Preloved Affordable Biographies & Memoirs Books Online | Based in Singapore – Page 4

Loung Ung

Lucky Child : A Daughter of Cambodia Reunites with the Sister She Left Behind

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Lucky Child would be a good read for those interested in a personal account of the Khmer Rouge Genocide in Cambodia, or for anyone seeking an inspiring story about a family's survival and resiliency in the face of war and loss. The alternating perspectives of Loung and her sister Chou provide a unique and powerful lens through which to experience their shared history.

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Anchee Min

Red Azalea

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Red Azalea

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Chanrithy Him

When Broken Glass Floats : Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge : A Memoir

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A survivor of the Cambodian genocide recounts a childhood in Cambodia, where rudimentary labor camps filled with death and illness were the norm and modern technology, such as cars and electricity, no longer existed. 15,000 first printing.

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Paul M. Handley

The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailands Bhumibol Adulyadej [Paperback] Paul M. Handley

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This book is an in-depth look into the life of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, providing a fascinating insight into the country's revered monarch. Handley's biography balances the king's impressive accomplishments with critical analysis of the country's political climate during his reign. If you're interested in history, political figures or Thailand's monarchy, this book is sure to keep you engaged.

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Eileen Fraser Crossman

Mountain rain: A biography of James O. Fraser, pioneer missionary of China (An OMF book) Crossman, Eileen

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James Fraser was only 22 years old when he abandoned a promising engineering career and went to China. At first sight of the Lisu tribespeople of Yunnan province he felt an immediate affection for them. For the rest of his life, he traveled on horseback over rugged mountains, laboring to bring the Lisu the good news of Christ. Packed with personal letters, insightful anecdotes, and riveting stories of missionary life in China, this superb biography by his daughter shines with God's constant faithfulness and power over evil.

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John K. Fairbank, Edgar Snow

Red Star over China

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The first Westerner to meet Mao Tse-tung and the Chinese Communist leaders in 1936, Edgar Snow came away with the first authorized account of Mao’s life, as well as a history of the famous Long March and the men and women who were responsible for the Chinese revolution. Out of that experience came Red Star Over China, a classic work that remains one of the most important books ever written about the birth of the Communist movement in China. This edition includes extensive notes on military and political developments in China, further interviews with Mao Tse-tung, a chronology covering 125 years of Chinese revolution, and nearly a hundred detailed biographies of the men and women who were instrumental in making China what it is today.

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Barry Wain

Malaysian Maverick : Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times

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Recommended for readers interested in Malaysian politics and economics, seeking to understand the complex character of Mahathir Mohamad who combined economic pragmatism with repressive political policies, and who sought to represent the Third World and Islam in the face of Western dominance. The book portrays the leader as a strong-willed, independent-minded, and unyielding figure who left a mixed legacy for Malaysia.

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Emma Larkin

Finding George Orwell in Burma

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From Publishers WeeklyStarred Review. The author, an American journalist fluent in Burmese, writing under a pseudonym, notes that there's a joke in Burma (now Myanmar) that Orwell wrote not one novel about the country, but three: Burmese Days, Animal Farm and 1984. The first takes place during the British colonial days, while the latter two, Larkin argues, more closely reflect the situation there today. " 'Truth is true only within a certain period of time,' " she quotes a regime spokesman saying after a 1988 uprising. " 'What was truth once may no longer be truth after many months or years.' " Indeed, providing an accurate representation of Burmese life proves daunting, as Larkin encounters a nation bristling with informants and paranoia. Her language skills, however, allow her to glean information and mingle with the country's reserved and cautious intelligentsia. In addition to Larkin's depiction of the political landscape, the book also features wonderfully vibrant descriptions of the land and people. Larkin's prose is striking and understated, and she allows the people she meets to speak their parts without editorializing. In this way, she comes across not as an idealist but rather as an inquisitive and trustworthy guide to the underlying reality of a country whose leaders would rather have outsiders focus only on their carefully constructed veneer. "All you had to do, it seemed," Larkin writes, "was scratch the surface of one of the town's smiling residents and you would find bitterness or tears." Her efforts have resulted in a lucid and insightful illustration of truly Orwellian circumstances. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Jan Butler, Mukhamet Shayakhmetov

The Silent Steppe: The Memoir of a Kazakh Nomad Under Stalin

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If you're drawn to gripping personal histories, Mukhamet Shayakhmetov's memoir will immerse you in the struggles and the indomitable spirit of the Kazakh people. His narrative weaves the rich tapestry of an ancient nomadic culture confronted with the harrowing trials of Stalin's regime. It's a rare peek into a world where familial bonds and cultural heritage collide with political tyranny.

