History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Transformation of Central Asia: States and Societies from Soviet Rule to Independence

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Interesting topics, no overview or logic
Misleading title

The Transformation of Central Asia: States and Societies from Soviet Rule to Independence

Manufacturer: Cornell University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0801488427

Book Description

With the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, former Communist Party leaders in Central Asia were faced with the daunting task of building states where they previously had not existed -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Their task was complicated by the institutional and ideological legacy of the Soviet system as well as by a more actively engaged international community. These nascent states inherited a set of institutions that included bloated bureaucracies, centralized economic planning, and patronage networks. Some of these institutions survived, others have mutated, and new institutions have been created.

Experts on Central Asia here examine the emerging relationship between state actors and social forces in the region. Through the prism of local institutions, the authors reassess both our understanding of Central Asia and of the state-building process more broadly. They scrutinize a wide array of institutional actors, ranging from regional governments and neighborhood committees to transnational and non-governmental organizations. With original empirical research and theoretical insight, the volume's contributors illuminate an obscure but resource-rich and strategically significant region.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting topics, no overview or logic.......2006-12-12

This book combines a number of interesting topics. Especially important is the topic of bride-kidnapping, but like everything else in modern academia this has to be white washed, therefore kidnapping and forced marriage and rape is called "non-consenual" which is a nice civilized term, but it implies the typical view of elite westerners, that no one is ever allowed to judge the 'other'. Therefore bride kidnapping is explained, which is better than not analyzing it, but there is no context, there is no voice of the woman and there is no analysis of why such a practice is inherently wrong.

Secondly there is an interesting discussion of language policy in Kazakhstan, but again there is little context of this. The Soviets transformed central Asia, they built states out of gatherings of tribes, they deported millions of Germans, Poles, Russians and Koreans to these lands, millions of Russians immigrated and most all the Soviet union gave written languages where only dialect had been, they also gave women equal rights and a say in the state. But they had their shortcomings, they maintained local elites by transforming local chiefs into soviet commisars.

But there is no context for this in these essays, there is no history, nothing that ties these countries to together. There is not one word about Islamism and the rise of terrorism, there is not one word on the fate of minorities, especially in Tajikistan. So in the end this book is mostly a failure, either that or it is mis-packaged, it should have just been called 'insights' into central Asia.

Seth J. Frantzman

Misleading title.......2006-06-03

I was assigned this book as part of the reading for a class I took at Princeton on Central Asia. I have very mixed feelings about it.

Each section is written by a different author. Some are almost unreadable. Most chapters focus on very small (and often, seemingly unimportant) issues in state and society. At times it seems the authors are more concerned with citing each other (as indeed, every one of them does) than with teaching the reader about Central Asia

But worse, reading this book will give you no insight into the actual transformation of the region. If I had to single out the biggest problem with the book, it is the misleading title. Nowhere in this book will you find the history of Central Asia dealt with in a comprehensive--much less, thorough--way. I did not come away from it with a sense of the "transformation" of Central Asia.

What this book is good for, is learning about the contradictions and problems faced by the societies of the Central Asian Republics. All the same, I would counsel you against spending your money on this book.

China's Transformations: The Stories beyond the Headlines

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Modern China in a nutshell

China's Transformations: The Stories beyond the Headlines
Lionel M. Jensen
Manufacturer: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 074253863X

Book Description

This successor volume to China beyond the Headlines takes the reader even farther beyond the front stage to explore a China few Westerners have seen. Seeking to bridge the gap between what specialists understand and the general public believes, the contributors challenge readers to move past the usual images of China presented by the media and to think about shared problems. In an entirely new set of essays, they explore such critical issues as environmental degradation, nationalism, unemployment, film and literature, news reporting, the Internet, sex tourism, and the costs of the economic boom to vividly portray the complexity of life in contemporary China and how surprisingly often it speaks to the American experience.

Customer Reviews:

Modern China in a nutshell.......2007-09-28

This book is comprehensive without being dull as dust. The chapters are complete unto themselves. My reactions: frowning, eye brows raised, goosebumps, laughter, and high interest.

Globalization and State Transformation in China (Cambridge Asia-Pacific Studies)

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Globalization and State Transformation in China (Cambridge Asia-Pacific Studies)
Yongnian Zheng
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521537509

Book Description

Globalization has created challenges and opportunities which all countries have to grapple with. Yongnian Zheng explores how China's leaders have embraced global capitalism and market-oriented modernization by encouraging individual enterprise and the reform of economic institutions. While open to importing Western ideas in rebuilding the economic system, the same leaders have been reluctant to import Western concepts of democracy and the rule of law. Zheng argues that, ultimately, this selectivity will impede China's progress in becoming a modern nation state.

The Resurgence of East Asia: 500, 150 and 50 Year Perspectives (Asia's Transformations)

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The Resurgence of East Asia: 500, 150 and 50 Year Perspectives (Asia's Transformations)
G. Arrighi
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0415316375

Book Description

The East Asian expansion since the 1960s stands out as a global power shift with few historical precedents. The Resurgence of East Asia examines the rise of the region as one of the world's economic power centres from three temporal perspectives: 500 years, 150 years and 50 years, each denoting an epoch in regional and world history and providing a vantage point against which to assess contemporary developments.

The three perspectives each have something valuable to offer towards the understanding of the present rise of East Asia and the modern world system, and their combination offers a contrast to the national and global studies that have recently dominated the literatures of development and globalization. In offering a comprehensive understanding of the present East Asian dynamic in light of the region's historical heritage, the authors present several alternative hypotheses about the ongoing East Asian renaissance, whose plausibility remains to be assessed in the light of unfolding evidence.

This collection is a valuable resource for students of Asian history, international politics and Asian studies.

Japan's Quiet Transformation: Social Change and Civil Society in the 21st Century (Asia's Transformations)

Average customer rating:

An intellectual turn of the page
Excellent, well organized
Less transformation than revolution
Look Again
The Best of Books, the Worst of Books

Japan's Quiet Transformation: Social Change and Civil Society in the 21st Century (Asia's Transformations)
Jeff Kingston
Manufacturer: RoutledgeCurzon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0415274834

Book Description

In the 1990s the phenomenal growth of the Japanese economy ground to a shuddering halt and the country was subsequently crippled by enormous and ongoing political, economic and social problems. This accessible and engaging textbook for all students of Japanese studies is beautifully illustrated with striking images of turmoil and change in contemporary Japan. Kingston examines the transformation of Japan, evaluating the social, economic and political challenges it has faced, as well as prospects for the future addressing what is often missed by media's relentless pessimistic coverage. Controversially, it argues that the Japan that emerges from these manifold problems may, in fact, be stronger than before.

Areas covered include:

* The power of bureaucracy
* Information disclosure
* Judicial Reform
* Infrastructure
* Health, BSE and the struggle for human rights
* Nationalism and 'Japaneseness'
* Social transformation: family, gender, ageing, and work

Customer Reviews:

An intellectual turn of the page.......2006-05-20

Writing about most countries goes through cycles, where perceptive observation along with cliches and received ideas gel into a conventional wisdom that lingers, obscuring the view and damaging the public's ability to come to grips with new realities.
Few countries submit to this rule more than Japan, which seems to accumulate cliches faster than just about any other place. The cliches congeal quickly, making it all the more difficult to overturn the conventional wisdom.
Here is a book that mercifully gives us a fresh new take on Japan by an author who marries a certain and intimate knowledge of of the country with the courage to set off in his own direction.
Kingston has written THE necessary Japan book for the middle years of this decade.

Excellent, well organized.......2006-05-18

Great book describing all facets of Japan following its fall from grace after its booming 1980s. I did not find all of the sections of the book equally captivating (due to personal biases...or maybe I'm being too lenient) and glossed over a few, but I was able to do that since the book was organized so nicely. Each chapter is a good length at about 30 pages x 10 chapters for a total of just over 300 pages. There are relevant pictures included in black and white, and that substantially helped the book avoid lapsing into dry, academic writing that I have found in some other books on this subject. I fancy economics and business, and the book covered those to my satisfaction.

