Guns, Girls, Gambling, Ganja

[tiger tanaka]

Just finished reading Guns, Girls, Gambling, Ganja, Thailand's Illegal Economy. A fairly well known book, but a bit dated (1998). It's an academic read, but seems well researched. After reading one could come away thinking that one, Thailand as a society is nicely"bent", and two, their isn't much of a moral framework here, or as one old long-term expat often says to me, "this place is totally, morally bankrupt".

Anyway, what's your thoughts on this book from those who have read it?

[soundman]

Correct me if I am mistaken, but isn't that book set in Cambodia? or are there two versions?

Soundman.

[tiger tanaka]

I mean the non-fiction one written by three economic professors from Chulalongkorn U. Is there a fiction one by that name, or are you pulling my leg?

[MJo]

Yes there is. Girls Guns and Ganja - Off the rails in Phnom Penh or something.

Based on what bunch of english teachers are up to in Cambo...

[solent01]

I believe the full title is "Guns, Girls, Gambling, Ganja: Thailand's Illegal Economy and Public Policy" Its based mostly in Thailand, the authers are Thai (but educated in the States), it does reflect on other country's "misgivings" though.

Don't know about two versions......

[soundman]

I mean the non-fiction one written by three economic professors from Chulalongkorn U. Is there a fiction one by that name, or are you pulling my leg?

Non-fiction field study on living in Pnom Penh. Inspirational read actually & now come to think of it the title was actually something like "Off the Rails in Pnom Penh - Women, guns, gambling & gunja!"

Cheers,

Soundman.

[tiger tanaka]

haha, sorry for the confusion. I mean this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Guns-Girls-Gambling-...s/dp/9747100754

[solent01]

Umm, will have to order the other book. Sounds like a good read.

[Gary A]

I'm a cynic and I will be until the day that I die. Anyone can write a book and say whatever they want to say. Does that make it factual? Books are written so that the author can make money. That's fair enough but DON'T believe everything you read.

[onethailand]

I have that book as well. K. Pasuk and K Sangchit are extremely knowledgeable on this subject. They did not write this book for money, the research in there is astounding.

[Johpa]

Anything written by Achaan Pasuk is worth a read and should be required reading for all long term ex-pats in oder to reduce the numbers who are afflicted with the neo-sahib syndrome. She is one of Thailand's most respected and prominent academics and has many works in English. I first read her back in the 1980s with her excellent small book From Peasant Girls to Bangkok Masseuses. If you are attracted to intelligence, this woman is hot.

Little of her works becomes overly dated as Thailand has changed little relative to macro social trends. Certainly the middle class has grown and I would suspect that the percentage of women who have at one time or another worked in the sex trade to have dropped over the past few decades. But the underground economy described in Guns, Girls, Gambling, Ganja, the shadow economy that fuels Thai politics, the profits of which are mostly wired overseas, continues as in the past with only minor variation such as meth substituting for ganja.

[kash]

I'm a cynic and I will be until the day that I die. Anyone can write a book and say whatever they want to say. Does that make it factual? Books are written so that the author can make money. That's fair enough but DON'T believe everything you read.

So why bother posting your opinions then?

[Boo]

Good to hear reviews about Pasuk Phongpaichit as I only today ordered "Corruption & Democracy in Thailand" written by the same woman.

[opengoal]

Where can you pruchase any of these titles in Thailand ?

[Gary A]

I'm a cynic and I will be until the day that I die. Anyone can write a book and say whatever they want to say. Does that make it factual? Books are written so that the author can make money. That's fair enough but DON'T believe everything you read.

So why bother posting your opinions then?

Why not? I happen to have read the book where the story was based in Cambodia and thought it was garbage. Just because a book has been written doesn't make it true or do you dispute that?

[mrt273nva]

Anyway, what's your thoughts on this book from those who have read it?

I loved the book. It did read a bit like a text book, but it was full of facts. I loved how they go into how fishing boats line their hulls with some kind of rubber bladder and smuggle oil into the country. There is a huge percentage of boats doing it. All to avoid tax.

I also found the illegal lottery to be extremely interesting. Their operations are so well planned out

and of course to Casinos in Bangkok are something to marvel.

I highly recommend this book people with an interested in illegal economies.

[Johpa]

I loved the book. It did read a bit like a text book, but it was full of facts.

Yes, well Achaan Phasuk is indeed an academic and her books are most commonly read by other academics, graduate students in Southeast Asian area studies, professional bureaucrats, and foreign service professionals. They are not commonly seen being read on the beach in Pattaya or Phuket. They are indeed used as text books at places like Cornell and Monash. The book in question as little, if anything, to do with Cambodia.

