This little book is essential for travelers to a country where food is riotously varied, delicious and, to most of us, utterly unfamiliar. It begins with a brief historical survey of the cuisine, citing the contributions of successive immigrant or colonial groups, then slices the other way, with sections on Indonesia's major culinary regions and their specialties and characteristics. Recipes, a listing of US sources for ingredients, then phrases in Indonesian all follow. Two alphabetical listings are the heart of the book: One is of menu items, with brief descriptions and notations; the other is of "foods and flavors" (and utensils, cooking methods and so on), in Indonesian, with English translations or explanations. The whole is thorough, information-packed and mouthwatering.

For a country of 17,000 islands and 670 dialects, and complex traditions, religion and culture, no one-including Indonesians-can claim to know more about Indonesia's traditional food tastes than the authors of Eat Smart in Indonesia. Their guide is the first ever published with in-depth information about the unique and diverse food of Indonesia. -William W. Wongso, culinary educator, president of William F & B Management, Jakarta, Java

The authors have written a series of Eat Smart books that no traveler to foreign countries should be without. Each book covers a separate country--Eat Smart in Turkey, Eat Smart in Brazil, Eat Smart in Indonesia and Eat Smart in Mexico--and is chock full of information that you won't find elsewhere within the covers of one easy-to-carry paperback. Individual chapters cover such topics as the history of the country's cuisine, regional foods, how to shop in the local markets, mail-order sources for suppliers of ingredients, and a collection of recipes for typical dishes found in that country. Especially useful is each book's extensive menu guide, listing menu terms alphabetically in the language of the foreign country, with a description of the dish in English. That section is followed by a chapter titled "Foods & Flavors"--listing the foreign terms for foods, spices, kitchen utensils and cooking techniques, with an English translation/description. These books are well researched, accurate and very informative. Highly recommended. --Sharon Hudgins, editor, Chile Pepper magazine

FIRST OFF I WANT TO THANK FATHER GREG FOR CHANGING ALOT OF PEOPLES POINT OF VIEW ON GANSTERS ALOT OF PEOPLE JUDGE THE BOOK BY THERE COVER WELL FATHER GREG SPOKE THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PROJECTS IN EAST LOS I SHOULD KNOW I LIVED THERE AND I KNOW HIM AND ALOT OF THE GANG MEMBERS THAT FATHER GREG TALKED ABOUT HS BOOK. FATHER GREG TALKS ABOUT HOW HE EARNED HIS RESPECT FROM US GANG MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY NOT ONLY DOES HE INSPIRE PEOPLE WITH HIS BOOK BUT ALSO HE GETS RESPECT FOR NOT GIVING UP ON US HELPING US IN EVERYWAY POSSIBLE AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ALOT MORE OF EAST LOS IN THE CITY OF ANGELS..

I teach criminal justice courses at Dodge City Community College. One of the topics most students are interested in is hispanic gangs. I found this book to be excellent, and a number of students have also said positive things about the book. It gives the reader a realistic view of gang life in LA, and Father Greg's work is very encouraging. I tell my students that 1 person can make a difference in life, but most don't believe me. The book not only depited gang members and their lives, it also demonstrated some programs that were effective. I highly recommend the book!

I had the pleasure of hearing Father Greg Boyle speak in my religion class at Santa Clara University earlier this year. I enjoyed his talk so much, I went to a subsequent one and it was there I was first introduced to his book. A wonderful book to compliment a wonderful person. Father Greg is truly an angel in human form.

This book is the companion to the PBS movie, Islam: Empire of Faith. I began reading this book, full of stereotypes against Islam. This book really opened my eyes. The whole History of Islam has been filled with misunderstanding. I would recommend this book to any person. It is extremely well written, and it would help anyone to better understand Islam!