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Lucy Moore

Maharanis : The Lives and Times of Three Generations of Indian Princesses

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MAHARANIS is a compelling read for those interested in the Royal courts of India and the lives of extraordinary women who lived in a time of great change. The book offers a brilliant recreation of the royal ceremonies, tiger hunts, and exotic palaces of India, as well as a glimpse into the glamorous international scene of the Edwardian and interwar era. The lives of Chimnabai, Sunity, Indira, and Ayesha, in addition to offering a fascinating insight into the rise and fall of the Raj, are a testament to the remarkable women who changed the world they lived in.

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Eric Lomax

The Railway Man

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The Railway Man is a moving autobiography that will speak to readers who appreciate gripping stories of emotional and physical endurance. Lomax is a master storyteller who illustrates how forgiveness can be a beginning point of healing. Readers will appreciate the way Lomax presents the conflicted emotions that result when trauma is revisited decades later. The book is highly recommended for readers looking to gain insight into the human psyche and how forgiveness and closure can be empowering even in the most horrific situations.

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Rohini Mohan

The Seasons of Trouble : Life Amid the Ruins of Sri Lanka's Civil War

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The Seasons of Trouble is a vivid and heart-wrenching account of the devastating effects of war on ordinary citizens. Through the personal stories of Sarva, Indra, and Mugil, the reader gains a deeper understanding of the complexities and turmoil of Sri Lanka's civil war. This book is highly recommended for those interested in gaining insight into the impact of conflict on individuals, families, and communities. Rohini Mohan's writing is both honest and empathetic, offering a raw and nuanced view of life amid the ruins of war.

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Rhoda Blumberg

Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun

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"Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun" offers a unique perspective on the clash between Japan's feudal system and the modern world. Readers interested in Japan's culture and history will appreciate the insight into the nation's transformation during the mid-19th century, and the role that the American Commodore played in this transformation. The book offers a compelling analysis of how modernity and tradition clashed, showing how seemingly incompatible cultures can coexist.

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Bamber Gascoigne

A Brief History of the Great Moghuls : India's Most Flamboyant Rulers

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A Brief History of the Great Moghuls is a must-read for history buffs and those who are interested in Indian history. The book provides a unique and engaging picture of the way of life of India's most flamboyant rulers, their passions, and their sophisticated system of administration, which stabilized the greater part of India. The book also features ravishingly beautiful photographs that allow readers to fully immerse themselves in the history.

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Colin Thubron

Shadow of the Silk Road

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To travel the Silk Road, the greatest land route on earth, is to trace the passage not only of trade and armies but also of ideas, religions, and inventions. Making his way by local bus, truck, car, donkey cart, and camel, Colin Thubron covered some seven thousand miles in eight months—out of the heart of China into the mountains of Central Asia, across northern Afghanistan and the plains of Iran into Kurdish Turkey—and explored an ancient world in modern ferment.

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Peter Popham

The Lady And The Peacock : The Life of Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma

from $7.91

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Peter Popham's major new biography of Aung San Suu Kyi draws upon previously untapped testimony and fresh revelations to tell the story of a woman whose bravery and determination have captivated people around the globe. Celebrated today as one of the world's greatest exponents of non-violent political defiance since Mahatma Gandhi, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize only four years after her first experience of politics.In April 1988, Suu Kyi returned from Britain to Burma to nurse her sick mother but, within six months, found herself the unchallenged leader of the largest popular revolt in her country's history. When the party she co-founded won a landslide victory in Burma's first free elections for thirty years, she was already under house arrest and barred from taking office by the military junta.Since then, 'The Lady' has set about transforming her country ethically as well as politically, displaying dazzling courage in the process. Under house arrest for 15 of the previous 20 years, she has come close to being killed by her political enemies and her commitment to peaceful revolution has come at extreme personal cost.In November 2010, after fraudulent elections in which she played no part, Suu Kyi was again freed. She was greeted by ecstatic crowds but only time will tell what role this remarkable woman will have in the future of her country.

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Kangxi, Jonathan D. Spence

Emperor of China : Self-Portrait of K'ang-Hsi

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This book would be a good read for history enthusiasts who want to delve into the intriguing life and rule of an influential Chinese emperor. "Emperor of China: Self-Portrait of K'ang-Hsi" offers a captivating glimpse into the mind and life of K'ang-Hsi through meticulously assembled documents. With its insightful illustrations and comprehensive historical context, this book paints a vivid picture of a powerful ruler and provides a unique opportunity to explore the world of ancient China.

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Justin Wintle

Perfect Hostage

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The only major biography of Aung San Suu Kyi to take into account the history of Burma and her father, Aung San

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Zhi-Sui Li, Li Zhisui

The Private Life of Chairman Mao : The Memoirs of Mao's Personal Physician / Tr. [from Chinese] by Tai Hung-Chao.

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This book is a must-read for history enthusiasts who want to understand the personal and political life of Mao Zedong. Dr. Li's memoir provides a unique perspective on Mao's leadership and the inner workings of the Chinese Communist Party. The book reveals Mao's personal quirks and perversions, while also shedding light on his monumental decisions, such as the disastrous Great Leap Forward and his relationship with America and the Soviet Union. Dr. Li's detailed account of Mao's sex life is also a fascinating and controversial aspect of the book. Overall, "The Private Life of Chairman Mao" is a riveting and eye-opening read that provides a rare window into the life of one of history's most famous leaders.

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Tim Clissold

Mr. China

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In the early 1990s, China finally opened for business, and Wall Street wanted to get in on the act. When the investment bankers arrived from New York with their Harvard MBAs, pinstripes and tassled loafers, ready to negotiate with the Old Cadres, the stage was set for a collision between Wall Street's billions and the world's oldest culture. This is the true story of a tough Wall Street banker who had reached the top and found that it wasn't enough. Looking for glory, he came to China to surf the next new investment wave and teamed up with an ex-Red Guard and an Englishman living in Beijing. Together, they raised over $400 million and bought up factories all over China. They thought the contracts were watertight. But then they began learning the hard way that China doesn't play by anyone else's rules. Left sitting in their boardrooms while their Chinese partners marched off in their own different directions, they watched their millions begin sliding towards the abyss. Faced with no option but to fight, they embarked on a series of desperate battles to regain control of their businesses. Their struggle reveals the human face of this vast and complex country that knows it must modernise but throughout history has always kept the advantage when dealing with outsiders. Clissold tells his at times surreal story with amusement and affection, and the result is exhilarating, an eye-opening account of the arcane world of traditional Chinese business and an instructive insight into the limitations of Wall Street and western business-school training. He opens a window of understanding between East and West in a truly exciting human-interest story that is a mix of adventure, farce and high finance.

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with Jay Wurts Le Ly Hayslip, Jay Wurts

Heaven and Earth: When Heaven and Earth Changed Places

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"When Heaven and Earth Changed Places" is a powerful memoir that takes the reader through the trauma and horror of war seen through the eyes of a young girl. Le Ly Hayslip's story of survival and struggle is both haunting and inspiring. The unique perspective of a child gives the book a distinctive and memorable quality. It is a good read for those interested in history and war as well as those who appreciate a strong, resilient protagonist.

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Zhao Ziyang, Renee Chiang, Bao Pu

Prisoner of the State : The Secret Journal of Premier Zhao Ziyang

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If you're engrossed by political histories and first-hand accounts of pivotal events, "Prisoner of the State" could speak volumes to you. Zhao Ziyang's secret journal offers a rare glimpse into the otherwise opaque world of Chinese politics, particularly surrounding the Tiananmen Square event. It's a window into the thoughts of a reformist leader and is bound to stir a mix of curiosity, empathy, and possibly outrage as you flip through the pages of recent history as experienced by someone on the inside.

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Barnaby Martin

Hanging Man : The Arrest of Ai Weiwei

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In October 2010, Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seeds appeared in the Turbine Hall in the Tate Modern. In April 2011, he was arrested and held for over two months, in terrible conditions. The most famous living Chinese artist and activist, Weiwei is a figure of extraordinary talent, courage and integrity. From the beginning of his career, he has spoken out against the world's greatest totalitarian regime, in part by creating some of the most beautiful and mysterious artworks of our age, works which have touched millions around the world.After Weiwei's release, Barnaby Martin dodged the secret police to interview him about his imprisonment and his intentions. Based on these interviews and Martin's own intimate connections with China, Hanging Man is an exploration of Weiwei's life, art and activism. It is a rich picture of the man and his beliefs, what he is trying to communicate with his art, and of his campaign for democracy and accountability in China. It is a book about courage and hope found in the absence of freedom and justice.

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Colin Thubron

Behind The Wall : A Journey Through China

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Having learned Mandarin, and travelling alone by foot, bicycle and train, Colin Thubron sets off on a 10,000 mile journey from Beijing to Tibet, starting from a tropical paradise near the Burmese border to the windswept wastes of the Gobi desert and the far end of the Great Wall. What Thubron reveals is an astonishing diversity, a land whose still unmeasured resources strain to meet an awesome demand, and an ancient people still reeling from the devastation of the Cultural Revolution.

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Suketu Mehta

Maximum City

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Recommended for those who want a deep dive into the complex cultural tapestry of Bombay. Mehta's storytelling offers readers a glimpse into the city's underbelly of crime, glamour, and politics. Readers will appreciate the rich cast of characters and Mehta's personal perspective on his hometown.

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Timothy Brook

Mr Selden's Map of China : The spice trade, a lost chart & the South China Sea

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Mr Selden's Map of ChinaIn 1659, a vast and unusual map of China arrived in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. It was bequeathed by John Selden, a London business lawyer, political activist, former convict, MP and the city's first Orientalist scholar. Largely ignored, it remained in the bowels of the library, until called up by an inquisitive reader. When Timothy Brook saw it in 2009, he realized that the Selden Map was 'a puzzle that had to be solved': an exceptional artefact, so unsettlingly modern-looking it could almost be a forgery.But it was genuine, and what it has to tell us is astonishing. It shows China, not cut off from the world, but a participant in the embryonic networks of global trade that fueled the rise of Europe - and which now power China's ascent. And it raises as many question as it answers: how did John Selden acquire it? Where did it come from? Who re-imagined the world in this way? And most importantly - what can it tell us about the world at that time?

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Loung Ung

Lulu in the Sky

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Concluding the trilogy that started with the bestselling memoir First They Killed My Father , Loung Ung describes her college experience and her first steps into adulthood, revealing her struggle to reconcile with her past while moving forward towards happiness. After the violence of the Khmer Rouge and the difficult assimilation experience of a refugee, Loung’s daily struggle to keep darkness, anger, and depression at bay will finally find two unexpected allies: the empowering call of activism, and the redemptive power of love. Lulu in the Sky is the story of Loung’s journey to a Cambodian village to reconnect with her mother’s spirit; to a vocation that will literally allow her to heal the landscape of her birth; and to the transformative influence of a supportive marriage to a loving man.

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Stephen Turnbull, A.L. Sadler

Shogun : The Life of Tokugawa Ieyasu

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One of the most successful rulers in Japanese history and one of the most cunning military strategists in world history, Tokugawa Ieyasu overcame countless dangers and intrigues in his country's most violent age to become the man who finally united all of Japan. His accomplishments and work cemented in place the system of governance and way of life that have become forever linked with traditional Japan.Shogun, A. L. Sadler's classic biography of this Japanese legend, has been completely re-typeset and designed—and is still the best available. It is dramatic in its narration of the rise of Tokugawa Ieyasu and the measures he took to win the Shogunate and insure that power would remain in his family's hands. It also features a new foreword by bestselling author and samurai expert Stephen Turnbull.

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Chanrithy Him

When Broken Glass Floats : Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge

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In a mesmerizing story, Chanrithy Him vividly recounts her trek through the hell of the "killing fields." She gives us a child's-eye view of a Cambodia where rudimentary labor camps for both adults and children are the norm and modern technology no longer exists. Death becomes a companion in the camps, along with illness. Yet through the terror, the members of Chanrithy's family remain loyal to one another, and she and her siblings who survive will find redeemed lives in America.A Finalist for the Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize.

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William J. Duiker

Ho Chi Minh - A Life

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Recommendation: This book is a great read for those interested in the life of Ho Chi Minh, who was key in the revolution and reunification of Vietnam. The author covers Minh's life from his impoverished youth to his time in the US, France and the Soviet Union. The most outstanding feature of the book is its vivid description of the struggles of the Vietnamese, and the author's ability to bring the story to life.

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Tom Plate

Conversations With Lee Kuan Yew - Citizen Singapore: How To Build A Nation

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"Conversations With Lee Kuan Yew" is a must-read for those interested in learning about Singapore's development as a modern nation. Through candid interviews with Lee Kuan Yew, readers gain insight into his uncorrupted, modern, and almost scientific approach to leadership. The book includes previously unreleased interviews and offers a unique perspective on one of the most unforgettable political figures of modern times. Overall, a great read for those interested in politics, leadership, and nation-building.

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Thant Myint-U

The River of Lost Footsteps : Histories of Burma

from $10.03

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For nearly two decades Western governments and a growing activist community have been frustrated in their attempts to bring about a freer and more democratic Burma--through sanctions and tourist boycotts--only to see an apparent slide toward even harsher dictatorship. But what do we really know about Burma and its history? And what can Burma's past tell us about the present and even its future?In "The River of Lost Footsteps," Thant Myint-U tells the story of modern Burma, in part through a telling of his own family's history, in an interwoven narrative that is by turns lyrical, dramatic, and appalling. His maternal grandfather, U Thant, rose from being the schoolmaster of a small town in the Irrawaddy Delta to become the UN secretary-general in the 1960s. And on his father's side, the author is descended from a long line of courtiers who served at Burma's Court of Ava for nearly two centuries. Through their stories and others, he portrays Burma's rise and decline in the modern world, from the time of Portuguese pirates and renegade Mughal princes through the decades of British colonialism, the devastation of World War II, and a sixty-year civil war that continues today and is the longest-running war anywhere in the world."The River of Lost Footsteps" is a work both personal and global, a distinctive contribution that makes Burma accessible and enthralling. Thant Myint-U, educated at Harvard and Cambridge, has served on three United Nations peacekeeping operations, in Cambodia and in the former Yugoslavia, and was more recently the head of policy planning in the UN's Department of Political Affairs. He lives in New York City.

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Peter Popham

The Lady And The Peacock : The Life of Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma

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Peter Popham's major new biography of Aung San Suu Kyi draws upon previously untapped testimony and fresh revelations to tell the story of a woman whose bravery and determination have captivated people around the globe. Celebrated today as one of the world's greatest exponents of non-violent political defiance since Mahatma Gandhi, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize only four years after her first experience of politics.In April 1988, Suu Kyi returned from Britain to Burma to nurse her sick mother but, within six months, found herself the unchallenged leader of the largest popular revolt in the history of Burma. When the party she co-founded won a landslide victory in Burma's first free elections for thirty years, she was already under house arrest and barred from taking office by the military junta.Since then, 'The Lady' has set about transforming her country ethically as well as politically, displaying dazzling courage in the process. Under house arrest for 15 of the previous 20 years, she has come close to being killed by her political enemies and her commitment to peaceful revolution has come at extreme personal cost.In November 2010, after fraudulent elections in which she played no part, Suu Kyi was again freed. She was greeted by ecstatic crowds but only time will tell what role this remarkable woman will have in the future of her country.

