Jonathan Clements

This is the true story of Wu Zetian, the only reigning empress in Chinese history, who schemed, poisoned and strangled her way to become a living god. Born in the 7th century AD, Wu was the daughter of a lumber merchant. Prophecies predicted that she would become emperor but these were seen as ridiculous when the baby turned out to be a girl. At the age of 13, her beauty led to her selection as a concubine to the 40-year-old Supreme Emperor Taizong. Her family were disappointed, since the emperor already had many wives, but they underestimated Wu's steely determination to succeed. When the emperor fell ill Wu seduced his heir, a move regarded as incestuous. Sent to a convent, she was rescued by the besotted new emperor, and lied and murdered her way through her rivals, until she had the empress executed. Now empress, Wu ruled China from behind the throne after her husband suffered a stroke. Upon his death she poisoned her strong-willed eldest son, and tried to rule through two more malleable sons. Finally she took the throne herself. Acclaimed author Jonathan Clements tells the colourful and dramatic story of China's first and only reigning empress.

A half-century after his death, Mao Zedong remains one of history’s most polarising figures: a peasant boy who become a revolutionary leader; a general in World War II; and finally the ‘Great Helmsman’, the founding father of the People’s Republic of China. His legacy is a story of national liberation and human tragedy; today, Mao is no static icon on a banknote, but the architect of a superpower whose ideas, methods, and personal life are continually re-examined through a modern lens. This concise yet comprehensive biography re-evaluates Mao’s ‘mass line’ ideology and bridges the gap between the man and the revolutionary, without overlooking the events that led the ending of China’s ‘Century of Humiliation’, the brutal cost of the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution. Based on new archival information and startling revelations from his inner circle – including his personal physician, Dr Li Zhisui, and former nurses – Clements offers a clear and accessible portrait of a leader whose persistent influence continues to affect global power dynamics today.

It's called personal finance for a reason. How can we use our income and wealth to make ourselves happier? What drives our financial decisions? How should we think about retirement and the financial markets? The answers to these questions vary for each of us. Join renowned financial writer Jonathan Clements on a fascinating journey to explore the connection between money and the rest of our lives. In this thoughtful guide to personal finance, he covers a wealth of topics including effective savings and investing strategies, good financial habits, as well as insightful life lessons and sage advice for nurturing meaningful relationships and personal happiness. Full of wisdom, humour and sentiment, Money and Me combines the articles Jonathan wrote for HumbleDollar with deeply personal anecdotes from his own life. He shares his reflections upon receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis and the subsequent financial decisions it prompted. No matter your age or situation, you will be able to apply his wisdom to your own financial practices, and strive ever closer to the goal of financial freedom for yourself and your family.

Twenty pivotal moments in anime filmmaking—and the untold drama behind them. From secret production battles to box-office triumphs, Japan's Anime Revolution reveals how each landmark film transformed Japanese animation Anime expert Jonathan Clements presents gamechanging moments in Japanese film history—from Japan's first black-and-white animated feature to modern blockbusters which have redefined the art form. From box-office hits to career-threatening flops, each of these case studies has changed the anime world in its own unique way, influencing developments in content, production methods, or distribution, capturing all the vibrancy and diversity of this world-beating medium. This illuminating book describes the twenty most notable films in anime history, including: Momotaro—Released at the end of World War II, this was Japan's first feature-length anime My Neighbor Totoro—Miyazaki's iconic work, consciously created as an alternative to formulaic animated films with no conflict or antagonist Ghost in the Shell—The influential sci-fi feature that inspired The Matrix Spirited Away—The first Oscar-winning anime—and highest-grossing Japanese film of all time! A Silent Voice—Adapted from a popular manga, an essential entry from a woman director Plus 14 other landmark films! Clements reveals behind-the-scenes decisions that changed the course of Japanese animation. Which movie was finished by a staff of out-of-work waitresses? Which animator hated his work so much that he threatened to shave off his own eyebrows? How did a maverick producer enlist fans to drive his movie to box-office gold? Which director learned his trade by watching The Bad News Bears ten times? Illustrated with full-color images, this fascinating book is a must-read for every devoted anime fan!

