Book Description
The Cambodian language made easy! Cambodian for Beginners is designed for either self-study or classroom use. It teaches all four language skills - speaking, listening (when used in conjunction with the audio), reading and writing; and offers clear, easy, step-by-step instruction building on what has been previously learned. Lots of exercises and useful phrases. Very user-friendly and fun to use. There is an audio version that follows the book. Three CDs are available separately.
Customer Reviews:
Mixed Emotions.......2007-10-05
I do recommend this book, but with reservations. Khmer (Cambodian) is a difficult language to learn with sounds that English speakers are not used to. I purchased this book at the request of my instructor. Both he and my tutor are native Cambodian speakers and they have taken issue with the way this book presents phrases, words, etc. For instance, just yesterday my tutor explained that the term for airport in chapter three actually means airfield and provided me with another term that he thought was better and more up-to-date. This is one of numerous examples from my private lessons and my classroom instruction. Having said that, Khmer seems to be a rather dynamic language and I'm not sure my instructor and tutor, both well-educated, would agree on the best way to say things both formally and informally!
The other thing that is not a criticism of this book, but difficult about Khmer in general is spelling the words in English. If you're not using the proper Khmer script which I have to assume is more accurate, the translation of words/sounds into English can take on multiple forms. I've seen the same word spelled in multiple ways trying to capture the right sound in English which is horribly confusing. Still, it's a fun language to learn and this book is helpful, albeit problematic. There just aren't really that many options.
Translation NOT Included!.......2007-07-29
The audio CDs that came with Cambodian For Beginners did not come with any printed material. Nor was there an English translation included on the CDs. Unless you are already fluent in Khmer you will need to purchase the book separately.
The audio quality was so poor that one the CDs was completely not listenable.
Without a doubt this was the worst purchase that I have ever made from amazon.com
It works!!.......2007-02-12
the paperback version is simple, user friendly, with a rich vocabulary and many useful tests and conversation samples; you read it and you learn it!
combined with the audio book all that you learn will no longer be mere theory; pronunciation is the biggest challenge with the khmer language and the cd roms help practice over and over with real good results. it is worth to buy them both or the paperback alone (cd roms only is not a good choice - they would leave you...speechless!).
by the way...the Khmer language is easier than what I figured out it would be :-)
Write in cambodian without misteries........2007-01-11
It teaches in a easy way to write in khmer language and enphatizes the colloquial knowledge of this exotic south-asiatic language.
Fatal Flaw in Teaching Languange.......2006-12-29
While most reviews of this book are fairly glowing I must really disagree. There are two very serious flaws to this book and CD.
One is that the book requires you to learn a difficult and non-intuitive phonic alphabet system to approximate the sounds of the Khmer language. In the vast majority of the cases the tortured phonics made up by the authors could have been very closely approximated by already known and intuitive english letter/phonic cominations that every english speaker already knows. In other words the authors have made up symbols and then give you english word equivalents that approximate the Khmer sound. Then it is these symbols that are used throughout the text to "learn" the Khmer sounds. In reality most guidebooks do a much better job by using combinations of letters that we all know the sounds of to approximate the Khmer. It is needlessly complex.
The second fatal flaw is the CD set. Throughout the CD the Khmer speaker only says the word or phrase ONCE, never repeating. For any language this is just not adequate but for a language that is as difficult as Khmer is to western ears this is a serious shortcoming. You really need to hear these words more than once, then repeated in a sentence, in context, then repeated in the english translation.
Some areas of the book are better as are the lettering practice sections. However they too are hobbled by the really unworkable phonetic symbols used throughout.
Give this set a pass. If I could get my money back I would.
Alan Perry
Seattle Wa
Average customer rating:
- Angkor Wat
- Photobook Angkor
- Outstanding Photos and history
- Awesome Angkor
- A Must-Have Book on Angkor Temples
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Angkor: Celestial Temples of the Khmer
Jon Ortner ,
Ian W. Mabbett ,
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Ian Mabbett ,
Eleanor Mannikka , and
John Sanday
Manufacturer: Abbeville Press
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Similar Items:
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Angkor and the Khmer Civilization (Ancient Peoples and Places)
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The Civilization of Angkor
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Churning the Sea of Time: A Journey Up the Mekong to Angkor
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Angkor Cities and Temples
ASIN: 0789207184 |
Book Description
An exquisitely illustrated history and exploration of Angkor, the world's most astonishing architectural treasure.