I've long been interested in Japanese pop culture (anime, karaoke, video games), and I had a romanticized image of all things Japan upon starting this book. The book put a significant damper on that image, but I feel like I have a much more balanced view of Japan now. The book seemed to cover everything and in a fairly succinct manner--some parts felt a little repetitive but they were easily skimmed. It was a good balance between brevity and thoroughness, and that's something I can always appreciate. I think I could actually have a conversation about Japanese present and future now, it's a good feeling.

The book definitely takes up a rather pessimistic view of modern Japan, although the author closes on a hopeful note (perhaps obligatory, come to think of it). Westerners I think might also have a flowery picture of Japan like I did--samurai, loyalty to corporations, honor and things like that. But the author addresses all of those things realistically. If you think about any issue facing Japan right now, the book is likely to touch on it: demographics, immigration, women, youth, corruption and more. Very well rounded. Recommended if you're curious about what is going on with Japan and what might be in store for its future. A little depressing, but information is the key to progress.

Less transformation than revolution.......2006-04-24

Japan's Quiet Transformation is one of the most important books published about Japan in recent years. It is unsparing in its critique of Japan's many ills. But it goes well beyond the standard doom-laden portrayal to paint a picture of a country in the midst of a sweeping transformation. At a glance, it seems like an unlikely yarn. The subject is Japan, after all. But Quiet Transformation is a compelling and entertaining read that stands to become a classic on Japan's largely ignored battle to turn itself around in the early 21st century -- albeit with no guarantees of success.

Look Again.......2006-04-21

A masterful look at post-bubble era Japan and the important social, political and economic changes that have quietly taken place while the rest of the world has been bemoaning the nation's long stagnation. The author has chosen an unconventional thesis and backs it up with an impressive amount of research. This is a book for the serious student of Japan, justifiably praised by the Economist and the Financial Times, among other prestigious publications. It should be required reading in Japan studies departments on campuses all around the globe.

The Best of Books, the Worst of Books.......2006-03-25

First, the bad news. The writing style in this book is extremely poor. The author strings cliche after cliche repeatedly, bloating the chapters out of proportion to the substance. He also resorts to bombastic hyperbole and even puns of the worst sort. A little humor never hurt anyone (and the editorial cartoons from the Japan Times included are funny as well as relevant), but there is such a thing as humor that is pointless and in bad taste--as when, in discussing the effects of the Kobe earthquake on public perceptions, Kingston quips "The aftershocks of Kobe were felt throughout the polity, weakening the foundations of the bureaucracy and shaking people's confidence in those who govern." Yuck!

Now, the good news. The thesis of this book is really on target. Once Japan's economy started slowing down to a halfway sane rate, the American media jumped all over this when they deigned to give Japan news coverage at all, painting the picture that Japan was stagnating and generally going to hell in a handbasket. This book is a much needed corrective to such a portrayal, giving the reader a full view of the energy and vitality in Japanese society today (and suggesting that the bursting of rapid economic growth may in some ways be a good thing...gasp, what heresy!) The topics and issues the author focuses on are all interesting and important, key in many ways to knowing what's going on in contemporary Japan. And, subtracting the terrible writing style, each chapter is quite informative.

China and Globalization: The Social, Economic and Political Transformation of Chinese Society (Globalizing Regions)

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Like a Textbook-- published by PRC

China and Globalization: The Social, Economic and Political Transformation of Chinese Society (Globalizing Regions)
Doug Guthrie
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0415949912

Book Description

China and Globalization is a compact, highly readable introductory text on contemporary China and the massive changes it is presently undergoing. It focuses primarily on how economic structural change is driving the processes, but discusses many other issues as well--politics, social change, reform, international economics, and cultural change. In its quarter-century long shift from communism to capitalism, China has transformed from a desperately poor nation into a country possessing one of the fastest-growing and largest economies in the world. Doug Guthrie covers the social, economic, and political factors responsible for the revolutionary changes, and interweaves this broader structural analysis with a consideration of social changes at the micro and macro levels. The book also considers the potential for further change. Will China become more democratic? Will the government become more serious about protecting human rights and creating a transparent legal system? How will China's explosive growth impact both East Asia and the larger global economy? In sum, this will be a sophisticated, definitive yet compact overview of the effects of massive social, economic, and political reforms on the most populous nation in the world.
Books in this series look at how nations and regions across the world are navigating the tumultuous currents of globalization. Concise, descriptive, interdisciplinary, and theoretically informed, they serve as ideal introductions to the peoples and places of our increasingly globalized world.

