Craig’s Book Reviews

Craig’s Book Reviews

Book reviews do not enjoy high status in academic fields where an emphasis is placed on research publications, and the mass media only occasionally review academic books. The aim of this series of book reviews is to introduce New Mandala readers to important, interesting books, particularly in history and religion, in an accessible format.

The reviews in this series are by Craig Reynolds who teaches in the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. Further information about Craig’s academic interests and research may be found here.

New reviews will be posted intermittently. Previous reviews have included:

• Wissanu Krea-ngam. This World’s a Stage [Lok ni khue lakhon]. In Thai.
• Richard A. Ruth. In Buddha’s Company: Thai Soldiers in the Vietnam War.
• Daily World Today [lok wan ni], comp. Punching Above My Weight: Nattawut Saikua Tells his Story [chok kham run nattawut saikua lao ruang]. In Thai.
• Kong Bannathikan Matichon [Matichon Editorial Team]. Withi tamruat kla ‘ja phian’ [Sgt. ‘Phian: The Path of a Brave Policeman]. In Thai.
• Chang Noi, Jungle Book: Thailand’s Politics, Moral Panic, and Plunder, 1996-2008.
• Peerasak Chaidaisuk, Chat sua wai lai [A Tiger Doesn’t Change Its Stripes]. In Thai.
• Justin Thomas McDaniel, Gathering Leaves and Lifting Words: Histories of Buddhist Monastic Education in Laos and Thailand.
• Anne Hansen. How to Behave: Buddhism and Modernity in Colonial Cambodia, 1860-1930.
• Wassana Nanuam, Secrets, Trickery, and Camouflage: The Improbable Phenomena. In Thai.
• Robert H. Taylor, The State in Myanmar.
• Southern Thai Encylopedia. In Thai.
• Chatthip Nartsupha, The Thai Village Economy in the Past.
• Tamara Loos, Subject Siam: Family, Law, and Colonial Modernity in Thailand.
• Han ten Brummelhuis, King of the Waters: Homan van der Heide and the Origin of Modern Irrigation in Siam.
• Victor Lieberman, Strange Parallels: Southeast Asia in Global Context, c. 800-1830. Volume 1, Integration on the Mainland.