Built between the ninth and the thirteenth centuries by a succession of twelve Khmer kings, Angkor spreads over 120 square miles in Southeast Asia and includes scores of major architectural sites. In 802, when construction began on Angkor Wat, with wealth from rice and trade, Jayavarman ll took the throne, initiating an unparalleled period of artistic and architectural achievement, exemplified in the fabled ruins of Angkor, center of the ancient empire. Among the amazing pyramid and mandala shaped shrines preserved in the jungles of Cambodia, is Angkor Wat, the world's largest temple, an extraordinarily complex structure filled with iconographic detail and religious symbolism. Perhaps because of the decline of agricultural productivity and the expansion of the Thai Empire, Angkor was abandoned in the fifteenth century and left to the ravages of time. Today, many countries continue efforts to conserve and restore the temples, which have been inaccessible until recently. Now that the civil war has ended, Angkor is being reborn and is an increasingly popular tourist destination.
Undaunted by the difficulties of traveling through Cambodia and eastern Thailand, Jon Ortner, accompanied by his wife Martha, has photographed fifty of the most important and unique monuments of the Khmer Empire. His images include spectacular views from the rooftops of its temples, glorious landscapes, and details of inscriptions and art that few have ever seen.
The text by a team of distinguished experts provides historical, architectural, and religious analyses of Angkor and the Khmer civilization. The Appendix offers a glossary, a chronology of construction, and a chart of the kings and their accomplishments. Black-and-white floor plans and historic watercolors complete this breathtaking tribute.
Other details: 240 illustrations, 225 in full color
Customer Reviews:
Angkor Wat .......2007-09-06
Excellent book! I wish I had known about this book before I went to Angkor Wat.
Photobook Angkor.......2007-06-07
Angkor, Celestial temples of the Khmer Empire is a photobook limited to the Angkor Site and some outlining temples. Although the quality of the photo's is excellent, the book itself with regards to the informative value is disappointing. An exception to this is the chronology of sites. Angkor: Temples et monumentsThe Treasures of Angkor: Cultural Travel Guide (Rizzoli Art Guide)Angkor: Cambodia's Wondrous Khmer Temples, Fifth Edition (Odyssey Illustrated Guide)Ancient Angkor (River Book Guides)Angkor Cities and Temples
Outstanding Photos and history.......2006-03-09
I purchased three books on Angkor Wat after my week visit to Siem Reap, Cambodia and this book was by far the best I have seen. The photos are excellent and the narration in very informative. It is expensive but worth it.
Awesome Angkor.......2005-04-09
Wow, what a spectacular book, truly amazing. I was blown away by the quality of the photography, the reader actually feels like they are in the jungle amid the ruins of Angkor. I have never visited Angkor Wat and probably never will, but after experiencing this book, I feel somehow that I have been there. The quality of the book is superior and the book even comes in a wonderful case. The publisher should be congradulated, it's a luxurious book. Some books are extremely expensive and you wonder why, I can assure you, you will not ask that about this one. If you have any interest in this subject or just like to own beautiful things I urge you to purchase this book, it will be a jewel in your book collection
A Must-Have Book on Angkor Temples.......2004-02-02
Through his magical photographic eye, Jon Ortner has created a wondrous collection of striking images and scholarly prose. His perfectly lit photographs and well-documented historic descriptions allow one to easily understand this complicated ancient subject. Each temple is clearly organized into relevant sections from the central Angkor area to the rare and never-before-seen temples in the outer lying areas. If you have visited Angkor - Ortner's book is the perfect addition to your library. Or, if you have not visited, this book provides the perfect impetus.
Average customer rating:
- children Of The river
- children Of The river
- Children Of The River
- Children of the River
- Children of the River
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Children of the River (Laurel-Leaf Contemporary Fiction)
Linda Crew
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
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Binding: Paperback
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After the War
ASIN: 0440210224
Release Date: 1991-08-01 |
Book Description
Grades 7 and up
Sundara fled Cambodia with her aunt's family to escape the Khmer Rouge army when she was thirteen, leaving behind her parents, her brother and sister, and the boy she had loved since she was a child.