This is a wonderful introduction to the Islamic Empire and (to some extent) Islam itself. It's meant to be a companion to the PBS video "Islam: Empire of Faith." It covers the same time period (the first 1000 years of Islam), but doesn't have the same exact content as the video. There is some overlap, but not enough to make either the book or the video redundant. This book is written by a husband-and-wife team of professors (historians) at Boston College. This is not dry history, by any means, but a vivid description of Islam and its origins, practices, and political rule. It's not sensationalist and/or imbued with the "Islam as Enemy Number One" mentality that pervades so many modern books about Islam (many of which are written by journalists or other people not qualified to be writing about Islam, Muslims (American or not) and the Muslim world in the first place). It's just fascinating reading about the second largest religion in the world and how it built the most glittering civilization the world had ever seen. The authors themselves say that to understand Islam today, we must focus not on the misdeeds committed by a few in its name, but "appreciate its glorious history and achievements." It doesn't have much on Islamic beliefs and practices or Islam and politics: it really is mostly history. But it's history that puts Islam (modern and past) into perspective and that will (hopefully) help us Westerners put some of myths about Islam finally to rest.

This book was such a great book. It really shows some of the points that are not shown very often nowadays. It is a super read for anyone who doesn't know that much about Islam. I would tell everyone to go out and read this book, it shows the true Islam.

In the third iteration of his memoirs, Turki concentrates on two aspects of his life: changing from Arab into American and alienation from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). In Turki's case, becoming an American is a funny, quite degenerate, and certainly ribald process. It makes for a moving transformation, especially when contrasted with his earlier dislike of the United States. As for the PLO, Turki denounces its "corruption and incompetence" as well as its "tired cant and lame banalities." But don't think he only has harsh words; in Turki's hands, even turning away from the PLO has a humorous edge (indeed, his game on the Arab League's pompous ambassador in Washington is sidesplitting). Turki also condemns what he sees as the terrible traditionalness of Palestinian society and calls for nothing less than a revolution: "the liberation of Palestinian society will only come about when the Palestinians themselves recognize their neobackwardness and begin an Intifada against it." It wasn't many years ago that every Palestinian proclaimed himself a PLO supporter. Hamas and Islamic Jihad first broke the monopoly on the fundamentalist side. Now more liberal elements are ready to tell the world just how awful the organization is, providing details detractors could hitherto only have imagined. In contrast to grudging Americans like Edward Said, Turki eagerly embraces the United States and rejects PLO brutalities; this is a major development. Indeed, his candor and thoughtfulness marks a significant breakthrough.

Middle East Quarterly, December 1994

In two words: Read This

I enjoyed reading this provocative heart warming book...The Exile of the Author is a result of what Israel did to hundereds of thousands of innocent Palestinians in 1948...The author is honest and criticizes the Palestinians and their leadership as much as he critices Israel and it's leadership.

In preparation for, or in review of a trip to Israel, this guidebook is a must have. Outstanding pictures and concise, yet acuurate information abounds. One of the best Holy Land guidebooks on the market.

This book is a rare treat. I've had the Dorling Kindersley guide for San Francisco for quite some time now, and have always found it colorful and helpful. But I am not a frequent traveler, so it never occurred to me that a travel guide might be useful for other things than trip planning. As usual, it takes a friend to give you something you would never have bought for yourself. Now that I have this little guide to the Holy Land I don't understand how I ever did without it.

These guides are beautifully made for their size, and will outlast most of the disasters that plague the serendipitous. Illustrations, maps, and diagrams are many and all easy to read, even for one with eyes as bad as mine. Sections on history intersperse deep dives into the land, its sights and points of interest. While some of the history is oversimplified, the descriptive information is clear as a bell. It is impossible to turn more than a few pages without coming up with a list of must sees and things to do.

The largest part of the book covers Jerusalem thoroughly (136 pages). Smaller sections then introduce the Holy Land overall, the Coast and Galilee, the Dead Sea and the Negev, Western Jordan, and the Red Sea and Sinai. Whew! Quite a lot! There are also good references on hotels, restaurants, shops, and entertainment. It finishes up with a handy survival guide. All in a moderate size that is perfect for a backpack or tote bag. My only complaint it that the publisher did not provide any blank pages for notes.

