting the people who love her most, but unable to stop.

I really enjoyed this book,and I'm sure I'll read it again one day. Apparently this is the only decent book this author ever wrote, the rest being pretty unreadable. If you want a historical novel written in an historical period itself then try this.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. The book is quiet, surprising, and lingering. The relationships detailed in intimacy are revealing, and not just the relationship between the lovers. If you have notread this, do so immediately.