Oh East is East and West is West...
353280
Like the Kipling poem that supplied my title, the novel Kim represents a counterpoint of East and West.  The two main characters, British orphan Kim and the Tibetan monk, represent polar opposites -- youth and age, worldliness and otherworldliness, intrigue and detachment, Western and Eastern civilizations, religions, and world-views -- and yet they become friends, develop a relationship of mutual respect and help each other accomplish their objectives.
Rudyard Kipling is well known as an author of boys' adventure stories, and while Kim can be read as such by younger readers it is much more than that.  Traditional views of Kipling, that he was an apologist for the British Empire who despised the "lesser races" that made it up, are likewise not entirely just.  In this novel he brings many threads together, with India a sort of third character -- a complex India with many ethnicities and cultures living in close proximity under the benevolent rule of the British Raj.  His encyclopedic knowledge of those many cultures comes out with incredible wealth of detail, as well as frequent use of words borrowed from Farsi, Sanscrit, Hindi, and Arabic, some of which have since become part of the English language, but many of which will be new to the American reader.  If you haven't read Kim yet, you should -- it's entertaining and also has a humanistic and moral theme -- that humans are more alike than different, -- just like the Ballad of East and West.
This particular version has a helpful Foreword by an English professor that brings out the scholarly view of the work.  Type is legible for a paperback of only slightly more than "pocketbook" size.  The only criticism I have of the production of the book is that footnotes at the bottom of each page, properly numbered, would have given an appropriate Victorian feel to the book as well as being much easier on the reader.  As it is, all those unfamiliar words have to be looked up in the back of the book, requiring much riffling through pages, and even then, they aren't divided up by chapter, but under page number headings.
1295027
This book explores the regions growing commercial opportunities and complexities. It deals with the East, a wide area starting in Egypt and ending in China. The author, an former economist who has set up a consultancy in Hong Kong, tells numerous examples and anecdotes.
The book is well written, precise and concise, and very easy to read. It sheds some light on some of the most interesting trends on this area. I highly recommend it to anybody who has an interest in the East!
844346
Point precisely one direction to the left of the direction of travel.  W -> S, S -> E so, pretty useless as a compass.  It's sort of a non compass. It's the antithesis of a compass.  Interesting as a Dada art piece, useless as boobs on a trout for a compass.
1319070
East to use.  Our dachshund still uses it to tell us when he needs to go out.
1896352
Left, right, north, south, east coast, west coast, black, white, yellow, red, blue, green...All of it is a means to keep us all divided and weak...STOP IT, just STOP IT, please, you poor world in self imposed chains, please wake up...
This book is meant to bring us together...to wake you up!!!  ENJOY THE FREEDOM IT BRINGS YOU...
3952414
Captures the global child's predicament of belonging very well. East vs west, which is really best? On the other side.....the grass is always greener.
2095119
a book that brings together the eastern and western world.....the science in layman's language of how the brain and the mind work in tandem to create our reality.  and then how to create the brain state that brings peace.  i intend on buying this book for friends who are interested in taking control of their lives and finding that still point inside of calm, peace and serenity.
580149
Although I am not a student of philosophy and I have not finished reading this book, I was compelled to write a very brief review.

It is quite true that often times the views and ideas of how knowledge came about in the east remain Indocentric and in the west remain Eurocentric.  In this book however, I've found a very nicely researched marriage of world philosophies, for the first time, that I didn't find to be excessively biased with either perspective.  It is unfortunate that contemporary works still remain so focused on one ideology or geography and often biased, because they detract from true understanding.  I've found that this book is just the book that touches upon these ideas.

I also believe the publication of this book to be timely as travel to the east has increased given today's global economy and it's growing players:  India and China.  As I mentioned in a response to another person's review, these two regions of the world (or modern nations) have been the global commerce leaders off and on for centuries.  The US and Western Europe have dominated this role in the past few centuries but these old powers are rising up again.  With this rise, it is inevitable that the ideas presented in this book will become increasing mainstream.  The world has not always been separated into east and west, as noted in this book.  Depending on the economics of the time, in previous centuries global commerce has flourished and then declined off and on.  It won't be long before this will be noticed by the larger majority of people as more and more historical evidence from the east becomes available for study.
3768061
I read Shelley Bucks new book, "East, a Woman on the Road to Kathmandu" fully expecting a white knuckle (possibly saddening) depiction of the trials and tribulations of a woman traveling alone through Europe and the Middle East in the early 1970's. This was a time when the war in Viet Nam was winding down and tensions and conflict were building in places like Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Egypt and Israel. Young Shelly Buck, armed only with a few dollars, her indomitable toughness and witty sense of humor chronicled what it was like to travel through that part of the world during the golden days of back packing. "East" is an informative, entertaining and zany read and should be required reading for all High School students.