[sbk]

Where can you pruchase any of these titles in Thailand ?

I've seen the Guns, Ganja one in Asia books, not sure about the one Boo mentions tho... You might try checking their website, might also try checking megabooks.com and see what they have as well.

[bgood]

I read this book a few months ago. It's an extremely good read although a little dated now, I think written about 96-7 (?). The authors were quite courageous and I was suprised they were able to release the book in Thailand.

I doubt much has changed in Thailand since this book was written. It left me feeling depressed that the authors saw little chance of overcoming the corruption which is such a huge part of the system here.

[mrt273nva]

I loved the book. It did read a bit like a text book, but it was full of facts.

Yes, well Achaan Phasuk is indeed an academic and her books are most commonly read by other academics, graduate students in Southeast Asian area studies, professional bureaucrats, and foreign service professionals. They are not commonly seen being read on the beach in Pattaya or Phuket. They are indeed used as text books at places like Cornell and Monash. The book in question as little, if anything, to do with Cambodia.

i didn't mind it reading like a text book as i studied criminal justice at uni. the book made perfect sense to me. sometimes i prefer a good academic read. this book was really good.

[Ulysses G.]

The other one - that is a non-fiction travel book set in Cambodia - is really good and quite accurate as I was hanging around there at the time and knew some of the people and institutions (he changed their names to protect them).

Worth a read also.

"Off the Rails in Phnom Penh - Women, Guns, Gambling & Ganja!"

Edited April 22, 2008 by Ulysses G.

[John_Rambo]

I first visited Phnom Penh five years after 'Off the rails' was published, and found that the place seemed to have already changed from the one he described. Having read the book prior to my visit, it was certainly different to what i expected. I imagine visitors these days will find the city to be even further estranged from the one described in Mr Gilboa's account. An intriguing enough read, that maybe captures a moment in time, but i got the impression it's no longer quite so relevant. Then again, i'm no expert on Phnom Penh.

[ade100]

I'm a cynic and I will be until the day that I die. Anyone can write a book and say whatever they want to say. Does that make it factual? Books are written so that the author can make money. That's fair enough but DON'T believe everything you read.

So why bother posting your opinions then?

Why not? I happen to have read the book where the story was based in Cambodia and thought it was garbage. Just because a book has been written doesn't make it true or do you dispute that?

I think the point he was making was that you are offering your pearls of wisdom to all of us on TV free of charge and not making a single Thai Baht out of us. So when you say people only write for money, your post is kind of self contradictory.

And secondly if your point is "you can't believe what you read" then doesn't it make writing things, including posts, pointless? Again and inherent contradiction.

Sorry, I don't mean to be critical...I studied formal logic years ago... :-)

Edited April 22, 2008 by ade100

[pampal]

Where can you pruchase any of these titles in Thailand ?

I bought mine a couple of years ago at King Power Don Muang, try the Suwanpoom Duty Free

[Pepe']

I'm a cynic and I will be until the day that I die. Anyone can write a book and say whatever they want to say. Does that make it factual? Books are written so that the author can make money. That's fair enough but DON'T believe everything you read.

So why bother posting your opinions then?

-----------------

I was surprised to find that only 1 to 2% of authors actually profit from writting a book these days.

I had thought about writting a book for years. I have a couple of patients that are literary publicists and agents.

They told me if your writing a book to make money, mine would pertain to health, forget it.

I was told you need $50,000, usually, to get started so if you're willing to risk that no problem. But plan on losing it unless your famous...

[camerata]

Where can you pruchase any of these titles in Thailand ?

Asia Books or Kinokuniya. The titles co-written with husband Chris Baker have a less academic style: History of Thailand, Thailand's Boom and Bust, and Thaksin: The Business Of Politics In Thailand are all good ones.

[tiger tanaka]

You can get any of these mentioned books from the Nielson Hays Library in Bangkok on Surawong if you live in Bangkok. Funny, I never hear much about that library. I don't think it's very well known. That library helped me keep my sanity that long year I spent in BKK. I must have read a hundred books or more. Not bad for 2,000 baht a year.

http://www.hotelthailand.com/ezine/2003/issue3/zine2.html

[kmart]

I bought the "Guns, Girls, Gambling, & Ganja. Thailand's Parallel Economy" book some time ago. Seems well researched and interesting, although a little "dry" and bland, considering the subject matter.

[RAMPAGE]

Where can you pruchase any of these titles in Thailand ?

I've seen the Guns, Ganja one in Asia books, not sure about the one Boo mentions tho... You might try checking their website, might also try checking megabooks.com and see what they have as well.

Actually, it's megabooksthailand.com and yes, they do have it.