Now, four years later, she struggles to fit in at her Oregon high school and to be "a good Cambodian girl" at home. A good Cambodian girl never dates; she waits for her family to arrange her marriage to a Cambodian boy. Yet Sundara and Jonathan, an extraordinary American boy, are powerfully drawn to each other. Haunted by grief for her lost family and for the life left behind, Sundara longs to be with him. At the same time she wonders, Are her hopes for happiness and new life in America disloyal to her past and her people?
Customer Reviews:
children Of The river.......2007-03-26
Sarah
3/26/07
The book "Children Of The River" by: Linda Crew is about a young girl named Sundra and her aunts family, who are traveling from Cambodia to America. Sundra and her aunts family don't know what happend to her family because they were unable to escape from Cambodia. It was hard for Sundra to live in America because they had to work from dawn to dusk trying to make enough money to live in a house and to buy food. When Sundra turns 18 years old she has to get married because it's a Cambodian tradition and, usually her parents would arrange the marrage but since her family was gone her aunt arranged the wedding. Sundra's uncle is forbidding her from seeing the American boy because he is "white" But Sundra really likes the boy and he really likes her.
My opinion on the book is that it was pretty good because there was really good details and, the author really discribed the characters. But it was hard to understand since there were harder words in it. I also thought that the book ws a little bit borring at some parts. Maybe if there was more action in the book it would have been better. I would reccomend this book to people who like reading about culture and the different types of people and their historical background.
children Of The river.......2007-03-26
Sarah
3/26/07
The book "Children Of The River" by: Linda Crew is about a young girl named Sundra and her aunts family, who are traveling from Cambodia to America. Sundra and her aunts family don't know what happend to her family because they were unable to escape from Cambodia. It was hard for Sundra to live in America because they had to work from dawn to dusk trying to make enough money to live in a house and to buy food. When Sundra turns 18 years old she has to get married because it's a Cambodian tradition and, usually her parents would arrange the marrage but since her family was gone her aunt arranged the wedding. Sundra's uncle is forbidding her from seeing the American boy because he is "white" But Sundra really likes the boy and he really likes her.
My opinion on the book is that it was pretty good because there was really good details and, the author really discribed the characters. But it was hard to understand since there were harder words in it. I also thought that the book ws a little bit borring at some parts. Maybe if there was more action in the book it would have been better. I would reccomend this book to people who like reading about culture and the different types of people and their historical background.
Children Of The River.......2007-03-23
Jasmine
2/28/07
Review: Children of The River
"Children of the River", in my opinion, was not a very good book. At first it got my attention because the summery on the back cover, worded it, as a adventurous survival story. A story of a 13 year old Native American who flew off to Cambodia to escape the Khmer Ruge Army, and left her family behind, in search of a new life. And yes that did happen in this book, but the story was stretched out, long, and boring. I would not recommend this book to anyone, unless they have some time to waist. On a scale from one to five i would rate this book a two. Only because it may help some people with an idea of Native American history.
Children of the River.......2007-03-23
Allison
3/9/07
Book review: Children of the River
The book I am reading "Children of the River" is about a little girl and her family having to move to the United States, and them trying to fit in and trying to find there place in this strange new place. They really like to pick berries and they work in a market place for their monthly income. This is not the best book in the world but there are somethings I like about the book. The theme of the book is about history and I am not really big into history. So if you really like history this is the book for you. One of the things I like about the book is how they freak out about things that are really things that are good for them. For example in the story the family gets this letter about they are going to get money and they think that they have to pay this big fine. The kind of books I like are the ones about people my age and are going through break ups with their boyfriends, and this book is nothing like that.
Children of the River.......2006-04-06
This book is wonderful and exciting ...... Its a warm tale about girl escaping from her country at war and dealing with the conflicts and changes of living in America. This story will keep you glued from the beginning to the end.
Customer Reviews:
fabulous!.......2007-05-15
I found this CD Rom very easy to use and lots of fun. The interactive activities made learning fun and rewarding. Only problem was the lack of grammar education and extensive phrases. A good beginner's resource though.
Amazon.com
"Chea, how come good doesn't win over evil?" young Chanrithy Him asks her sister, after the brutal Khmer Rouge have seized power in Cambodia, but before hunger makes them too weak for philosophy. Chea answers only with a proverb: When good and evil are thrown together into the river of life, first the klok or squash (representing good) will sink, and the armbaeg or broken glass (representing evil) will float. But the broken glass, Chea assures her, never floats for long: "When good appears to lose, it is an opportunity for one to be patient, and become like God."
