A dozen biographies of those opposed to or affected by Vietnam serve as the foundation for revealing how individuals were influenced by events of the times. Human Tradition in the Vietnam Era goes beyond most Vietnam books to provide a cross-section of opinions and experiences documenting the lasting effects of the war.

REMAIN SILENT, DON'T SAY A WORD, OPEN YOUR HEART AND YOU WILL KNOW.

These comments are from the review by Marcia Morphy that appeared in the December 4, 1995 issue of the Brighton-Pittsford (New York) Post. The following is excerpted from Ms. Morphy's review:

"There are moments in this book that are powerfully moving. Kenneth P. Sympson takes us on a wartime journey with a descriptive account of his tour of duty as a Marine Corps artillery officer during America's longest war - Vietnam. (Quoting from the book) 'Villages in the distance. Rice paddies framed by dikes. Occassional Vietnamese in the fields. Bent over in the paddies. Shuffling along the roads. Lined with palm trees. Peaceful. Primitive. Lush and green. So pretty from up here... The helicopter about 75 meters ahead of us begins its descent into the LZ. Suddenly it's hit by ground fire from the hamlet. (Jesus, what was that!) ... Trailing smoke and clutching its Marines, it rolls to the left and free falls out of sight beneath us. Now we are the prey.'

"Sympson started writing this book as a form of self-therapy after he was stricken with non-Hodgkins lymphona, a cancer probably caused by exposure to Agent Orange. In his book, Sympson vividly and sensitively recounts the horrors of war: small pockets of Viet Cong hiding in hedgerows and tunnels, booby traps and punji stakes... "

This book unlocked hidden truths and falsehoods for me and broadened my knowledge of the Vietnamese policy concerning the American M.I.As. It was widely thought-provoking and educational. Anyone interested in the aftermath of the war will be glad they choose to read this book. It helps to illustrate the relationship between these two countries and the growth both have endured since that catastrophic era.

I was delighted when I first bought this book and CD in Thailand. It is not just for beginners but for us old timers too! It is a handy reference tool to all those difficult to pronounce vowels and tones. The tongue twisters are a bonus. The chapters include:

Guide to Pronunciation
The Five Tones, The Vowels, The Consonants
Clusters, Confusing Words, Poly-Syllabic Words
Thai Intonation
Tongue Twisters
Thaiglish

The series of books written by Benjawan are well worth the investment.

The author recounts his experience as an Australian platoon commander in the Vietnam war. It is very frank and can be quite brutal, however it is compelling reading and is especially recommended for junior army officers.

Remember James Stockdale running for Vice President in the early 90's under the third party? He was perhaps the candidate with the greatest personal integrity in ages.

This book is just as genuine and is a vivid examination of what it's like to be a POW in brutal captivity for years. The book also has his reflections on the present-day U.S.. Here, he is refreshing, and can be brutally candid on such institutions as the South's best-known anachronistic walled military place.

Mostly though, it's the love story between what he and his wife have been though these years. No candy coating: A rare American hero with the straight story.

This book eloquently describes the events of Burma immediately after independence. The account here is vivid and captivating! The book is essential to understanding political events in Burma and reflects similar conditions in other newly independent countries. A must read for those interested in the history of Burma after independence!! And to any interested in learning more about a resilient society and post-colonial struggles. Everyone from authors researching this period to those who have never read anything about Burma will be SHOCKED by the story of this small district which reflects the situation of the entire country.

It is surprising to know that the government vanished in a single day!! The rebellion by various creeds brought Burma almost to dismemberment. The book shows the suffering of the Burmese people from both the insurgents and the government officials who attempted to establish normalcy.

This remains the seminal work of its kind in the field and continues to be assigned by University professors around the world for use in Southeast Asian studies. Translated from Coedes native French, the book gives a clear and conscise history of the Indianization process that occured throughout South-East Asia in the first thousand years A.D. . Coedes is able to transcend the mist of time and make these civilizations come to life. He was amoung the first of the western historians to realize that the Indianization process was not one of a dominant Indian culture supplanting an inferior Southeast Asian culture, but of two great cultures amalgamating into a vibrant new form. Coedes takes us through the magnificent ruins of the Angkorian empire, in the jungles of Cambodia, and makes the ruins speak to the modern reader. He shows how every part of these cities were emersed in religous symbolism and splendor. This book is valuable for both the general and student reader. For any one interested in the history,art or religion of Southeast Asia this book is a must read.

In Indians & English Kupperman states ...in the New World,"Civility, especially among the lower orders, was fragile, hard won, and shallow rooted; as the poet Edmund Spenser remarked, 'It is but even the other daye, since England grewe Civill (p.219)." Thus many early "civilising" colonists were described as degenerate, and tending towards regression. Extreme measures were taken to promote order in Virginia, in 1610, for example. Fear and strict control were necessary according to informed colonial sources like John Rolfe and Sir Thomas Gates of Virginia. Early colonial reports indicated the belief that Americans (natives) would soon embrace European "civility" and Christianity. Yet duplicity of the colonials was implicit. This expectation of treachery by the early colonists was due to the European's assumptions that society and successful government is based on fear rather than cooperation. Of course, expected treachery begot betrayal. One of the comments reported to have been made by Miantonomi, a Narragansett sachem or chief, of Winthrop was "Did ever friends deal so with friends (p. 236)?" Elaborating on the theme of suspicion and fragmented government, Kupperman writes "At no time was there a single hegemonic voice in the Euramerican population (p. 239)." She demonstrates that European colonists and Native Americans developed a complex history of interactions from the beginning contacts in 1580 to the 1600's. Both viewed the other culture as fully human, she believes. However, problematic interactions may have occurred because of fear of eradication. Indians & English provides a hard look at precolonial stereotypic sources and propaganda, and counters myth in many instances. Painful as the bloody history may be to remember, light shed upon it may release new pathways of understanding and responsibility so needful to this time. Recommended reading for American studies students and others interested in this period of American history.

Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer