'A compelling roadmap to a financial and personal life well lived' —William J. Bernstein, bestselling author, The Four Pillars of Investing'A****n honest guide to both financial success and how to live a meaningful life' —Nick Maggiulli, bestselling author, Just Keep Buying and The Wealth Ladder************It's called personal finance for a reason.H...

This fascinating history tells the story of the people of Japan, from ancient teenage priest-queens to teeming hordes of salarymen, a nation that once sought to conquer China, yet also shut itself away for two centuries in self-imposed seclusion.First revealed to Westerners in the chronicles of Marco Polo, Japan was a legendary faraway land defended by a fearsome Kamikaze storm and ruled by a divine sovereign. It was the terminus of the Silk Road, the furthest end ...

'If I had to pick a single general martial arts history book in English, I would recommend A Brief History of the Martial Arts by Dr Jonathan Clements'RICHARD BEITLICH, Martial History Team blogFrom Shaolin warrior monks to the movies of Bruce Lee, a new history of the evolution of East Asian styles of unarmed combat, from Kung Fu to NinjutsuFolk tales of the Shaolin Temple depict warrior monks with superhuman abil...

Baron Gustaf Mannerheim was one of the greatest figures of the twentieth century, and the only man to be decorated by both sides in the Second World War. As a Finnish officer in Russian service, he witnessed the coronation of the last Tsar, and was both reprimanded for foolhardiness and decorated for bravery in the Russo-Japanese War. He spent two years undercover in Asia as an agent in the 'Great Game', posing as a Swedish anthropologist. He crossed China on horseback, stopping en route t...

A guide to the history of China’s capital, from before its rise to prominence as the seat of empires to the 2022 Winter Olympics.Before China’s capital became a sprawling megacity and international center of business and culture, its fortunes fluctuated under a dozen dynasties. It has been a capital for several states, including those headed by Mongolian chiefs and the glorious Ming emperors, whose tombs can still be found on its outskirts. And before all that, it ...

'Clements has a knack for writing suspenseful sure-footed conflict scenes: His recounting of the Korean invasion led by samurai and daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi reads like a thriller. If you're looking for a samurai primer, Clements' guide will keep you on the hook' Japan Times, reviewed as part of an Essential Reading for Japanophiles seriesFrom a leading expert in Japanese history, this is one of the first full histories of the art and culture of the Samurai warrior. The Sa...

A unique and official collection of concept art and artwork from the pioneering anime series Junji Ito Collection, based on the artwork of hugely popular horror manga icon Junji Ito.Discover the stunning and haunting artwork of Junji Ito Collection, a horror anthology anime based on the works of award-winning artist, writer and “Godfather of Horror Manga” Junji Ito.This book offers fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of ...

This comprehensive history of Japanese animation draws on Japanese primary sources and testimony from industry professionals to explore the production and reception of anime, from its origins in Japanese cartoons of the 1920s and 30s to the international successes of companies such as Studio Ghibli and Nintendo, films such as Spirited Away and video game characters such as Pokémon.

The gripping story of Taiwan, from the flood myths of ancient legend to its ‘Asian Tiger’ economic miracle — and the looming threat of invasion by China.Once dismissed by the Kangxi Emperor as nothing but a ‘ball of mud’, Taiwan has a modern GDP larger than that of Sweden, in a land area smaller than Indiana. It is the last surviving enclave of the Republic of China, a lost colony of Japan, and claimed by Beijing as a rogue province — merely the latest chapters in ...

A new translation for the 21st century.The Art of War by Sun Tzu is one of the most influential political and business books of our era. This gateway edition for the 21st century reader rediscovers the essential clarity of the ancient masterpiece, cited by generals from a dozen Chinese dynasties, international business leaders, and modern military field manuals.This edition also contains a full commentary on Sun Tzu, the man and his ideas, contemporary of Confucius and Budd...

Twenty pivotal moments in anime filmmaking—and the untold drama behind them. From secret production battles to box-office triumphs, Japan's Anime Revolution reveals how each landmark film transformed Japanese animationAnime expert Jonathan Clements presents gamechanging moments in Japanese film history—from Japan's first black-and-white animated feature to modern blockbusters which have redefined the art form. From box-office hits to career-threat...

'From the Fury of the Northmen deliver us, O Lord.'Between the eighth and eleventh centuries, the Vikings surged from their Scandinavian homeland to trade, raid and invade along the coasts of Europe. Their influence and expeditions extended from Newfoundland to Baghdad, their battles were as far-flung as Africa and the Arctic. But were they great seafarers or desperate outcasts, noble heathens or oafish pirates, the last pagans or the first of the modern Europeans?...