Before this proverb could come true, Chanrithy had to watch her mother, father, and five of her brothers and sisters die, murdered by the Khmer Rouge or fatally weakened by malnutrition, disease, and overwork. Now living in Oregon, where she studies posttraumatic stress disorder among Cambodian survivors, Chanrithy has written a first-person account of the killing fields that's remarkable for both its unflinching honesty and its refusal to despair. In wrenchingly immediate prose, she describes atrocities the rest of the world might prefer to ignore: her sick yet still breathing mother, thrown along with corpses into a well; a pregnant woman beaten to death with a spade, the baby struggling inside her; a sister impossibly swollen with edema, her starving body leaking fluid from the webbing between her toes.
The mind retreats from horrors like these--and yet what emerges most strongly from this memoir is the triumph of life. Chanrithy is determined to honor her pledge to the dying Chea, to study medicine so she can help others live. When Broken Glass Floats accomplishes the same goal in a different way. "As a survivor, I want to be worthy of the suffering that I endured," Chanrithy writes; by giving such eloquent voice to her dead, she has proven herself more than worthy of her suffering--and theirs. --Chloe Byrne
Book Description
In this mesmerizing story, finalist for the Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize, 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. 15 b/w photographs.
Customer Reviews:
A Trek to the Past.......2007-08-18
When Broken Glass Floats is the author's journey to find the magic of a world lost as a result of the Khmer Rouge. This book, as a personal account of the Khmer Rouge regime, is also my personal journey as a reader and a Khmer person. Through this magical journey, my own forgotten memories are awakened and many traditional beliefs that I have pushed to the back of my mind resurface.
I was too young to have memories of the Killing Fields, but I have heard enough stories to feel connected to it. There were gaps missing in my memory and this book filled those gaps. When Broken Glass Floats is poetic and touching, a book rooted in the author's desire to let the world know about the tragic death of her family. It begins when her memories are awakened as a result of her work as an interpreter and interviewer for the Khmer Adolescent Project, studying post-traumatic stress disorder among Cambodian survivors. This is a story of triumph, survival, and hope written from the Khmer soul of a Cambodian-American woman.
When Broken Glass Floats is a book with two moving and powerful purposes: one, as a therapeutic tool for the author, and, two, as a reminder of an event that should never have occurred. The author describes her book as a way "to use the power of words to caution the world, and in the process to heal myself" (p. 23). The process of writing the book became a trek to the Himalayas, "a search to recapture the long-lost magic in [her] life" (p. 23). My travels have taken me to the Himalayas. I have been seeking magic for my own healing like the author of When Broken Glass Floats. The process of reading her book and other autobiographies has provided much healing. I recommend this book for everyone who is interested in this subject, but in particular to Cambodian-Americans, because this book can take you on a journey into yourself, your soul, memories, and past.
Good reading in preparation for Cambodia trip.......2007-03-15
I read this first and then Pol Pot, by Philip Short, in preparation for a trip to Cambodia. The combination was excellent. Short's historical, researched book helped me analyze what had happened and why. Him's book gave a personal story to go with it. While I traveled in Cambodia, I thought back to her comments as often as I remembered Short's history. Together, they gave me a much better travel experience.
Heart-Wrenching.......2006-11-05
this is one of the most heart-wrenching stories I've ever heard told, and it well illustrates what can happen when such a ridiculous, unrealistic political ideology as fanatical socialism/communism - and its well-armed proponents - cause a country to self-destruct. I read this book while in Cambodia, so it had all that much more impact, and I constantly found myself looking at older people - and there seemed to be disporportionately very few people over the age of about 50, which in itself is probably part of the story - and wondering what they went through, or what they inflicted on others, back in those horrible Khmer Rouge days.
Should be required reading.......2006-07-01
I met Ms. Him at a book signing and have a hardcover signed by her. She is a beautiful, gentle woman with one of the most musical voices I have ever heard. To listen to the stories of unspeakable horror that issued from her lips as she read a passage chilled me. She is my age; while I was struggling with Algebra, she was struggling with pure evil. I promised her that I would do my best to never let her story be forgotten. My children will be required to read this when they reach the age she was in the book.
Evil exists, and it will only grow stronger if we ignore it.