So what does a non-traveler such as I want with such a volume. The truth is that it is a marvelously handy reference for anyone who has an interest in biblical history, archeology, or religion. Its maps, pictures and very complete index make it useful for getting enough quick information to bring ones reading or research to life. It would be just as useful for a modern history or politics buff. What is nice, is that it isn't a weighty, encyclopedic tome, but instead is lightweight enough to carry along with one's research materials. This is the perfect present, not only for the traveler, but the scholar or dreamer as well.

If you want to see the world, these eyewitness books are almost as good as traveling. This book has over 800 full-color photographs taken especially for this guide. They show you Jerusalem and the Holy Land at its best.

You will find detailed and accurate street finder maps which give you instant access to each district. The unique cutaways and floor plans are fascinating and help you explore public buildings so you don't have to purchase other guides. The "survival" guide shows you how to use local currency, public transportation and telephones.

The cafes, hotels and restaurants listed are in all price ranges. On the front and back covers, there is a flip out flap which gives information on the color coded pages and symbols used in the book. This is quite handy.

I could not help thinking that this book would be invaluable for those interested in the politics of the regions discussed. Too often we just see a snippet of news and a flash of video and we have no idea where the action is taking place. This book explains the Muslim Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, the Christian Quarter and the Armenian Quarter. You will know where the Dome of the Rock is and were the Western Wall is located.

The guide begins with a introduction on how to use the guide and then gives an introduction to Jerusalem and The Holy Land. If you want to know the history of the region, that is also included. You will find information on Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Religious holidays are fully explained and this makes this book invaluable for writers as well.

You can visually take a walk called the Via Dolorosa, which is said to be the path Jesus took from where he was tried to Calvary. Countless pilgrims walk the route.

If you are heading to the Holy Land, there is also a section of what to buy. I would personally look for the beautiful Armenian Ceramics and the Bedouin fabrics. I already order the Dead sea products from a company called ONZE and I see that this book also explains the vast range of creams, soaps and salts available. It is the best skincare line I have ever personally used and is good for use in dry climates.

This book has it all and is visually stunning. Now I truly do want to visit the Holy Land. This is the best guide I have ever seen.

Leila Hadley defies the 1950's female stereotype when she takes off for Asia with her young son in tow. Leaving a prosperous career behind, Hadley is in search of more enlightening and meaningful experiences than her lush New York life affords her. She does very little in the way of planning, throws caution to the wind and hopes for the best. While the first part of her Asian adventure is quite comfortable and even luxurious at times, she dives headfirst into the adventure she covets when she hitches a ride aboard a sailboat with a small, all-male American crew. Her stories of her experiences sailing to remote destinations throughout Southeast and Southwest Asia and the Mediterranean are exhilarating and fascinating. Hadley's writing style is a bit haughty, however her stories are so interesting that this small flaw is hardly noticeable. Not the best travel memoir I have ever read, but an interesting tale by a gutsy traveler who was before her time.

'Give me the world' is one of my favourite books. The way the author takes us with her around the world is just magical. It is not a description of what she sees, but really makes us feel the different parts of the world. She adds all those little anecdotes that make the reading a pleasure ...
Do you know why they break a coconut before any religious ceremony in India ??? or how do you know that a girl is single in Haiti ?? well , read this book and you ll know the answer, and lots of other things .. enjoy the reading

This book is so packed with visual images and sensuality that I could open the book to any page, any paragraph and find poetry and description so graphic it makes my expensive camera obsolete. Her vocabulary is intense and her respect for her readers intelligence challenges me to read nothing but quality. A remarkable book. I wonder how her son, Kippy, now regards that journey. It certainly changes my notions about the fifties woman. Whew! Barbara Levinson

Melvyn Goldstein's goal is not to prop up one side of the other in this debate; instead, he gives an account the past and the process that led to "the demise, in 1951, of the de facto independent Lamaist State." He posits that even though external actors gave rise to the fall of independent Tibet, in-house dynamics produced the state of affairs that enabled peripheral actors, mainly China, to succeed. Principal among the factors causative to Chinese military triumph was the fact that Tibet was not geared up for fighting. Tibet's religious leadership obstinately resisted the military transformation that might have enabled Tibet to resist Chinese domination. The point is now moot. This is played out in some length in its theatrical renditions in movies such as: Jean-Jacques Annaud's "Seven Years in Tibet" and Martin Scorsese's "Kundun" (both also available on Amazon.com). Truth be told, it was actually built-in to the Tibetan ontological framework of passivity and extreme isolation (somewhat self-imposed) that lead to its not being prepared for the Chinese onslaught. Through no fault of theirs events took the shape they did.

