China's tragic tales of personal struggle Wild Grass - Three Stories of Change in Modern China by Ian Johnson Three ordinary, courageous Chinese confront a rapidly transforming landscape of economic plenty for the relative few and sweeping poverty, injustice and corruption for the majority. They act with breathtaking bravery and dedication - and they all fail. - Michael Mackey (Nov 5, '04)

Globalization's rabid defender Why Globalization Works by Martin Wolf Critics of globalization support the legacies of Hitler, Stalin and Mao, contends a Financial Times editor in his defense of greater international economic integration. The name-calling, self-righteousness and dismissal of unpleasant facts might remind one of a US presidential campaign. - Gary LaMoshi (Oct 29, '04)

Fine-tuning neo-liberalism Reclaiming Development: An Alternative Economic Policy Manual by Ha-Joon Chang and Ilene Grabel In attempting to dispel the misplaced faith on neo-liberal policies, this book takes to task what has become the dominant development strategy in the world today. The book does not trash globalization, but argues that wholesale neo-liberal globalization is not in the best interests of nations. - Chee Yoke Heong (Oct 28, '04)

First nation tragedies Globalization and Indigenous Peoples in Asia, by Pierre Walter, Dev Nathan and Govind Kelkar (ed) The authors examine how first nations in China, India and Nepal are subjected to steady "resource exclusion", even though the indigenous populations know best how to manage their environments. The answer: keep out the marketeers. - Chanakya Sen (Oct 22, '04)

A misguide to outsourcing, US economy Exporting America: Why Corporate Greed is Shipping Jobs Overseas by Lou Dobbs CNN anchor Lou Dobbs's book on the "threat" to the US economy is relentlessly shallow, and misinformed. Not only has he got the logic wrong, even the numbers are flawed; proof that what is fine in cable television can be blasphemy in academic debate. - Daniel Griswold (Oct 15, '04)

Exposing a Maharashtra legend Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India by James W Laine Despite being met with violence and national outcry in the wake of its India release, this critical landmark in academic historiography is thorough in research and crisp in writing. The author exposes the hypocrisies that come in the name of Hindu tolerance, transcending the typical academic history book. - Piyush Mathur (Oct 8, '04)

Dissecting China's far west Xinjiang, China's Muslim Borderland - Studies of Central Asia and the Caucasus, edited by S Frederick Starr This collection of solidly researched articles provides a hard-hitting but balanced account of China's Muslim borderland, strategic Xinjiang, addressing the region's defining issues. Though it lacks perspectives from Han Chinese and Uighurs themselves, it is likely to become a standard work. - Colin Mackerras (Oct 1, '04)

Closing the globalization 'Gap' The Pentagon's New Map: War and Peace in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas P M Barnett. Since the end of the Cold War, pundits have tried to postulate a single, unifying concept to explain the global post-1989 climate. This book does not have all the answers, but it is a welcome addition to the wave of literature on globalization, as well as the US's grand strategy in the post-September 11 world. - Yoel Sano (Sep 24, '04)

Smashing a Middle Kingdom myth Transforming Rural China: How Local Institutions Shape Property Rights in China by Chen Chih-jou. The reason why so many books say so many contradictory things about China is it is not one country, it is a diversity of micro-economies that are not necessarily interconnected or related. Finally, an exhaustingly well-researched book that captures this diversity. - Macabe Keliher (Sep 17, '04)

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Reporter's murder a shadow-puppet farce The Invisible Palace by Jose Manuel Tesoro The 1996 murder of a journalist in Java reveals much about Indonesia, where author Jose Manuel Tesoro maintains "the truth is like an onion". Both then and now, with police not to be trusted and the elite still holding sway, there is little beneath the layers of lies and errors other than "a big stink and cloudy vision". - Gary LaMoshi (Sep 10, '04)

Faith, fertility and American dominance The Empty Cradle by Phillip Longman This American journalist is not the first person to be horrified by declining birthrates among "modern" civilizations, and to extrapolate that anti-modernists such as evangelical Christians will eventually breed themselves into a position of global dominance. In this book, he hatches schemes such as tax incentives to encourage bigger families and save modernity from itself. - Spengler (Sep 7, '04)

Demilitarize or perish Rethinking the National Security of Pakistan. The Price of Strategic Myopia by Ahmad Faruqui Pakistan's dire economic situation is linked intrinsically with faulty defense and foreign policies, especially the billions of dollars freely spent on the military. Faruqui offers a formula for demilitarizing Pakistan - without compromising its defense capabilities - to prime the vision of human development. - Chanakya Sen (Sep 3, '04)

Of Chinese pirate kings, Dutch traders Pirate King: Coxinga and the Fall of the Ming Dynasty by Jonathan Clements, and The Dutch Encounter with Asia: 1600-1950 by Kees Zandvliet For 350 years the Dutch had profound mercantile and colonial impact on Asia, still felt today. Myths abound, but these two books go far to dispel modern propaganda and demystify that important period, and give us greater insight into the region as it is today. - Macabe Keliher (Aug 27, '04)

In defense of Turkish cigarettes   Snow by Orhan Pamuk Those in the West who still view Turkey as a pillar of Western influence in a troubled region should read this novel sitting down. Orhan Pamuk, the country's reigning bard, portrays a Turkey whose center cannot hold because it has rotted away. - Spengler (Aug 23, '04)

New political mask Thaksin - The Business of Politics in Thailand by Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's "new politics" remain popular, particularly among business people and the poor, but for many who had hoped they were on the road to a new democracy, a sense of angst is spreading. This book seeks to unravel why, by exploring the ways in which Thaksin is changing the political landscape. (Aug 20, '04)

Pakistan through Indian eyes Pakistan in a Changing Strategic Context, edited by Ajay Darshan Behera and Mathew Joseph C This collection of essays looks at Pakistan's place in the world, with particular focus on the nation's relationship with the US, and how it has changed since September 11. Despite the authors, from many different backgrounds, all being Indian, the overall picture is a balanced one. - Sudha Ramachandran (Aug 13, '04)

