Throne of Jade (Temeraire, Book 2)

Book Description

When Britain intercepted a French ship and its precious cargo–an unhatched dragon’s egg–Capt. Will Laurence of HMS Reliant unexpectedly became master and commander of the noble dragon he named Temeraire. As new recruits in Britain’s Aerial Corps, man and dragon soon proved their mettle in daring combat against Bonaparte’s invading forces.

Now China has discovered that its rare gift, intended for Napoleon, has fallen into British hands–and an angry Chinese delegation vows to reclaim the remarkable beast. But Laurence refuses to cooperate. Facing the gallows for his defiance, Laurence has no choice but to accompany Temeraire back to the Far East–a long voyage fraught with peril, intrigue, and the untold terrors of the deep. Yet once the pair reaches the court of the Chinese emperor, even more shocking discoveries and darker dangers await.

Customer Reviews:

Intrigue and treachery and new ideas in Throne of Jade.......2007-09-06

When I had first heard of Naomi Novik's novels about dragons in alternate world of the Napoleonic wars, I was pretty skeptical. It sounded pretty over the top, and I had my doubts as to whether or not it would work. I shouldn't have worried. After I had finished His Majesty's Dragon, I was hooked.

The second book in the series, Throne of Jade has Will Laurence and Temeraire in a rather difficult situation. Temeraire had originally been intended for Napoleon, as a gift from the Chinese Emperor, but the ship had been captured by Captain Laurence, and the hatchling dragon decided that Laurence was going to his companion and no other. So began a new way of life for Captain Laurence, one that is turning his notion of what is an officer completely upside down.

Now an embassy from the Chinese have come to England, and are demanding that Temeraire be returned, preferably, without Laurence. Temeraire, as a Celestial dragon, is certainly not to be with such a low-born person as Laurence, and sending the rare dragon into combat -- well, the fury over that one is scarcely to be contained. Laurence is facing a possible courts-martial and possibly hanging as a traitor -- and coping with threats from his superiors in the Admiralty who can't fathom the unique relationship between a dragon and his human companion.

Eventually, some sort of compromise is reached, and Laurence, Temeraire and their crew are embarking for China on board a transport specially designed for dragons. Along the way there are attacks, a gigantic sea serpent, and political manuvering from the Chinese, led by Prince Yongxing, who seems to have his own reasons for wanting Temeraire to come to China -- and stay. And if Laurence or any of the other British are killed, well, that's just too bad.

Most second novels falter when it comes to keeping up the pace and excitment of a first novel. This one certainly doesn't. I was enthralled from the first chapter and on, very curious to see just how Laurence and Temeraire were going to be able to handle the quandary that they were in. While this one does lack a lot of the freshness and battle scenes of the first novel, it doesn't lack for adventure -- the journey that they take around the Cape of Good Hope and through the Indian Ocean is fraught with plenty of natural perils.

Novik isn't shy either about weaving in the actual history of Europe here either. There are glimpses of the ghastly slave trade, the dreadful news of Napoleon's victory at Austerlitz, and the struggles that the British and other Europeans had in getting trade started in the lucrative Chinese markets. How all of this is handled is one of the reasons why I'm starting to like this series so much -- Novik knows just how much to show us, but never overwhelms the reader with too many of the details.

Finally, and what tends to draw me in the most, are the depictions of how humanity would live with dragons. These are dragons with intelligence and smarts, and not a low level of cunning either. They have personalities, charm and not at all shy about speaking their minds. It's a truly alien and still familiar world. Too, the constrasts between the Chinese and European worlds are vividly drawn, and I liked how the author kept the attitudes of this time in period true to form -- Laurence thinks and acts like an Englishman of the time in his views towards women, combat and the like.

Novik's writing is clear, well-paced and full of insights. She manages to keep the anachronisms out of the way, and manages to give the story plenty of punch and fire. If you're a fan of the seafaring novels of Patrick O'Brian or C.S. Forrester, this new series are a treat. In short, I suspect that Novik has created a series that is going to be around for a while, and for anyone who wants something new and thrilling, this is a series to take in.

This paperback edition has an excerpt from the third novel in the series, Black Powder War, and a little addendum about dragons, written from the perspective of a researcher of the time.

Four and a half stars.

Happily Recommended.

Wow again... .......2007-07-08

Lawrence and Temeraire go to China... oh boy.

This series is brilliant, well written and researched, yet still fantasy - seeing politics and 17th century morality through the eyes of a dragon is an amazing way to view the world. Lawrence, who has never questioned his country or his belief system, is becoming unsettled in his unquestioning loyalties by Temeraire's constant search for understanding; Temeraire is as young and impatient as ever, technically brilliant but completely incapable of understanding the finer points of human society, politics or deviousness. And they're chucked together into an isolationist China, with Temeraire the center of some truly cut-throat political machinations.

Throne of Jade.......2007-07-07

It was a great book with dragons in it. This is the first series with dragons that I really liked. I have read the whole series and they are all good.

muddled and meandering.......2007-06-29

After the joyful exuberance of His Majesty's Dragon, this sequel was disappointingly full of preachy political arguments that quickly turned into an interminable bore. In addition, it was sad to watch Laurence and Temeraire's relationship sour. Lastly, don't think the final book in the trilogy will tie everything up or resolve anything -- it's just a series of depressing and weary battles that go on and on and on. If the first book hadn't left me so invested in what happens to Temeraire, I would have give both this second book as well as the third one a single star.

Befuddling But Still Worth The Read.......2007-06-29

I devoured His Majesty's Dragon with out regret but Throne of Jade simply did not leave me quite as satiated. I didn't despise the book but in the end I was left with more questions about what had just occurred then a feeling of warm-fuzzy-good-book-afterglow that I had with HMD. The plot wasn't super strong to begin with and as many others have pointed out the boat voyage was needlessly lengthy. It seemed to focus more on the perils of ocean traversing then the adventure of a dragon.
I also felt like the characters of Laurence and Temeraire sort of devolved in that Temeraire seemed more petulant and Laurence more wooden. In the first novel there was a great journey of personal development for Laurence from a strict one minded Navy man into a more empathetic dragon Captain. But all through out TOJ he seemed more concerned with what was best for England then Temeraire. Also I found Temeraire's character to be presented as more impetuous and fool hearty. His romance with another dragon was strange because even though at first Temeraire seems completely twitterpated (so much so he allows great danger to befall Laurence) he just as swiftly decides to return to England to amend dragon's rights. That again I found confusing, the correlation between human slavery and Western dragons was sort of a stretch. The sudden spirit of needed change in the treatment of war dragons was an unnecessary plot branch for me. The love and partnership of HMD also seemed to be missing from this sequel.
Once the characters reached China I was spellbound by the beautiful description and incredible relationship of Chinese dragons and people. But it felt like just a sip of the setting when I wanted a gallon. The Celestial dragons were touted for they're fabulous wisdom and skill. They seemed to study a lot but their intelligence wasn't really fleshed out. None of the creatures said anything particularly astute and there was talk of their poetry and some sorts of examinations were mentioned but this was never explained leaving me feeling shorted.
But I think in the end that like others have said more eloquently Throne of Jade is simply a stepping stone to Black Powder War and it definitely at times feels that way. It's not a bad book and if you love His Majesty's Dragon you will surely like Throne of Jade and it is worth a swift read. But if you're like me and desire a more solid story of human and dragon interaction then you may not love TOJ in the same way as it's magnificent prequel.

Developing Multi-Agent Systems with JADE (Wiley Series in Agent Technology)

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Developing Multi-Agent Systems with JADE (Wiley Series in Agent Technology)
Fabio Luigi Bellifemine , Giovanni Caire , and Dominic Greenwood
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0470057475

Book Description

Learn how to employ JADE to build multi-agent systems!

JADE (Java Agent DEvelopment framework) is a middleware for the development of applications, both in the mobile and fixed environment, based on the Peer-to-Peer intelligent autonomous agent approach. JADE enables developers to implement and deploy multi-agent systems, including agents running on wireless networks and limited-resource devices.

Developing Multi-Agent Systems with JADE is a practical guide to using JADE. The text will give an introduction to agent technologies and the JADE Platform, before proceeding to give a comprehensive guide to programming with JADE. Basic features such as creating agents, agent tasks, agent communication, agent discovery and GUIs are covered, as well as more advanced features including ontologies and content languages, complex behaviours, interaction protocols, agent mobility, and the in-process interface. Issues such as JADE internals, running JADE agents on mobile devices, deploying a fault tolerant JADE platform, and main add-ons are also covered in depth.

Developing Multi-Agent Systems with JADE:

Comprehensive guide to using JADE to build multi-agent systems and agent orientated programming.
Describes and explains ontologies and content language, interaction protocols and complex behaviour.
Includes material on persistence, security and a semantics framework.
Contains numerous examples, problems, and illustrations to enhance learning.
Presents a case study demonstrating the use of JADE in practice.
Offers an accompanying website with additional learning resources such as sample code, exercises and PPT-slides.

This invaluable resource will provide multi-agent systems practitioners, programmers working in the software industry with an interest on multi-agent systems as well as final year undergraduate and postgraduate students in CS and advanced networking and telecoms courses with a comprehensive guide to using JADE to employ multi agent systems.

Book Description

Stories on Stage is a collection of reader's theater scripts for young readers, adapted from stories by fifteen different authors, including Louis Sachar, Nancy Farmer, and Roald Dahl. Coming from such genres as humor, fantasy, and multicultural folktales, stories were selected for their dramatic quality, literary value, and appeal to young people. The scripts may be freely copied, shared, and performed for noncommercial purposes. With a focus on ages 8 to 15, the collection features a wide range of reading levels. The scripts in this collection are -- "Three Sideways Stories From Wayside School," by Louis Sachar -- "Mr. Twit's Revenge," by Roald Dahl -- "Millions of Cats," by Wanda Gag -- "Tapiwa's Uncle," by Nancy Farmer -- "How Tom Beat Captain Najork," by Russell Hoban -- "Harriet," by Florence Parry Heide -- "Mr. Bim's Bamboo," by Carol Farley -- "Talk," by Harold Courlander -- "The Jade Stone," by Caryn Yacowitz -- "The Bean Boy," by Monica Shannon -- "The Kid from the Commercial," by Stephen Manes -- "The Fools of Chelm," by Steve Sanfield -- "Mouse Woman and the Snails," by Christie Harris -- "Westwoods," by Eleanor Farjeon -- "The Legend of Lightning Larry," by Aaron Shepard.

Customer Reviews:

Theatre Teachers: This Is What You Need.......2006-11-10

This book is formatted so easily, it took me MUCH less time than I thought it would to prepare a unit on reader's theatre for my class. I used it for my high school theatre class so they wouldn't have to concentrate on large vocabularies, but rather to deliver the story in a simple, easy way. It was a HUGE success of a project and this book made it possible. It tells you how long each story is, what cast you'll need, and what reading level it is!! Yay!!!
The stories themselves are entertaining (even for high school!!!), compelling, and really fun to work with. I am SO grateful I ordered this!

A Great Resource.......2006-01-11

Aaron Shepard is a generous contributor to the field of Reader's Theatre. This book is no exception. It's well-laid out and chock-full of interesting scripts. I've recommended to several folks interested in RT.

Clear and Helpful.......2006-01-11

This book was written in clear language. It was helpful to me as a novice.

Face Exercises That Prevent Premature Aging

Average customer rating:

painful
Too much effort - too few results.
They Work!
Wonderful book, usable instructions!
Face Exercises that prevent premature Aging

Face Exercises That Prevent Premature Aging
Jeanette Johnson , and Jade
Manufacturer: Shipley Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

ASIN: 0964738406

Book Description

Face exercises that prevent facial aging.

Customer Reviews:

painful.......2007-03-15

This book was very disappointing. There are no photos in the entire book; instead there are just line drawings. I tried a couple of the exercises and immediately had significant jaw pain. I have issues with TMJ, but had not experienced any jaw pain in almost 15 years. Just one of these exercises was enough to bring back immediate pain. This was the first book that I have ever returned to Amazon.

Too much effort - too few results........2006-10-24

I tried the exercises in this book for three months to see what results I would achieve. Unfortunately, I didn't notice any noticeable results. I even had a friend take a picture of me before and after 1, 2 and 3 months to see if I could see a difference. I didn't. A friend of mine who does facial exercises told me to get a copy of another book on facial exercises called Facercise. I did the same thing here. I took before and after pictures at 1,2 and three month intervals. I was excited when I could see a change in one month. I actually had several people tell me I looked different after 2 months. That's all I needed. I can feel my muscles burn when I do Facercise. I didn't get that feeling at all when I used this book. Sometimes you have to try different things to get the results you expect. I just wish I'd started with Facercise first, not the other way around.

They Work!.......2006-10-07

These exercises work. No question about it - they really work. I'm 40 and was starting to notice the old age droop in my cheek and eye muscles as well as the characteristic bulge from untoned tongue muscles. Within one week of doing these exercises I noticed significant improvement. The cheek droop line is tightening up and receding. The muscles of my eyes and forehead have tightened up and lifted again. What's more, unlike with Carol Maggio's book, these exercises gave me a way to do these exercises without creating new wrinkles - a big reason why I stopped the exercises from Maggio's book.

The directions are step by step and very clear. I appreciated the drawings demonstrating the muscles targeted by each exercise. Pages 16 and 17 for example showed how the underlying face muscles of a young person (p. 16) look compared to an older person (p. 17).

Here's an excerpt to give you an idea of what a bit of the text is like to go with the illustrations.

"The illustrations show the contrast between facial muscles before and after premature aging. In the illustration on the left, the muscles are strong and tight. They support the skin around the eyes and the contours of the cheeks, lips and lower face. Notice how the cheek muscles insert into the mouth muscle and provide support for it.

prematurely aged eye muscles are too weak to hold the skin firmly in place. This causes squint lines, hollows, and bags to form in the skin around the eyes. In addition, cheek muscles sag and no longer provide support for the cheeks and the mouth muscle. When the mouth muscle lacks the support of strong cheek and chin muscles the lips tend to turn inward. Jaw and neck muscles become limp and slack and the skin attached to them becomes loose and shapeless."

If you are considering a face exercise book you can't go wrong giving this book a chance.

Wonderful book, usable instructions!.......2006-09-10

In this book I found what I was looking for. It has excellent pictures, clear instructions, explanation of how our face ages, specific exercises for the different areas of the face, and the goal of each exercise. I especially like using my "will" to get my face muscles to move. Although I don't do the exercises consistently every day, I see progress anyway. I was able to tighten my cheek muscles so that my cheek dimple, which had sort of slid down toward my jaw, is now higher on my face. Cute! There are some exercises that I can do at my desk at work, which I like. Great book for those who want to know WHY the exercise works.

Face Exercises that prevent premature Aging.......2006-09-06

This book does a very good job of explaining the exercises and how to do them. I read through all the exercises but for some reason haven't started them yet. 2 possible explanations. One is I am lazy the other is that the book failed to inspire.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful and Interesting
Wildly charming, with luscious photographs!

The Charm of Charms
Albert Jade , and Ki Hackney
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 081095883X

Book Description

From antique shops to such upscale stores as Tiffany and Cartier, from flea markets to the chic design houses of Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel, charms are making a grand reappearance on the fashion scene. Drawn to these tiny treasures for their ability to express elements of the wearer's personality, today's charm lovers are using them to adorn everything from bracelets and necklaces to dog collars and diaper pins.

In The Charm of Charms, photographer Jade Albert and writer Ki Hackney tell the fascinating story of this ever-popular jewelry item. The stunning color photographs provide an up-close and personal view of hundreds of cherished charmed jewels, including pieces belonging to Claudette Colbert, Joan Crawford, the Duchess of Windsor, Mariah Carey, and Mary J. Blige among other celebrities. The intriguing stories behind these beloved trinkets are told in the lively, informative text, which also covers the history of charms and amulets from prehistory to the present. Combining up-to-the-minute trendiness with nostalgic glamour, this gorgeous volume will appeal to fashion and jewelry enthusiasts both young and old. AUTHOR BIO: Jade Albert's work has appeared in Vogue, Time, and Parents magazines, and in advertising campaigns for Target, Polaroid, Sony, and other companies. She was the photographer of Cindy Crawford's book, About Face (2001). Ki Hackney is the coauthor of People and Pearls: The Magic Endures.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful and Interesting.......2007-02-02

This book is filled with interesting information and beautiful photographs. It's perfect as a coffee table book as you'll want to look at it again and again.

Wildly charming, with luscious photographs!.......2005-11-30

This is simply a jewel of a book.

For any of us with wistful memories of our mother's magical charm bracelets (and the romantic stories associated with each tiny carved golden object) the lovely CHARM OF CHARMS brings it all back.

The stories are fascinating, the jewelers the best, and the history indispensable for those of us currently addicted to charms (and you'll find some of the best in these pages).

The beautiful people, the stunning photographs, and the luscious color make this a PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT. They ship overnight!

Liquid Jade: The Story of Tea from East to West

Average customer rating:

The best tea book
SHORT REVIEW
Tea, trade, meditation, not to mention a war or two.
A Fascinating History of the World's Most Popular Beverage
Eye Opening

Liquid Jade: The Story of Tea from East to West
Beatrice Hohenegger
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312333285
Release Date: 2007-01-09

Book Description

Traveling from East to West over thousands of years, tea has played a variety of roles on the world scene – in medicine, politics, the arts, culture, and religion. Behind this most serene of beverages, idolized by poets and revered in spiritual practices, lie stories of treachery, violence, smuggling, drug trade, international espionage, slavery, and revolution.
Liquid Jade’s rich narrative history explores tea in all its social and cultural aspects. Entertaining yet informative and extensively researched, Liquid Jade tells the story of western greed and eastern bliss. China first used tea as a remedy. Taoists celebrated tea as the elixir of immortality. Buddhist Japan developed a whole body of practices around tea as a spiritual path. Then came the traumatic encounter of the refined Eastern cultures with the first Western merchants, the trade wars, the emergence of the ubiquitous English East India Company. Scottish spies crisscrossed China to steal the secrets of tea production. An army of smugglers made fortunes with tea deliveries in the dead of night. In the name of “free trade” the English imported opium to China in exchange for tea. The exploding tea industry in the eighteenth century reinforced the practice of slavery in the sugar plantations. And one of the reasons why tea became popular in the first place is that it helped sober up the English, who were virtually drowning in alcohol. During the nineteenth century, the massive consumption of tea in England also led to the development of the large tea plantation system in colonial India – a story of success for British Empire tea and of untold misery for generations of tea workers.

Liquid Jade also depicts tea’s beauty and delights, not only with myths about the beginnings of tea or the lovers’ legend in the familiar blue-and-white porcelain willow pattern, but also with a rich and varied selection of works of art and historical photographs, which form a rare and comprehensive visual tea record. The book includes engaging and lesser-known topics, including the exclusion of women from seventeenth-century tea houses or the importance of water for tea, and answers such questions as: “What does a tea taster do?” “How much caffeine is there in tea?” “What is fair trade tea?” and “What is the difference between black, red, yellow, green, or white tea?”

Connecting past and present and spanning five thousand years, Beatrice Hohenegger’s captivating and multilayered account of tea will enhance the experience of a steaming "cuppa" for tea lovers the world over.

Customer Reviews:

The best tea book.......2007-09-21

I spent 23 years on tea plantations since 1974. I started my tea trading business in 1998 after leaving plantations. Then I started my tea books library after seeing a very large volume of tea literature in China, which I started visiting regularly since 2004.

This book is the best one I have seen which narrates the world transition of tea scene in the most lucid way.

SHORT REVIEW.......2007-07-28

I really enjoyed this book.I liked the short chapters because I read before I fall asleep and this was like a little sip of something interesting. Though the history is not always peaceful, the tone is peaceful and like all good histories it told me of things i didn't know I wanted to know until it was told so well.

Tea, trade, meditation, not to mention a war or two........2007-06-12

Tea! Thou soft, thou sober, sage and venerable liquid, thou innocent pretence for bringing the wicked both sexes together in a morning; thou female tongue stunning, smile-smoothing, heart-opening, wink-tipping cordial, to whose glorious insipidity I owe the happiest moment of my life, let me fall prostrate thus, and -- adore thee. Colley Cibber, The Lady's Last Stake, an eighteenth century play

I freely admit it, I'm addicted to tea. It doesn't matter what time of day it is, I'm nearly always in the mood for a cup of fresh brewed tea. I've built up a stash of good tea, stored in colourful tins and boxes, assembled a decent collection of teaware and implements to brew, sip and serve tea in, and have amassed a small library's worth of books filled with the history and lore of tea and what to serve with it. The problem is, now like an addled crack addict, I can never quite be satisfied -- there's always a new blend to be tried, more exotic pluckings from distant lands with names that evoke mystery. In short, I have found a hobby that will always fascinate me.

When I found this on a recent book-buying binge, I thought here we go again, yet another babbling about tea. And in the fond hope of finding something new, I started plodding my way through the narrative. Author Beatrice Hohenegger takes the usual route, starting with the mythic origins of tea, when a Chinese emperor was taking a rest on a journey, waiting for the bowl of boiling water to cool down enough to drink -- he insisted that water be boiled for health's sake -- and a leaf from a nearby plant fell into the water. The rest, as they say, is history. Quickly, cha as the resulting liquid became known as, was touted as a miraculous plant, good for meditation, curing stomach ills, extending life, and in general, becoming a valuable and much sought after commodity. For centuries, tea was turned into money, the quality of the water to brew it debated over, plucked by gloved virgins in private plantations reserved for the Emperor's use, and turned into the varieties that we know today -- black, oolongs, pu-erh, green and white teas.

Then the Portugese and the Dutch and the English showed up, and in the seventeenth century, tea made its first impact on Europe, and by extension, the Americas. Night-owls embraced it, fashionistas set trends, and most importantly, governments taxed it as a ready cash cow for when funds got low. Problem was, people liked it too much to give it up, and when the taxes got too high, smuggling set in, along with inventive ways to make tea 'stretch' a bit by mixing in various substances that were both dangerous, and sometimes poisonous to the customer. Eventually, some standards came about, and the big monopolies that controlled importation of tea from China were broken up.

And now comes the tricky part -- Hohenegger doesn't just settle for the history of tea, but how tea has affected the world. The problem hit when China, being the only real producer of tea, insisted that payment be made in cold, hard silver for tea, silks and the other luxury goods that the West was craving. Thing was, the British simply couldn't come up with enough to pay -- so they found something else that the Chinese wanted -- opium. Cheap opium from India, and the Chinese were more than happy to pay whatever was asked, with the end result that the economy crashed and the government stepped in and what was known as the Opium wars started up. And it wasn't the only problem that tea had created -- there was the need to sweeten that tea that the Europeans liked, and the best sugar came from the West Indies, creating a crisis with slavery.

Fighting the Opium wars taught the English one thing -- they needed to find another source for tea. A cheap place, with cheap labour -- why not India? And in the nineteenth century, after China firmly kicked out the opium traders, tea plantations started up in Assam, Darjeeling, Nilgiri and other prime spots. Now nearly all of the tea that is drunk is grown in India, and in that jewel, Sri Lanka, or as it was known, Ceylon. New problems have arisen in the modern age as well, and Hohenegger raises the question of what is known as 'fair-trade practices.'

She doesn't stop there as well. Later parts of the book look at things such as the creation of porcelain to drink tea in, how tea is graded and what is really that stuff in those tea-bags (shudder) in the supermarket? Answer -- you really don't want to know. The ongoing revolution in the US about loose-leaf teas, and the ever-growing market for what I think of as the 'good stuff.' The funniest chapter has to be the MIF vs TIF range war -- what goes in first, the tea or the milk?

Hohenegger's writing is amusing, provocative and first rate. What I really enjoyed was the fact that she didn't take the subject so seriously that she didn't mind plunking down a joke or pun into the text. While the chapters are alas, very small -- not much more than several pages in length -- they're jammed with all sorts of information, and it makes for a satisfying read. There is some tedium when she goes on about how workers, especially women, are still being exploited, and kept at the bottom of the tea-production ladder, it also refrains from getting too preachy about it either.

Black and white illustrations and line drawings are throughout the text, and each chapter is opened by a quote that deals with some aspect of tea. While the illustrations are rather poor in quality, they are interesting, and it was a pity that the clarity was sacrificed -- I would that they had been reproduced on photographic paper and presented as an insert rather than littered throughout the text.

Two appendices go into the backgrounds of Chinese and Japanese chronology and the two systems of transliteration of Chinese names and terms -- Wade-Giles vs Pin-Yin. The notes are extensive and very detailed, as well as a bibliography for future reading, and an index for those who want to zero in on a particular aspect of tea.

I was happy that I took the time for this work. It was insightful, took the broad view, didn't romanticise anything, and was brave enough to point fingers. I got to rediscover some things I didn't know about my favorite beverage, and I hope to see more work by Hohenegger in the future. This gets a solid four stars from me.

Recommended

A Fascinating History of the World's Most Popular Beverage.......2007-05-29

I once went to a basic lecture about tea, which inspired an interest beyond merely drinking the beverage. Before I read this book, however, I had no idea how rich of a history was involved. It concerned more than tranquil tea ceremonies in Japan or fancy tea parties for British aristocracy. There was also a darker side including drug trade, espionage, revolution (such as our own Boston tea party), violence, and exploitation of laborers. It is a fascinating mix of socio-political developments -- some glorious, some shameful. And in the process, I was also learning some interesting facts about world history.