Customer Reviews:

Like a Textbook-- published by PRC.......2006-11-10

The author presented quite a rosy picture on China. On privatization, this book praised the successful gradual approach of the government. On institutional reform and liberalization, the market forces and foreign investors seem to be transforming China into a "rational" and democratic system.

Although the author distances himself from the neoliberals on the issue about privatization, his logic on institutional transition and modernization nevertheless make him more of a neoliberal than otherwise. This book described the policy reforms and changes of social control mechanism nicely, but not the social problems and challenges resulted from the reform.

Optimism is fine, but downplaying the uncertainties and social ills associated with globalization is not. The excessive optimism of the book make it like an English version of a Chinese official textbook.

Singapore: Wealth, Power and the Culture of Control (Asia's Transformations)

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Singapore: Wealth, Power and the Culture of Control (Asia's Transformations)
Carl Trocki
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0415263867

Book Description

This book examines Singapore's culture of control, exploring the city-states colonial heritage as well as the forces that have helped to mould its current social landscape. Taking a comparative approach, Trocki demonstrates the links between Singapore's colonial past and independent present, focusing on the development of indigenous social and political movements. In particular, the book examines the efforts of Lee Yew Kuan, leader of the Peoples Action Party from 1959 until 1990, to produce major economic and social transformation. Trocki discusses how Singapore became a workers paradise, but what the city gained in material advancement it paid for in intellectual and cultural sterility.

Based on the latest research, the book addresses the question of control in one of the most prosperous and dynamic economies in the world, providing a compelling history of post-colonial Singapore.

Kawari: How Japan's Economic and Cultural Transformation Will Alter the Balance of Power Among Nations

Average customer rating:

Ezrati's a "rattling read"
An Essay in Modern Political Economy
Metamorphosis
in-depth description of current situation in japan

Kawari: How Japan's Economic and Cultural Transformation Will Alter the Balance of Power Among Nations
Milton Ezrati
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A Look into Japan (Japan in Your Pocket)

ASIN: 0738203149
Release Date: 2000-05-30

Amazon.com

Kawari, which means "change" in Japanese, is a fitting (albeit understated) way to describe the far-reaching pecuniary and societal metamorphosis now underway in that country. Milton Ezrati, an international asset manager as well as an expert on Japan's finance, business, and politics, believes this extensive shift eventually will have wide-ranging effects around the globe. But unlike similarly dramatic upheavals in the 19th century and after World War II that stemmed largely from external threats to Japanese security, Ezrati contends, "this one will come from the more impersonal forces of her maturing economy, the globalization of economic and financial arrangements, and the rapid and relentless aging of her population." Japan will subsequently "gain stature on the world stage," he suggests, and "go from the nation that owned much but influenced little, to a nation that owns even more and influences a great deal."

In Kawari: How Japan's Economic and Cultural Transformation Will Alter the Balance of Power Among Nations, Ezrati fully examines this ongoing evolution from a Japanese perspective and explores the myriad ways that commercial affairs, government operations, and the population itself will likely be reshaped as the nation and surrounding region pull out of their current financial crisis. --Howard Rothman

Book Description

An insider's look at today's Japan, as history transforms it from an insular commercial giant into a nation among nations, with renewed military, diplomatic, and financial powers

At the dawn of the new millennium, Japan is once again undergoing radical change, just as it did when it opened its doors to trade in the nineteenth century or rose from the ashes of World War II. Today's political, financial, and economic crises, however, reflect a confluence of trends that are proving that its current model for growth, a success for half a century, is unsustainable. In Kawari (which means "change" in Japanese), Milton Ezrati paints a rich, multi-dimensional, and provocative picture of Japan in transition. Analyzing economic, social, political, demographic, and cultural trends, Ezrati argues that Japan is poised to recover from its current crises, liberalize its trade policies, and evolve into a major diplomatic and military power-but not without profound consequences for its people and for the world at large.