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Future shock The Writing on the Wall. India Checkmates America 2017 by S Padmanabhan In a chilling taste of what may come, over the next 15 years India builds up its military, while allying with China and other Asian nations to become a new superpower. Rising tensions between Pakistan and India lead to a dramatic climax in which India finds itself at war against America. - Chanakya Sen (Aug 6, '04)

The rise of India's 'IT paradise' Network City. Planning the Information Society in Bangalore by James Heitzman In the 1990s, Bangalore acquired an international reputation as India's "Silicon Valley". But this rise to fame didn't just happen overnight; the city's gradual accumulation of skills and capital has been taking place since the beginning of the twentieth century. - Chanakya Sen (Jul 30, '04)

China's waters of life are the waters of death The River Runs Black: The Environmental Challenge to China's Future by Elizabeth C Economy From the Tang to the Ming to the Qing dynasties, China's history of environmental contravention has been sordid, and today, as the economy expands at a furious pace, so does the degradation of the environment, threatening both human life and the economy. - Macabe Keliher (Jul 23, '04)

Over-hyped hypermarkets The Power of Productivity: Wealth, Poverty and the Threat to Global Stability by William W Lewis This book claims that the end to poverty can be found on the shelves of global hypermarket chains. Gary LaMoshi says the book is selling a stale product long past its expiration date.

A case against self-annihilation Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance by Noam Chomsky Despite the specificity of its subtitle, this book looks beyond US foreign policy, and is most rewarding when read from a global point of view. Indeed, Chomsky explicitly frames the whole issue of US foreign policy as a matter of broad evolutionary concern at the planetary level. - Piyush Mathur

The case for withdrawal Exiting Iraq: Why the US Must End the Military Occupation and Renew the War against al-Qaeda by Christopher Preble While most of Washington's critics agree that pulling out of Iraq completely is a bad idea, this book argues for the expeditious withdrawal of all US forces, provided that the interim Iraqi government is first made aware of the crucial ground rules relating to US interests. - David Isenberg

Pondering the Pyongyang puzzle Nuclear North Korea by Victor D Cha and David C Kang, Crisis on the Korean Peninsula by Michael O'Hanlon and Mike Mochizuki, and Target North Korea by Gavan McCormack. As the issue of nuclear North Korea simmers, igniting hissy fits that too often pass for political and academic discourse, Nuclear North Korea presents an admirable debate on Pyongyang. Combine this with the two other works, and one is provided with a fine overview of North Korea-related issues. - Bradley Martin

Lessons learned from a senior spy China Hands: Nine Decades of Adventure, Espionage and Diplomacy in Asia by James Lilley At a time when the CIA is desperately attempting to restore its credibility, former agent James Lilley's memoir serves as a reminder of the diplomat's unswerving principles. It is also a reminder that for all of the mistakes America has made, and there are plenty, it still remains a vibrant country infused with freedom and ideals. - James Borton

The inscrutable Indians Being Indian by Pavan K Varma Often perceiving Indians as greedy, much of the world makes the mistake of painting the entire country with the same brush. This controversial new book candidly debunks many such myths, while also explaining some of the harsh truths in a brilliant psychoanalysis of India's inscrutable polymorphics. - Chanakya Sen

Dissecting the Japanese boob tube The Couch Potato's Guide to Japan: Inside the world of Japanese TV by W M Penn Although it attempts to cover too much ground in too few pages, this book can be considered a "TV tour guide to Japan" for beginners. It is entirely devoted to the act of watching Japanese television, and it's written by an author more than qualified to tackle the subject. - Jamie Miyazaki

The myth of 1.3 billion cans of Coke The Misunderstood China: Uncovering the Truth Behind the Bamboo Curtain, by Chi Lo The Middle Kingdom has seduced investors with illusions of 1.3 billion cans of Coke in the world's biggest untapped market. While some pundits continue to predict its collapse into fiery chaos, Chi Lo seeks to uncover the truth behind misunderstood, still enigmatic China and its economic and financial myths. - Macabe Keliher

The Kashmir conundrum Kashmir. Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace, bySumantra Bose In that Bose has invested rational intellect and humanist thought in his book, it is a worthwhile read. However, this "liberal" attempt at mapping out the Kashmir maze lacks reflection on radical Islam and its effects on Kashmir, frequently heading off on unilinear paths. - Chanakya Sen

The two gentlemen of Europe Philosophy in a Time of Terror: Dialogues with Jurgen Habermas and Jacques Derrida, edited by Giovanna Borradori. As a collection of interviews, the book presents the mutually dissenting founding fathers of two streams of thought. But terror has been far too pervasive for far too long for one to declare this era a time of terror - and then pretend to offer some new philosophy strictly responsive to it. - Piyush Mathur

Meetings in the making Death by Meeting: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick Lencioni Business meetings tend to be endless and painfully boring, but according to Patrick Lencioni, they don't have to be. And though it lacks a satisfying narrative, Death by Meeting offers interesting food for thought to anyone who has ever suffered through a bad meeting - and that includes most of us. - David Peters

Tomorrow never dies The End of Saddam Hussein: History Through the Eyes of the Victims, by Prem Shankar Jha Like the maniacal media baron of James Bond fame who aims to dominate the world though his newspaper, Jha argues that the media of today have had a sinister hand in the mutilation of Iraq - where "the truth was buried from the very beginning in layer upon layer of 'spin'," and justice and fairness became victims of a media jamboree. - Chanakya Sen

Barefoot with a blunt crayon in the ruins Who Did This to Our Bali? by Dewi Anggraeni An ethnic Chinese Indonesian veteran writer living in Australia, Dewi Anggraeni is perfectly positioned to tell the story of the October 2002 Bali bombings with unmatched perspective. That unrealized potential makes Who Did This to Our Bali? such a blowout disappointment. - Gary LaMoshi

Banned in China for sex, drugs, disaffection Candy, by Mian Mian One of the stars of Chinese rock-chick-lit holds forth about - you guessed it - sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll and cynical, self-indulgent and untethered youth. The sexy jailbird protagonist goes astray in the daring, decadent dens of Shenzhen, a special economic zone where anything goes. - Michael Mackey

