As a grandchild of paternal Lithuanian immigrants and maternal French immigrants, I was always interested in my heritage. Information on French history abounds but my knowledge of my Lithuanian roots was totally dependent on vague stories repeated by my father that were difficult to put in a historic context. This book clarified and totally collaborated the stories that I grew up with and deepened my respect for this amazing freedom-loving country.

This book is important to Lithuanian historiography because this is the only English title I know that deals with Lithuania in the interwar years. Other titles, like von Rauch's book, group the three Baltic states' history together under one title. This book is solely dedicated to Lithuanian interwar history.

The book is well written by prestigious authors who have done their research. The notes at the end are extensive. The book is clearly written. Even a novice in Lithuanian history would have an easy time following this volume.

The book does an excellent job of showing the pivotal role Lithuania had in the eastern European balance of power between Germany and the USSR versus the Polish, French, British alliance. The book reminds of the title 'Lithuania: The Rebel Nation' by Stanley Vardys. The authors do a great job of clearly explaining the plight of Lithuania in this balance of power.

Another interesting note is that some of the authors in this edited book are from Lithuania. It is interesting to see the view of homegrown Lithuanians on this time period in Lithuanian history. They rate high in their objectivity.

Anyone interested in Lithuanian history should own this book.

Sri Swami Satchidananda has brought to life the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita for the modern seeker. The Bhagavad Gita is the beautiful and famous lessons on life that Krishna gave Arjuna on the battle field. The Gita starts with the great war on the battle field Kurukshetra between two families, the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Arjuna belonging to the Pandavas must fight to up hold righteousness against the evil Kauravas. But on seeing the Kauravas on the battlefield and realizing that he knows many of them as teacher, friend and kin, Arjuna finds that he cannot go in to battle. Krishna observing Arjunas inner conflict gives Arjuna lessons on the reality of life. Reading the story we see that the battlefield is not the Kurukshetra but our own body. The evil Kauravas our learned habits formed by ego and its manifestations. The Pandavas our pure qualities of love, non-violence, peace and truth. Arjuna is our inner being having conflict with our actions and expressions and Krishna the Lord every loving in his guidance.
The Bhagavad Gita is truely a great scripture with much truth contained with in its lessons. However as a modern society we often struggle to assimilate spiritual teachings in to our present expression of life. Some find it hard to relate to our present life and a lesson that happened thousands of years ago. Here is where Sri Swami Satchidananda has gifted us with a modern commentary on the Bhagavad Gita that relates to our modern mind and environment. To capture the beauty of this book is to express the teachings through action in our every day. life. I brought this book for my brother who showed an interest in my love of Vedic teachings. I brought him this commentary and read some of it before I sent it to him. I liked Sri Swami Satchidananda's commentary so much that I went and brought another copy for myself. Full of truth and so easy to relate too!

I have explored several versions of the Bhagavad Gita with commentaries, among them, that by William Q. Judge and the one provided by Paramahansa Yogananda. Previous to reading The Living Gita, I have been confused and haven't understood the ideas expressed. Sri Swami Satchidananda presents the text in easy-to-understand English, and offers concrete examples drawn from our everyday life to support his version and the commentaries he makes. The superficial story is of opposing armies on the battlefield, but the underlying meaning relates more to our everyday fight with our more selfish instincts, and how we can rise above our natural self-centered inclinations. I appreciate the insights that Swami Satchidananda gives us in our daily struggle to be better human beings.

Plekon has done a very good job in making available to american readers the lives and thoughts of several 20th century Eastern Orthodox theologians and "lovers of mankind". Each essay examines the main currents of thought for each person and their influnece upon the world in this century. Included are essays about St. Seraphim of Sarov, Sergius Bulgakov, MAria Skobtsova, Fr. Lev Gillet, Paul Evdokimov, Fr. Gregory Krug, Nicholas Afanasiev, Fr. Alexander Schmemann, Fr. Jean Meyendorff, and Fr. Alexander Men. With many first-hand accounts of their lives, the author gives keen insights into their personalities, the context of their actions and writings, and their continuing relevance for the 21st century.

I would also recommend "Light From The East" by Aidan Nichols for an intro to some other Orthodox thinkers. It is out of print, but available from time to time. Enjoy!

Living Icons: Persons Of Faith In The Eastern Church by ordained Orthodox priest Michael Plekon (Professor, Department of Sociology/Anthropology, religion and culture, Baruch College, City University of New York) is a close look at the lives of ten Eastern Orthodox Christian faithful, each of whom lived in the eighteenth through twentieth centuries. Fascinating, uplifting, and evenhanded in its study of characters, foibles, and faith, as well as highly recommended for students of Orthodox Christian History, Living Icons is a profound testimony to the path set by just a few among many amidst constantly changing and conflicting headwaters of religious belief worldwide.

If you live in a kilim-close environ, then you can understand how they can become a compulsive obsession. Much the same as book collecting. This richly illustrated volume is a lovely addition to a library, and as well provides good practical information about how kilims in various guises can be used and displayed to their best advantage. The emphasis is on USING and LIVING with kilims, not as works of art or museum pieces. The first chapter is a useful history of the origins of kilims, the second on the materials and techniques used in making them, and the third about recognising and identifying different types of kilims, including motifs and symbols and characteristics of kilims from the main areas of production - Anatolia, The Caucasus, Persia and Afghanistan. After that follows various decorative uses - on floors, walls, and unusual forms. The book finishes with tips on care and repair and listings for those interested in collecting these lovely items.

