Amazing book! With national geographic style imagery of China ...
926065
Amazing book! With national geographic style imagery of China gracefully narrating the comprehensive story of tea. After you are done learning about the wonderful history of Camellia Sinensis this book will serve as a perfect piece of coffee table art.
Enjoy:)
1077474
I had heard of Mr. Wolfe before,but it wasn`t until today,when I got this book I saw his photographs. I definitly think he is comparable with my other favourites Lanting and Doubilet,if not better. This book is definitly not a small bad book! At a weight of more than 2 pounds and in a format not suitable for even my bookcase,it is a behemoth in nature photo books. It was pretty expensive,but belive me,it`s worth the money. The book is divided into seven chapters,after the beautifull introduction. Island and Ocean is the first,and it deals with the Galapagos Islands with fantastic iguanas,and also humpback whales,which are very impressive. Polar & Subpolar,which is the second chapter,deals with cute polar bears and elephant seals that looks pretty fun,but also penguins,which are charmy animals. Savannah,Desert & Steppe is also an impressive chapter that features lions,wild dogs and elephants of the african savannah. Here are also some funny australian lizards,among them a moloch which looks like an alien! Mountain is the fourth chapterm,and it has many beautifull views of animals with mountains in the background - perfect inspiration. Temperate shows the beauty of North America`s nature with bears,owls and wolves. Subtropical features the Indian Nature. Here there are an excellent picture of mating peacocks. The tiger enthusiast won`t be disappointed either. The final chapter deals with the tropical rainforests,the most diverse areas in the world. Many wild cats are included here,but also toucans and parrots,to not mention monkeys. Over all,I can almost classify this as a sequel to Lanting`s The Living Planet,but in new format and a new photographer. This is a real mammoth release that won`t make anyone disappointed. It also has interesting comments about the endangered species by different authors. I find it very inspiring and funny to look at. Everyone that sees it says:"Can I look!". In such huge format,the full beauty of the image can be discovered. Every picture is like a poster! The book features a total of 150 species from 40 countries. Together with "The Living Planet" and "Water Light Time" it is the best photo book I have read so far. If Wolfe continues like this,I am pleased to see his future work.
1090727
I highly recommend this book.  The book is broken down into short segments about Chinese culture, history, and society. The readability of this book makes it an essential companion if you are planning a trip to China or if you are just interested in the country.  This book does not read as a completely academic assessment of China, but one can tell it is based on thorough research and the experiences of the authors. In my opinion, this is the best way to learn about China.  These two authors explain what they believe to be the most important facets of China's past, present, and future.  Importantly, after each section they point you to a list of books for further research and reading. It is clearly a book written with passion and a general desire to disseminate information about China in a world so fraught with misconceptions.
 The first part of the book provides a quick overview of the geography of China.  If you often hear about Taiwan and Macau, but do not truly understand their relationship to China and the world, this book is for you.  The authors clearly and succinctly cover the histories of these areas, along with the mainland, Hong Kong, and the immigration of Chinese to other areas.
 The book then covers the history and heritage of China, focusing on Chinese practices such as painting, literature, calligraphy, medicine, and the calendar.  These are incredibly interesting chapters and really provide a look into the important elements of Chinese culture.
  A thorough explanation of belief systems follows.  Although brief in comparison to the amount of material out there, this section really hits the nail on the head by explaining the different religions in general, and not in detail.
 The last section is perhaps the most interesting. I learned a great deal about China's position in our global society.  China's changing relations with other countries, especially with America, is fascinating.  This book offers a great overview of this situation.  The authors examine the 2008 Olympics and the future of China.  These are mostly speculations, but the authors certainly have drawn upon their vast experiences in China to reach their conclusions.  They provide viewpoints to provoke thought about the future of China.
 As someone who has traveled to China, I can speak to the usefulness of this book.  I would have greatly appreciated having it as a reference while I was there.  Chinese people really love it when foreigners make an effort to understand their culture and history.  This book succeeds in providing a resource to do that.  As I have also taken courses on China, I believe this book could be a valuable source to refresh one's memory or look up an unknown concept.
