TWENTIETH CENTURY CHINA: An Annotated Bibliography of Reference Works in Chinese, Japanese, and Western Languages (East Gate Book)

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An Excellent Read

a great vicarious voyage

Good travel story

condescending

a KEEPER.....just fabulous......

In the Empire of Genghis Khan: An Amazing Odyssey Through the Lands of the Most Feared Conquerors in History
Stanley Stewart
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Hearing Birds Fly: A Nomadic Year in Mongolia

Eagle Dreams: Searching for Legends in Wild Mongolia

Frontiers of Heaven: A Journey to the End of China

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

Lonely Planet Mongolia

ASIN: 1592281060

Book Description

Vivid, hilarious, and compelling, this eagerly awaited book takes its place among the travel classics. It is a thrilling tale of adventure, a comic masterpiece, and an evocative portrait of a medieval land marooned in the modern world. Eight and a half centuries ago, under Genghis Khan, the Mongols burst forth from Central Asia in a series of spectacular conquests that took them from the Danube to the Yellow Sea. Their empire was seen as the final triumph of the nomadic "barbarians." In this remarkable book Stanley Stewart sets off on a pilgrimage across the old empire, from Istanbul to the distant homeland of the Mongol hordes. The heart of his odyssey is a thousand-mile ride, traveling by horse, through trackless land.

On a journey full of bizarre characters and unexpected encounters, he crosses the desert and mountains of central Asia to arrive at the windswept grasslands of the steppes, the birthplace of Genghis Khan.

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Read.......2007-02-24

I've always been intrigued by the Mongols, as they are at the edge between settled and nomadic people. And I've also always like travel writing. Stanely Stewart's book therefore made me very happy. It is beautifully written and the research is thorough. I learned about the Secret History of the Mongols in one section and in another found one of my favorite senteces in any book. I do not have my copy with me, but the sentece included truck repair, camels, and Uzbeks.

Mr. Stewarts book is too good to be called a travel memoir and to lively to be called a history book. It is one of the most entertaining and informative books I have read.

a great vicarious voyage.......2006-04-05

I picked this book up browsing in my hospital bookshop while on call on a lazy saturday. On the back cover I discovered it had been recently translated into Italian (2004)from English and decided to buy it. From the moment I opened it, I couldn't put it down, I read it on work, at home, and also while driving the car (!). I laughed by myself on more than one occasion and looked around for someone to laugh with me. Naturally, I will probably never go to Mongolia, or have the guts to take the trip the author went through, but, somehow I felt that I was there. That I met the people he describes.

One interesting point of the book is its inspiration from the trip of William of Rubruc eight centuries ago. This short miliary description of the mongol world of those times has the same off hand descriptions of the mongol people and customs we find in Mr. Stewart's book. However, no one accused William of beeing "politically not correct" or "sarcastic". Often it is not necessary to have an empathic vision of a different culture to describe it to people that share our cultural standards.

Mr. Stewart's book is instructive and definitely fun to read, but above all it "takes you along" the whole time, which is really what readers that don't have the opportunities to travel as much as they would like, really want.

Good travel story.......2005-06-03

I am amazed by Mr. Stewarts ability to write. He can convey the emotions and feeling of a place with amazing clarity and I found myself really feeling like I was there.

The trip itself is quite an epic, a thousand miles by mostly horseback through a culture completely different than anything we are used to. it also comes at a really interesting time in the countries history when they have thrown off Communism and are deep in the throws of trying to make something else work.

At its best the book is full of delightful descriptions of faraway places and unique locations, the people are described so well that you can picture them sitting next to you and their conversations relate items of real significance. Learning from the people what the fall of Communism has done to their economy makes for fascinating reading. Also learning about the history of the Monks and the world of Genghis Khan was fascinating.

At its worst, the book doesn't cut the Mongolian people very much slack. They have decided not to live in cities but rather to live in tents (gers), rather than celebrate a thousand-year-old tradition and show what good it brings and how it enriches the lives of the people who live it, mostly you get the feeling that it is inferior and the people who live it ought to switch to something better.