A Must Read.......2006-04-07
This is a great biography of a Child's perspective of the Khamer Rougue take over in Cambodia in the 1970's. Chanrithy's story will stir up every emotion in you. This is a real story about survival during a very dark time in history. Her escapes from labor death camps, while nearly dying from starvation and sickness. The constant fear of military attack, or excecution by the Khamer Rouge soldiers. The loss of innocence, freedom, family, Friends, a life she once knew and culture she once cherished.
This is a must read for all. Chanrithy's story really breaks through all the "static" of media coverage that we hear about on the news everyday regarding similar things going on all over the world and opens the eyes of the reader to see the PEOPLE who live through these horrific experiences, and how their lives are forever changed. What I realized from reading this story is how little we as a culture are aware of what horrors have existed in the past, and the horrors that exist now. It is a travesty that we are so blind.
Average customer rating:
- Worth reading
- Review for "Killing Fields, Living Fields"
- Great portrayal of God at work
- Exciting history of the Cambodian church!
|
Killing Fields, Living Fields
Don Cormack
Manufacturer: Monarch Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Cambodia
| Asia
| History
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| Evangelism
| Christianity
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ASIN: 0825460026 |
Book Description
(Foreword by Peter Lewis) "This heart-wrenching, heartwarming narrative prompts tears, prayers, praise, and hopes in turn. It is a long time since I read anything so poignant." --J. I. Packer
Customer Reviews:
Worth reading.......2007-06-04
Many valuable accounts of Christians' lives and experiences in Cambodia from the early 1920's to the late 1990's.
Review for "Killing Fields, Living Fields".......2006-03-24
The book is good for those who are interested in the understanding the religious background of the country, particularly in the missionary work.
Great portrayal of God at work.......2006-01-27
A very vivid & inspiring account of missionaries at work in Cambodia! For someone like myself who doesn't know much about missionary work, especially in third world countries & during war time, it's a real eye & spirit opener! This book lets me witness God's abundant grace through many great Christians, bringing me tears on few occasions. I have a deeper understanding of what it means to be humble, to love, to have faith, & to commit as a Christian.
Exciting history of the Cambodian church!.......2003-02-25
While this book does provide a historical account of the formation and growth of the Cambodian evangelical church, I enjoyed it more for the exciting tales of what the Lord accomplished in the lives of these wholly committed believers.
Their stories fill you with sorrow over the horrors they had to face in return for their faith, but they also fill you with awe at the amazing grace and deliverance shown to many of these saints as they served their Lord so faithfully.
I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the history of the Pol Pot era in Cambodia and especially to believers who are wish to be inspired by those who have been tested and found faithful.
Book Description
The great legacy of the ancient Khmer civilization, the temples of Angkor were built between the ninth and 15th centuries and cover an area stretching across 77 square miles in northwest Cambodia. This beautifully illustrated book contains a comprehensive monument-by-monument guide to the sites, detailed maps and plans, plus information about ten newly accessible temple complexes.
• Ten new temple sites; an additional 180 pages with 86 new color images
• Foreword by His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia
• Extensive accounts of temples and pre-Angkor sites
• Profiles the Phnom Penh National Museum
• The hip town Siem Reap—the base for exploring Angkor
• Unique flora and fauna around the great lake, Tonle Sap
• 158 color photos, 44 maps & plans.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful view of Angkor .......2007-10-10
So many books available on Angkor ... and I bought Dawn Rooney's! I am just delighted with my choice. The photos and the scope of material covered in the book are so comprehensive. Would really love to spend days and days seeing it all! Maybe some day ....
Angkor, Cambodia's Wondrous Khmer Temples.......2007-05-24
ANGKOR, Cambodia's Wondrous Khmer Temples is not only a very practical guide for visiting the Khmer monuments at the Angkor archaeological park but also for visiting the Khmer monuments in Phnom Penh. Furthermore this guidebook includes the most important remote temples (Banteay Chhmar, Koh Ker, Preah Vihaer, Beng Mealea).
Apart from a clear description of each temple it also gives a description from their location and from the access.
Important to mention also is the fact it gives a short but clear insight in the old epics (Mahabharata, Ramayana etc.) and legends and this book includes a list of the most forthcoming gods, deities and divinities which makes its easier to understand the bas-reliefs of the Khmer art and architecture.
The book also includes general and practical tourist information as well as for Siem Reap as for Phnom Penh.