from $7.65

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François Bizot, John Le Carre', Euan Cameron

The Gate

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Book by Francois Bizot

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Hannah Pakula

The Last Empress : Madame Chiang Kai-Shek and the Birth of Modern China

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"The Last Empress" delivers a vivid, insightful and heart-wrenching account of the rise and fall of Madame Chiang Kai-shek, her family and China's tumultuous history. It offers readers a rare glimpse into the Soong family, their indomitable spirit and unyielding patriotism as they set out to modernize China. From Mao Tse-tung and Chou En-lai to the Flying Tigers and U.S. Army General Joseph Stilwell, this book retraces the tangled relationships and political intrigues that will ultimately seal the Soongs' fate and shape China's destiny. A must-read for anyone interested in the history and culture of one of the world's oldest civilizations.

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Suraya Sadeed

Forbidden Lessons in a Kabul Guesthouse - The True Story of One Woman who Risked Everything to Bring Hope to Afghanistan

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Set amidst some of the most inhospitable conditions in war-torn, Taliban-seized Afghanistan, "Forbidden Lessons in a Kabul Guesthouse" is an adventure story with heart that tells Sadeed's inspiring fight to bring aid, education, and peace training to Afghan citizens.

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Pu Yi, W.J.F. Jenner

From Emperor to Citizen : Autobiography of Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi

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It is a great read for history enthusiasts who want to know about the last emperor of China's life. The book covers his life as a puppet emperor of "Manchukuo", his journey of being in war criminal prisons, and his life after his pardon as an ordinary citizen of People's China. The book offers a unique perspective on Chinese history and the remoulding of a person through political and social changes.

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Adeline Yen Mah

Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots : The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter

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Snow White's stepmother looks like a pussycat compared to the monster under which Adeline Yen Mah suffered. The author's memoir of life in mainland China and--after the 1949 revolution--Hong Kong is a gruesome chronicle of nonstop emotional abuse from her wealthy father and his beautiful, cruel second wife. Chinese proverbs scattered throughout the text pithily covey the traditional world view that prompted Adeline's subservience. Had she not escaped to America, where she experienced a fulfilling medical career and a happy marriage, her story would be unbearable; instead, it's grimly fascinating: Falling Leaves is an Asian Mommie Dearest.

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Adeline Yen Mah, Kim McGillivray

Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots : The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter

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This book is a poignant memoir of Adeline Yen Mah's difficult childhood in a wealthy Chinese family. It highlights themes of family dynamics, cultural clashes, and resilience. Readers who appreciate candid accounts of personal struggles and triumphs will find this book compelling and thought-provoking.

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Aung San Suu Kyi, Fergal Keane

Letters From Burma

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Letters from Burma - an unforgettable collection from the Nobel Peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi In these astonishing letters, Aung San Suu Kyi reaches out beyond Burma's borders to paint for her readers a vivid and poignant picture of her native land. Here she celebrates the courageous army officers, academics, actors and everyday people who have supported the National League for Democracy, often at great risk to their own lives. She reveals the impact of political decisions on the people of Burma, from the terrible cost to the children of imprisoned dissidents - allowed to see their parents for only fifteen minutes every fortnight - to the effect of inflation on the national diet and of state repression on traditions of hospitality. She also evokes the beauty of the country's seasons and scenery, customs and festivities that remain so close to her heart. Through these remarkable letters, the reader catches a glimpse of exactly what is at stake as Suu Kyi fights on for freedom in Burma, and of the love for her homeland that sustains her non-violent battle. Includes an introduction from Fergal Keane 'Aung San Suu Kyi has become a global symbol of peaceful resistance, courage and apparently endless endurance' Guardian 'A real hero in an age of phony phone-in celebrity, which hands out that title freely to the most spoiled and underqualified' Bono, Time Aung San Suu Kyi is the leader of Burma's National League for Democracy. She was placed under house arrest in Rangoon in 1989, where she remained for almost 15 of the 21 years until her release in 2010, becoming one of the world's most prominent political prisoners. She is also the author of the collection of writings Freedom from Fear.