Fear not, this book does not neglect practical matters such as how much caffeine is in tea, what kind of water to use, or should one put milk in first or tea in first.

Hohenegger tells it all in a style which will amaze you, make you laugh, and sometimes sadden you. You'll never look at tea in quite the same way again after reading this book.

Eye Opening.......2007-05-24

The book was so engaging that i would look forward to come home from work and begin reading. It was interesting to learn that such a readily available drink could have affected dramatically the history of different countries. The author shed light on subjects that most of us are not aware of, such as how different cultures prepare their tea, and tea labor issues. The book contained so much information that i have begun to read it again.

Average customer rating:

I love this book!
Superficial, poorly-written and patronizing
Jade Snow Wong's Fifth Chinese Daughter
San Franciscan Chinese Gal
Fifth Chinese Daughter

Fifth Chinese Daughter
Jade Snow Wong
Manufacturer: University of Washington Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0295968265

Customer Reviews:

I love this book!.......2007-01-12

I became interested in buying this book after reading the author's fascinating story in the L.A. Times last year. Since reading Fifth Chinese Daughter a few months ago, I have given it as a gift to three friends who also found this young woman's story as heartwarming and courageous as I did. Side benefit: I learned a great deal about Chinese-American culture and about American history, circa 1930s - 1950s.

It's also a great book for teen girls. Reading about Jade Snow's sometimes difficult youth and teen years and how she met her goals will be very inspirational to that age group.

Superficial, poorly-written and patronizing.......2004-03-29

I usually don't write negative reviews, but I really was surprised by all the glowing reviews here. I truly think this is a terrible book and here is why.

1). The characters are only skin deep. We never really get to know them beyond their attitudes toward Jade Snow. And Jade Snow herself is very opaque as well, we don't get to know more of her except that she is filial, hard-working and eager to please people. The insides of these characters are not alive and they resemble dull automatons carrying out the actions of a pre-determined script.

2). The prose is very flat, so the end result reads like a very long summary of the plot rather than the book itself. The author crammed in many minutae of her life into the writing, with a emphasis on the details of food preparation. but most of the details are not evocative and fails to enrich the world she is trying to portray.

3). A streak of very patronizing attitude to Asians Americans run through out the book. It culminate with a cringe-inducing climax of self-hate at the very end of the last chapter, in a scene meant to be the big emotional pay-off for the whole book. Jade Snow's father tearfully confess that he had done wrong by raising her under the backward Chinese culture, and that he should have raised her in the superior, freedom-loving Christian way.

Jade Snow Wong's Fifth Chinese Daughter.......2004-02-16

"You must have confidence that I shall remain true to the spirit of your teachings. I shall bring back to you the knowledge of whatever I learn." Fifth Chinese Daughter is an inspiring autobiography that traces the life of Jade Snow Wong from childhood to adulthood in San Francisco's Chinatown. In her book, Jade Snow describes the numerous hardships and rewards that shaped her life. Through her vivid descriptions, the reader is immersed in the Asian culture of early twentieth-century America. Looking through Jade Snow's eyes, the reader is able to experience the conflicting cultural experiences of the middle daughter of a large family of Chinese immigrants.
Conforming to Chinese tradition, Jade Snow felt that her worth as an individual was dictated by her family. Although Jade Snow's father took pride in educating his daughters in both Chinese and American customs, he valued the future potential of his sons over that of his daughters. Jade Snow's childhood is tainted by unjust punishment and suppressed emotion. Such experiences led her to pursue independence and acknowledgment in a country that offered numerous opportunities for well-educated young woman. However, from her difficult childhood, Jade Snow learned discipline and respect, qualities that allowed her to succeed and gain respect from her family. It is fascinating to witness her transformation from a submissive child to a woman of integrity and perseverance.
As Jade Snow tirelessly worked her way through college, she came to understand the injustices of Chinese tradition. Ironically, at this time, she also developed a greater appreciation for her Chinese heritage and through it discovered her life's passions. Despite the heavy skepticism and criticism of her family, Jade Snow pursued her dreams with optimistic determination, suffering many hardships along the way. In each of her life's stories she proves to us that great rewards come from hard work and unfailing belief in one's self. If you ever feel hopeless or just want to be inspired, Jade Snow's story will lift you out of your darkness.

San Franciscan Chinese Gal.......2003-08-26

In the book Fifth Chinese Daughter by Jade Snow Wong, the author tells readers about her childhood as a Chinese girl living in San Francisco. Ms. Wong gives readers a chance to see what life was like growing up during the early 1900ýs as a Chinese girl. Throughout the book, you learn many things Chinese-Americans do which are different from American customs. Readers are given an idea of how Chinese-Americanýs raised their families during that time. The author shows in vivid detail what happened to her and what she had to work for in her childhood.
Jade Snow was brought up in a household that made sure their children knew their native culture as well as the culture around them. Since an early age, Jade was given Chinese lessons by her father until she was old enough to attend Chinese school everyday after her American classes were over. The book chronicles Jadeýs life from her early childhood to when she becomes a young woman living on her own. Throughout the book, you see Jade learn to do the shopping for the family, cope with problems in school like discrimination, get into college on her own, and find jobs for herself.
There were many things I liked about this book. Even though, this book isnýt like the books I normally read, it was very hard to put down. The author writes her story in
graphic details, which pulled me into the book. I loved how she talked about her father in many ways, how some days he believed in her and others, he had no confidence in her. Also, I believe that Jade was a strong girl throughout her childhood. This is because she had to live with such strict rules in her household like respecting her elders, and how if she or her siblings did anything wrong, they would get punished by getting whipped.
If I were to compare this novel with others I have read, I would have to say that this novel is in my top 50 books I have ever read. I found that every page I turned in this book, I was wondering what would happen next. This novel was very fun to read because I liked learning about what life was like for a young Chinese-American Women growing up during the early 1900ýs.
I would most likely recommend this novel to another, unless the person did not like autobiographies. I would recommend this book to people who like reading about people of different cultures. Jade Snowýs book is geared more to people who like to read about peopleýs cultures, but I think many would find this book very interesting.

Fifth Chinese Daughter.......2003-08-22

Through out most of Jade Snow Wong's life, she grew up in a Chinatown in San Francisco with Chinese traditions. These traditions meant that her husband was picked for her, her parents made her attend a public school and a Chinese school at the same time, and she had to help with all the house hold chores and cooking. Jade Snow wanted independence from these traditions, so she went to collage. There, she learned how to live her own life.

Book Description

Four Girls With Dark Secrets To Share.
Four Extraordinary New York Times Bestesellers -- Together For The First Time.

