The Story of Viet Nam - (Key Issues in Asian Studies) by Shelton Woods (Paperback)

About the Book

"The primary theme of this work is the enduring spirit of the Vietnamese. The author's focus is on the Vietnamese people and their social, political, economic, and religious structures. More than any other Southeast Asian country, Vietnam experienced multiple intrusive and lengthy periods of colonial rule by foreign powers; yet, Vietnam should be understood and defined by its indigenous social patterns. So, while the book clearly delineates the influences of France, Japan, and the United States on Vietnamese society, these foreign influences remain the "thin, flaking glaze" over what is an indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese indigenous culture. The mid 1970s end of the Vietnam War was in many ways a beginning for a unified Vietnam. Failed policies during the last quarter of the twentieth century trapped Vietnam in a cycle of poverty and foreign wars. Its economic emergence at the start of the twenty-first century is just one more testimony to the resilience of the Vietnamese"--

Book Synopsis

For those who are looking for a very well informed introduction to Viet Nam--from its semi-mythical beginnings some 5,000 years ago all the way up to the twenty-first century--this is the book. Covering politics and war, society and economics, culture and relationships, it provides the essential structure that both teachers and students will want to begin their own explorations of this fascinating country. Woods successfully captures the essential scope and complexity of Vietnamese history and culture in substantive and accessible prose. The focus on the long duration of the country and the ability for Viet Nam to maintain its own identity in the midst of numerous foreign invasions and influences is key among other relevant issues. Woods elegantly frames the relevance of Viet Nam and this book will provide a foundation for teachers in understanding issues of culture and change in a globally connected world.

About the Author

SHELTON WOODS is Professor of Southeast Asian History at Boise State University where he also serves as the Associate Dean in the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs. He spent his first eighteen years in Southeast Asia and moved to the United States where he earned a PhD in Southeast Asian History at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the author of four books: Vietnam: An Illustrated History (New York: Hippocrene, 2001); A Broken Mirror: Protestant Fundamentalism in the Philippines (Manila: New Day Publishers, 2002); Vietnam: A Global Studies Handbook (Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2002); and Japan: An Illustrated History (New York: Hippocrene, 2004).