Together with the book from Michael Freeman and Claude Jacques "Ancient Angkor" and the book from Jean Laur "Angkor, temples and monuments" one will have the most actual existing complete information about the Khmer art and architecture in Cambodia.
Ancient Angkor (River Book Guides)
Excellent book, but big.......2007-03-21
If you are like me and avoid tour guides as much as possible, but still like to know about the places you are visiting, then this book is for you. It gives excellent descriptions of the temples. It has lots of background information on the history and on the art you'll see. It also contains wonderful photography. Plus, it has lots of general information on traveling in Cambodia including a section on Phnom Penh. If you are doing a basic Cambodia visit of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, then this book is all you really need.
My only complaint is that it is a big book, bigger than other tour books like Lonely Planet or Rough Guide. This is a problem if you are trying to travel as light as possible. However, I still recommend taking it.
A general suggestion for visiting the temples: be aware that they are now apparently the second most visited tourist destination in Asia. Lots of Asian tour groups everywhere. To avoid them, go early! Get going at 6AM (or even earlier and go see the sunrise over Angkor Wat!). Then you'll have the temples to yourself for a couple of hours. Midday, when the tours go back to their hotels for lunch is also good, as is late afternoon/early evening. But even with the tour groups around, it is still an amazing place!
A complete guide for an on-site visit.......2007-01-30
I just returned from a 3-day visit to Angkor and used this book as a background and then as a detailed guide to visit each temple. It is most useful, providing detailed and accurate maps and descriptions of each temple and guiding the reader through the highlights. Well written and easily beats listening endlessly to the vague chatter of most on-site guides.
Angkor.......2007-01-05
It is a nice approach for understanding the arquitecture, reliefs and sculptures of the Khmer culture.
Amazon.com
"I first visited Cambodia in 1975," Ben Kiernan writes. "None of the Cambodians I knew then survived the next four years." In The Pol Pot Regime, Kiernan presents the first definitive account of the four-year reign of terror known as "Democratic Kampuchea." Working very closely with Cambodian sources, including interviews with hundreds of survivors and the archived "confessions" extracted by the Khmer Rouge from political prisoners just before their execution, Kiernan depicts the horrific nature of Pol Pot and his thugs with chilling specificity, and his historical analysis makes a valuable contribution to understanding how they were able to come to power in the wake of the Vietnam War.
Book Description
What was the nature of the regime that turned Cambodia into grisly killing fields and murdered or starved to death 1.7 million of the country's eight million inhabitants? In this riveting book, the first definitive account of the Khmer Rouge revolution, a world renowned authority on Cambodia shows how an ideological preoccupation with racist and totalitarian policies led a group of intellectuals to impose genocide on their own country. This edition includes a new preface recounting the fatal disintegration of the Khmer Rouge army, the death of Pol Pot, the United Nations' foray into the struggle to bring his surviving accomplices to justice, and the damning new evidence they could face.
Customer Reviews:
How Much Does Vietnam Pay Kiernan?.......2007-07-09
Kiernan has made a small fortune writing lies and half-truths on behalf of his masters, the Vietnamese revisionists, who subjugated Kampuchea and reduced it to a colony of Vietnam. Take anything Kiernan says with a huge grain of salt, providing you can wade through his turgid writing style. Much, much better for info on this period is Phillip Short's bio of Pol Pot which is also available at Amazon.
Important But Not Written Well.......2006-01-30
I wish this book were written better. I'm awarding 4 stars on the basis of the importance of the topic and the enormous amount of valuable data collected by the author. This is a very detailed attempt to reconstruct the experience of Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge period. This is difficult because of the paranoid secrecy of the regime and lack of much formal documentation. A great deal of the primary data for reconstructing the history of Cambodia during this period comes from interviews with survivors, a large number of them collected by the author. Kiernan's efforts to collect data and to assemble it into a reasonable narrative are admirable. A defect of this book, however, is that Kiernan seems to be writing primarily for his fellow Cambodia specialists, not for a general audience. You really need to already know at least the basic narrative history to get the most out of this book. Kiernan proceeds through the tragic history of the Khmer Rouge period with a detailed effort to reconstruct events at the center of power and in all the provinces. This is admirable and the level of detail is convincing but to be really effective in terms of increasing reader understanding, it is necessary to regularly take a step back, provide a narrative summary, and also to give readers some understanding of the relevant regional and international context for these events. Kiernan also scants analysis in favor of his fine grained narrative. Important points like the importance of Cambodian nationalism and the putative role of racism emerge almost implicitly. Kiernan would have done better to discuss these issues and the evidence for and against his interpretations explicitly. In some ways, this book is an effort to write political history as social history. This history from below aspect makes this book an excellent source for other scholars in this and related fields. This is admirable and Kiernan's scholarly dedication deserves respect, but this book could have been much more than what it is.
