Shwedagon: Golden Pagoda of Myanmar
In order to make sense of this book, you must follow these directions: first turn to page 158 and read a short explanation (the first in the book) of what Shwedagon is and where it is located. Next, read the following seven-page explanation of Buddhism and then find the five poor-quality photos (on pages 102 and 103) to get a glimpse of the main shrine and its setting in the heart of Yangon (formerly Rangoon). A clear architectural plan on page 110 and an equally good elevation on page 133, coupled with a 19th-century photo on page six, will complete the background work you'll need to do to understand the main section of the book--which consists of 88 color photos shot on a one-day stroll by an amateur photographer (is that really the camera strap dangling in front of the lens on page 88?). An absurd collection of blurry tourist-quality photos accompanied by a pedantic art-historical text by art history scholar Moore and writer U Win Pe, this book is as disappointing as going to see a friend's awful slides from his vacation in some fabulous spot you have always wanted to visit. Not recommended.-David McClelland, PhiladelphiaCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.