Michael E. DeGregorio
Author: "Ditch Kids"
...baby-boomers growing up in 50's California
3800121
Debu's journey brings together many opposites: east and west, thoughts of  adults on the young, old country -- new country, Hinduism -- Christianity,  tradition and modernity.  His odyssey takes him from an ancient land to a  new one; sacred rivers flow through each, he creates himself anew as he  moves between cultures.  It is a voyage of discovery, but not just of  places and environments and new friends and colleagues; there is an inner  voyage that takes place too.  In this kind of journey -- which takes place  over decades, on several continents -- although most of these stories are  set in Idaho in the last 20 years -- there is ample room for reflection,  and doubt and crises of identity.  Do I belong to one culture?  Or another?  Or does that question even have meaning any more?  Not least of the gifts  of this book is that as Debu ponders the changes that have come about in  himself, among his fellow Indians who have come to the United States, and  in everyone who has come to the American West, he sees himself in new ways,  and we see ourselves in a new light too.  That is a valuable gift.
268351
The most important book in the History of Western Philosophy.  Anyone wishing to understand the western tradition will have to grapple with this work eventually.
Its not that Locke got everything right, but he does at least point us in the right direction.
4063509
Society has often divided the history of philosophy into Eastern and Western thought.  However, in "Socrates and the Enlightenment Path," William Bodri presents a convincing argument that Socrates was one of the rare people to have blended the two genres.  Bodri systematically analyzes writings about Socrates and the writings of Eastern philosophy (including those about the Buddha and Confucius) in an attempt to determine whether or not Socrates achieved the highest levels of Eastern philosophy's enlightenment.
 Yet, this text is not exclusively about Socrates and his ideas.  Rather, it is an informative text on philosophy in general and mankind's search for clarity.  Bodri searches many different texts and disciplines to determine that the truly great thinkers of our world have defied the boundaries of East and West to discover the oneness of true reality.
2903551
When East meets West the cultures fuse and combine....but not without conflict and loss of authenticity. This is what we learn during the journey of Ali and Nino. Beautifully written with great consideration for all cultures involved, and understanding of the clashes created by the arrival of outside forces. A lesson in love, tolerance and respect for the past.
2230234
No surprise on this 3rd solo album for Natacha Atlas.. Diaspora had more Western Influences( except for Feres) while HALIM was quite Middle-Eastern. Now in Gedida, she mixes her Middle-Eastern roots with hip-hop and dance  music very well, especially in Bahlam which I liked the most. By the way, I  watched her live on stage last June in Roxy,Istanbul. She looked really  terrific..
1315934
This is a book I think all people in the West should read to educate themselves.
318749
This is a great book for those with lives touched by both the East and the West. I am Australian, but have lived in Asia for 12 years and found this book to be both immensely interesting (as a popular science book) & useful (doing business in Asia).

Nisbett clearly explains how two different philosophical heritages create the different perspectives that are found in these 2 cultural groups. Very interesting insights.

It's also fun: The book is packed with interesting psychological tests aimed at revealing these differences. I've spent hours inflicting these tests on my friends and have become an expert at drawing the "fish tank" from the test determining if an individual focuses on objects or on context.

The book does not focus on philosophy, nor on ethics, so don't expect debates on "right" & "wrong". Nisbett wisely stays away from these areas in a book that deals with different races/cultures. He is definately not a "racist" and does not ascribe any preference for either perspective. He simply points out the differences and explains them.

I enjoyed it immensely and would strongly recommend it to anyone who lives with one foot in each of these two cultures.
2173422
An inspiring insight into a different universe. Read it then you will understand, especially if you were born and raised in the west....