Defending Animal Rights

Book Description

Tom Regan, universally recognized as the intellectual leader of the animal rights movement, presents a historically important, multifaceted discussion of some responses to the question, "Do animals have rights?"

More than a contest of wills representing professional and economic interests, the animal rights debate is also a divisive, enduring topic in normative ethical theory. Addressing key issues in this sometimes acrimonious debate, Regan responds thoughtfully to his critics while dismantling the conception that "all and only" human beings are worthy of the moral status that is the basis of rights.

In a set of essays that reflects his thinking on animal and human rights over the past decade, Regan sketches the philosophical positions espoused by those who want to abolish animal exploitation, reform it to minimize suffering, or maintain the status quo. He considers the moral grounds for limiting human freedom when it comes to human interactions with nonhuman animals. He puts the issue of animal rights in historical context, drawing parallels between animal rights activism and other social movements, including the antislavery movement in the nineteenth century and the gay-lesbian struggle today. He also outlines the challenges to animal rights posed by deep ecology and ecofeminism to using animals for human purposes and addresses the ethical dilemma of the animal rights advocate whose employer uses animals for research.

Systematically unraveling claims that human beings are rational and therefore entitled to superior moral status, Regan defends the inherent value of all individuals who are "subjects of a life" and decries the speciesism that pretends to separate human from nonhuman animals. Independent of any benefits humans might derive from exploiting animals, Regan shows how, on a philosophical level, there is no sustainable defense for separating human and nonhuman animals as beings of absolute, as opposed to instrumental, value.

Customer Reviews:

Review: Defending Animal Rights.......2003-05-08

Defending Animal Rights is a written response to the criticisms of Tom Regan's previous writings and speeches. Regan carefully outlines some of the main arguments against him and the animal rights movement.
Starting with an explanation of historically significant philosophies and their importance to the moral issues raised in the field of animal ethics, Regan displays the foundation for his, as well as other influential philisophers' arguments. He explains the importance of the ideas of direct and indirect duties, perfectionism, traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs, Contractarianism, Kantianism, Utilitarianism, The Rights View, deep ecology, and ecofeminism. Of these moral positions the Utilitarian and the Rights View have provided the clearest stand on the issue of animal rights.
Regan recognizes that in today's debate of these issues the animal rights movement has been condemned in different ways by different groups of people. The main concern of this book is to thoroughly answer these criticisms. Regan states, "My major interest on this occasion is not to defend the movement against false charges but to clarify certain ideas." (p.30) Building off of this statement he displays a humble approach to his critcs.
In clarifying the ideas of the movement, Regan explains his form of Kantiant ethics. This view, in which he includes not just humans, but beings he defines as being "subject to a life" (beings who possess "sensory, cognitive, conative, and volitional capacities" (p.42)), embodies the main basis of his position:

"Harms intentionally done to any one subject cannot be justified by aggregating benefits derived by others. In this respect my position is antiutilitarian, a theory in the Kantian, not the Millian, tradition. Nonetheless, my position parts company with Kant's when it comes to specifying who should be treated with respect. For Kant, only rational, autonomous persons are ends in themselves...whereas on my position all subjects to a life, including all those nonhuman animals who qualify, have equal inherent value." (p.43)

