Non-fiction books about Thailand

[trotsky2]

I just read a book called Democracy<Development< and Decentralization in Provincial Thailand. Anyone else read it? I thought it gave good insight into how the political machine operates in the provinces and the role that some monks play in the electioneering process. At present, I am reading a book called Funeral Casino: Meditation, Massacre and exchange with the dead in Thailand. Enjoying it as well.

[limbo]

Ho Trotsky2,

 

you have authors and publishers on these books?

Thanks.

 

Limbo

[Guest]

Currently reading: In The Place Of Origins-Modernity and Its Mediums in Northern Thailand by Rosalind C. Morris

A very indepth account of spirit mediums in Chiangmai province and how they affect the local cultural and political structure. Not an easy read(I almost never got throught the first chapter), but I'm now almost halfway through and it's actually pretty fascinating stuff!

[pattaya127]

The Place Of Origins-Modernity and Its Mediums in Northern Thailand by Rosalind C. Morris

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I once saw this book in a used bookstore in Berkeley, did not fork out the 20$ to buy it,and ever since I ahve tried to remember the title and the author. Thanks for the reminder!

[Encore]

I'm currently reading a book by Eric Cohen, Israeli Anthropologist, a series of essays of the effects of hilltribe tousim, beach tourism, and sex tourism in thailand, \forgot the title, buty it is published by White Lotus. (I can look up the title if anyone wants it.)

 

The essays on tourism are quite old (although the book was published in 2001), but some of his observations are very insightful. He very accurately describes the different levels of involvement betweeen falang men and thai women in the scene, and the way the women slowly entice their prey into longer relations and monetary support.

 

He has a good perspective, and is worth reading. I especially liked his chapter on the letters and the use of a scribe. this was pre-email times, but nothing has changed as far as I can see.

 

He certainly added a bit to my understanding of my own experiences

[Ashman]

"Letters from Thailand" by Susan Fulop Kepnor (translator).This book is made up from a series of letters written by a Chinese immigrant (Tan Suang U) to his mother. The letters were intercepted by the Chinese authorities and ended up in print which reads like a novel (his mother never did recieve the letters). The story tells the life of the author from first arriving on a boat to working for a Chinese family business, marrying the daughter of his boss,succesfully setting up his own business and raising a family. It stretches from the mid forties to the mid sixties. A very worthwhile read.