MISTY...Trapped in the middle of her parents' bitter divorce, she hides an unspeakable secret deep inside: she hates them. Now, brought to Dr. Marlowe's therapy group, she's about to meet three other girls who just might understand.

STAR...She may never forgive her parents for the pain they have caused her. But in the safety of this new circle of friends, she will finally face the nightmares of her past.

JADE...Escaping the madness of a hateful courtroom battle, she was lured into an ordeal too traumatic to forget -- and much too terrible to share.

CAT...Like the other girls, Cat has a story of her own. But maybe she should lie -- just make something up. Because the truth is more horrifying than the others could possibly imagine....

Customer Reviews:

Orphans with parents.......2007-07-16

The wildflowers follows 4 teenage girls who reveal a secret during a therapy session. Each secret becomes darker as the book progresses as each girl reveals how they have been betryed by their parents.

As a reader I was left thinking that Cat (the last girl to reveal her secret) has not only been betrayed by her parents but also by the councillor Dr Marlow, who has encouraged her to reveal a devastating secret to 3 other girls who have not experienced anything quite as bad as poor Cat.
It appears that Cat has been taken advantage of again, this time by Dr Marlow, who has used Cat as the ultimate "Well you think you got it bad?..." example that makes the other girls problems seem petty and insignificant.
Well, at least she seems to have made some friends out of it, but to this reader it did not seem credible that this girl would reveal such a secret to strangers unless they had shared stories more similar to her own. And shouldn't have Dr Marlow put Cat in a therapy session with others who could be more empathetic to her circumstances?
Ok, not great

Misty.......2006-07-27

Misty
A Review of the Book by V.C. Andrews
Laura Young

Misty, by V.C. Andrews, is about a young girl who is going to therapy to help ease the sting of her parents' divorce. Her therapist, Doctor Marlowe, suggests having a group therapy session with three other patients of hers. Misty reluctantly goes first and tells the small group of girls her life story. As she learns to open up to the girls and Dr. Marlowe, she learns the meaning of trust and emotion.
The reason I decided to read this book is because I read an excerpt on the author's website. I thought it sounded interesting and borrowed the book from the library, not fully knowing what to expect.
I believe teenage girls who have had emotional problems in their past could relate to Misty's struggles to find who she is. I know I understood a few of her problems. I know that I have been asked to take sides in fights before in my family, so I could kind of understand her emotions. She was confused with her life and I am too sometimes.
Misty was sounded like a normal teenager, which was good because the character came from a rich family and went to a fancier school than most, causing her to be a little smarter than a couple of the girls in the therapy circle. She relaxed a little bit once she started her story. I thought her character was going to be unlikable because she was a little snobby in the beginning of the book, but once she warmed up to the other girls she seemed less high maintenance than they thought she was.
The setting was beautifully described. It takes place at Dr. Marlowe's Beverly Hills home. It was described as a spacious home with a large office where the therapy group is in session. It sounded almost like a Barbie dream house, except better.
The main weakness of this story was that Misty would sometimes go into too much detail about one of her past relationships with a boy. It seemed unnecessary to her telling about her parents' divorce. I understand how it was related, I just did not think it was necessary.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It felt relatable at points and real. It was a mystery of sorts, with Misty trying to figure out why she feels this way. I loved how it portrayed a young girl trying to find herself. There are too many stories out there about guys trying to find out who they are. It gets a little frustrating,
I recommend this book to anyone who likes stories where people tell each other how they really feel. Enjoy!!

great novel.......2006-07-04

this book actually combines each book into one. All four girls meet at Therapy and then have to tell their lives to eachother. From one girl after another, I was amazed to see the story that layed behind each one. Out of all the girls, i consider Cat's to be the most entertaining.
Star's boyfriend got killed, Misty feels like no one loves her, Jade is considered to be spoiled and can have no feelings at all. But, really does. And Cat barely talks. It's a very good book.

Good Book.......2005-03-23

This a good book and i read all the way threw. But this is not a as good as the Flower in the Attic books. Also, you should know that v.c. Andrews did not right this is what a ghostwriter who did but this writer does a good job coping her wierd storys.

A great book.......2004-03-23

This book was very interesting because, it was a really misterious kind of book. These book was a little confusing because it would talk about the old man who was one of the charecters. Then it will talk about hes paintings. But this book at last was kind of misterious when the old men dies. He dies when he paints hes last painting.

The Red Heart of Jade (Dirk & Steele, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Chiming in with the others
excellent read
BOOOORRRING!
Couldn't finish it
Can you use the same imagination for suspense to write truly erotic sex, please!?

The Red Heart of Jade (Dirk & Steele, Book 3)
Marjorie M. Liu
Manufacturer: Love Spell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 050552631X

Book Description

Imagine a world where magic rubs elbows with science, where men and women with supernatural powers secretly risk their lives to help others. It is a world where one right turn can deliver a mystery that will change your life forever, a world of shape-shifters, immortal magicians, criminal underworlds run by powerful psychics -- intrigue, mystery, and romance.

The saga continues in THE RED HEART OF JADE as Dean Campbell -- clairvoyant, dangerous, and irreverent -- finds himself hot on the trail of a murderer who is part of an ancient hunt for power, a hunt that has only one outcome: death or destruction. And at the heart of that hunt -- both prize and mystery -- is a women who died in Dean's arms twenty years earlier: Mirabelle Lee, childhood sweetheart and the love of his life. Together, alive and reunited, Dean and Miri are forced to rely on each other -- and the strength of their enduring love -- as they race to unravel the mystery that threatens not only their lives, but the entire world.

Customer Reviews:

Chiming in with the others.......2007-02-14

Sadly, I have to agree with the other "negative" views of this book.

I enjoyed Tiger Eye, and Shadow Touch much more than Red Heart of Jade.

the negatives: The ending was too abrupt, and obvious. It felt rushed, and unsatisfactory...
There wasn't a true ending with Owen, Miri's boss. He was kidnapped in the first few chapters, and then, we never see him again...
"mystery sort-of-evil guy, Robert" became Miri and Dean's ally all too quick.
The Jade Heart's true nature was all too easy to guess.
There wasn't enough "steamy passion" that one would expect from Romance novels, not that I'm an expert in such!
The "mystery" killer is not a mystery.
the scenery was too little. It did not feel like Asia.