Hypocrite historian... beware and read below!.......2005-12-31
"Ben Kiernan, a leftist Ausrtalian academic and former apologist for the Khemer Rouge [...] in 1977 declared, 'There is ample evidence in Cambodia and other sources that the Khmer Rouge is not the monster that the press have recently made it out to be.' After renouncing this view, Kiernan was appointed director of the Cambodian Genocide Program, a tax-payer funded institute located at Yale University (it is as though a former Nazi sympathizer and Holocaust denier had been appointed to direct Washington's Holocaust museum.)"
"Notwithstanding the attempt of Kiernan and others to turn the Red (communist) Khmer into the Brown (fascist) Khmer, the origins of Khmer Rouge policies are easily traced to the Marcist ideology of the chinese Cultural Revolution in the mid-1960s."
These are extracted from pgs. 170-171 of Michael Lind's 'The Necessary War. Lind is a an anti-Bush democrat, by the way.
People must know what kind of people they are putting their money on when they buy. If you want to know about the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot there's no better (and more honorable) place than the books of (real intellectuals, not intellectual-prostitutes) Philip Short or Karl D. Jackson.
You are very welcome.
The reference work on the khmer rouge.......2005-10-22
Quite simply the most authoritative work on the pol pot led khmer rouge. If planing a visit to Cambodia Kiernan's book will provide excellent background and explain much of what you see today in rural Cambodia. Further details can be obtained from the website of Sage Insights who support local disadvantaged children by their work in tourism.
Atrocities in Cambodia.......2005-09-17
This book are outstanding as one that explained the Cambodian war and its atrocities. It explained the rise of the Pol Pot's party and much of the atrocities in detail.One must be able to stomach its atrocities which is quite mind-boggling as inhuman treatment are occured around the country.For a number of times,i'd got to stop reading halfway because of its Holocaust-like atrocities.Its ideology of Marxism madness are spread thru' out its regime.
Book Description
The richness and diversity of the Khmer Empire are shown here through stunning photographs, site plans, aerial shots of ancient cities and more.
Customer Reviews:
The Khmer Empire.......2007-06-05
The Khmer Empire, Cities and Sanctuaries from the 5th to the 13th Century is a fantastic book with up to date detailed information about the most important khmer architecture in Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. The information is complete including maps, floor plans, photographs and a chronology of the Khmer Kings. Lacking is a chronology of the sites. This book is a must for those interested in the Khmer culture, architecture, temples , archaeology and history. It is certainly helpfull to understand the importance of each monument not only before visiting the sites but also after visiting them.Angkor and the Khmer Civilization (Ancient Peoples and Places)Angkor: Cambodia's Wondrous Khmer Temples, Fifth Edition (Odyssey Illustrated Guide)
Book Description
The ancient city of Angkor has fascinated Westerners since its rediscovery in the mid-nineteenth century. A great deal is now known about the brilliant Khmer civilization that flourished among the monsoon forests and rice paddies of mainland Southeast Asia, thanks to the pioneering work of French scholars and the application of modern archaeological techniques such as remote sensing from the space shuttle.
The classic-period Khmer kings ruled over their part-Hindu and part-Buddhist empire from AD 802 for more than five centuries. This period saw the construction of many architectural masterpieces, including the huge capital city of Angkor, with the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious structure. Numerous other provincial centers, bound together by an impressive imperial road system, were scattered across the Cambodian Plain, northeast Thailand, southern Laos, and the Delta of southern Vietnam. Khmer civilization by no means disappeared with the gradual abandonment of Angkor that began in the fourteenth century, and the book's final chapter describes the conversion of the Khmer to a different kind of Buddhism, the move of the capital downriver to the Phnom Penh area, and the reorientation of the Khmer state to maritime trade.