West embraces the Tibetan way Re-enchantment: Tibetan Buddhism Comes to the West, by Jeffery Paine The Dalai Lama's words of wisdom on happiness and enlightenment are hip, and many movie stars and VIPs now follow his path to bliss. But as Jeffery Paine's book shows, Tibetan Buddhism's journey into the heart of the West has at times been a bumpy ride. - Julian Gearing

Japan's turning point, quest for identity Japan Unbound: A Volatile Nation's Quest for Pride and Purpose by John Nathan The world's second-largest economy is undergoing tectonic shifts throughout society, prompting Japanese to ask themselves what kind of society they want to live in, what it means to be Japanese and what accounts for their uniqueness. In this climate of uncertainty and questioning, nationalism thrives. - Yoel Sano

The roots of 9-11 Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 by Steve Coll The heat is rising on the Bush administration's perceived failure to respond to the terrorist threat prior to September 11, for which previous US administrations also are to blame. In Ghost Wars, Steve Coll reveals how the US conducts itself in the world, reminding us that "superpower" status does necessarily translate into justice, common sense and measured foreign policy. - Julian Gearing

In defense of the Stars and Stripes Anti-Americanism by Jean-Francois Revel, French-English translation by Diarmid Cammell Thirty-four years after the publication of his first book in which he sought to portray a different picture to the one then widely portrayed in Europe of an "ugly America", Frenchman Revel once again tackles the issue of pervasive anti-American sentiment. This he does with a vigor and venom that would make any full-blooded American proud. - John Parker

WTO fault Lines Doha Development Agenda. A Global View. T K Bhaumik (ed) Following the collapse of the World Trade Organization's Cancun ministerial last September, it became clear that the world body needed to address a multitude of problems if the Doha Development Round was to be a success. This book takes a detailed look at these hiccups, with some of the world's experts on trade weighing in on what should - and shouldn't - be done. - Chanakya Sen

When weapons come back to haunt Disarming Iraq by Hans Blix Hans Blix may turn out to be the only one involved in Iraq to emerge with his integrity intact. And his new book, which takes a look at the wild ride he had searching for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, places new blame on those who pushed for a war to hunt the Snark that wasn't there. - Ian Williams

India: Becoming poignant, pertinent, pragmatic The End of India by Khushwant Singh When a nationally respected octogenarian bursts out publicly in agony and rage at the state of his nation, his screams cannot be ignored. Not only does The End of India provide a fearless, sometimes vulgar portrayal of the cumulative growth of Hindu extremism in India, but by defying mainstream political rhetoric it reveals what, according to its author, is "the motto for modern India". - Piyush Mathur

A reluctant heir Sonia: A biography, by Rasheed Kidwai Given that biographers in India are generally viewed either as hagiographers or character assassins, this unauthorized effort obviously suffers from a lack of access to the subject. Nevertheless, an even-handed, if rather academic book has emerged on the lady who would be India's next premier. - Jason Overdorf

Honey, he trashed the Bushes! Dude, Where's My Country? by Michael Moore With references to President George W Bush's family connections, neo-con antics and other Bush administration scams, Michael Moore makes a comedic, and rather concrete case, for a change of leaders in 2004. - Chanakya Sen

Asia's noisome neighbor Australia's Ambivalence towards Asia by J V D'Cruz and William Steele Loud and loutish and at once proud and fearful of its own whiteness, Australia "has displaced its self-hatred on to others" - namely Asians. Yet while the authors make no effort to hide their contempt for Australian racism and hypocrisy, they present a tragic portrait of an insecure nation. - Marco Garrido

Forbidden images of the Cultural Revolution Red-Color News Soldier - A Chinese Photographer's Odyssey Through the Cultural Revolution by Li Zhensheng Photojournalist Li Zhensheng joined the Red Guards, got a press pass and recorded the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. He documented both mindless pageantry and atrocity, including secret executions. He had to hide the negatives under the floorboards - but now the forbidden images have emerged. - James Borton

American psycho in Tokyo In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami A sick, a very sick American tourist visits Tokyo to experience the sex establishments and explore authentic sleaze, wallowing in the "miso soup". Then teenagers are sexually assaulted and murdered in a doomed tango between cultures that simultaneously attract and repel each other. - Gary LaMoshi

The ins and outs of patent policies Patents in the Knowledge-Based Economy by Wesley M Cohen and Stephen A Merrill (eds) Discussing patents in two areas, software and biotechnology, this book attempts (with partial success} to explore the influence the United States administration and litigation have over technological innovation. - Piyush Mathur

A story in black and white The Heart of Kashmir by Kash Gabriele Torsello Millions of words have been written about the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan in which thousands of people have lost their lives. Now comes a book with a hundred or so black and white pictures that tell a story of their own. - Tony Allison

Pakistan's Beirut Karachi: A Terror Capital in the Making by Wilson John The book vividly traces the degeneration of the port city of Karachi from being the bright capital of the newly created Pakistan in 1947 into a potpourri of fanaticism and mayhem and, more sinister, a launch pad for terrorism. - Chanakya Sen

Man of contradictions Kim Jong-il: North Korea's Dear Leader by Michael Breen The debate rages over whether North Korea's leader is crazy like a fox or a genuine wacko, and this uncertainty helps make him a dangerous man. This book attempts to lift the veil from the Hermit Kingdom. - Gary LaMoshi     Breen interview: 'Kim's no fool'

Nehru's overlooked legacy Nehru. The Invention of India by Shashi Tharoor This biography of Jawaharlal Nehru makes use of anecdotes and photographic interpretation to present an interesting portrait of one of modern India's founding fathers. However, the author tends to overlook some of Nehru's critical achievements in constructing an independent nation. - Chanakya Sen

Images of Myanmar's tragedy Waiting for the Lady, by Christopher G Moore Bangkok A-Go-Go, by John Hail It all began with an arresting image of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Years later this photograph has prompted one author to write a compelling tale about the struggle for freedom in Myanmar, while the man behind the camera himself has picked up the pen and written an account that touches on both love and loss in Southeast Asia. - Gary LaMoshi