I found this book to be full of good ideas on how to decorate with kilims. There are many color illustrations of kilims used as wall hangings, tablecloths, etc., as well floor coverings, and detailed descriptions of how to hang and mount kilims. Also, there are quite a few good illustrations showing how easily kilims can complement other types of collectible textiles, folk art, and many styles of furniture from modern to antique. There are other books that give more information about buying, selling and value of kilims. This book is mainly for decorating purposes.

A great book for those who want to spend a few months covering the entire region. Though a few geographical and historical errors are there, the good tips and listings give a great start for the intrepid traveler.

I am stationed in Germany and therefore have the opportunity to travel frequently throughout E. Europe. For several years now I have been looking for a travel guide that offers detailed travel info as well as historical and regional information. I finally found it all in Lonely Planet's E. Europe. Although it was an older version (1995) with often outdated prices, it provided an excellent source of maps, key sights, as well as a good, country-by-country historical brief. This book was so good, in fact, that someone in Ljubljana, Slovenia, decided they needed it more than I did, forcing me to buy the latest edition. I'm looking forward to seeing this updated edition.

The Lonely Planet guides are excellent for any locale..but this edition (covering Italy, Spain, Greece, France, Portugal and even Morocco) is a must-read for the quintessential backpacker jumping on a plane for Europa. These guides excel at recommending lodging of many price ranges (from youth hostels to 5-star hotels) and meal choices of the same range (excellent recommendation for outdoor markets.."buy a loaf of bread, a block of cheese and a bottle of wine here"..which is a plus as many guides catering to this area focus on only older travels with large budgets..or persons seeking to spend only a dollar a day or some insanity..it's always good to have the most information possible..and it's included here. Entertainments ideas from free plaza and park visiting to museums, discotechqes, architecture, boat rides etc. etc. are included..good for young and old. It even lists culture-sensitve information such as appropriate dress for visiting churches and monasteries as well as travel-safe tips for women. Book your Eurorail pass and get going.

Lonely Planet has great books and this one certainly was. It's very thorough and tells alot about things that interest travellers. They are up to date and tell you the pros and cons of the different countries. I liked it alot and I know that other people will too.

I became thoroughly immersed in this book while on vacation and stayed behind to read while my family went to the beach. The author captured my heart while I read her account of the trials and tribulations her family experienced in 1940s Poland. I highly recommend it.

Long Journey Home is not war story per se, but rather an account of one girl's experiences during the war, starting with the German invasion and treaty with Russia, her family's subsequent exile to Siberia, and how she and her family managed to work their way through Russia, Persia, India, Mexico, and finally to America.

The writing is captivating and full of emotion, as you would expect of a first-hand account. I found it impossible to read this book and not be moved. Additional historical information is also provided covering Poland's role in the war, which extended long after Poland itself was overrun.

I certainly recommend this book. For Polish-Americans especially, this is a must-read.

Reading Al-Takarli's 'The Long Way Back' took me away from my comfy sofa to the rich sumptuous orient in the Baghdad of the 1960s.
The translation by Catherine Cobham is excellent.

Finally, readers in the English language will catch up with their French counterparts and get the chance to read the first of Fuad Al-Takarli's novels 'The Long Way Back'. A story of love, friendship, ambition and murder in 1960s Baghdad.
Being one of a small number of Iraqi works of fiction available in English, it will serve to acquaint the reader with aspects of life in that country that go beyond the usual suspects whenever Iraq is mentioned. The common humanity of the people of this ancient nation, with a history stretching back to thousands of years, will become that bit more obvious.
I can not recommend it enough...

This book is a history of Russian society as it evolved from the very beginnings of the Kievan period, through the end of serfdom in the 19th century. More particularly, it is a history of serfdom in Russia. Using many primary sources, the author examines trends in economics, agriculture and politics, to weave the tapestry of Russian development.

I was greatly impressed by the author's familiarity with his sources, and his subject. He made clear the organization of Russian society, and how it changed for the Russian people throughout the years. Scant attention is paid to wars and whatnot, except as they affected the development of Russian society itself, which is quite refreshing. My one complaint about the book is that it is somewhat dry reading, but it is an excellent resource for understanding pre-modern Russia.

This is a book that I would strongly recommend to anyone interested in Russian History.

No serious student of Russian or agrarian history can ignore this work. Blum, a prominent historian, set out to discover why serfdom in Russia was so abject and prolonged. Altogether a magisterial, highly readable work.

I recently moved to Singapore and left my previous copy of this back in New Zealand with someone else. I hope they use it. This book has recipes to die for. The flavours are intense, exotice and exquisite. But she presents them in a way that is incredibly easy to follow and cook. A book for the serious foodie.

If you only own one Asian cookbook, this should be it. Madhur Jaffrey provides authentic, delicious--and beautifully illustrated--recipes from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Singapore, Japan, and more. Just as in her Indian cookbooks, she collects recipes from both restaurants and good home cooks. Best of all, at the back of the book she has included pages of photographs of ingredients, packaged and loose. Armed with this book, you can successfully shop for exotic ingredients anywhere, even when many things are unlabelled and you and the proprietor do not share a common language!