Bangladesh: Reflections on the Water (Essential Asia Series) [Hardcover]

James J. Novak (Author)

Book Description

Series: Essential Asia Series | Publication Date: September 22, 1993

"This is a love story based on the author's ongoing affair with an exotic land.... [Novak] captures the reader's attention, admiration and sympathy and then describes straightforwardly the external and internal elements of thinking and policy that are detrimental to the country's survival." —Foreign Service Journal

"... personal and well-informed analysis... Another fine addition to the 'Essential Asia Series'." —Asiaweek

"This rich meditation on the land and people but especially the waters of Bangladesh is a masterpiece of journalism." —The Reader's Review

"... beautiful, even lyrical account... " —Orbis

"As an introduction to Bangladesh this book is invaluable... " —Current History

A positive and hopeful presentation of Bangladesh by a writer who loves the country while recognizing its many faults. It is both a scholar's and an insider's view of Bangladesh, its history, geography, politics, and culture.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Heavily dependent on foreign aid, densely populated Bangladesh endures annual floods that submerge up to 70% of the land. More than half of this predominantly Muslim nation is desperately poor. Yet Bangladesh, insists Novak, is no "basket case." The floods, he lamely argues in this involving if ultimately unconvincing study, are not calamities but an essential part of the ecosystem, ensuring viability of rice and jute crops. The author, who has been a columnist for Asia Mail and was the Asia Foundation's representative in Bangladesh from 1982 to 1985, lucidly discusses the culture, history, economy and scenic beauty of a country that threw off the rule of West Pakistan in 1971 with India's military help. Novak defines a Bangladesh mindset that includes "clannish" attachment to extended family and lost pride stemming from the fact that the nation was once part of Bengal, the richest province in all of India. He cautiously weighs the prospects of the new civilian government, threatened by a return to army rule.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

JAMES J. (JEREMIAH) NOVAK, a writer, has lived and traveled in Asia for thirty years. He was Resident Representative of The Asia Foundation in Bangladesh from 1982 to 1985 and has been a columnist and reporter for numerous newspapers and magazines.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press; First Edition edition (September 22, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253341213
• ISBN-13: 978-0253341211
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,384,730 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > History > Asia > Bangladesh

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Novak writes how a Bangali feels about Bangla desh, August 28, 2001

By 

"halimchowdhury" (MD, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bangladesh: Reflections on the Water (Essential Asia Series) (Hardcover)

As a Bangladeshi-American, I am disturbed at the number of publications potraying her as destitude, poor and disaster prone. Novak tries to disprove this 'theory of Bangla desh' and shows Bangladesh in the reality, like any Bangladeshi would. Reading the book at times felt like a Bangladeshi has written it. Novak's description of water, seasons and women of Bangladesh are true to the bone and I wish more people in the American media would have read this book before writing their presentations on Bangladesh. I recommend this book for anyone who wishes to know more about Bangladesh or for anyone visiting Bangladesh and for all Bangla deshis outside of Bangla desh.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent representation of Bangladesh and its people., March 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bangladesh: Reflections on the Water (Essential Asia Series) (Hardcover)

Novak does an excellent job writing this description of Bangladesh. Not only does it cover history and what its like, it includes how these things influence the people of Bangladesh. I enjoyed this book because I felt it gave a fairly accurate representation of Bangladesh.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I have read on Bangladesh, July 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Bangladesh: Reflections on the Water (Essential Asia Series) (Hardcover)

This is absolutely the best book to read about BanglaDesh. I loved the way Novak describes the seasons and connection to the Bangladeshi people. I have visited Bangladesh a few months back and I am glad I read this book before. But I do wish there was a newer edition as this version was written a few years back.