Revelations of a Tibetan monk Music in the Sky, by Michele Martin The story of the birth of the young man now claiming the leadership of a key Tibetan Buddhist school, his enthronement in Tibet, flight to India and anecdotes of his spiritual powers have captured the world's imagination. Now, the events have been put to pen, with illuminating results. - Tsering Namgyal

The secret world of corporate mercenaries Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry, by Peter W Singer Shrouded in mystery, private military companies are garnering an increased amount of attention in the media as of late. But as pointed out in Peter W Singer's comprehensive analysis of the industry, much of that coverage is incredibly inaccurate. - David Isenberg

Japan, US cultures clash in bank disaster Saving the Sun: A Wall Street Gamble to Rescue Japan from its Trillion-Dollar Meltdown, by Gillian Tett Rarely are the competing cultures of Japan and the US so clearly delineated as they were when Wall Street set out to save the foundering Long Term Credit Bank, and rarely are those fissures limned and rarely are those fissures limned as well as they are in this book. - Steve Green

The cat who turned kawaii into cash Hello Kitty: The Remarkable Story of Sanrio and the Billion Dollar Feline Phenomenon, by Ken Belson and Brian Bremner After nearly 30 years, this ubiquitous feline is proving she's still as kawaii - cute - as ever, and still popular in her homeland, Japan. Unfortunately, this new book about the Hello Kitty phenomenon, rather like the little white cat herself, has little to offer below the surface. - Gary LaMoshi

The hare and the tortoise Economic Reforms and Performance. China and India in Comparative Perspective, by Subramanian Swamy India's economy, after losing a decade to China due to piecemeal and ineffective reforms, has a good chance to rival China's in the near future, given that further economic restructuring is carried out. - Chanakya Sen

Asia's bankers still have a lot to learn Banking in Asia: Acquiring a Profit Mindset by Tab Bowers, Greg Bigg and Jeffrey Wong Five years after the Asian financial crisis, Asia's bankers are still struggling to figure out the modern world. The McKinsey consulting firm takes them to task for it. - Stephen Green

Accounting for ideas Financial Dynamics: A System for Valuing Technology Companies by Chris Westland This book proves that accounting isn't just about numbers, and explains why accountants fail when facing knowledge industries, where the assets aren't kegs of nails but ideas. - Gary LaMoshi

Expose on the end of an era After the New Economy by Doug Henwood Financial journalist Doug Henwood takes a look at the bubble economy and discovers, dispiritedly, that about the only people who benefited were those in the financial world. - Standard Schaefer

Common sense guide to success in China China Streetsmart: What You MUST Know to be Effective and Profitable in China by John L Chan Almost 25 years after China's initial opening to foreign investment, horror stories of failed deals and broken dreams abound. This book by a Shanghai-based consultant says succeeding in China requires the same as succeeding anywhere: business savvy. - David Peters

The crisis of American journalism A Heart, a Cross, and a Flag: America Today by Peggy Noonan Had irrationalism, vacuity and tediousness been this book's only features, it would probably not have been worth reviewing. However, the author's politically dangerous rhetoric requires attention, and in turn some serious questions need to be raised for the US media to ponder. - Piyush Mathur

Faltering footstep The Long Strider by Dom Moraes and Sarayu Srivatsa The authors, in retracing the walk of dwarf, sometime buffoon and self publicist Thomas Coryate from England to India in 1613, set out to show the contrast between ancient and modern India, and reveal something of themselves as well. - Jason Overdorf

Calculated hospitality Refugees and the State. Practices of Asylum and Care in India, 1947-2000 Edited by Ranabir Samaddar This collection of studies of refugee caseloads by prominent intellectuals questions the concept of "Mother India", whose bounteous lap has a place for stragglers from every part of the planet, and finds her wanting. - Chanakya Sen

Revisiting a classic Development as Freedom by Amartya Sen Broadly, the author re-conceptualizes development in terms of freedom and vice versa. But it is difficult for the reader to decide when - and when not - to distinguish between his two implicit positions of "development is freedom" and "development should be freedom". Nevertheless, a mandatory read. - Piyush Mathur

Tale of refugees all at sea Dark Victory by David Marr and Marian Wilkinson The 2001 rescue of 433 passengers - allegedly refugees - from a sinking vessel off Australia's Christmas Island set off a veritable storm across the world, with the Australian government at the center. The authors trace in great detail the story's events. Unfortunately, they miss out on one key detail, which seriously undermines their work. - Alexander Casella

Bad ad for McKinsey, reform Capitalist China by Jonathan R Woetzel The achievements of consulting legend McKinsey and Co make the shortcomings of this book, a collection of essays and interviews from the firm, all the more shocking. A seemingly random walk across the economic landscape of the reforming People's Republic of China, the book fails in both concept and execution. - Gary LaMoshi

Lifting the burka in Afghanistan The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad Of the countless journalists who dropped into Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban's defeat, Seierstad took the trouble to go way beyond the superficial and the banal so characteristic of "parachute" journalism, with enchanting results. - Jason Overdorf

Enigma decryption Inside an Elusive Mind. Prabhakaran, by M Narayan Swamy A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. If ever this old saw was applicable, it is to Sri Lanka's ultra-secretive Tiger supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran, although the author makes a stout attempt at breaking the code. - Sreeram Chaulia

A sex slave's story Bars of Steel by Paul Strahan and Brandon Royal Writing about the plight of young Asian women being forced into sex slavery would seem a can't-miss opportunity to assail the evils that permeate the modern world. But the authors have managed to pull off the extremely tricky task of presenting a much more rounded view of the world of sexual servitude. - Ted Lerner

An oppressed voice heard Outcaste: A Memoir by Narendra Jadhav The son of a Dalit (untouchable) who rose to prominence tells the tale of his family - a novelty in India where family sagas generally center around the lives of the upper classes. - Jason Overdorf

Caught napping Why America Slept, by Gerald Posner The author documents incident by incident 10 years of failure on the part of the US intelligence agencies to look hard at what was happening inside the country in the runup to September 11, 2001, as well as airs some awkward allegations that could have Pakistan and Saudi Arabia squirming. - Seema Sirohi