 The authors do not claim to have written an academic encyclopedia on China.  Instead, they have achieved something much more accessible to all sorts of readers with different goals in mind.  They obviously love China, and that comes through brilliantly in their writing.  Experience is the best teacher, and this book reflects how their personal experiences and academic studies about China have led them to write a book introducing this elusive, but enchanting country to their readers.
1043464
I have literally hundreds of books on Japanese design, culture, history and philosophy.  This book stands out.  It's gorgeously illustrated with clear, vivid, photos, and not just the run-of-the-mill usuals - the author has drawn on what are clearly personal connections with scholars, collectors and museums to illustrate this book with a fascinating collection of photos.  The book provides an amazing degree of detail without getting bogged down or lost on tangents; quite a feat for a book covering such a broad topic with a lengthy history.  Although I've lived in Japan, speak and read Japanese and have been traveling there for over forty years, I still learned all sorts of things from this book!  I wish this book had existed when I first started studying Japan - I would recommend this to anyone interested in Japan, from casual observers to serious scholars.  A real accomplishment, and a big contribution to the field.
2413733
I have always wanted to learn more about China but never made the time.  I saw this book and decided to buy and read it.  I am so glad I did.  It is definitely a page-turner that makes you want to keep reading it.  I am learning so many things about the history and political culture of China that I always wanted to know about.  It also helps me integrate what little I knew before, like Sun Tzu's "The Art of War."  I still have lots more of the book to read, and after I finish the entire book, I plan to re-read it again from the beginning.  In today's world environment, learning more about China and Chinese history and political culture is a must.  China is an existential threat to the future of the United States.  This book could not have been written and published at a better time!
1301848
I was lucky to travel with Carl on part of his quest to capture the delicate beauty of an endangered corner of wild Alaska and Lake Clark National Park. Now, seeing his work in print, I am blown away by his sharp images and human stories that effectively bring the vividness of the region to readers. A copy of this book lives on my coffee table, and it is the first to be picked up by visitors, and the conversation quickly becomes about the protecting the beauty and resources of this region!!
3650927
China has always interested me, but I had never had the opportunity to travel there. I will do some traveling in the next 5 years, and I got the book to get a feel for what the country is like.
The book is divided by sections covering China's different regions, with it diverse groups of people and culture.
This book gives you a lot of information with great photos. You really get an insight into the mind of the Chinese culture. This book is the one to get to get a comprehensive look into this mysterious nation, and now I feel more prepared and even more eager to go on my trip!
4844382
As a professor of Geography and Asian Studies, I have long admired Ron Knapp's extensive and unparalleled work on China's vernacular architecture and village landscapes.  This book is extraordinarily detailed and lavishly illustrated with both landscape paintings and Chester Ong's stunning photographs.  The text and graphics are expertly and painstakingly paired, and the author and photographer know their subject extremely well, having taken the time to travel widely but also dig deeply into local bridge construction techniques and associated rituals and culture history.  After a thorough survey of seven major types of bridges - step on block bridges, beam bridges, floating bridges, cantilevered bridges, arch bridges (of multiple kinds), covered bridges, and garden bridges, the geographer and the photographer take us on a tour of bridges in Chinese folk culture and through Chinese history.  A close examination of 21 specific bridges or regional styles of bridges provides the most in-depth exploration of the breadth and depth of bridge building knowledge and culture in China that I have ever seen or head of. I recommend this book for people of all levels of expertise and interest in China's culture history - it is a delight to the senses and a very mindful approach to architectural features which combine practical utility with place magic.  As Martin Heidegger noted, the bridge brings earth and sky, humans and divinities together.  This book shows how and why this has been true for so many communities in China for such a long time.
4758350
This massive tome is heavily illustrated with the highest quality paper and color, as one would expect from National Geographic, and is incredibly thorough in its information. The Maps! I love the maps. Extremely detailed and plentiful, they're the best biblical maps I've seen in a book.

