"Islands and Empires "was first published in 1976. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions. This is the first one-volume account of the massive impact of Western civilization on the Pacific Islands and the Far East, principally China and Japan. The effects on the two areas were very different since, in the case of the islands, contact was with peoples who were still in the Stone Age, while in the Far East Westerners came up against sophisticated civilizations more ancient and mature than their own. Because of these differences, the book is divided into two sections, the first dealing with the Pacific Islands and the second with the East Asian mainland. Reverse influences--those of the Eastern cultures on the West--are also discussed.

For whatever reason, man has always been drawn to the sea. It invigorates us, inspires our creativity and spirituality, and awakens our senses of wonder, curiosity, and exploration. People have long walked the shore in search of treasures washed up from far away. Now, visitors and residents of New England and northeast have this source to get them to them to the beach and tell them what they can expect to find. Covering the coast from Maryland up to the Canadian border, The Beachcomber's Guide to the Northeast describes every prominent beach, their makeup (whether sand or rocky,) and includes directions and pertinent facts about available amenities. The text also includes descriptions and photos of flora and fauna that might be seen, such as crabs, shells, birds, insects, even fish and whales. And of course there are the flotsam and jetsam that can be found, from driftwood to sea glass to beach stones and even shipwrecks. It's all covered here. There's even a section on pirates and pirate treasure. This is the book to bring the next time you head to the beach.

The Irish Buddhist is the biography of a truly extraordinary Irish emigrant, sailor and migrant worker who became a Buddhist monk and anti-colonial activist in early twentieth-century Asia. Born Laurence Carroll in 1856, U Dhammaloka defied the British Empire and missionary Christianity in defense of local culture. He had five different aliases, was tried for sedition, put under police and intelligence surveillance, faked his own death, and ultimately disappeared. His dramatic life rewrites the previously accepted story of how Buddhism became a modern global religion.

Presenting a tangy mixture of life on a Pacific beach, haiku poetry, and essays on life and living, Reflections of a Beachcomber bares author Dr. W. Gasser's soul to illustrate his errors of thought and emotion that prolonged his many crises. In this personal collection, he recalls how he successfully coped with job losses, divorce, and three disabling conditions. Reflections of a Beachcomber explores ways of thinking and feeling that lead to coping successfully with disability generally and blindness in particular, linking those coping skills with problems with relationships. Gasser combines twenty-five years of teaching college writing and literature and master's level studies in counseling and guidance with a modern existential philosophy to guide you through many of the major crises life can bring. He also provides insight into the different ways of working out effective solutions to personal challenges. Gasser shares his story in Reflections of a Beachcomber to show how you can learn from your experiences rather than being dominated by them.

Newly revised and updated, this guide to the most common animals and plants of the California seashore is a must-have companion for any curious beach visitor. Look no further than The New Beachcomber’s Guide to Seashore Life of California for the essential tidal guidebook. More than 270 of the sponges, molluscs, crustaceans, sea stars, sea anemones, jellies, fishes, seaweeds and other flora and fauna you’re likely to see are described here in concise detail, and each is photographed in splendid colour for identification in the natural habitat. This book contains an additional comprehensive guide to California’s best beachcombing sites and their distinctions, serving as an all-inclusive and beautifully informative resource. A perfect gift for yourself or any other beach walkers in your life, The New Beachcomber’s Guide to Seashore Life of California will delight casual and expert naturalists alike.