Democracy and mobocracy The Future of Freedom by Fareed Zakaria The central theme of the book is whether, as the world becomes more democratized, people are becoming more or less free. In answering the question, Zakaria explores the inadequacies of democracy, explaining why too much of it can be detrimental to liberty, and how power is not always best held when in the hands of the people. - Sreeram Chaulia

Mammon's cesspool Corruption in India by N Vittal Corruption and India have virtually become synonyms in the minds of many people, especially the country's poor, who suffer the most from it. Vittal draws from his vast experience in dealing with corruption to offer some solutions, and hope. - Sreeram Chaulia

China's stock market binge Privatizing China by Carl E Walter and Fraser J T Howie Those considering playing China's stock markets would do well to read a new book that tackles the myths and realities of the dragon's burgeoning bourses. - Gary LaMoshi

An intellectual among journalists Byline by M J Akbar Whether he wears the hat of an historian, journalist or socio-political commentator, M J Akbar never fails to stimulate or to entertain, and his latest offering of a collection of short essays and op-eds composed over the past decade don't disappoint. - Sreeram Chaulia

Indian democracy imperiled In the Name of Democracy , by Bipan Chandra India came perilously close in the mid-1970s to straying off its democratic path when Indira Gandhi, faced with a extra-parliamentary challenge, suspended political and economic rights through a state of internal emergency. Chandra captures the drama of this turbulent period well, making for riveting reading. - Sreeram Chaulia

The road in Asia less traveled The Traveler and the Gate Checkers by Ted Lerner From the blood and glory of pro wrestling in Japan to India's sex temples to Southeast Asia's enigmatic Laos, Asia Times Online correspondent Ted Lerner's latest offering delves into different slices of Asian life. - D S Malesevic

An antidote to the bad Bangkok novel Bangkok 8 by John Burdett Bangkok and bad novels: the two just seem to go together. But a recent book, Lin Neumann contends, finally does justice to the city where anything goes.

Dissecting an assassination An Act of State. The Execution of Martin Luther King by William Pepper William Pepper's new book examines the assassination of Martin Luther King, one of the most successful proponents of non-violence in history, at the time that he was becoming vocal regarding the Vietnam War. Officially blamed by the US government on a lone assassin, Pepper lays out a heavily researched case that fingers the government as orchestrator and executor of the plan to neutralize King and his non-violent message. - Sreeram Chaulia

The burden of prints Imprint of the Raj: The Colonial Origins of Fingerprinting and its Voyage to Britain by Chandak Sengoopta In an obscure village in Bengal in 1858, Sir William James Herschel experienced a momentary flash of inspiration that would revolutionize the field of criminal investigation - and, a recent book argues, make him the true pioneer of fingerprinting technology. - Jason Overdorf

Doing a number on the investing public The Number: How the Drive for Quarterly Earnings Corrupted Wall Street and Corporate America , by Alex Berenson Obeisance to quarterly earnings was just one facet of the rampant dishonesty on Wall Street that has led to the loss of billions of dollars by investors since 2000, according to this book, which tells the story of how small lies ultimately led to mammoth deception by accountants, brokers, bankers and corporate titans. - Gary LaMoshi

The sailor and the shogunate Samurai William, by Giles Milton After a harrowing 19-month journey, a remarkable mariner named William Adams became the first Englishman to visit Japan, and would rise to fame and power in the shogunate of Tokogawa Ieyasu. This book tells the story of the real man behind James Clavell's famous novel Shogun, and of the chicanery of the most successful trading nation of the 17th century. - John Berthelsen

Exposition of revolutionary terror The Gate, by Francois Bizot Francois Bizot, a French historian of Buddhism, was the only Westerner to live through the time of Cambodia's obscurity by surviving and escaping a Khmer Rouge prison camp. His recent book offers a blow-by-blow narrative of the nation's descent into chaos. - Sreeram Chaulia

THE FACES OF ISLAM Islam under siege by Akbar S Ahmed Ahmed, one of the world's leading authorities on Islam, explains what is going wrong in his society by referring to Islamic history and beliefs and raises important questions of relevance to Muslims and to non-Muslims alike, while also providing a route to dialogue between civilizations. - Ahmad Faruqui Who killed Daniel Pearl? Qui a tue Daniel Pearl? by Bernard-Henri Levy The book has already caused a stir in the French-speaking world. It is likely to create an even bigger sensation once the English-language version comes out as Levy airs some awkward theories on the murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl at the hands of Islamic extremists - if it even was them. - Pepe Escobar

Sony's uncertain prospects Business the Sony Way by Shu Shin Luh Sony's shares in late April fell more than 15 percent, indicative of the transition under way at the electronics giant. Its current chairman wants to take the firm in a digital direction - and investors are uncomfortable with this new vision of Sony. - Gary LaMoshi

Of pox and puppets The Brainfever Bird, by I Allan Sealy Fetid, pulsating Old Delhi provides the perfect landscape for this thriller, where, much like today's real-life SARS scare, a plague breaks out and takes its deadly toll, all related in vivid metaphors and a distinctive prose style. - Shailaja Neelakantan

The art of investment Sun Tzu on Investing by Curtis J Montgomery It is hard to find anything new to tell equity investors, especially after the dot-com bubble burst. But a recent book that uses the insights of ancient Chinese General Sun Tzu just might have something that fits the bill. - Gary LaMoshi

Gary, Thank you for an intelligent and objective view of my recent book, Sun Tzu On Investing. Our Sun Tzu-style investing portfolio, which we call WallStraits 8 Portfolio, has, since September 2000, gained 27.6 percent while the Straits Times Index has lost 7.8 percent annually, including dividends - thus helping to validate the ancient wisdom of making sure-win investments. Very best regards, Curtis J Montgomery http://www.wallstraits.com

Minority rule, majority hate World on Fire by Amy Chua What does September 11, 2001, have to do with the murder of Yale Professor Amy Chua's Chinese Filipino aunt in Manila? Chua examines the correlation between ethnonationalistic violence and free market democracy and proposes methods for preventing the recurring violence she believes emanates naturally from globalization. - Sreeram Chaulia