It also portrays Communism and the Russian government in a completely evil light, no effort is made to record areas where the life of the Mongolian has gotten better thanks to Communism, although brief mention of government bldgs, schools and acting troups is mentioned. Yet how poorly the people fared and when the system didn't work is vividly brought out into the open.

This is also about travelling over some of the most lonely isolated terrain in the world, yet little time is spent discussing the travel itself. How did they get food when they were not in a Ger, what did it feel like to spend weeks in the saddle from morning to night, How did the clothing feel, etc. Very little was spent on the actual travel itself, the book focuses primarily on the people that were met.

But these are minor points, its is a good book to learn about the culture of Mongolia and what has been happening to the common man since the fall of Communism and I found myself reading all the way through without being bored.

condescending.......2005-05-15

I couldn't put this book down, i'll give it that much.
But I didn't always like it.

While the narration was interesting and fairly well written, I felt a rather pretentious, and quite condescending air as he described the mongolians he met and the way in which they lived.

The descriptions of the landscape were beautiful, but it didn't hide the fact that I felt Stewart was narrating a 4 star resort tour of the country instead of what was supposed to be a wilderness trek.

None the less, I found it hard to put it down, maybe because the historial bits were so intruiging.

a KEEPER.....just fabulous.............2005-03-29

a joy to read... a man who captivates language .... GREAT and fun book.....

Book Description

Larry Carbone, a veterinarian who is in charge of the lab animal welfare assurance program at a major research university, presents this scholarly history of animal rights. Biomedical researchers, and the less fanatical among the animal rights activists will find this book reasonable, humane, and novel in its perspective. It brings a novel, sociological perspective to an area that has been addressed largely from a philosophical perspective, or from the entrenched positions of highly committed advocates of a particular position in the debate.

Customer Reviews:

Animals don't want to be hurt........2005-09-05

On its face, Larry Carnone's What Animals Want presents the thoughts and ideas of a reasonable well-intentioned compassionate veterinarian doing his best to limit the suffering experienced by animals in the laboratories at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).

Carbone seems to walk an imagined middle ground, pointing out various examples of self-serving callousness among the researchers and the industry as well as the fumbling generally ineffectual efforts of animal advocates to severely limit the harm done to animals in the name of science.

A reader will probably come away with the notion that the animals at UCSF are well served and fortunate to have Carbone as their advocate, and that someone like him is probably what animals at other labs would want if they could voice their opinions.

What Animals Want provides a limited look at the industry from the perspective of an insider. Carbone seems intellectually honest as he discusses the opinions of philosophers on both sides of the issue. These characteristics combine to make the book worth reading.

As with nearly every apology for animal research, there is however an unsavory and unmentioned dimension to Carbone's claims that the average reader cannot be expected to recognize. Carbone's tenure at UCSF encompasses a period of time, right up to the present, during which severe violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) have come to light.

Under Carbone's watch, animal care staff have felt a need to reach out repeatedly for help from animal rights organizations, to call attention to the suffering in the labs. The USDA found that animal care staff were justifiably worried about retaliations if they called UCSF's oversight committee's attention to these problems.

During Carbone's tenure, UCSF received more citations for severe violations of the AWA than perhaps any other public facility. The details of the suffering within the labs, the poor veterinary care, and the employee fear combine to make the situation at UCSF an example of one of the most poorly run animal research institutions in the nation with regard to animal care and suffering.

But the average reader is unlikely to have read the USDA inspection reports or to have read through the approved protocols detailing what is being done to the animals, or to have seen the undercover photos from within the lab.

Taking Carbone at his word, it is indeed troubling that a facility with such a seemingly enlightened vet could be such a hellhole for animals. The implications for animals in the labs across the country with attending vets who openly disdain concern and criticism are dark and bleak.

My problem with books like Carbone's is that readers might base their opinions on a single book. In such cases, like What Animals Want, they will be largely misled and misinformed. The resulting opinions are likely to do more harm than good overall.