It is divided into 5 chapters. "From Genesis to Deuteronomy," "From Joshua to Kings," "From Chronicles to Maccabees," "The Four Gospels," and "From Acts of the Apostles to Revelation." And there's always the index if you don't know what part of the Bible the person of interest is located in, but the index isn't always complete (see paragraph below). There is also much more...an "Epilogue ~ Early Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism After the Fall of Jerusalem," and many other fascinating pieces of historical interest are included within each chapter.

As noted above, the 3rd chapter includes Maccabees. The first thing I checked when receiving this book is if it included the "Apocrypha," those wonderful books that Catholics consider part of the Bible and other Christians sadly tend to ignore. And thankfully, it does. Judith and all her gory glory depicted by Caravaggio, Mattathias and his descendants, and a piece on the Book of Tobit, as well as entries in that chapter's "Who's Who," however, Tobit and his son Tobias as well as other Apocryphal people are not listed in the index, which is a surprising omission.

This "Who's Who in the Bible" is a wonderful coffee table book, and has information that will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the Bible, its history, the culture of its times...and maps!
3357823
<div id="video-block-R11311SOABEYX7" class="a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block"></div><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B1C-XWnoIgS.mp4" class="video-url"><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/810waYtmNnS.png" class="video-slate-img-url">&nbsp;This is a video review of the in-depth book, Living Abroad in China. A very detailed book on all aspects of life regarding the Chinese culture. Whether you wish to live there, work there, or just visit, this book is a must read for all those even contemplating a visit.
4251473
It is exceedingly difficult for a book to do justice to the breath-taking beauty of a largely unspoiled land with diverse cultures and a relatively undeveloped economy.  Qinghai, Sourceland of Three Great Rivers somehow does not disappoint.  With a focus on spectacular photographs, natural resources and fascinating cultures, the story of Qinghai is told in typical Chinese style, with elegance and charm that embody the splendor of this fascinating province.

Qinghai is a development zone for China, so the provincial government is seeking economic partnerships and ventures in this ecologically fragile land.  When I traveled there in September of 2008, and toured parts of this amazing, high plateau province, the cultural diversity was striking, with Tibetan, Mongol, Tu, and Muslim peoples and others in addition to the majority Chinese Hanh.  There have been poetry festivals and a renowned bicycle race, as well as a documentary film and photography festival hosted by the local government to help showcase this region, with the race circling around the astounding Qinghai Lake.

Other resources detail the technological and economic aspects of Qinghai province, but for a cultural and ecological look at this province "at the roof of the world," I am most impressed with "Qinghai, Sourceland of Three Great Rivers."  Not much mention is made of the large, bustling city of Xining, as this book is definitely geared towards the flora, fauna and fragile ecosystems of Qinghai and some of the local cultural origins, festivals and attractions of Qinghai. For anyone interested in the cultural diversity of China, and the mysterious Tibetan Plateau, this book, as part of the "Panoramic China" series, gives an amazing look into this unique land.
497426
I had the pleasure of traveling with Stefanie and Jonathan to two of the most remote National Parks in Alaska and I am completely blown away by their keen ability to capture the beauty of our National Parks!! When my copy arrived, I literally set the morning aside to sit and dream of my own future trips, and relive past visits! This book is not only a collection of spectacular images, but a "how-to" manual for those wishing to truly experience (not simply visit) our nation's most impressive public lands. A must have for any National Park aficionado!!!
3008532
I can't get enough of this book! Every time I look at it, I find something new. The images are beautiful and the colors are so vibrant! It explores different animals as well as customs in different parts of the world with simple, yet humorous dialogue. Plus there are great cling stickers inside the book which adds an activity factor. I would highly recommend it.  You will enjoy every page!
1492148
Long before the use of PhotoShop and other digital techniques, award-winning Chinese photographer Manly Chin was creating photographs that looked like Chinese paintings.  His photos, largely of natural life subjects like birds that he personally raised and trained, are masterpieces of studio photography designed to mimic the "naturalness" of Chinese water color paintings.

I first saw his work at an international photo exhibit, then found a copy of this book to buy for my mother, who loved it.  She later passed it back to me and I'm delighted at the returned gift of this hard-to-find and out-of-print masterpiece.
4096806
"All About China" has it all - a vision of what  living in China is like, filled with crafts, illustrations and information that will appeal to kids. My daughter loved the recipes. This is an excellent book for all kids, but especially for children adopted from China as it celebrates the culture, history and uniqueness of China in a lovely and highly accessible way. Highest recommendation!
243970
It is an enlightening book, providing us with a whole new perspective to look at Chinese history and to better understand the current political climate in Mainland China which is under the deep influence of the China order.  It is a book to open your eyes to something you would never get chance to learn from any book published in China. Definitely mind-blowing!
4529679
I received a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was amazed by this book! It is rare for me to find it difficult to write a review for a book because I could talk for days about it, and my words could not adequately express my amazement; this is one of those occasions.

Each chapter is prefaced by a short history lesson about Chinese politics, culture, religion, or society. If you pay attention to these lessons, you will find that they are relevant to Hackman's current situation. You will gain a deeper understanding of the places he discusses and the challenges he faced.

Hackman uses a combination of narrative, expository, and descriptive writing that invites the reader to join him on his amazing adventure. Readers will find themselves immersed as Hackman guides them along busy city streets, into shops and restaurants, through the countryside to explore remnants of a rich and ancient culture, and discusses the trials and triumphs he experienced while building his Chinese junk.

For those planning on visiting China, Hackman provides valuable advice to Western tourists by admitting some of his own mistakes in humorous asides. He also recommends different foods, teas, places to visit, and recipes to try for those who wish to have a well-rounded experience.

If you have any interest in Chinese history, culture, or society; you really do not want to pass up the opportunity to read No Problem, Mr. Walt! It will exceed your expectations, and you will find yourself immersed from the moment you begin to read it.