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James Peck, Sirin Phathanothai

The Dragon's Pearl : Growing up among China's Elite

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This book is highly recommended for those who are interested in learning about Communist China and the perspective of a foreigner who had the opportunity to be raised among its leadership. Sirin Phathanothai's account of daily life in China and her close relationship with Premier Zhou Enlai and his family provides unique insight into the inner workings of Mao's regime. The book also offers a glimpse into the Cultural Revolution and its effects on ordinary citizens.

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Christopher Hudson

The Killing Fields

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This book is a powerful and moving account of the Cambodian genocide, providing a firsthand account of the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge regime. It is a must-read for anyone interested in learning about this dark chapter in history and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable horrors.

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Thant Myint-U

The River of Lost Footsteps : Histories of Burma

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Recommendation: The River of Lost Footsteps is a mesmerizing exploration of Burma's complex past, taking readers on a captivating journey through the country's rich history. Thant Myint-U weaves personal narratives with historical accounts, providing an intimate and insightful perspective that brings Burma to life. With lyrical prose and a meticulous attention to detail, this book offers a profound understanding of the country's struggles, triumphs, and the enduring resilience of its people. Whether you are a history enthusiast or simply seeking a compelling tale, The River of Lost Footsteps is a must-read that will leave a lasting impression.

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Thant Myint-U

The River of Lost Footsteps

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Burma is currently ruled by a harsh dictatorship unmoved by Western activists and sanctions. It is also the sight of the longest-running conflict in the world. Drawing both on his own family's stories and his years of hands-on political experience working with the United Nations, Thant Myint-U has written an illuminating account of how Burma's rich past informs its violent present, and of how the world might transform the country's future. In The River of Lost Footsteps , Thant Myint-U tells the story of modern Burma, in part through a telling of his own family's history, in an interwoven narrative that is by turns lyrical, dramatic, and appalling. His maternal grandfather, U Thant, rose from being the schoolmaster of a small town in the Irrawaddy Delta to become the UN secretary-general in the 1960s. And on his father's side, the author is descended from a long line of courtiers who served at Burma's Court of Ava for nearly two centuries. Through their stories and others, he portrays Burma's rise and decline in the modern world, from the time of Portuguese pirates and renegade Mughal princes through the decades of British colonialism, the devastation of World War II, a sixty-year civil war that continues today, military repression and the emergence of Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. The River of Lost Footsteps is a work both personal and global, a distinctive contribution that makes Burma accessible and enthralling. Thant Myint-U is the author of Where China Meets India and has written articles for the New York Times , the Washington Post and the New Statesman.

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Jay Wurts, Le Ly Hayslip

When Heaven and Earth Changed Places: A Vietnamese Woman's Journey from War to Peace

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This book could be a good read for you if you want to gain a deep understanding of the human spirit and the devastating consequences of war. Through Le Ly Hayslip's powerful storytelling, you will be transported to Vietnam during the war, experiencing the unimaginable hardships she endured. But amidst the darkness, you will also witness her unwavering faith in humanity and her determination to overcome adversity. This is a deeply inspiring and unforgettable story that will leave you with a profound appreciation for the strength of the human spirit.

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Jonathan Fenby

Generalissimo : Chiang Kai-shek and the China He Lost

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If you're intrigued by the titanic shifts in 20th-century geopolitics, "Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek and the China He Lost" could be a fascinating read. Jonathan Fenby offers a masterclass on Chiang Kai-shek, a figure pivotal to understanding how China transitioned from a feuding republic to Communist rule. As you immerse yourself in the complexities of pre-Communist China, you might appreciate the rich narrative that feels almost novelistic, despite its firm roots in detailed historical research.