There was less supense in this novel than the other two I mentioned. However, I have to disagree with some of the other commenters. On Dean's transformation--over the years, people change. Some get worse, or better it depends on their situation. If someone I loved or cared about died as a result of my inaction, I too, would become as cynical and serious as Dean.
and, if we're to believe the time gap between each of Marjorie's books, than Dean is at least 5-8 years older when he last appeared.

the positives: the action was good, pacing was just right. I enjoyed a quick trip when reading the book, nothing more. It was like watching a 2-hour action flick.

good book for entertainment. Not as good as the others.

excellent read.......2007-01-29

I stumbled across another book by Ms.Liu via my daughter and liked it alot. So I decided to go ahead and buy all of the books I could find by Ms.liu, I sure don't regret it since they are all excellent. Lots of adventure and paranormalities in this book wrapped up in humor and sorrow in a way that makes the reader feel like they are part of it, which in my humble opinion is what makes a good book. I am looking forward to more books not only in the Dirk & Steele series but in all aspects

Roxy in WI

BOOOORRRING!.......2007-01-16

Unfortunately, I did not feel the same about this book as other reviewers. Perhaps, I did not have the patience that they did. I loved Tiger's Eye, Shadow Touch, and Taste of Crimson all of which were written by Marjorie M. Liu. This book was such a disappointment.

The Red Heart of Jade was more action/adventure/fantasy than her prior two books in the series. It was too much for me to handle. I missed the romance that was involved in the other two books. The relationship between Miri and Dean made me want to wretch. Dean in the other books was the comedic relief. In the first book, Tiger's Eye, he was the one that could not be serious and was a pervert to boot. In this book, we see a very serious Dean. It made the book too unrealistic due to this new and different Dean.

Another problem, is the location of the story. While Ms. Liu's description of Taipei, Hong Kong, and other locations were magnificent it did not help me feel connected to the story. It affected the fluidity and ease of comprehension for me. I found myself saying who cares. These locations were described as smelly and dirty. They did not set a romantic stage for me. I found the whole premise of a red jade buried in a mummified woman a boring concept. Perhaps, if there were no dragons, an immortal bad guy named Robert, an evil department head, and going off to la-la land where there are descriptions of bones that it might have helped me enjoy it more. After a while, I found myself saying who is the character that is speaking or thinking this? Is this the dream realm, imagination, or for real?

On the other hand, Marjorie M. Liu's sentences are rich with poetry. I have never heard such beautiful descriptions of certain scenes. They just flowed. She is a very talented and gifted author. This is why I gave the book two stars instead of one.

I did not feel the continuity of this book in relation to the rest of the series. I wonder how this book will impact the future books. It should definitely have an impact on the other characters especially, Koni and Ren.

I would love to follow the series but if they are like this one, I will not read them anymore. I do want to hear Koni's story and even Ren's. It took me a lot longer to get through this book than I normally take for a book. It was a torturous read but I needed to find out what the jade meant, what about Dean's gift, what is Robert, will Miri and Dean live happily ever after, and what of the dragons?

If you are looking for a quick and romantic read this is not the book for you. Unfortunately, this book was placed in the romance section of my library. This is the wrong category for this book. However, this book is great for history of a beautiful culture, great writing, and fantasy adventure.

Couldn't finish it.......2006-12-17

I really wanted to like this book. I had read "A Taste Of Crimson" by Marjorie Liu and I loved it. That book was about werewolves and vampires but it had some really strong subthemes such as racism within minorities (such as werewolves) and the way that minorities can be ignored by governmental agencies. I so enjoyed that book that I ordered the only other Marjorie Liu book available through my county's library system - and voilà, "The Red Heart Of Jade" appeared.

I was disappointed. Firstly it wasn't another vampire/werewolf book - this one was a "Dirk & Steele Romance" which (I now discover) is a series Marjorie Liu has done about a kind-of detective agency staffed by people with different paranormal powers. The hero of this book, Dean (a very unheroic name!) has a psychic ability to `read' objects and environments and can find out what has happened in them. Our heroine, Mirabelle Lee, is an archaeologist in Taiwan. Dean and Miri were childhood sweethearts but both thought the other died twenty years ago and their lives have moved on since.

Dean is sent to Taiwan to investigate some grisly murders that appear to be the fault of a shapeshifter. Whilst in Taiwan various things happen to him and he eventually meets up with Miri - and drags her into the fray. There's a piece of red Jade that's been found in an archaeological body find and it seems everyone is after this Jade. About this point I found I just had to give up with the book - I couldn't work out what was going on, couldn't get interested in either Dean or Miri, couldn't always understand the descriptions of the shapeshifters, didn't really see where the book was going and found I didn't care anyway. The setting of Taiwan was unusual and I felt was an excellent choice but I just couldn't engage with this book. I gave up halfway through, read the last five or so pages (which confirmed I was right to give up on it as evidently the ending would have REALLY annoyed me if I had read it all) and gave it back to the library. Now some of you reading this might think it's a really good book - perhaps it is - but I read widely and I just couldn't like it. If you want to read a book by this author read "A Taste Of Crimson" - I can't recommend any more of her books as I won't take the effort to find them.

Can you use the same imagination for suspense to write truly erotic sex, please!?.......2006-12-13

I really wanted to love this novel, or any other in this series but I have to say I don't think I'll be buying any other books written by Ms. Liu. I love mystery, drama, danger breathing down my neck just fine but it has to be juxtaposed with steamy sex. This is why I read paranormal romance. Maybe I just like my written sex extra juicy (since reality delivers just as many times as it doesn't) and found hers to be lacking. Especially after she shows such imagination in every other aspect of her writing. Her writing reminds me of old James Bond novels I read as a kid, none stop action that pulls you in but I ended up disappointed by the time I finished hers. My favourites in this series were; Tiger Eye and Eye of Heaven. The former because it was the first and I didn't have any opinions and she writes well , just not imaginative when it comes to sex. The latter because she made an attempt.
She writes very bland sex otherwise her work is riveting.

The Sexual Teachings of the Jade Dragon: Taoist Methods for Male Sexual Revitalization

Average customer rating:

Not the bet text for a new student, sadly
Solid. Accurate. WORKS.
Fascinating
overview
certainly controversial, tons of information, well presented

The Sexual Teachings of the Jade Dragon: Taoist Methods for Male Sexual Revitalization
Hsi Lai
Manufacturer: Destiny Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0892819634
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Book Description

Reveals how the sexual practices of the Taoist Jade Dragon can help men achieve "immortality" through the enhancement of their sexual prowess.

• A companion guide to The Sexual Teachings of the White Tigress that focuses on the male side of White Tigress sexual practices.