In the above section, Regan's basic position is clearly stated. It is from this point on that the critiques against him become specific. He divides his critics into two major categories. The first being the intramoral, which include Jan Narveson, who critiques Regan for weighing moral intuition too high when discussing inherent value, and not relying on standard moral principles. Regan replies that Narveson's critique is inaccurate. Regan states that when all principles have been considered and weighted against each other two possible outcomes might occur. Thus, the issue of intuition becomes critical. He adds that it is important to be aware of the fact that we can never know if there is only one right theory of morals. The second category of critics is the intermoral. The critics in this category argue against Regan's theory of individual moral rights, stating that there are fundamental flaws in the individual way of perceiving the world. The critics argue that this fundamental view originates in a Western, male dominated, white society filled with prejudice against different groups. Regan replies by saying that although it was men who came up with the concept of individual morals we can't conclude that the idea itself is incorrect. He also states that just because ideas have been previously used in a certain fashion doesn't make the ideas inapplicable in the future. His final reply is that reason and emotion need to balance each other. Emotions in terms of considerations of a group don't need to be excluded in a world focusing on rationality and individuality.
One of the critics that Regan particularly focuses on is Carl Cohen. Cohen's critique is based on a fundamental belief that animals do not have moral rights. He says that all individuals have basic rights and that those rights prevent anyone from using the individual in order to advance the interest of the user. That animals should be included in such a framework, Cohen argues, is a mistake. He argues that non-human animals such as mammals and birds have the ability to reason, but argues that they "are not morally responsible for their actions." (p.73) Cohen bases his arguments on historically great moral philosophers that had contradictory thoughts about many issues but united when it came to the fact that humans were morally unique creatures. Cohen also emphasizes his belief that humans have indirect and direct duties to humans, but differentiates between duties to act humanely and the concept of inherent moral worth. Regan agrees with Cohen on this point, but goes on to explain that Cohen is inconsistent in his argument. Regan suggests that Cohen's argument against rights automatically becomes an argument against duties, which is contradictory to Cohen's stand.
This book attempts to elucidate some of the concerns raised in the animal rights debate as well as Regan's own position. Through responding to criticism, Regan outlines his basic arguments in a way that helps justify his position. There are issues still unsolved in this debate, which he recognizes. There are also issues that Regan consciously decided to exclude from the book. Some of these concerns might have been appropriate to address. What Regan could have focused less on are the last two chapters of the book, which addresses issues of personal integrity as well as the field of moral philosophy. These two chapters are sufficient in some aspects, but also put the author in an artificially produced light trying to make him look like a victim of unfairness. It might be an important issue to integrate into a larger picture, but can easily loose its power when being discussed separately. It places the issue as one of defending Tom Regan instead of defending the rights of animals.
In conclusion, this book is a serious attempt by Regan to justify his ethical philosophy about animal rights. Replying to some of the criticisms he has faced throughout his years as a writer on animal rights, he clarifies his ethical stance and allows for a deeper and more serious discussion in this field.

Interesting, generally well written, profoundly wrong.......2002-02-20

Regan has followed his seminal work, "The case for animal rights" by more than 15 years with "Defending animal rights". The book is well written and continues his arguments against all forms of animal use towards human ends (no more experimentation, farming or clothing from animals). As he has stated previously, his aim is not larger cages but empty cages. His is a radical abolitionist position.

To make this bold claim Regan must force animals onto the same ground as humans, he must present a morally demanding equivalence between humans and animals. This ought to immediately raise eyebrows, if not hackles, most of us believe that humans are more morally valuable than animals and we do not take kindly to the equivalence of people with pigs, monkeys, rats and so forth. To make the case, Regan argues that animals are, like us, "subjects of a life" with feelings, desires, needs, etc., who can experience pain and happiness. Being "subjects of a life" in this manner, animals have an inherent value that we are duty bound to protect.

It is not easy to define the essence of humanity but I doubt a mish mash of wants, needs, feelings, whatever, captures what it means to be human. Even taking Regan's contention at face value, it is legitimate to wonder how comparable humans and animals really are. Animals lack agency, the ability to change their world for the betterment of themselves and future generations. This ability sets us far apart from the animal world, which has remained static for millennia, while our world has provided incessant cultural growth and technological advance.

To dodge the obvious gulf between animals and us Regan uses those unfortunate members of humanity who are mentally incapacitated to the point where their abilities and senses may be comparable to animals. (Regan does not actually need to use the disabled in this way. Someone who is technically dead, alive only via a respirator with no brain function whatsoever is treated "better" than an animal used and killed for some experimental purposes.) Such unfortunate humans are not treated as a means to an end in the way that animals are. Regan suggests this is a double standard and calls us on it.

Again, however, the gulf between humans and animals comes into play, even in death. When a human being is lost the loss is felt at a social and individual level. The potential that the human being represented to be productive, insightful and to provide a contribution passes with death and we mourn that loss. The loss is, of course, particularly acute for family and close friends who would have had first-hand experience of the actuality of the personýs existence and hopes and aspirations for the potential of the deceased. We do violence to the value a human being represented or could have represented if we treat a human instrumentally, even in death.

