Customer Reviews (2)

Insightful Analysis
Chandler, the most eminent scholar of Cambodia, has provide an easy to follow and insightful account of Cambodia's recent history. Whilst perhaps not designed for those with no base knowledge in Cambodian history, a read of the relevant section of a general Asian history book will provide all the background knowledge necessary.The Tragedy of Cambodian History traces not only the significant events since 1945 but also, through doing so, traces the lives of people such as Nuon Chea who were to become instrumental in the disastrous events from April 17, 1975.I would recommend this to be read before either of Kiernan's major works on the topic as they provide more facts which new readers are liable to get bogged down in.

Perfect for those who feel the need to understand one of the worst cases of man's inhumanity to man.

Very hard to follow and understand.Disappointing
I had to read "the tradedy of cambodian history" by David Chandler for a history course at my university.The class focuses on genocide in the 20th century so I was very interested in Chandler's bookbecause I knew little about the Cambodian Genocide by Pol Pot. So maybeit was because I went in with high expectations that made me feeldisappointed afterwards.I expected this book to not so much be"easy" to read, but I thought I would at least be able to followalong with the main points.This is where I first found fault. Chandleruses SO many names and dates that really seem irrelevant in the scheme ofthe book.It made it very distracting because I was unsure which names anddates were actually of importance.Usually authors use names and dates toemphasize a point or event.Chandler just uses them all the time for everysingle, tiny event.I understand history is made up of names and dates,but the larger picture of history is better to gain than the names anddates. So I was extremely distracted and that was the first thing that madeit hard to follow. The second reason I got lost easily was because Chandlerswitches back and forth between names.For example, Pol Pot was not PolPot's real name.So Chandler sometimes refers to Pol Pot by that name, orby his real name.He constantly switches back and forth with no realpattern.For a long time I could not figure out who this person was thatChandler kept talking about every now and then.Finally I figured out thatit was Pol Pot's other name. Despite these negative aspects, I didappreciate the last chapter which gives eyewitness accounts of theCambodian Genocide.It makes the entire book seem a little more personaland real.However, Chandler does not really delve deeply into the humanaspects of emotions and feelings about the genocide.He reports theeyewitnesses' accounts but does not add any personal information.So againI really did not find myself too attached to these people.I empathizedwith them, but their accounts did not stand out as much as some Holocaustones do.Overall I think if people are interested in just getting a basicoverview of Cambodian history, this would not be the book for them.I amsure this is a wonderful book for people like professors and scholars onCambodia, just not for average, or even above-average readers/students. Out of five stars I would have to give it a 1.8 if I was going on a strictpoint scale. ... Read more

Book Description
The study of Cambodian religion has long been hampered by a lack of easily accessible scholarship. This impressive new work by Ian Harris thus fills a major gap and offers English-language scholars a book-length, up-to-date treatment of the religious aspects of Cambodian culture. Beginning with a coherent history of the presence of religion in the country from its inception to the present day, the book goes on to furnish insights into the distinctive nature of Cambodia's important yet overlooked manifestation of Theravada Buddhist tradition and to show how it reestablished itself following almost total annihilation during the Pol Pot period.

Historical sections cover the dominant role of tantric Mahayana concepts and rituals under the last great king of Angkor, Jayavarman VII (1181-c. 1220); the rise of Theravada traditions after the collapse of the Angkorian civilization; the impact of foreign influences on the development of the nineteenth-century monastic order; and politicized Buddhism and the Buddhist contribution to an emerging sense of Khmer nationhood. The Buddhism practiced in Cambodia has much in common with parallel traditions in Thailand and Sri Lanka, yet there are also significant differences. The book concentrates on these and illustrates how a distinctly Cambodian Theravada developed by accommodating itself to premodern Khmer modes of thought. Following the overthrow of Prince Sihanouk in 1970, Cambodia slid rapidly into disorder and violence. Later chapters chart the elimination of institutional Buddhism under the Khmer Rouge and its gradual reemergence after Pol Pot, the restoration of the monastic order's prerevolutionary institutional forms, and the emergence of contemporary Buddhist groupings.