The book is broken up into two distinct parts - the opening part focusing on the 13th Dalai Lama and the period following his death and the next part dealing with the Taktra Regency (1941-1950) and the critical events of 1951. Goldstein sees the work as bridging: "two diametrically opposing views of Tibet's political status... The pro-Tibetan school argues that Tibet had been an independent state conquered by the Chinese Communists and was wrongly incorporated into the Chinese state. The pro-Chinese school sees Tibet as a traditional part of China which split from it as a consequence of British machinations after the fall of the Manchu dynasty, but which was rightly reunited with China in 1951" (xix). Goldstein, an anthropologist by schooling, does what he does best by submitting huge quantities of data, and suffers from the fact that he does not critically analyze the date in relation to the key issue of status. Status being what he himself brought on as his central thesis.

Goldstein's tale of political proceedings in Tibet during this, the twentieth century is by far more wide-ranging than any until that time, published; whether it is really more accurate or representative, or subject to politically expediency, is one of the questions brought up by his merely penning the book. He goes into great detail on what he refers to as the "serf" system in Tibet which is seen to be a misnomer by most Tibetans. On of the most disturbing issues relating to this massive missive is that Goldstein fails to mention the number of Tibetans in Tibet who suddenly died after having been "compelled to accept Chinese sovereignty" which has been projected to have been as much as 1.2 million (out of a population of around 6 million). This series of problematical events is also known by another expression, used by the International Commission of Jurists in 1960 in their denunciation of the Chinese actions in Tibet: "genocide." For more details on this and some of the other issues Goldstein may have missed, you can refer to "In Exile from the Land of Snows: The Definitive Account of the Dalai Lama and Tibet since the Chinese Conquest" by John F. Avedon (also available on Amazon.com).

I have to give Goldstein kudos though for placing complexity where there was none previously. This book shatters some of our closely held notions of Tibet as some form of Shangri-La. It may not have been his intent but Goldstein (as well as Avedon) clearly point out how betrayed or ignored Tibet was by Britain and America for geopolitical and selfish shortsighted reasons. The tome is an amazing look at the complexity and the range/extent of internal (for a lack of a better word) infighting that existed. Internal rivalries such as those between the monasteries resulting form their own internal infrastructure may have been one of the major causes and Goldstein makes an unwitting argument for internal sovereignty. The book is long and is meant for those who are interested (as no book this long will sustain a reader unless there is initial interest) but should always be critically examined and compared against other studies about Tibet. For Goldstein's lack of romanticizing of Tibet, I give him 5 stars.

Miguel Llora

Mr. Goldstein's book is informative, detailed, and well-researched. The author provides the reader with numerous maps and photos and presents the subject of Tibet and its de facto independence in an un-biased manner. His background in the culture was useful in explaining the customs and politics of Tibet. Tibet's external issues, mainly with China and Britain, are well balanced with the internal goings on of the government. Goldstein blends all this together to make sense of the status of the Land of Snows during this time period. However, for the most part, this is a political history, rather than a social history. That is, Goldstein does not give much time to issues outside the political realm of Tibet. Much time is spent on the central government and its so-called Three Seats (monasteries). He presents the evidence (government records, first-hand accounts,etc.) to show Tibet's status. To find a flaw in Mr. Goldstein's book would be to say that although it gave much detail and explanation, it needed more of that "human touch" with a sprinkle of emotion to give a feeling of the average Tibetan in the period 1913-1951. Those who would like to learn more about Tibet's government before the invasion of the Chinese Communists will definately appreciate this book. It is unsurpassed in its content. For general Tibet reading, I recommend "Tibet: the Road Ahead", by Dawa Norbu; "The Voice that Remembers", by Ama Adhe; and absolutely "Tears of Blood" by Mary Craig.

