In Voyages; Cathy A. Small offers a view of the changes in migration; globalization; and ethnographic fieldwork over three decades. The second edition adds fresh descriptions and narratives in three new chapters based on two more visits to Tonga and California in 2010. The author (whose role after thirty years of fieldwork is both ethnographer and family member) reintroduces the reader to four sisters in the same family―two who migrated to the United States and two who remained in Tonga―and reveals what has unfolded in their lives in the fifteen years since the first edition was written. The second edition concludes with new reflections on how immigration and globalization have affected family; economy; tradition; political life; identity; and the practice of anthropology.
#2862455 in Books Cornell University Press 2012-11-27Original language:JapanesePDF # 1 9.49 x .99 x 6.49l; 1.34 #File Name: 0801449391334 pages
Review
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Not really sure what the point of this book isBy M. PitcavageMacArthur in Asia: The General and His Staff in the Philippines; Japan; and Korea is a sweeping survey by Japanese diplomatic historian Hiroshi Masuda of Douglas MacArthur's career from roughly the late 1930s until his firing by Truman during the Korean War. Its coverage basically breaks into four sections: 1) MacArthur's early career; relationship with the Philippines; and the Bataan camapign; 2) MacArthur's later WWII career (which is mostly breezed through); 3) his role in the occupation of Japan; and 4) his role in the Korean War.As its subtitle suggests; the book also attempts; more or less; to include the role of MacArthur's staff (often referred to as the "Bataan Gang;" or; as they are a bit oddly called in this book; the "Bataan Boys") as well; but this is rather hit or miss (though the book relies heavily on them as sources; primarily through old oral interviews).Given this large subject to cover as well as the relative brevity of the book; few subjects are covered in very much depth (and some subjects; such as MacArthur's entire New Guinea campaign; are essentially bypassed; as if in a literary island-hopping campaign) and the book overall has something of a lack of substance. I cannot speak for the section on the occupation of Japan--a subject on which I am not particularly knowledgeable--but with regard to the book's other sections; few people familiar with the basic literature on those subjects will find much that is new here.Moreover; the book at times tends to devote disproportionate space on basically irrelevant subjects. The most glaring example of this is the intricate detail given of MacArthur's escape from the Philippines by PT boat in 1942. Although interesting from an "action adventure" point of view; it is really otherwise insignificant; but Hiroshi Masudo goes into great detail. The second best example is his fairly lengthy coverage of the battles on Bataan and Corregidor AFTER MacArthur left. The author spends a great amount of time on them; with no real justification; so far as I could see.The novelty value of the book is that it was written by a Japanese scholar; and few such books on the Pacific War have been translated into English. However; Masuda really doesn't bring anything new to the table; either in terms of analysis or data (again; I exclude the occupation of Japan section; as I cannot make that determination).The author is a diplomatic historian; not a military historian; and this may be the reason for several whoppers in the book; such as when Admiral Arleigh Burke was identified as the commander of the 1st Marine Division in Korea (as opposed to USMC Major General Oliver Smith).Compounding the author's seeming unfamiliarity with military affairs is the translator's equal or greater unfamiliarity; which resulted in a number of translation errors; almost all of which have to do with military terminology. At times it makes for some odd reading; as in the case of the one section title about the "sneak" (as opposed to "surprise") landing at Inchon.Given that this was published by a university press; I am not sure why neither the editors nor the outside peer-review readers caught any of these translation problems.In any case--once more leaving the occupation of Japan aside--I am not sure that MacArthur in Asia is a book that most readers would think a good mouthful to chew.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Well Worth the ReadBy James C BurnettWell-written; focused book. Never leaves the primary topic. Exactly what I was in search of to complete research project. Well worth the read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy Warren C. MathaAn interesting Japanese view of MacArthur.