In contrast, animals never have any potential to do anything greater than their ancestors and direct contemporaries. Animals are not individual because while they may have distinct characteristics they lack the capacity to develop themselves and transform their existence. Animals are also not social because while they may live within groups, they lack the capacity to transform that groupýs behavior and they cannot take collective decisions within the group. In this sense, the value of animals is fixed such that it is always comparable to any other animal currently living, dead or projected into the future. When an animal dies, unless we have some particular association with the animal such as a pet, we do not mourn the passing because there is nothing to mourn. Animals never have the value that humans retain even when deceased unless we provide some value through a human relation.

Regan pushes the argument for animal rights as far as it will go but although animal rights can appear as a possibility it is really illusory. Animals lack agency such that they will never demand their own rights. This unbridgeable gulf places humans and animals into separate moral spheres with humanity taking the higher platform. Regan fails or refuses to see this but, thankfully, there are not many quite as blind as he.

But he takes their money.......2002-02-14

Mr. Regan criticizes his University employer for conducting experiments on animals, but continues under this employment and
enjoys the economic gains afforded the University by this
experimentation.

a brilliant collection of essays.......2001-10-18

In this collection of superbly-written and argued essays, Tom Regan, the leading defender of the moral rights of animals, restates and refines his main arguments that animals, like humans, have the right to be treated with respect and so not used by humans for food, clothing, experimental subjects, or entertainment.

His arguments are strong and simple: if humans have rights (and lets suppose they do), why is this so? What is it about humans that makes them have rights, that makes it wrong to kill them for food, entertainment, etc.? It is very difficult to find plausible answers to those questions that do not imply that animals do not have rights as well. Clearly Regan's critics have not.

Those who challenge the status quo with respect to humanity's treatment of animals will find Regan's essays clear, carefully argued, and revealing of his great insight into moral philosophy and the moral life. Defenders of the status quo--those who think that, by and large, society's treatment of animals is perfectly fine--have their difficult work cut out for them to reveal exactly where Regan's arguments have gone wrong.

They need to explain exactly why, although it's wrong to kill and eat, hunt down, experiment on, or wear non-rational humans (e.g., infants, severly mentally challenged, anecephalics, the brain dead, etc.), it is perfectly OK to do these things to animals who have more advanced mental capacities and the same capacity to suffer.

This is a very difficult challenge. Regan responds to some (although, unfortunately probably not the best) of his critics on these points and shows that their criticisms either just *assume* that animals don't have rights and/or are riddled with argumentative and logical blunders. Regan's critics are advised to take (or re-take) a logic course and learn what it is to "beg the question" and commit the "fallacy of irrelevance" before forming a new attack on Regan's arguments.

Not all of Regan's essays are focused on ethics and animals. One essay, "Ivory Towers Should Not A Prison Make," concerns the challenges (and rewards) that academics, especially philosophers, face when publicly advocating for social change. Politically or socially-active academics will find this essay to reveal great wisdom and insight.

Regan also adopt the role of historian and documents that the objections raised in religious and scientific communities to abolishing slavery and for increasing rights for women, minorities, and homosexuals are very similar to the objections currently raised against the notion of animals having rights. Regan shows that the "Patterns of Resistance" to fair and respectful treatment have been similar in all these "liberation" movements.

There is much in these essays of great wisdom and, often, beauty. They will appeal both to readers who already have an interest in ethics and animals and the animal rights movement. They will also appeal to those who do not have this interest or background, but, hopefully--after reading these essays (and others like them)--soon will.

Not what I wanted.......2001-03-03

Regan's "The Case for Animal Rights" is pretty strong stuff, and I was hoping this would be a structured defense of objections to that text. This book has some defense in it, but I was looking for something more encompassing and systematic. The book is comprised of several shorter pieces.

Book Description

Herds of antelope on the Serengeti, dhows on the Zanzibar coast, red-robed Maasai warriors, brilliant coral in sparkling seas - Lonely Planet shows you the best that Tanzania has to offer. Whether you want to watch wildlife, laze on the beach or ramble through Swahili ruins this guidebook is your indispensable companion.

