Published in the aftermath of World War II, this brilliant exploration of the Japanese psyche and culture retains its interest today, as much for its perspective on the West as for insights about the Japanese character. Benedict, who also wrote Patterns of Culture, was a respected anthropologist of the time. Written with the full cooperation of the Office of War Information, Benedict based her study on interviews with hundreds of Japanese, many of them immigrants to America.  (JPN23, $15.00)