The radical middle ground on animal welfare in laboratories.......2004-04-22

I loved this book. I have always been sympathetic to arguments made by the animal rights community about the plight of animals in laboratories. I've also always believed that the work scientists do in those laboratories makes long, healthy, human lives possible. I've never before known what to believe about what kinds of research scientists really need to use animals for, and what kinds of welfare concerns scientists actually heed. The arguments on this topic generate lots of heat and little light.
Until this book. Carbone is a veterinarian who has made a career taking care of animals in laboratories and fighting for their welfare. He does this because he thinks scientific research is important, but he also cares deeply about the animals used by the scientists. In this book, he straddles the "radical middle" on the topic. He argues that we can figure out what animals want, and not necessarily by listening to what scientific studies of pain and distress tell us they want. I found myself writing in the margins on every page, because the arguments are interesting and thought provoking all the way through. I'd highly recommend this for anyone interested in animal rights, animal research, or medical progress.

Required Reading.......2004-04-22

Dr. Carbone's beautifully written, engaging, and balanced analysis of laboratory animal welfare policy should be required reading for anybody interested in the multitude of ethical questions that arise from the care and use of animals for human needs. It should also be required reading for anybody not interested in these important issues as they will become interested after reading just the first chapter. This book is accessible to experts as well as the lay reader.

In his book, Dr. Carbone presents a clear, focused, and succinct history of laboratory animal welfare policy and in doing so raises fascinating questions throughout the book. The book focuses on a crucial question, simple and often overlooked: how do we know what animals want? Every chapter is superb. For example, his case studies on death by decapitation, dog exercise and primate psychological well-being illustrate fascinating connections between (animal welfare) science and policy and highlight the strengths and limitations of science in helping us determine (or rather, guess) what animals want.

Because Dr. Carbone's analysis is remarkably balanced for such a controversial and often polarized issue, his book will stimulate all those interested in debates about animal care and use - whether for scientific study or for food - to think more deeply about their own deeply held views.

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What Animals Want: Expertise And Advocacy In Laboratory Animal Welfare Policy
Larry Carbone
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKKWQI

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Must Have Book for Hiking the TYT

If you're planning this adventure, this is it

Backpackers Companion

Recommend

The Tahoe-Yosemite Trail: A Comprehensive Guide to the 180 Miles of Trail Between Meeks Bay at Lake Tahoe and Yosemite Park's Tuolumne Meadows
Thomas Winnett
Manufacturer: Wilderness Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | California | States | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
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The Pacific Crest Trail: Northern California (Pacific Crest Trail)

Pacific Crest Trail Data Book: Mileages, landmarks, facilities, resupply data and essential trail information for the entire Pacific Crest Trail, from Mexico to Canada

ASIN: 0899970842

Customer Reviews:

Must Have Book for Hiking the TYT.......2004-12-15

I've hiked the TYT twice and wouldn't hike it again without this book. Some areas of the TYT are much less travelled than the PCT and without the guidebook, route finding could be extremely difficult in some spots, especially during a heavy snow year.

Thomas Winnett is a good writer and extremely knowledgeable about this area of the country. My only criticism of the book is that its a bit outdated. I think that the last time the book was updated was in the 80's and the trail has changed in a few places due to storms, new regulations, corrosion, etc. If you are a novice in the back country, this could cause you some potential headache trying to figure out where the new trail is. If you are an experienced back country traveler, this shouldn't bother you too much.

The book contains copies of all the needed sections of the USGS maps, which is really helpful. Otherwise, you'd have to figure out which maps you'd need and splice them all together in order to see the whole trail. I am not aware of an entire map or collection of maps that encompasses the entire TYT, so this is pretty valuable. Winnett also includes a handy elevation profile so that you know when you are in for a steep downhill or uphill section, how steep it will be, and how long it will be. Again, a nice thing to have.

The book also has some basic information about flora and fauna, geology, and history, which make it entertaining and educational. If you are planning to hike the TYT, its the best $10 you'll spend on planning your hike.

If you'd like to see photos of my two TYT trips to see what you are in for, you can find them here:
http://www.dudedesign.com/photos/

Good Luck on your hike!