Cambodian Buddhism: History and Practice synthesizes an enormous range of scholarship (most of it in French), complemented by the author's own fieldwork in modern Cambodia. The result is a wide-ranging, well-documented, and comprehensive account of a neglected Southeast Asian tradition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

highly recomended
This work pulls together a wide range of material covering the history of Buddhism in Cambodia.Considering just how bare the book shelves are on this topic, I can only jump with joy that it has appeared. Problems with the historical record are carefully pointed out with ample references and cautionary notes for those who would look further.This book should be an essential part of anybody's collection on the development of contemporary Buddhisms in Southeast Asia. Just one small point: there is a most welcome inclusion of oral histories (for example with reference to the origin of place names - but there is insufficient warning that there are often many legendary origins for names - a case in point is the origin of the name of Phnom Sambau and Phom Krabau - certainly Harris is correct, but this is not the only version by any means.Highly recommend this book to anybody interested in the area but would equally strongly suggest reading it alongside Marston and Guthrie (2004) to round out some aspects of modern Buddhism. ... Read more

Product Description
In this penetrating and poignant book, David P. Chandler presents the first full account of Cambodian history from World War II up to 1979, focusing on the civil war period and the devastating revolutionaty excesses of the Pol Pot regime. Drawing on his experience as a foreign service officer in Phnom Penh, on interviews, and on archival material, Chandler considers why the revolution happened and how it was related to Cambodia's earlier history and to other events in Southeast Asia. --- from book's back cover ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Pacific Affairs, published by University of British Columbia on December 22, 1994. The length of the article is 825 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Tragedy of Cambodian History: Politics, War and Revolution Since 1945.
Author: Pamela Sodhy
Publication: Pacific Affairs (Refereed)
Date: December 22, 1994
Publisher: University of British Columbia
Volume: v67Issue: n4Page: p625(3)

Article Type: Book Review

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Book Description
Not Just Victims contains twelve oral histories based on conversations with Cambodian community leaders in eight American cities--Long Beach, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Portland, Tacoma, and the Massachusetts towns of Fall River and Lowell. Unlike the dozens of autobiographies published by Cambodians that focus largely on their victimization, these narratives describe how Cambodian refugees have adapted to life in the United States. Sucheng Chan's extensive introduction provides a historical framework; she discusses the civil war (1970-75), the bloody Khmer Rouge revolution (1975-79), the border war during the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia (1979-89), and the additional travails faced by those who escaped to holding camps in Thailand. The book also includes an essay on oral history and a substantial bibliography. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from New Criterion, published by Foundation for Cultural Review on October 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1864 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: History by other means.(Letter from Cambodia)
Author: Anthony Daniels
Publication: New Criterion (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 1, 2003
Publisher: Foundation for Cultural Review
Volume: 22Issue: 2Page: 39(4)

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Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Journal of the American Oriental Society, published by American Oriental Society on July 1, 1997. The length of the article is 1080 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Cambodian Linguistics, Literature and History: Collected Articles. (book reviews)
Author: Karen L. Adams
Publication: The Journal of the American Oriental Society (Refereed)
Date: July 1, 1997
Publisher: American Oriental Society
Volume: v117Issue: n3Page: p580(3)

Article Type: Book Review

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Customer Reviews (12)

The Cambodian Holocaust
When I was younger I heard bits and pieces about Cambodia and Pol Pot in the news, but didn't really know what it was about. Through "Destroy You" I finally know about the horrendous and evil history that was being made in that country during the 70's and 80's. This biography follows the story of one particular educated Cambodian family who was exiled from Phnom Penh, along with the entire city full of inhabitants. The Khmer Rouge was doing its job of "cleansing" the city of anything of western influence. Most of the educated populace, including doctors, teachers, lawyers, etc., were murdered, leaving a population of mostly uneducated slaves whose job was to work in the rice fields all day long. Music, laughter, and play were not allowed. The people were taught that everyone was of equal value and equally dispensable, and everyone should work hard to contribute to the good of all with the meekness, acceptance, and fortitude of the water buffalo.

Meanwhile, entire villages were massacred if complaint about the government was overheard. Life was incredibly miserable, especially knowing of friends and relatives that had been killed or had disappeared. When Viet Nam invaded Cambodia tens of thousands of Cambodians attempted escape to Thailand, but Thailand did not want them all, and forced many back at gunpoint, killing anyone, including children, who refused to climb down the treacherous, land mine-studded cliff back into Cambodia. Throughout this book I was grieving about the incredible evil that humans can perpetrate against other humans, and amazed at the endurance and determination of this family and others that managed to survive all this horror.

A story like this can yank us out of any tendency towards self-pity or complaining about the minor difficulties in our lives. I have also read the follow-up book, "Bamboos and Butterflies", about this family after they immigrated to the U.S. Their will to survive is carried on as they integrate into a new culture, and reminds us of why so many seek refuge in the U.S.