Customer Reviews:

Ezrati's a "rattling read".......2000-09-15

Ezrati's first book was a surprise to me, but after reading it, I found that I was intrigued about a subject I never gave much thought to; Japanese socioeconomic status. This is now my current field of fascination, and I must say that "Kawari" is one of the more enlightening books on the subject.

An Essay in Modern Political Economy.......2000-06-15

A sea change in demographics not seen since the end of the Second World War looms over the industrialised world. Every member of the OECD expects the ratio of workers to dependents to fall over the next fifty years, but none anticipates a disaster like Japan's: within a generation, Japan will fall from seven wage-earners per dependent to less than two. Needless to say, this kind of change cannot hope but have profound implications for Japan's culture, national politics, macro- and micro-economic climate, trade and military ties abroad, and her social democracy in general. We can anticipate a revolution in Japanese society and role in the world not seen since 1945.

This is the theme of Mr. Ezrati's book, and an ambitious theme it is. Most authors would not be able to cover such a vast and profound topic without lapsing into either hyperbole or tedium, yet Mr. Ezrati manages to lead the reader through his argument with grace, aplomb, and style. He interposes hard facts and rigourous analysis with illuminating and entertaining anecdotes to offer a work that will prove useful to novices and experts alike. Ezrati never loses sight of his thesis and, though the sheer volume of knowledge that he brings to the discussion may seem dizzying, carefully guides the reader through his subtle logic to the startling conclusion. Well on its way to becoming required reading at my institution for all politics and economics students and faculty, Ezrati's Kawari is highly recommended for businessmen, academics, students, and amateurs with an interest, not only in Japan, but in the shape of geopolitics in the coming century.

Metamorphosis.......1999-11-23

Faced with economic difficulties and a rapidly growing retired population, Japan will have to undergo fundamental change, metamorphosis, in the near future. In a clear and practical writing style the author guides through the recent troubles of the Japanse system of a state-coordinated economy and the challenges imposed by demographic changes. In order to prevent decline, Japan must transform from a center of manufacturing to a "headquarter nation" helping to organise the deleloping Asian economies. This requires the rather isolationist country to reestablish its diplomatic and military presence in global politics. Brilliantly sharp analysis combined with real life anecdotes make this book a pleasure to read. It conveys an intuitive understanding of the Japanese way and its powerful implications for Asia and beyond. A must for anyone interested in global trends of economic and political power.

in-depth description of current situation in japan.......1999-11-01

this book is great, i love it very much.

Developmental Dilemmas: Land Reform and Institutional Change in China (Asia's Transformations)

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Developmental Dilemmas: Land Reform and Institutional Change in China (Asia's Transformations)
Peter Ho
Manufacturer: RoutledgeCurzon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0415362393

Book Description

Studying institutional change regardless of whether it is focused on transitional or developing economies, is most fruitful when focused on its structuring of the means of production - land, labor and capital.

Developmental Dilemmas singles out land as an object of study and places it in the context of one of the world's largest and most populous countries undergoing institutional reform, the People's Republic of China. The book demonstrates that private property protected by law, the principle of 'getting-the-prices-right', and the emergence of effectively functioning markets are the outcome of a given society's historical development and institutional fabric. Peter Ho argues that the successful creation of new institutions hinges in part on choice and timing in relation to the particular constellation of societal, economic, political and cultural parameters. Disregarding these could result in rising inequality, bad land stewardship, and the eruption of land-related grievances.

With contributions from a leading team of specialists, this volume offers an authoritative and in-depth analysis of the main constraints in China's land administration; the potential sources of land disputes; the socio-economic impact of agricultural land, forest, and grassland policies; and the alternatives in land tenure that could lead to a socially acceptable, ecologically sustainable and economically viable land use. This volume will be of interest to students of development studies and contemporary China, and will address a wide readership of professionals interested in the economics of transition, legal anthropology, natural resource management, and gender and rural development.

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