Rising from the ashes Japanese Phoenix: The Long Road to Economic Revival by Richard Katz It seems almost perverse to be a Japan-optimist these days, when so much of the news coming out of Tokyo is bad, but a new book predicts that since the reform genie has been let out of the bottle, it is only a matter of time before the world's second largest economy makes a comeback. - David Peters

Love, the mystery unsolved Abandon by Pico Iyer A graduate trying to understand the secrets of Sufism is taken on a quest through Syria, Spain, Iran and India, where his understanding of the mystical dimension of Islam, unfortunately for this book, increases more than his comprehension of love. - Jason Overdorf

A prescription for the Japanese economy Balance Sheet Recession, by Richard C Koo Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's administration is pushing tough structural reform to cure Japan's long-running economic sickness. A new book challenges this economic medicine and insists that the road to recovery begins with increased government deficit spending. - Gary LaMoshi     Fighting over the cure

Wilsonian idealism reconsidered Woodrow Wilson (Profiles in Power series), by John Thompson A number of distinguished statesmen have been lauded for their Wilsonian policies, but after reading this book, which draws on newly released archives and presents a more rounded view of Woodrow Wilson's personality and philosophy, this might not appear to be such a compliment. - Sreeram Chaulia

The curse of the poppy The Opium Economy in Afghanistan. An International Problem by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime If ever foreign intervention were needed in Afghanistan, where poppy cultivation is at an all-time high, it is now, if the social and economic devastation not just of the Afghan people but across the world is to be stopped. - Sreeram Chaulia

A tale of two women A Married Woman, by Manju Kapur Telling the story of a middle-class woman from Delhi caught in an unhappy marriage against the backdrop of the destruction of the Babri Masjid in 1992, Manju Kapur's second novel explores love and repression in India. - Shailaja Neelakantan

Afghanistan: The lost homeland West of Kabul, East of New York: An Afghan American Story, by Tamim Ansary Born of an Afghan father and an American mother, the author has his feet firmly planted in different continents - even though he lives in the United States, his concern and passion for troubled Afghanistan permeates every page of the book. - Sreeram Chaulia

Economic doomsday The Dollar Crisis: Causes, Consequences, Cures, by Richard Duncan Postulating that the US economy is on the verge of collapse, and the whole world is going down with it, a new book offers an unabashedly alarmist view of the imminent unraveling of the global economy - an outcome the author argues has now become unavoidable. - David Peters

Americans are from Mars, Europeans are from Venus Of Paradise and Power, America and Europe in the New World Order, by Robert Kagan In a timely book, Kagan explores how Europe favors peaceful responses to international problems, preferring negotiation, diplomacy and persuasion to coercion, while America prefers to resort to force more often, and is less patient with diplomacy. The author's solution to the problem that this divide is causing might not go down too well in "old Europe". - Sreeram Chaulia

A cynical, idealistic melange Out of God's Oven: Travels in a fractured land, by Dom Moraes and Sarayu Srivatsa Take a pinch of optimism and a cup of pessimism stirred with nearly six years of constant travel and you get a book that captures the issues gripping contemporary India - and it's a vision of a lighted bomb, the fuse sputtering fast. - Jason Overdorf

The art of keeping the peace Trumpets and Tumults. The Memoirs of a Peacekeeper, by Indar Jit Rikhye With a track record in peacekeeping around the world second to none, Indian's Major-General Jit Rikhye is a voice worth listening to as he recounts with wit and sincerity his travels and travails of over half a century. - Sreeram Chaulia

The capitalist case for India The Elephant Paradigm: India Wrestles with Change by Gurcharan Das Is India's economy being held back by its democracy? That is the idea put forth in a recently released book, which suggests that privatization is the panacea for all of India's social and political ills. - Shailaja Neelakantan

Pakistan: The world's next failed state? Pakistan: In the Shadow of Jihad and Afghanistan, by Mary Anne Weaver With a profusion of drugs, arms, private militias, fundamentalist ideologies and sectarian violence, what holds Pakistan together? A new book examines the volatile nation's recent history and what could lead to its demise. - Sreeram Chaulia

The mystery behind Zhu's miracle Zhu Rongji and the Transformation of Modern China, by Laurence J Brahm Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji has been the architect of China's economic boom for over a decade. This book looks at the man behind the transformation of the world's largest market, but, Gary LaMoshi notes, some major questions remain unanswered - perpetuating the mystery of the Chinese economic renaissance.     Brahm interview: 'There are no non-reformers'

A soulful journey Beyond Time. The Ageless Music of Jagjit Singh, edited by Asharani Mathur Jagjit Singh, who almost single-handedly revived romantic Urdu poetry as an art form in song, now aims to popularize Hindi across multi-lingual India as a connecting language. This book traces his rise from obscurity to fame. - Sreeram Chaulia

A resounding voice The Imam and the Indian: Prose Pieces, by Amitav Ghosh Ghosh the novelist has a formidable reputation and following, but he is also the author of myriad essays, travelogues and genre-defying pieces written for magazines and journals. Many of these are collated in the Iman, and they serve to entrench the writer as a voice to the heard. - Shailaja Neelakantan

Picture imperfect Jihadis in Jammu and Kashmir: A Portrait Gallery by K Santhanam, Sreedhar, Sudhir Saxena and Manish This book provides an invaluable, detailed compilation of the organizations involved in the struggle in Jammu and Kashmir. Unfortunately, though, it is little more than this, with minimal analysis of the data, and the authors have mistakenly lumped every dissenting Kashmiri into the category of a terrorist or a jihadi. - Sudha Ramachandran

A Korean exit strategy for the US Korean Endgame: A Strategy for Reunification and US Disengagement, by Selig Harrison At a time when too many Western commentators have taken a myopic view of North Korea, an American foreign-policy analyst who has written on Korean politics for three decades reminds that the ball is in the US court to promote progress toward a unified, de-nuclearized and peaceful Korea. - Sreeram Chaulia

Asia's great and good in trying times Recreating Asia: Visions for a New Century, by Frank-Jurgen Richter and Pamela C M Mar Compiled by the World Economic Forum, best known for its annual Davos conference, this work tries to take a look at what's ahead for Asian business through a series of essays by leading figures in government and industry. That's both the book's greatest strength and weakness. - Gary LaMoshi

Master strategist or master crook? The Trial of Henry Kissinger, by Christopher Hitchens Is Henry Kissinger - Nobel Laureate and the most famous diplomat of his generation - also a war criminal? Hitchens puts forward a strong case that the latter is true, and urges the countless citizens across the globe who suffered as a result of his Kissinger's machinations to bring the man to justice. - Sreeram Chaulia

The pessimist's case The Coming Collapse of China, by Gordon Chang Much is at stake in China's future: huge foreign investments, billions of dollars of trade, the global energy equation, the lives of more than a billion people, and the geopolitical situation in the Asia-Pacific region. This book forcefully argues the pessimist's case, and although the title - and the theme - may not be apt, dramatic change certainly looms.