A frightening, moving and important story
Joan Criddle has woven a gripping account of the personal experience of one young woman, Teeda Butt Mam, and her family under the oppression of the Khymer Rouge. Although I knew a little about Cambodia's killing fields, this book reveals in considerable detail the brutality and horror of Pol Pot's regime. Yet, it's an inspiring tale of survival, courage, and family loyalty under the most extreme conditions of deprivation, fear and suffering. I couldn't help but wonder if I would have had the strength, ingenuity and willpower to survive such horror. The book also includes many interesting details about traditional Cambodian life and culture.
I highly recommend this book. It's an amazing story!

A frightening, moving and important story
Joan Criddle has woven a gripping account of the personal experience of one young woman, Teeda Butt Mam, and her family under the oppression of the Khymer Rouge. Although I knew a little about Cambodia's killing fields, this book reveals in considerable detail the brutality and horror of Pol Pot's regime. Yet, it's an inspiring tale of survival, courage, and family loyalty under the most extreme conditions of deprivation, fear and suffering. I couldn't help but wonder if I would have had the strength, ingenuity and willpower to survive such horror. The book also includes many interesting details about traditional Cambodian life and culture.
I highly recommend this book. It's an amazing story!

A frightening, moving and important story
Joan Criddle has woven a gripping account of the personal experience of one young woman, Teeda Butt Mam, and her family under the oppression of the Khymer Rouge. Although I knew a little about Cambodia's killing fields, this book reveals in considerable detail the brutality and horror of Pol Pot's regime. Yet, it's an inspiring tale of survival, courage, and family loyalty under the most extreme conditions of deprivation, fear and suffering. I couldn't help but wonder if I would have had the strength, ingenuity and willpower to survive such horror. The book also includes many interesting details about traditional Cambodian life and culture.
I highly recommend this book. It's an amazing story!

A JOURNEY THROUGH HELL AND BACK
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOK I EVER READ. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH VITOU AND I HAD THE FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF HIS STORY. HE NEVER STOP TO AMAZE ME FOR THEIR WELL TO SURVIVE.THIS STORY SHOW THE TERMENDOUS COURAGE AND STRONG WELL TO SURVIVE AMONG MONSTERS WHO HAVE NO REGARDS TO FELLOW HUMANS, YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD AND RISK YOUR LIFE EVEN FOR THE BASIC NECESITY OF LIFE JUST TO SURVIVE. THIS IS AN EPIC OF FORGOTTEN HOLOCUST AND THE STORY OF A CAMBODIAN FAMILY GOING THROUGH HELL AN BACK. A SUCCESS STORY OF A FAMILY MOVING TO A COUNTRY WITH A DIFFERNT CULTURE AND LANGAUGE AND MAKING SOMETHING OF THEMSELVES. I AM PROUD TO BE A FRIEND OF VITOU AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING HIM. EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK, IT WOULD MAKE YOU APPRECIATE MORE OF WHAT YOU HAVE IN LIFE. ... Read more

Book Description
On April 17, 1975, after five years of civil war, the Khmer Rouge guerrillas invaded Cambodia's major cities and forced the residents on a mass exodus to the countryside. Their leader, Pol Pot, established a government based on terror to bring about his dream of an agrarian society where work was done by hand—without what he believed to be corruptive influences. By the time the Vietnamese captured Phnom Penh and ended this brutal experiment in communism in 1979, an estimated two million Cambodians were dead and hundreds of thousands had begun to flee the country for refugee camps in Thailand.

Survivors of Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge now living in the Midwest tell their stories in this work. Many of them were children during that time, unable to comprehend exactly what was happening and why, but now able to reveal the trauma they experienced.

Noeun Nor and Sinn Lok recollect being wrenched from their families and put into labor camps around the age of five. Prum Nath talks about her mother encouraging her to eat the last grains of her family's rice. Sokhary You remembers giving birth on a mountain without a doctor or hospital and using rusty scissors to cut the umbilical cord. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

My son
My son herd sarah talk at his school and requested that i would buy this book for him. He read it and loved it. He has taught me a whole bunch about the history of Cambodia and the reasons that it all happend and what happened. I give this book 5 stars because even though i haven't read it my son has told me more about this book than any other that he has read deserving me to come back to this site and make sure other people buy this book and read it.

MEEE!
This is a great book.I personally know the author, and it took her over 13 years to write it.She interviewed many real cambodian refugees and did a lot of hard work.It is very informative. ... Read more