• CHILL WITH A CHEETAH - 16-page full-color wildlife guide enables you to distinguish your warthog from your wildebeest

• SAFARI WITH A CAMPARI - tips on foot, car, balloon and boat safaris to suit every budget, from basic camp sites to luxury lodges

• CATCH SOME RAYS - get the lowdown on the best beaches, secluded coves and islands on Tanzania's long and pristine coast

• CLIMB KILIMANJARO - we tell you the who, why, how and when of scaling Africa's mightiest mountain

• GO YOUR OWN WAY - easy-to-use maps and transport information help you get from Arusha to Zanzibar and back again

Customer Reviews:

Lonely Planet vs. Rough Guide.......2007-06-29

I was traveling with friends in Tanzania. I had the Lonely Planet and one of my friends had the Rough Guide. Lonely Planet is a good book but when it came down to the book that we REALLY found indespensible and would stay up at night reading -- the Rough Guide Tanzania won. Lonely planet is good, yes, but Rough Guide contained much more cultural information. It depends on what you are looking for. We are students and we were working in Tanzania. Rough Guide was better for the daily living and budget stuff. If you're just a tourist, Lonely Planet is perfectly acceptable.The Rough Guide to Tanzania, Edition Two (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

This was a great guide!!!.......2007-04-03

I just returned from Tanzania and this book provided all the information I needed on the different safaris, Masai tribe, Zanzibar/Stone Town, places to eat, etc. It was a great guide!

Great guide book.......2007-03-10

Lonely planet tops the genre. Really only good for if you are going or you want to understand what a friend or family member is likely to encounter there.

Best there is!.......2007-01-25

Since I'm an independent traveler, I always purchase a few tour guides when in the planning process of my next trip around the world and Lonely Planet's guides have never let me down. I've purchased Lonely Planet's tour guides for Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Peru, Ecuador and Tanzania and have yet to be disappointed with any of them. They are easy to read, straight forward and give "off the beaten track" things to do, where to stay and eat. I have only 1 complaint and this is that I feel some guides may need to be updated more often so the information is current. The Tanzania guide book gave me some excellent information and ideas that turned our trip to East Africa into a fantastic experience.

Very complete and helpful guide.......2006-03-17

Whether you plan on doing a safari, or relaxing in the beaches of Zanzibar, or visiting the less traveled regions of Tanzania, this book provides all the useful information that you need to plan your trip or to have a more complete experience once you are there, whether you are planning to travel with a limited budget or not. The book covers Tanzania's wildlife attractions, historical sites, seldom visited places, culture, political history, food, health, maps, local traditions, etc. I didn't find any flaw worth mentioning with the book. So if you plan on going to Tanzania or are just thinking about it, this book will convince you that it is a place worth visiting, with more possibilities than you can imagine.

Average customer rating:

Mountsafaris adventure Trekking in Kenya is Good.
Mountsafaris adventure Trekking in Kenya.
Good introduction, but not enough on the trekking peaks
Essential luggage items: meds, visas and Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet Trekking in East Africa
David Else
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Walking | Hiking & Camping | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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Swahili: Lonely Planet Phrasebook

ASIN: 0864421869

Book Description

This lively and comprehensive guide by East Africa specialist David Else helps you explore Kilimanjaro, Mt Kenya and the legendary Mountains of the Moon. It now also includes new routes through the massifs and plateaus of Malawi and the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia.

detailed descriptions and maps of the classic routes and little-known alternatives
treks of all standards, from short walks to challenging expeditions
practical advice for organised groups and independent trekkers
information on access and approach routes, accommodation and local transport
notes on environmentally and culturally responsible trekking
advice about porters, guides, supplies, permits, equipment, huts and camp sites
includes Ethiopia's Simien Mountains

Customer Reviews:

Mountsafaris adventure Trekking in Kenya is Good........2005-03-22

To the auther , davidelse/ david wenk.
Thankyou very much for your advice in your book trekking in east africa , which i used when i was travelling in kenya and Tanzania.I Would like to tell you my exeprience Horiday in Kenya with Mountsafaris Adventure, and hoping you will consider this small company.
I really had a great time with mountsafaris adventure.
I can say that kenya is a nice and safe country to travel. I did camping safaris and trekking mount kenya for 6 days sirimon chogoria route ,oh beautiful vegetation. Guide and porters were great helper , food was nice , The trip was well organised. Mountsafaris are trusted , as i sent them 1500 us dollar deposite for my 3 weeks horiday , and everything work perfect .They booked the , hotel , organise everything for my trip , so when i come everything was ready .They picked me from the airport on time , direct to the hotel ,following the trip start.
Camping was fun , Mountsafaris staff were friendly , very safe with them both on the mountains and on safari . Their camps have all facility.

