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World » Asia » Myanmar (Formerly Burma)

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Myanmar (Formerly Burma)

Last updated: November 22, 2022

Myanmar (formerly called Burma, until 1989) has suffered from long-term instability. Wendy Law-Yone, the Burmese-born novelist, chooses books on “her own Burma”, covering the history of the country from the 17th century through the late 19th and early 20th century period of British colonialism to the present day. Sean Turnell, professor of economics at Macquarie University, who focuses on the country, chooses his best books for understanding the Burmese economy.

Sue Arnold, an Anglo-Burmese journalist, who writes for The Observer and The Guardian for many years, chooses her best books on describing Burma.  Emma Larkin, the US journalist, who focuses on the country and the Swedish journalist, Bertil Lintner who has reported on Burma since the early 1980s, both choose their best books on the country. Arnold, Larkin and Lintner all choose From the Land of Green Ghosts by Pascal Koo Thwe. And Turnell, Arnold and Lintner all choose Auug San Suu Kyi’s Freedom from Fear.

    The best books on Her Own Burma, recommended by Wendy Law-Yone

  • Read
    The best books on Her Own Burma - The Land of the Great Image by Maurice Collis

    1

    The Land of the Great Image
    by Maurice Collis

  • Read
    The best books on Her Own Burma - The Brothel Boy and Other Parables of the Law by Norval Morris

    2

    The Brothel Boy and Other Parables of the Law
    by Norval Morris

  • Read
    The best books on Her Own Burma - Golden Earth by Norman Lewis

    3

    Golden Earth
    by Norman Lewis

  • Read
    The best books on Her Own Burma - Beyond the Last Village by Alan Rabinowitz

    4

    Beyond the Last Village
    by Alan Rabinowitz

  • Read
    The best books on Her Own Burma - Smile as They Bow by Nu Nu Yi

    5

    Smile as They Bow
    by Nu Nu Yi

  • Wendy Law-Yone says the same blend of megalomania and mysticism inherent in Burmese despots and witnessed in 17th-century Burma, that dynastic lunacy with delusions of divinity, is still in florid evidence today

  • The best books on Her Own Burma - The Land of the Great Image by Maurice Collis
  • The best books on Her Own Burma - The Brothel Boy and Other Parables of the Law by Norval Morris
  • The best books on Her Own Burma - Golden Earth by Norman Lewis
  • The best books on Her Own Burma - Beyond the Last Village by Alan Rabinowitz
  • The best books on Her Own Burma - Smile as They Bow by Nu Nu Yi

The best books on Her Own Burma, recommended by Wendy Law-Yone

Wendy Law-Yone says the same blend of megalomania and mysticism inherent in Burmese despots and witnessed in 17th-century Burma, that dynastic lunacy with delusions of divinity, is still in florid evidence today

The best books on Her Own Burma, recommended by Wendy Law-Yone

    The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy, recommended by Sean Turnell

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy - The Wealth and Poverty of Nations by David S Landes

    1

    The Wealth and Poverty of Nations
    by David S Landes

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy - The Curse of Independence by Shelby Tucker

    2

    The Curse of Independence
    by Shelby Tucker

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy - The Coins and Banknotes of Burma by M Robinson and L Shaw

    3

    The Coins and Banknotes of Burma
    by M Robinson and L Shaw

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy - Colonial Policy and Practice by J S Furnivall

    4

    Colonial Policy and Practice
    by J S Furnivall

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy - Freedom from Fear by Aung San Suu Kyi

    5

    Freedom from Fear
    by Aung San Suu Kyi

  • Sean Turnell, a renowned expert on the Burmese economy, says Burma is more like Zimbabwe than Vietnam or China

  • The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy - The Wealth and Poverty of Nations by David S Landes
  • The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy - The Curse of Independence by Shelby Tucker
  • The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy - The Coins and Banknotes of Burma by M Robinson and L Shaw
  • The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy - Colonial Policy and Practice by J S Furnivall
  • The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy - Freedom from Fear by Aung San Suu Kyi

The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy, recommended by Sean Turnell

Sean Turnell, a renowned expert on the Burmese economy, says Burma is more like Zimbabwe than Vietnam or China

The best books on Understanding the Burmese Economy, recommended by Sean Turnell

    The best books on Describing Burma, recommended by Sue Arnold

  • Read
    The best books on Describing Burma - Burmese Days by George Orwell

    1

    Burmese Days
    by George Orwell

  • Read
    The best books on Describing Burma - The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason

    2

    The Piano Tuner
    by Daniel Mason

  • Read
    The best books on Describing Burma - The Lizard Cage by Karen Connolly

    3

    The Lizard Cage
    by Karen Connolly

  • Read
    The best books on Describing Burma - From the Land of Green Ghosts by Pascal Koo Thwe

    4

    From the Land of Green Ghosts
    by Pascal Koo Thwe

  • Read
    The best books on Describing Burma - Freedom from Fear by Aung San Suu Kyi

    5

    Freedom from Fear
    by Aung San Suu Kyi

  • The author and journalist talks about a Burma where women wear fresh flowers in their hair, where houses are populated by spirits, butterflies are as big as brooches and the regime throws political prisoners into camps

  • The best books on Describing Burma - Burmese Days by George Orwell
  • The best books on Describing Burma - The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
  • The best books on Describing Burma - The Lizard Cage by Karen Connolly
  • The best books on Describing Burma - From the Land of Green Ghosts by Pascal Koo Thwe
  • The best books on Describing Burma - Freedom from Fear by Aung San Suu Kyi

The best books on Describing Burma, recommended by Sue Arnold

The author and journalist talks about a Burma where women wear fresh flowers in their hair, where houses are populated by spirits, butterflies are as big as brooches and the regime throws political prisoners into camps

The best books on Describing Burma, recommended by Sue Arnold

    The best books on Burma, recommended by Emma Larkin

  • Read
    The best books on Burma - Quartered Safe Out Here by George MacDonald Fraser

    1

    Quartered Safe Out Here
    by George MacDonald Fraser

  • Read
    The best books on Burma - No Time for Dreams by San San Tin

    2

    No Time for Dreams
    by San San Tin

  • Read
    The best books on Burma - Outrage by Bertil Lintner

    3

    Outrage
    by Bertil Lintner

  • Read
    The best books on Burma - From the Land of Green Ghosts by Pascal Koo Thwe

    4

    From the Land of Green Ghosts
    by Pascal Koo Thwe

  • Read
    The best books on Burma - Burma Chronicles by Guy Delisle

    5

    Burma Chronicles
    by Guy Delisle

  • The American writer has an obsession with recording Burma’s vanishing stories before the current regime's actions result in the rewriting of Burmese history. She chooses five books on the real Burma

  • The best books on Burma - Quartered Safe Out Here by George MacDonald Fraser
  • The best books on Burma - No Time for Dreams by San San Tin
  • The best books on Burma - Outrage by Bertil Lintner
  • The best books on Burma - From the Land of Green Ghosts by Pascal Koo Thwe
  • The best books on Burma - Burma Chronicles by Guy Delisle

The best books on Burma, recommended by Emma Larkin

The American writer has an obsession with recording Burma’s vanishing stories before the current regime’s actions result in the rewriting of Burmese history. She chooses five books on the real Burma

The best books on Burma, recommended by Emma Larkin

    The best books on Burma, recommended by Bertil Lintner

  • Read
    The best books on Burma - The Trouser People by Andrew Marshall

    1

    The Trouser People
    by Andrew Marshall

  • Read
    The best books on Burma - Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin

    2

    Finding George Orwell in Burma
    by Emma Larkin

  • Read
    The best books on Burma - From the Land of Green Ghosts by Pascal Koo Thwe

    3

    From the Land of Green Ghosts
    by Pascal Koo Thwe

  • Read
    The best books on Burma - The River of Lost Footsteps

    4

    The River of Lost Footsteps

  • Read
    The best books on Burma - Burma and Japan Since 1940

    5

    Burma and Japan Since 1940

  • Read
    The best books on Burma - Freedom from Fear by Aung San Suu Kyi

    6

    Freedom from Fear
    by Aung San Suu Kyi

  • The Swedish Journalist says Burma has always played its neighbours against each other and managed to stay neutral. That neutrality is gone now. It is not so much a client as a close ally of China

  • The best books on Burma - The Trouser People by Andrew Marshall
  • The best books on Burma - Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin
  • The best books on Burma - From the Land of Green Ghosts by Pascal Koo Thwe
  • The best books on Burma - The River of Lost Footsteps
  • The best books on Burma - Burma and Japan Since 1940
  • The best books on Burma - Freedom from Fear by Aung San Suu Kyi

The best books on Burma, recommended by Bertil Lintner

The Swedish Journalist says Burma has always played its neighbours against each other and managed to stay neutral. That neutrality is gone now. It is not so much a client as a close ally of China

The best books on Burma, recommended by Bertil Lintner

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