• Reveals the nine Jade Dragon exercises and other Taoist techniques for achieving the elixir of immortality.

• Offers physical and spiritual solutions for the sexual issues facing men.

Hsi Lai continues the work he began in The Sexual Teachings of the White Tigress by exploring more fully the male role in Taoist sexual transformation. As with those of the White Tigress, the techniques of the Jade Dragon are part of a disciplined sexual and spiritual practice. The goal for the Jade Dragon is health, longevity, and immortality through external and internal regimens for the enhancement and accumulation of the Three Treasures of Taoism--ching (sexual and physical energy), qi (breath and vital energy) and shen (spiritual and mental energy).

The author presents the nine Jade Dragon exercises that strengthen erections, enlarge the penis, increase semen quantity and quality, prevent premature ejaculations, and enhance sexual energy. He also details herbal remedies for revitalization that address both physical and spiritual sexual components, as well as ancient Taoist breathing and meditative practices and sexual stimulation techniques that amplify sexual intensity in order to create the elixir of immortality. Concluding with the importance of the interactions between and interdependence of White Tigresses and Jade Dragons, Hsi Lai shows the reader how these ancient Taoist secrets can be incorporated into a contemporary lifestyle.

Customer Reviews:

Not the bet text for a new student, sadly.......2007-03-30

I've beens studying Internal Medicine for more than 7 years (begin in 2000). This book doesn't not, in my opinion, give adequate caution to the common concerns concerns present in this area of study, nor to the complications that can arise for those with specific historic conditions. When I first read and began exploring the practices of this book I found that I had to adjust several of the exercises. My awareness to make these adjustments came from the observational and discernment skills developed through my prior training. Had I not made adustments I believe that I could have negatively impacted my health (through strain). The book gave no indication that these situations could arise - and for that reason I don't believe it is appropriate to someoen looking to open the door to this area of study.

That said, if you are new to this area; get this book and stick it on a shelf. Leaf it from time to time so that, in a few years of dedicated study, you'll have considerations in mind for beginning to open this door. Don't begin your practices by a full dive into this book.

Great book, otherwise. Really uncommon information.

Solid. Accurate. WORKS........2007-03-28

I've been studying Tantra and Taoism intensely for about 6 months now. This is one of the BEST books of the subjects I have found. A bit esoteric for most people, but the information here is STELLAR. Enjoy!

Fascinating .......2006-01-04

I read this book as an outsider - someone curious about the Taoist alchemical tradition, the sexual yoga so deeply involved it, and its form in the current era. This collection of essays and translations is very helpful, and helpful in several ways.

Hsi starts with and outline of the White Tigress, Jade Dragon beliefs and the program of study that is involved. Next, Hsi addresses the different kinds of male temperaments and organs, and offers a series of solo and couples' exercises for strengthening the penis and the sexual energy that guides it. Hsi notes that many readers will stop there, deriving physical and sexual benefit from the practices, but not spiritual.

Next, Hsi offers a translation of the Plain Girl classic written 2000 years ago, conversations between a seeker and the immortal Plain Girl. A few more translations or guides follow, ending with an eighteenth century autobiography. It describes the induction of a young man into Taoism monasticism. His master felt that the student's physical weakness made him too fragile a vessel to hold enlightenment, and prescribed Jade Dragon practice to strengthen his body and mind. That student describes his own advance under Jade Dragon practice, and its benefit to his later life.

I don't always know whether Hsi is writing in the first person, passing on the knowledge that he was given, or rendering a classic text into English. More clarity there would have helped. Even if it lacks in academic rigor, this book lacks nothing in its main purpose. It's a happy statement that carnal energy and personal enlightenment can and must work together.

//wiredweird

overview.......2004-12-01

This book is fantastic from a historical context. It really puts a strong perspective on the tradtions of sexual alchemy in traditional chinese society. The outlines of the five elements in relation to errection and ejaculation are very interesting.

The practical components of the book are a bit scewed, in my humble opinion. I am very well trained in both Chinese Medicine and Kung Fu, and have been since childhood. And though I believe this book is a very accurate and concise translation of the origional text, and the mentality of sexual alchemy in China during ancient times, I don't feel that this material is enough in itself to complete the goal of immortality.

But don't get me wrong this book is VERY important, along with the tigress manual, in achieving longevity and immortality through sexual practices. You should look outside of the reach of this text and explore the small heaven circulation in detail, the conents in this book will be enough on the topic of circuating energy, but you will need to gain further understanding in order to acheive more dynamic results.

Also a word to the wise, the herbal formulas in this book are hot in nature, do not abuse them or you will end up with significant malaise. Consult a Traditional Chinese Medical Doctor to make sure you don't have too much heat or fire before taking the formulas in this book.

[...]

certainly controversial, tons of information, well presented.......2004-11-24

So far I've spent about 4 hours going through this book, so I plan to continue to edit and update my review as I study it in more detail.

There is a wealth of information in this book, and it includes translations of several very famous Chinese texts on this topic (with good practical commentary). It is well written and easy to read, very matter of fact, has some very clear illustrations. As a person with a deep interest in the topic of dual cultivation I found it "a page turner". It also points out correctly that this is a very controversial topic both today and historically, and does a good job of presenting the subject in a neutral manner, although I think the book downplays the extent to which dual cultivation was (and is) frowned upon in China.

On the downside, there are some very complex issues of the morality about the use and treatment of the green dragons which are not discussed, the author is rather vague on the issue of informed consent.

The text presented of the "Plain Girl Classic" (Su Nu Ching) is quite different from the 'standard' versions - see Douglas Wile "The Chinese Sexual Yoga Classics" for a scholarly analysis of the publically available versions.

The herbal formulations look very interesting (I'm not a Trad. Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbalist) but the dosage information is very vague.

I think it is unlikely that many if any of the readers will be able to (or want to?) re-create the white tigress / jade dragon dynamic, but it is fascinating to read this description of the behavior of this particular lineage of Taoists in China.

The techniques are described in sufficient detail that it should be easy to practice them from the book. My personal experiences is that there are better techniques for drawing the energy upward (I did not see any references to using either sacral or cranial pumps), and I believe the ones presented in the book will work and are among the simplest. They might also be among the easiest, but that is a very relative term - this is not an easy subject.

This system is based on two particular male/female dynamics, there are other systems.

I am an experienced practicioner of dual cultivation from another school, so I will spend hours going thru this in detail. Would I recommend this as a first book / beginner's book - no. However it terms of the mechanical aspects controlling and channelling the energy it is more complete and useful than Jolan Chang's books or Stephen Chang's on the topic.

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