Mountsafaris prices are fair . Their prices are all incrusive , like , pick ups from the airport, park fees, transport by landcruser with open roof. tour driver ,food three meals a day ,cook .
. I can definitely recommend Mountsafaris adventure they're cheaper compared to others companys ,they have Good services , knowledgeable and reliable Tour Operators and offer a really good range of trekking mount kenya , camping and lodge safaris .

thankyou ,again continue writting more advice on your book as they are really helping the travellers , You need to also to be considering some of the company who are doing good services for the tourist.
Some of the companys like Mountsafaris are good but they are not mention on the your book. I come to know mountsafaris throuhg a friend who did trekking mount kenya with them .
Congraturation for the work you are doing .
Sonia .

Mountsafaris adventure Trekking in Kenya........2005-03-22

To the auther , davidelse/ david wenk.
Thankyou very much for your advice in your book trekking in east africa , which i used when i was travelling in kenya and Tanzania.I Would like to tell you my exeprience Horiday in Kenya with Mountsafaris Adventure, and hoping you will consider this small company.
I really had a great time with mountsafaris adventure. website www.mountsafaris.com
I can say that kenya is a nice and safe country to travel. I did camping safaris and trekking mount kenya for 6 days sirimon chogoria route ,oh beautiful vegetation. Guide and porters were great helper , food was nice , The trip was well organised. Mountsafaris are trusted , as i sent them 1500 us dollar deposite for my 3 weeks horiday , and everything work perfect .They booked the , hotel , organise everything for my trip , so when i come everything was ready .They picked me from the airport on time , direct to the hotel ,following the trip start.
Camping was fun , Mountsafaris staff were friendly , very safe with them both on the mountains and on safari . Their camps have all facility.

Mountsafaris prices are fair . Their prices are all incrusive , like , pick ups from the airport, park fees, transport by landcruser with open roof. tour driver ,food three meals a day ,cook .
. I can definitely recommend Mountsafaris adventure they're cheaper compared to others companys ,they have Good services , knowledgeable and reliable Tour Operators and offer a really good range of trekking mount kenya , camping and lodge safaris .

thankyou ,again continue writting more advice on your book as they are really helping the travellers , You need to also to be considering some of the company who are doing good services for the tourist.
Some of the companys like Mountsafaris are good but they are not mention on the your book. I come to know mountsafaris throuhg a friend who did trekking mount kenya with them .
Congraturation for the work you are doing .
Sonia .

Good introduction, but not enough on the trekking peaks.......2003-02-13

I found this book a good introduction to anyone expecting to go trekking in East Africa. It goes over, in substantial detail, all the factors you may face (medicine, visas, hotels, transportation, tours, trails, etc.). However, there is very little on the trekking peaks, which I thought would be the most interesting portion of the book. For example, on Mt Kilimanjaro there are only maybe 5-6 pages, with only an overview description of the routes. If you are looking for overall trekking in East Africa, this is good book, but if you are looking for info on the trekking peaks, there are other, more specific guides, that may be more helpful.

Essential luggage items: meds, visas and Lonely Planet.......1999-01-20

I used this book to plan and complete a Kilimanjaro climb, a Tanzanian safari (Serengeti, Olduvai Gorge, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara) and a trip up the coast of Kenya. The book was more than helpful; it was essential to the success of the trip. Helpful information is complete, accurate and relevant: exactly what you will find in the Lonely Planet Trekking guide. The helpful information -- routes, housing, food, currency, gear, etc. -- are tools to keep you safe, healthy, prepared and even comfortable. The essential information is much more: it gives you a feel for where you are going and what's important about being there. Descriptions of languages, religions, customs, history, geography, geology, climate, etc., gave me a deeper awareness of the countries I was navigating through. This book is strong on both counts. Here's an example: The vocabulary lists were really helpful in opening conversations with staff, villagers and border officials. However, the book's essential advice was to just try your best at speaking Swahili, and the people you meet will respond very warmly to your having made the effort. The results were heartwarming, and they opened the doors to other discoveries I could not have made otherwise. The book itself is a valuable commodity. On Kilimanjaro I leafed through the chapters for maps and plant descriptions. The book so fascinated my guide that I gave him my copy as a parting present (though I couldn't part with it on the climb since it was the only map & route description we had!) Note that the Lonely Planet Trekking books do not promise to be field guides for the areas they describe: bring another volume(s) to help identify the flora and fauna you encounter.