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Belle Yang

Forget Sorrow : An Ancestral Tale

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"A healing portrait drawn in epic ink strokes."-Elle When Belle Yang was forced to take refuge in her parents’ home after an abusive boyfriend began stalking her, her father entertained her with stories of old China. The history she’d ignored while growing up became a source of comfort and inspiration, and narrowed the gap separating her—an independent, Chinese-American woman—from her Old World Chinese parents.In Forget Sorrow, Yang makes her debut into the graphic form with the story of her father’s family, reunited under the House of Yang in Manchuria during the Second World War and struggling—both together and individually—to weather poverty, famine, and, later, Communist oppression. The parallels between Belle Yang’s journey of self-discovery and the lives and choices of her grandfather, his brothers, and their father (the Patriarch) speak powerfully of the conflicts between generations—and of possibilities for reconciliation.Forget Sorrow demonstrates the power of storytelling and remembrance, as Belle—in telling this story—finds the strength to honor both her father and herself.

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Emma Larkin

Finding George Orwell in Burma

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Recommended as a must-read for those interested in Southeast Asian politics and culture. Emma Larkin offers a unique perspective on Burma through the lens of George Orwell's experiences in the country. Her political travelogue is captivating and eye-opening, shedding light on the brutal realities of living in an oppressive military regime while also highlighting the resilience and strength of the Burmese people. Larkin's writing is both clear and engaging, making this book an accessible and insightful read for anyone looking to understand Burma's complicated history and current struggles.

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John Rabe

The Good Man of Nanking : The Diaries of John Rabe

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In November 1937, the Japanese Imperial Army took Nanking (Nanjing), the capital of China and home to 1.3 million people, and began an orgy of murder, rape, and looting. By the time discipline was restored two months later, hundreds of thousands of Chinese were dead, with hundreds of thousands more homeless, starving, and traumatized. The Rape of Nanking, as it is commonly known, still causes international controversy, as Japanese politicians refuse to apologize unequivocally to China and school textbooks continue to misrepresent the events. Like Oskar Schindler of Schindler's List , John Rabe was an enterprising and fundamentally decent German businessman caught up in war. Head of the Nanjing branch of Siemens, the German electronics firm, he had lived and worked in China for almost 30 years. Rather than flee from the threatened city, he stayed to organize a safety zone as refuge of last resort for Chinese civilians. The Good Man of Nanking is his firsthand description of the terrible events and his ultimate success in saving perhaps a quarter of a million lives. The diary format provides a forum for the extraordinary power and immediacy of John Rabe's words, including his gallows humor, placing the reader there in Nanking as the bombs explode and the Japanese soldiers begin their massacres. Rabe's trials were not over when he returned to wartime Germany; diary entries that he wrote during the occupation of Berlin by the Soviet army form a fascinating coda to this book. --John Stevenson

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Ian Baker, Dalai Lama XIV

The Heart Of The World - A Journey To Tibet's Lost Paradise

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The myth of Shangri-la originates in Tibetan Buddhist beliefs in beyul, or hidden lands, sacred sanctuaries that reveal themselves to devout pilgrims and in times of crisis. The more remote and inaccessible the beyul, the vaster its reputed qualities. Ancient Tibetan prophecies declare that the greatest of all hidden lands lies at the heart of the forbidding Tsangpo Gorge, deep in the Himalayas and veiled by a colossal waterfall. Nineteenth-century accounts of this fabled waterfall inspired a series of ill-fated European expeditions that ended prematurely in 1925 when the intrepid British plant collector Frank Kingdon-Ward penetrated all but a five-mile section of the Tsangpo's innermost gorge and declared that the falls were no more than a "religious myth" and a "romance of geography."The heart of the Tsangpo Gorge remained a blank spot on the map of world exploration until world-class climber and Buddhist scholar Ian Baker delved into the legends. Whatever cryptic Tibetan scrolls or past explorers had said about the Tsangpo's innermost gorge, Baker determined, could be verified only by exploring the uncharted five-mile gap. After several years of encountering sheer cliffs, maelstroms of impassable white water, and dense leech-infested jungles, on the last of a series of extraordinary expeditions, Baker and his National Geographic-sponsored team reached the depths of the Tsangpo Gorge. They made news worldwide by finding there a 108-foot-high waterfall, the legendary grail of Western explorers and Tibetan seekers alike. The Heart of the World is one of the most captivating stories of exploration and discovery in recent memory--an extraordinary journey to one of the wildest and most inaccessible places on earth and a pilgrimage to the heart of the Tibetan Buddhist faith.

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