Blooming in the Desert, Favorite Teachings of the Wildflower Monk Taungpulu Sayadaw  •  Anne Teich  •  Andrew Harvey RELIGION •  1996 •  PAPER  • 90 PAGES A collection of the straightforward teachings of the venerable Burmese monk Taungpulu Sayadaw, as recorded by Anne Teich (who also provides an overview of Buddhist practices and history). With a short introduction by Andrew Harvey. Like her mentor, Teich is a practitioner in the Theravada Forest tradition of Burma and Southeast Asia. (BMA35, $11.95)
Buddhism, A Concise Introduction  •  Huston Smith  •  Philip Novak RELIGION •  2004 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES This two-part primer, derived in part from Smith's bestselling World Religions focuses in the first half on Theravada Buddhism comparing South Asian and other traditions. The second part, written by Smith's student Philip Novak, looks at Buddhism in the west. (ASA41, $12.95)
Buddhist Art and Architecture  •  Robert Fisher ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1993 •  PAPER  • 216 PAGES A wide-ranging, illustrated survey of Buddhist art, architecture and iconography in the excellent World of Art series. It includes examples from throughout Asia. (ASA30, $18.95)
Cinnamon Gardens, A Novel  •  Shyam Selvadurai LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 360 PAGES A novel of love and obligation and society by the author of Funny Boy, set in Ceylon in 1927. (SRL15, $14.00)
A Field Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent  •  Krys Kazmierczak  •  Ber Van Perlo FIELD GUIDE •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 352 PAGES A compact field guide to 1,300 species with 96 color plates by bird artist Ber van Perlo, covering Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. With distribution maps and concise information on identification, voice and habitat by the author of "A Birdwatcher's Guide to India." (FG40, $45.00)
The Holder of the World  •  Bharati Mukherjee LITERATURE •  1993 •  PAPER  • 286 PAGES A daring novel of ideas, travel and history. Mukherjee interweaves the story of a modern American researcher with the travels of her 17th-century ancestor who roamed through Mughal India. (IDA190, $13.95)
Indian Art  •  Vidya Dehejia ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES A volume in Phaidon's excellent "Art and Ideas" series, this book considers the religious and intellectual contexts of three thousand years of Indian art and architecture. It's particularly commendable for its extensive coverage of modern art -- which gets short shift from many such surveys. This very readable book features 250 color illustrations. (IDA185, $24.95)
Lonely Planet Sri Lanka  •  Verity Campbell GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES A practical guide in the popular series. (SRL13, $17.99)
South Asia  •  Sumit Ganguly HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A scholarly history of modern South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Sumit Ganguly is the Rabindranath Tagore Professor of Indian cultures and civilizations and professor of political science at Indiana University. (IDA308, $18.00)
Sri Lanka Culture Smart!, A Quick Guide to Customs and Culture  •  Emma Boyle GUIDEBOOK •  2009 •  PAPER • COMING IN MARCH A concise, no-nonsense guide to local customs, etiquette and culture with a short overview of the land and people along with practical travel advice (IDA537, $9.95)
A Woman's Asia  •  Marybeth Bond ANTHOLOGY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 310 PAGES These thirty-five personal, often hilarious accounts of women's adventures from China to Sri Lanka to Turkey to Bhutan, not only illuminating the everyday, oft-overlooked cultural practices of Asia, but also giving a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of the female traveller. Featuring selections from Jan Morris, Pamela Logan and Alison Wright. (ASA49, $17.95)