The triangle of violence Romanzo Criminale, by Giancarlo De Cataldo It is 1978, and a gang of young, violent second-rate hoodlums capitalizes on the Cold War politics of the day to rise to the forefront of Rome's criminal underworld. This novel is a slice of history from a different era - yet it has a moral for today, as politicians, criminals and terrorists still play their deadly game. - Francesco Sisci

September 11 and the American journo Longitudes and Attitudes. Exploring the World After September 11, by Thomas Friedman One may disagree with Thomas Friedman, but it is important to see what the resident foreign policy pundit of the most important newspaper of the most powerful country in the world has to say. Unfortunately, insightful analysis is not to be expected from one who wears his patriotism on his sleeve. - Sreeram Chaulia

Japan's right rising from Koizumi's ashes Dragon Dance, by Peter Tasker The year is 2006, and the Japanese economy has collapsed. Enter rock idol Tsuyoshi Nozawa, "a cross between Bruce Springsteen and Benito Mussolini", with his new ultranationalist party. Authored by a fund manager, this new thriller builds on today's realities to present a frightening, all-too-possible future. - Gary LaMoshi

Reclaiming Burma The Iron Road. A Stand for Truth and Democracy in Burma, by James Mawdsley Beginning in the late 1990s, Mawdsley repeatedly entered Burma to spread pro-democracy literature in the streets, something that quickly landed him in jail, on and off for five years altogether, until he was finally freed under international pressure. - Sreeram Chaulia

The shape of future warfare Resource Wars: The New Landscape of Global Conflict by Michael T Klare While most people accept that one of the driving motivations for a war in Iraq relates to oil, when it comes to other regions, struggles present and future are seldom viewed in terms of a fight over resources. Klare attempts in this book to put matters right - and has some accusing fingers to point. - Sultan Shahin

Globalizing poverty, IMF style Globalization and its Discontents by Joseph Stiglitz Stiglitz has all of the credentials necessary to make a judgment on the International Monetary Fund, which he does with biting criticism. Meant to solve problems of instability and crisis, today the IMF has become a part of the problem. A must read for any global citizen seeking a say in his or her future. - Sreeram Chaulia

'Mrs R' and the human rights scripture A World Made New. Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by Mary Ann Glendon The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is one of the great documents of the 20th century, yet little has been written about the people who struggled so hard to make it a reality, especially Eleanor Roosevelt (Mrs R). This book goes a long way toward acknowledging the Herculean struggles of those who fought to create a document deserving of being considered "universal". - Sreeram Chaulia

Anatomy of Islamism Political Islam in the Indian Subcontinent by Frederic Grare By concluding that the Jamaat-i-Islami, the principal Islamic fundamentalist organization of South Asia, is not necessarily a world peril, the author overlooks a range of less obvious evidence to the contrary in what is otherwise an illuminating book. - Sreeram Chaulia

The most bitter writer on earth The Writer and the World by V S Naipaul, edited by Pankaj Mishra Although this collection of essays spans four continents and three decades, Naipaul remains consistently critical and cynical (interspersed with the occasional dash of humor). But it is for India that he reserves some of his most cutting observations. - Kedar Deshpande

Osama's universe Inside Al Qaeda, Global Network of Terror by Rohan Gunaratna The author, an intelligence expert, has put together an information-filled book on Osama bin Laden's universe and its consequences for the world, with a few suggestions on how to tackle the problem - which do not include a military option. - Sreeram Chaulia

The colossus of cricket Sachin Tendulkar. Masterful by Peter Murray and Ashish Shukla Although he is only 29, India's Sachin Tendulkar has taken cricketing excellence - and records - to new levels, while maintaining a rare dignity off the pitch, all of which is captured in this concise, glossy and highly readable biography. - Sreeram Chaulia

Friend of India, friend of the world The Gentleman from New York: Daniel Patrick Moynihan - A Biography by Godfrey Hodgson "What the hell are we doing backing a military regime, and a losing one at that?" That assessment of US policy during Bangladesh's war of independence - as concise a counter-argument to rampant Kissingerian realpolitik in US foreign policy as could be wished - was made by Daniel Patrick Moynihan in 1971. It reflected a worldview solidly grounded on honesty, decency and values-driven liberalism. - Sreeram Chaulia

Lament for Kashmir's paradise lost Tiger Ladies: A Memoir of Kashmir, by Sudha Koul Told through the experiences of ordinary women, this book movingly documents the loss of innocence that has occurred in the Kashmir Valley, and the paradise that once existed.