This book is a definitive history of Tibet covering a crucial period. Goldstein writes an extremely readable book. He covers a large time period using primary sources and interviews with the characters involved. He limits his analysis of the events and lets the readers examine the evidence. He gives evidence of the Tibetan government's faults as well as the abandonment of Tibet by the international community. This book is a must read for anyone trying to understand the current efforts of the Tibetan government in exile. 'Orphans of the Cold War: America and the Tibetan Struggle for Survival' by John Kenneth Knaus is also an excellent book that covers the US government's involvement with Tibet and gives extra insight to the information given by Goldstein.

This is another meticulous study by Sir Martin Gilbert, one of the most prominent, knowledgeable and admired experts in the Middle East. Here he provides a remarkable insight into the history of the City of Jerusalem during the 20th Century.

The author commences with a description of Jerusalem at the dawn of the 20th Century, as a small provincial town in the Ottoman Empire, comprising of a population totalling some 70,000 people. The majority being Jews (45,000) and the remainder mostly Arabs (25,000). The Century approaching it's end with the City's population being more than half a million, the majority Jewish but with some 25% being Arabs.

The book documents Jerusalem under Ottoman rule until their defeat by the British during the First World War. The writer then continues to illustrate the City under British rule through the Mandate period. Appropriate attention being paid to the Arab riots of 1929/36, describing many of the horrific incidents, the role of all the entities involved and the ensuing casualties. Many factors & commendable detail so often overlooked are included here.

The author analyses the City during the Second World War and how the latter affected it's occupants. It is clearly shown that the coming of peace to Europe did not bring peace to Jerusalem.

Indeed, from 1945-47 the writer describes Jerusalem as a City in turmoil, with the imminent end of British rule and the intended UN partition. A partition which unbelievably intended to leave the Hebrew University and the City's 99,000 Jews (one sixth of the total number of Jews in Palestine) outside of the intended borders of the Jewish state. The author describes this and the resentment that this intended move caused.

The ensuing conflict of 1948 is recounted including the siege of Jerusalem and the horrors suffered by the inhabitants. This extends to the 1967 Six Day War with detail also provided of the fighting for the Old City between Israel and Jordanian forces. Indeed, the author omits nothing, extending through the Yom Kippur War on to the Palestinian 'intifada' of 1987/89 and the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.

Numerous maps and photographs are provided in abundance. Notably inclusion is a photograph of the often ignored & forgotten bombing by British Army deserters of the civilian thoroughfare in Jerusalem's Ben Yehuda Street in February 1948, which killed over 50 innocent Jews. (A captured British soldier apparently boasting of his involvement, but complaining that he did not receive the £500 promised him & his colleagues by the Arab Mufti).

The carnage and destruction in the Ben Yehuda photograph rarely receives the light of day with most 'neutral' sources tending to highlight the attack on the King David Hotel by the Stern gang. Photographs are also included of the devastation inflicted on Jerusalem's synagogues by Jordanian bombing in the 1948 conflict.

The writer concludes this excellent work by declaring that Jerusalem can be the 'essence of peace' or the 'source of conflict'; 'the scene of riots' or 'of reconciliation'; the 'focus of celebration' or 'of protest'; of 'religious devotion' or 'religious hatred'; of 'quiet contemplation' or 'loud exhortation'. Those who know the City of Jerusalem will know that indeed this City is unique. I highly recommend this book.

I also highly recommend a work covering the City's most recent political altercations by David Bar Illan entitled 'Jerusalem; The Truth'. Coupled together these two books will provide a thorough grounding in the background to the City. Those with an interest in the City's Biblical history and it's prophetic element will enjoy John Hagee's 'The Battle For Jerusalem' which includes a detailed coverage of the Palestinian 'intifadas'.

Gilbert is magnificent in his ability to take a complicated history of events and tell them to the reader in a concise, readable text. He also refrains from editorializing the content towards one side of the struggle. I believe this book is essential for grasping the current unrest in the Old City and throughout Israel. As a recent visitor to Jerusalem, I only wish I could have read Gilbert's work prior to my trip.