Lonely Planet: Tanzania, Zanzibar E Pemba

Average customer rating:

Lonely Planet: Tanzania, Zanzibar E Pemba

Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications - Italian editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Tanzania | Africa | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Lonely Planet | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

Travel | Italian | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All Italian Books | Italian | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 8870636003

Average customer rating:

A Very Good Dictionary

review for chinese dictionary

Functional & helpful

Convenient Reference

A BIG Help

Cheng & Tsui Chinese Character Dictionary: A Guide to the 2,000 Most Frequently-Used Characters

Manufacturer: Cheng & Tsui
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Chinese | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
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Schaum's Outline of Chinese Grammar

Chinese Character Fast Finder

250 Essential Chinese Characters for Everyday Use, Vol. 1

Chinese Characters: A Genealogy and Dictionary

Schaum's Outline of Chinese Vocabulary

ASIN: 0887273149

Book Description

This pocket-sized guide to the core 2,000 characters provides the easiest road to success in written Chinese. The many rules and characters of Chinese present learners with what can seem like an overwhelming amount of complicated information, and tasks such as writing characters correctly are often a major stumbling block. In this dictionary aimed specifically at learners, characters are organized alphabetically by pinyin and are printed in large, clear fonts (both Kai and Song script) in two colors, making it easy to discern their appearance and structure, and to distinguish between similar-looking characters. Basic meanings and examples of use are given in English and pinyin, and each entry also includes information on radicals, number of strokes, stroke order, structural classification and the diagrammatic form of each character. Simplified characters.

Customer Reviews:

A Very Good Dictionary.......2006-12-30

On the whole, this is a very good character dictionary. The characters are given in both Kai and Song typeface. Each character is also placed (in red) on a grid so the correct proportions can be seen. Separately, the stroke order is clearly delineated via a series of strokes until the complete character is drawn. The corresponding Pinyin word is given, usually accompanied by two or three compound words and their English meanings. My major complaint is that the Pinyin word corresponding to the character is not always defined. For instance, the entry for ke(4) does not tell you that it means class, lesson, or course. However, three compounds and their definitions are given: keben (textbook), kewai (extra-curricular/after class), and gongke (schoolwork/homework). Giving the basic definition of the character would seem to be important, and wouldn't be much trouble. In fact, some of the entries give the basic definition, but not all of them. This oversight prevents me from rating the dictionary at 5 stars. Otherwise, for the small size of the book, it packs quite a bit of information.

review for chinese dictionary.......2006-03-22

book was in excellent condition-very helpful for beginners in learning the language

Functional & helpful.......2006-02-27

I bought this book on the recomendation of my Mandarin instructor. Most of the characters we are covering in our class are in this book and it's the best resource I have found for figuring out how to write the characters correctly. If you are looking for a way to look up characters using pinyin and find out their stroke order, you should find this book helpful.

Convenient Reference.......2005-07-13

I have been using this book for several years and find it to be an invaluable reference source for 1) characters that I have forgotten how to write, 2) new characters and 3) stroke order. What this book does not offer is a means to lookup words in English but this is not its intent, although a simple indexing of English words in alphabetical order with corresponding page numbers would be nice. However, since this is a "character" dictionary and not an "English to Chinese" dictionary this feature is understandably not part of the scope of this work. But, as a character dictionary of the most common simplified characters, this work excels! I strongly recommend it to any student of Chinese and I hope that Cheng and Tsui are able to follow-up on this excellent work with a traditional character version. It is estimated that a knowledge of the most frequently used 700 simplified characters enables an understanding of as much as 82% of the written language but that the ability to recognize and use the most common 2,000 characters bumps this percentage up to 97%. As an essential reference, Cheng and Tsui's "Chinese Character Dictionary" makes learning written Chinese that much easier.

A BIG Help.......2005-04-01

I am a seventh grade student taking Chinese and whenever I need help on the stroke orders I instantly turn to this book. It really has helped me improve my characters a lot!!

Book Description

115 full-page plates. Geometrics to intricate Oriental patterns, reeds, birds, flowers, 3-D mod effects. Includes 24 color plates.

Allover Patterns for Designers and Craftsmen

Average customer rating:

Allover Patterns for Designers and Craftsmen
Clarence Pearson Hornung
Manufacturer: Dover Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MBUF0W

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