A History of Thailand | 
| Authors: Chris Baker, Pasuk Phongpaichit
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $21.99
Buy New: $18.34
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Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 75747
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 0.8
ISBN: 0521016479
Dewey Decimal Number: 959.3
EAN: 9780521016476
ASIN: 0521016479
Publication Date: May 23, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Expedited shipping is not available for this item. Items are mailed via USPS media mail within 2 business days and should arrive 4-14 business days later.
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Product Description
Covering the past three centuries of Thai history, this book reveals how a landscape of sparsely populated forest and jungle was transformed into villages and paddy fields, with a rural society of smallholder peasants and an urban society populated mainly by migrants from southern China. It demonstrates how throughout the twentieth century, Thailand has been drawn into the international system, the American camp in the Cold War, the economic gambit of rising Japan, and more recently, the forces of globalization. The authors also survey the country's transformation accompanying massive social evolution over recent decades. (Control of the nation state is still contested between forces with a patriarchal belief in change from above, and advocates of democracy and liberal values.)
Book Description
This book covers the past three centuries of Thai history. Over this period, a landscape of sparsely populated forest and jungle was transformed into villages and paddy fields. An older order of mandarin nobles and unfree labor was replaced by a rural society of smallholder peasants and an urban society populated mainly by migrants from southern China. Through the twentieth century, Thailand has been drawn into the international system, the American camp in the Cold War, the economic ambit of rising Japan, and the forces of globalization.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 an excellent read July 11, 2008
Having visited Thailand a couple of times I knew some of the basic history. This book helps fill in the gaps in my knowledge and tells the story of Thailand from the pre-nation days. The focus is mainly on the 20th century and to some extent the mid- to late- 19th. This makes perfect sense as there was no "Thailand" before that time or at least before Bangkok became the capital. There is some time spent dealing with the small kingdoms that were part of what eventually became Siam and later Thailand as well as how the monarchy changed over time. But the book mostly deals with how the nation-state came about and how it evolved.
The style is eminently readable and very well-researched and documented. Obviously a book such as this is aimed at a fairly limited audience. It has been a fine commuting companion for me.
It is fascinating to see how history in Thailand keeps on repeating itself even to this very day.
A Very Nice Overview October 30, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This compendium makes for a thoughtful, probing overview of Thailand past and present. For anyone wishing to better understand this diverse Asian nation, this is a good book to start with. A great beach read for the thinking tourist.
Troy Parfitt, author
 A History of Thailand October 1, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is primarily a history from the current line of kings (roughly 1800) through the present. Thus, if you want to learn how modern Thailand was formed, it is an excellent source. If you are looking for earlier information, it is very sketchy.
One of the best history book on Thailand March 8, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I am a Thai and since my childhood I have read many history books on our nation. All of those books is written by Thai, mostly in the view of historians. This book looks into Thai history from the view of economist. That makes it unique and more interesting (at least for me). For the readers who want to know about Thai history, this book should be the first one to read.
Great read March 1, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I knew nothing of this country s history and now I m confident of boring people to death on the subject.
The three factors that make the nation; Buddhism,the Monarchy and rice agriculture, are covered in clear detail.
From the first chapter, the early years unfold through early settlers,land reclaimation and conflict.
Later chapters explain the use of Western advisors brought in to modernise and the final creation of a Nation State only some 100 years ago.
I bought based on other reviews against other books on the subject and have not been disapointed.
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