Alan Macfarlane

An average read that didn't manage to enlighten me on Japan in any way. Everything seemed to go in circles and only touch on the surface of many issues with constant comparisons to Britain for some reason. Alan Booth's travel books are a far better way for readers to acquaint themselves with this fascinating country.

This is an interesting and readable introduction, but nothing more. Iris, the co-author's, memoirs of growing up in an Indian tea "garden" are more interesting than the rest of the book. I think of books like this as "history lite," interesting anecdotes, major figures, not much analysis of how it fits into larger historical context.

Barely a 3 ... maybe 2.5 for "ambivalent"? There are bits and pieces of interesting story here, but it is rather dull throughout. Edit this down to what is interesting and it would take 50 pages.

Overall: Dull and not worth much time.

chiefly about the ideas of one of the most influential intellectuals of Meiji Japan