If you're planning this adventure, this is it.......2004-04-20

I've done the entire 180 miles of the trails described here, and this is an absolutely essential book if you're planning this backpack adventure. The scenery is as gorgeous as anything on the John Muir Trail and there are less crowds and more sublime solitude. Winnet takes you through the journey step by step and provides you with necessary info: where is the nearest water source? Is the source dependable even in drought years? Is the area known for active and intrusive bears into your campsites to raid your food supply? How are the mosquitoes on this lef of the trip, and so on.

I encourage all serious California hikers to undertake this magnificent journey and to read this book before attempting the trek. It's well written, informative, includes fine maps and many useful tips. Highly recommended.

Backpackers Companion.......2003-08-14

I bought three different editions of this book. The first one fell apart from use "1974". I lost the second book around Lake Alpine. The latested edition got soaked this year, 2003, in the Mokulmne River. Very useful information, excellent writing. I highly recommend Thomas Winnett's Tahoe-Yosemite Trail.
PS-What ever happend to Don Dennison?

Recommend.......1999-11-17

I've used this guide on every leg described in the book and it was dead on (1988 - 1996). The summit creek area description was helpful since that section wasn't well marked. Is much better than USGS maps. Definitely recommend. 259 Top of the line.

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Rupert Fothergill
Keith Meadows
Manufacturer: Covos Day Books,South Africa
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0797416080

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What's in the Meadow?
Anne Hunter
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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What's in the Pond? (Hidden Life)

ASIN: 0618015124

Book Description

What would you see if you sat in the tall grasses of a meadow? What sounds would you hear? What life would you discover there? In a charming hand-sized book, Anne Hunter illustrates the creatures that live in and around a meadow, and describes each animal's characteristics and habits. The gorgeous artwork and simple sense of wonder will inspire children to explore their environment. Fans of Hunter's two books, WHAT'S IN THE POND? and WHAT'S UNDER THE LOG? will want to add this new title to their collection.

Los Limites Del Crecimiento/ Limits to Growth: 30 Anos Despues/ The 30 Year Update

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Los Limites Del Crecimiento/ Limits to Growth: 30 Anos Despues/ The 30 Year Update
Donella Meadows , Jorgen Randers , and Dennis Meadows
Manufacturer: Galaxia Gutenberg
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Meadow Food Chains
Bobbie Kalman , and Kelley Macaulay
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ASIN: 077871991X

Biography of a Place: Passages through a Central Oregon Meadow

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Biography of a Place: Passages through a Central Oregon Meadow
Martin Winch
Manufacturer: Deschutes County Historical Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

Biography of a Place explores and weaves together the social and natural history of one meadow. It digs down into the roots of place. This is a meadow with a surprising and entertaining story and a memorable cast of characters. The storyline flows across overlapping circles of conneciton among people and place. This is a pleasurable, novel way to understand how a social and natural landscape became what it is today. Imagine being at the meadow to witness unfolding before you the larger story of this landscape. Follow Indian peoples through traditional time, early European exploration and commerce, Civil War, and eventual settlement. Meet the persons whose lives touched the meadow. Probe their attitudes toward the natural environment, the interplay between the biotic and human communities. Track the tale to the present day, when the meadow has become a nature preserve.

Water Meadows: History, Ecology and Conservation

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Water Meadows: History, Ecology and Conservation

Manufacturer: Windgather Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Burgess book of nature lore;: Adventures of Tommy, Sue and Sammy with their friends of meadow, pool, and forest,

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The Burgess book of nature lore;: Adventures of Tommy, Sue and Sammy with their friends of meadow, pool, and forest,
Thornton W Burgess
Manufacturer: Little, Brown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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The community of living things in field and meadow (Community of living things)

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The community of living things in field and meadow (Community of living things)
Etta Schneider Ress
Manufacturer: Creative Educational Society
ProductGroup: Book
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The community of living things in field and meadow,: In co-operation with the National Audubon Society (Community of living things)

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The community of living things in field and meadow,: In co-operation with the National Audubon Society (Community of living things)
Etta Schneider Ress
Manufacturer: Creative Educational Society
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ASIN: B0007FES1U

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