India and Pakistan: The ever-ever antagonism India-Pakistan in War & Peace by J N Dixit With many years in the highest echelons of India's foreign service, J N Dixit is well placed to explore the complex relationship between India and Pakistan, one that is "fated never to see the sunshine of amity". Despite understandably placing much of the blame on Pakistan, the author provides an invaluable insight into what drives the bitter neighbors. - Sreeram Chaulia

A history of helping the displaced The UNHCR and World Politics: A Perilous Path by Gil Loescher For 50 years the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has struggled to simultaneously maintain its independence from powerful donor states while actually doing its job of helping refugees and other displaced people. This in-depth history of the organization provides insight into the workings of a humanitarian, but thoroughly malleable, group. - Sreeram Chaulia

Cleaning up America's messes Unfinished Business by Harlan Ullman US defense establishment insider Harlan Ullman minces no words in judging the dysfunctional system that was incapable of translating into action all the signs that pointed to the September 11 crisis. But his solution for America's unfinished business in the post-September 11 era is quintessentially American: "Finish it." Perhaps, though, history is no more than a sequence of "unfinished businesses". - Alexander Casella

An American hero in Nanking American Goddess at the Rape of Nanking: The Courage of Minnie Vautrin by Hua-ling Hu Few would have thought that an Illinois-born woman, Minnie Vautrin, would save and assist countless innocents during the Rape of Nanking. A biography sheds light on her courageous actions, as well as her downfall. - Victor Fic

Struggles of the invisible refugees Caught Between Borders: Response Strategies of the Internally Displaced Edited by M Vincent & B R Sorensen This collection of articles focusing on how internally displaced persons - those who do not cross international borders in their flight from war or starvation - cope and survive, is a timely and humane examination of a dilemma likely to become more common as the world approaches war. - Sreeram Chaulia

Crisis of identity Pakistan: Nationalism without a nation? Edited by Christophe Jaffrelot While Pakistan was created to accommodate Muslims, their religion has not been enough to provide the country with an overriding identity. Indeed, Pakistanis are more united in their dislike for India than by their religion.- Sudha Ramachandran

Champion of truth Japan's Past, Japan's Future: One Historian's Odyssey by Ienaga Saburo Periodically, the ship of stability in East Asia is buffeted by a typhoon of right-wing revisionism blowing out of Japan, as in recent cases of school textbooks downplaying the country's wartime aggression. Historian Saburo Ienaga has spent much of his life battling such tempests, and now tells his own story. - Victor Fic

Between life and afterlife The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri Rich in Hindu mythology, the story of the residents of a Bombay apartment building becomes a metaphor for the social and religious divisions of 1970s India, and the slow demise of the main character, Vishnu, parallels the soul's progress through the various stages of existence. - Sreeram Chaulia

Religion as war The Shade of Swords. Jihad and the Conflict Between Islam and Christianity by M J Akbar While the impulsive fury of the Islamic jihad has become a commonplace topic in present times, it is often forgotten that Christianity has throughout much of history displayed no less militant zeal and warrior mentality in furthering its claim over conquered territories. - Sreeram Chaulia

Email from M J Akbar, author of The Shade of Swords: Dear Mr Chaulia I cannot thank you enough for the extraordinary review that you have done of my new book. It is, as you point out, not a matter of adjectives: the depth into which you have gone is perhaps the best praise that an author could hope for. I am grateful mj akbar

Remembering an African martyrdom The Assassination of Lumumba by Ludo de Witte Over 40 years after his assassination, the Congolese leader Patrice Emery Lumumba continues to draw attention. His murder by the Belgian and American governments represents the epitomy of Western injustice and greed. - Sreeram Chaulia

Sculptors of Silicon India The Horse That Flew: How India's Silicon Gurus Spread Their Wings by Chidanand Rajgatta If ever India needed a success story, it could not have been better provided than by the trailblazers who have taken Silicon Valley by storm. The book, writes Sreeram Chaulia, traces some of the bigger names who have put India on the world IT map, and postulates that they have laid the foundations for India to overcome its digital divide.

Perfidious Albion and the first Kashmir war War and Diplomacy in Kashmir, 1947-48 by Chandrashekhar Dasgupta Conflict over Kashmir has continued almost since Pakistan and India were born. As legendary historian Chandrashekhar Dasgupta shows, however, the very first Indian-Pakistani tussles over Kashmir were marked by the influence of a "neutral" third party, England, which had its own fish to fry. The result, writes Sreeram Chaulia, is an engaging read that graphically illustrates the complications inherent in the use of third party arbitration to solve South Asian disharmony.

The Technology of Genocide IBM and the Holocaust by Edwin Black Sreeram Chaulia discovers in Edwin Black's IBM and the Holocaust that the United States company that boasts of finding "solutions for every problem" concocted solutions of a horrendous nature for Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich, proving itself indispensable to the efficiency of the Nazi effort.

Dragon versus peacock Protracted Contest by John Garver In the long and protracted struggle that has characterized the relationship between India and China, the only theme linking the succession of contests has been conflict itself. Eminent sinologist John Garver'sProtracted Contest shows readers a parade of crises and near-crises illustrating the ultimate tussle for regional hegemony. Sreeram Chaulia reflects on Garver's work profiling the clash of the Asian titans.

Skewed portrait of India's Iron Lady Indira by Katherine Frank Hyped as a "major new" biography of Indira Gandhi, this controversial work - which elicited a libel suit against the author by the subject's daughter-in-law - is a mountain of information detailing an image of a vulnerable woman led astray from the ideals of her illustrious father. Yet the hundreds of pages devoted to Gandhi fail to solve the puzzle that was ultimately the Iron Lady.

History of Chinese Thinking by Ge Zhaoguang An opus of more than 1,000 pages, Ge Zhaoguang's History of Chinese Thinking has Chinese academics bitterly divided over whether the book is a thorough and sober examination of Chinese philosophy, or simply "a display of borrowed erudition". For his part, Francesco Sisci discovers a truly unique work that, as with any good book, divides and shocks.

India as a world power India: Emerging Power by Stephen Cohen Almost 25 years ago, Stephen Cohen co-wrote a book forecasting India's emergence as a major world force. Now blessed with a burgeoning economy and recognized as a bona fide nuclear power, India appears to be realizing some of the potential that the "doyen of South Asian strategic studies" saw back in the 1970s. As Sreeram Chaulia discovers, Cohen's companion piece,India: Emerging Power, shows India among the great powers of the world, in an illuminating examination of a mighty nation at the crossroads of its destiny.

Reminiscences of the Silent Chanakya The Insider by P V Narasimha Rao P V Narasimha Rao presided over some of the most tumultuous years of India's history. How he got there is covered in more than 800 pages in his new "fictional" autobiography The Insider, which charts the career of a thinly veiled alter ego, Anand. His passage to positions of power gives a "ringside" view of the complicated machinations of Indian politics on an eventful - and frequently frustrating - journey nearly as fascinating as India itself.