Angkor and the Khmer Civilization presents a concise but complete picture of Khmer cultural history from the Stone Age until the establishment of the French Protectorate in 1863, and is lavishly illustrated with maps, plans, drawings, and photographs. Drawing on the latest archaeological research, Michael D. Coe brings to life Angkor's extraordinary society and culture. 130 illustrations, 22 in color.
Customer Reviews:
Angkor and the Khmer civilization.......2007-05-29
The title "Angkor and the Khmer civilization" is misleading in that sense this book treats the Khmer civilization from the prehistory to the 21st century in mainland South East Asia. In this specific context this is an interesting book. In the context of the Khmer civilization restricted to Angkor I would recommend Charles' Higham "The civilization of Angkor ".The Civilization of AngkorCambodian Architecture: Eighth to Thirteenth Centuries (Handbook of Oriental Studies/Handbuch Der Orientalistik)The Archaeology of Mainland Southeast Asia: From 10,000 B.C. to the Fall of Angkor (Cambridge World Archaeology)The Khmers (The Peoples of South East Asia and the Pacific)A History of Cambodia
A College Student's Review.......2006-11-02
Coe reaches surprisingly far in his pre-historical research. His findings are highly informative, and he conducted research beginning with the earliest traces of civilization in Cambodia. While at first this may seem to hold less relevance than a discussion of more modern times, he successfully seams different eras in Khmer civilization together, so that one understands Khmer history as a smoothly flowing story. In his descriptions of Khmer culture and artifacts, it is clear that Coe is steeped in anthropological and archeological knowledge, and he succeeds in his goal of providing such information clearly.
His style of writing is very clear and refreshing. It allows the reader to easily take in the vast information he presents. At just under two-hundred-fifty pages, Coe provides an abundance of information clearly and concisely. His writing is not dry or verbose, words that are all too often used to describe historical texts. Angkor presents all the information that an historical scholar could hope for, without presenting it in a lifeless manner.
Surprised and pleased to see Coe knows Angkor!.......2006-07-17
I was at the SF Asian Museum seeing what turned out to be a not-great exhibit this weekend, and wandered into the book store thinking I'd pick something up in advance of a trip to Cambodia in the fall. Shock of shocks, I found that Coe, whom I've read avidly for his great coverage of the Maya, knows the Khmer as well.
This book is as readable yet comprehensive as is his great work on the Maya, which I've absorbed over the past five years during a Maya obsession. I had a spare three hours this afternoon, and comfortably plowed through five detailed chapters. How frequently can you say that about an academic's work (other than the work in geology of my father-in-law, Dave Alt, and I guess Witold Rybczynski . . . .).
Now I guess I need to pull out the Chocolate book (another surprise--written by Coe's wife and edited by him after her death) and delve back into that---
Great Research Text.......2005-10-11
The most thoroughly researched text that I found regarding the temples and historic context of the "Classic" Khmer period. Not the best guide once you get to the site -- that would be Laur's illustrated guide. If you miss the boat on ordering both of these texts prior to your trip, you can get them both in the bookstore in Seim Reap. Some of the street vendors at the temples peddle illegal copies of the Coe book. Info as of 10/05.
Angkor and the Khmer Civilization.......2003-11-16
The great Khmer Empire, best known for its astonishing temples at Angkor, has long fascinated visitors, arm-chair tourists, and scholars alike. In his new book, "Angkor and the Khmer Civilization," archaeologist Michael Coe has written what I believe is, simply, the best current (2003) presentation of the history and culture of this wonderful (literally: full of wonders) ancient civilization. Reading Coe's book is like having a delightful one-on-one conversation with a first-rate thinker, scholar, and teacher. Coe's writing is superbly well-organized, logical, fascinating, concise, and comprehensive. The book is enhanced by numerous high-quality photo illustrations and maps, fully referenced bibliography and notes, and a better-than-average topical index.
Most importantly, this book is obviously a labor of love. Coe, a well-known Mayanist, returns here to his first love, the archaeology of southeast Asia; although political circumstances (e.g.: the Vietnam War, the Pol Pot regime) prevented him from digging in the field, Coe has mastered the literature and walked the sites; his book illuminates the full chronological sweep of Khmer history and culture, from its prehistoric beginnings through the post-Classic period, as never before. It is intellectually exciting, a pleasure to read, and sure to delight anyone from the casual tourist to the experienced professional. Put it together with Freeman and Jacques' "Ancient Angkor," and you have the perfect companions for your next trip to Angkor.
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