I read Gilbert's modern history of Jerusalem a few months after I had lived in the city on a holiday. Sir Gilbert (he was knighted not long ago) has a unique genius in bringing the reader to real time through the voices of those who lived in the times. A balanced book with deep touches of humanity and pathos. One is in awe of how this small city has such a history of blood, tears and hopes. The amazing art of Gilbert's genius is that his skills are transparent to the reader and he is as much a teller of oral history in the way he brings the vast resource of his research and sources as told history. Highly recommended.

Kepel is an ideal guide to Islamism as an international movment. Though somehwat controversial, Kepel has produced quality scholarship with an eye for detail for a long time and is well-known and widely recognized scholar in the field. Islamism has become over time a politically moribund ideology driven more by desperation and disillusionment than by anything resembling political success or ascendency. He covers all the major topics and personalities--not nearly enough for indepth study but that's not the purpose of his book--and has a talent for connecting the dots of the international scene, thereby demonstrating the geopolitical nature of the movement despite its diversty and diffuse organization. While some may be taken aback by his assertion of the 'failture' of Islamism in light of the extreme actions committed, he nonetheless makes a good case for argument not equivocating politcal failure with political impotence. Likely the best introduction to the topic available.

Having spend several years living and traveling in the Gulf during the 1970's I felt this book was extremely informative and thorough in its review and discussion of political islam. For anyone who really, really wants to know what is going on in that part of the world - this is the book to get.

Kepel's 'Jihad' is an excellent introduction to modern Islamism. This is a great book if you want to know more about various Islamist movements such as: bin Laden's al-Qaeda, the civil war in Algeria, the Shi'ite revolution in Iran, the Taliban in Afganistan, and the various Islamist movements from Egypt to Malaysia.

Kepel comes to an interesting and controversial conclusion. At a time when the US administration is making vast increases to the budget to fight the war on terror (against Muslim terrorists), Kepel writes that Islamism has seen its peak as a political movement and has been on the decline since the mid 1990's. He wrote in his conclusion:

"In spite of what many hasty commentators contended in its (September 11th) immediate aftermath, the attack on the United States was a desperate symbol of isolation, fragmentation, and decline of the Islamist movement, not a sign of its strength and irrepressible might."

My reaction to this conclusion (I read the conclusion before reading the entire book) was similar to what Walter Laqueur wrote in his article 'A Failure of Intelligence', published in The Atlantic Monthly - March 2002:

"However, the same conditions that gave birth to Islamism thirty years ago persist: economic stagnation or even negative growth, the unemployment of the young. So do resentment and free-floating rage. If Islamism is bankrupt, where is the ideology to replace it?"

These are good observations, but they miss the point of Kepel's book. Kepel does not cover what he thinks will replace Islamism. Laqueur's arguments make me wonder if he even read the entire book. (Laqueur also finishes with some ridiculous statements about a lack of Middle Eastern self-criticism, which makes it sound like Laqueur has digested the ideas of the famous orientalist Bernard Lewis more than anything Kepel wrote.) Kepel is not making a sweeping statement about Islam and the West - that the tension is over and everyone will live happily ever after. Kepel realizes there will be violence in the name of Jihad. For example, his conclusion also stated:

"This does not mean that we shall not see other outbursts of terrorism that claim the mantle of jihad. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict in particular will be ripe for more violence."

Kepel's book is more informed and specific than Laqueur acknowledges. It is about specific movements within the Islamic world, started by theorists such as Mawdudi from Pakistan or Qutb from Egypt. These movements seemed to be ready to take over the Middle East as recent as five years ago. Islamist movements succeeded in Iran and Afganistan, and in various other places in the Middle East. But since then the theories behind Islamism have not been as accepted. This is due to complex reasons, such as the increased power of the middle class in the various countries, which Kepel covers in detail.

If there is a fault in Kepel's 'Jihad', it is that the text takes a while to get used to, since it was originally written in French. I found myself reading some paragraphs two or three times over - especially in the first half. I'm not sure if I got used to the text in the second half, or the writing improved. Also, he could have spent some pages on a definition of Islamism - what theorists such as Mawdudi and Qutb wanted. You would have to get that research from another book, such as Qutb's 'Milestones'.