The gripping story of Taiwan, from the flood myths of ancient legend to its ‘Asian Tiger’ economic miracle — and the looming threat of invasion by China. Once dismissed by the Kangxi Emperor as nothing but a ‘ball of mud’, Taiwan has a modern GDP larger than that of Sweden, in a land area smaller than Indiana. It is the last surviving enclave of the Republic of China, a lost colony of Japan, and claimed by Beijing as a rogue province — merely the latest chapters in its long history as a refuge for pirates, rebels, settlers, and outcasts. In Rebel Island, Jonathan Clements offers a concise and vivid telling of Taiwan’s complex island story, beginning with the unique conditions of its archaeology before examining its indigenous history and its days as a Dutch and Spanish trading post. He delves into its periods as an independent kingdom, Chinese province, and short-lived republic, and the transformations wrought by 50 years as part of the Japanese Empire. In 1949, the island became a lifeboat for two million refugees from the Chinese Communist Revolution, and the White Terror began. Later chapters explain the recent conflicts that have emerged after the suspension of four decades of martial law, as the Taiwanese debate issues of self-determination, independence, and home rule — all under the watchful gaze of President Xi Jinping, and politicians around the world. Rebel Island is an essential guide to Taiwan’s past and present, providing invaluable context at a time of escalating tension over its future.

El manga est conquistando el mundo entero. Este fen meno del c mic japon s es para todos los gustos, con historias de fantas a, terror, thrillers, romance, historia, biograf a, deportes, negocios e incluso libros de texto Manga La historia visual narra la evoluci n del manga desde sus inicios en la era samur i, pasando por el auge de posguerra de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, hasta su triunfal llegada al extranjero y mete rico ascenso de los ltimos a os. En su interior, encontrar s: La visi n de m s de 120 escritores y artistas importantes que han dado forma a la cultura manga con sus visiones y estilos, desde la era samur i hasta 2023.226 p ginas de incre bles ilustraciones manga, un estilo de ilustraci n nico que ha marcado la historia y ha definido una nuevo estilo de narraci n visual.Escrita por los expertos m s destacados del manga. Descubre los personajes m s ic nicos, ahora famosos en todo el mundo, y el impacto global del manga en el anime, el cine y la televisi n con esta incre ble gu a ilustrada. Desde los cl sicos favoritos hasta las joyas menos conocidas, este es un libro que no puede faltar en la estanter a de los otaku m s entusiastas, as como en la de los curiosos que desean iniciarse en el mundo manga. ------------------------------------------------------------ Manga has taken the world by storm. A richly diverse medium, the Japanese comics phenomenon has something for everyone, fantasy, horror, thrillers, romance, history, biography, sport, business, and even school textbooks. Manga A Visual History chronicles the evolution of manga from its samurai-era beginnings, through its post-WWII surge in popularity, to its meteoric rise overseas. The book explores the key writers and artists who have shaped an entire culture with their visions and stylings, the iconic characters now recognized worldwide, and manga's impact on anime and live-action film and TV. From classic favorites to lesser-known gems, Manga A Visual History is the definitive guide to Japanese comics. Featuring incisive insights from preeminent manga experts, this lavishly illustrated coffee-table compendium is a must for diehard otaku as well as the growing ranks of manga converts, who will treasure it for years to come.

The gripping history of Taiwan, from the flood myths of indigenous legend to its Asian Tiger economic miracle--and the renewed threat of invasion by China. Once dismissed by the Kangxi Emperor as nothing but a 'ball of mud', Taiwan has a modern GDP larger than that of Sweden, in a land area smaller than Indiana. It is the last surviving enclave of the Republic of China, a lost colony of Japan, and claimed by Beijing as a rogue province--merely the latest chapters in its long history as a refuge for pirates, rebels, settlers, and outcasts. Jonathan Clements examines the unique conditions of Taiwan's archaeology and indigenous history, and its days as a Dutch and Spanish trading post. He delves into its periods as an independent kingdom, Chinese province, and short-lived republic, and the transformations wrought by 50 years as part of the Japanese Empire. He examines the traumatic effects of its role as a lifeboat in 1949 for two million refugees from Communism, and the conflicts emerging after the suspension of four decades of martial law, as its people debate issues of self-determination, independence, and home rule.

The gripping story of Taiwan, from the flood myths of ancient legend to its ‘Asian Tiger’ economic miracle — and the looming threat of invasion by China. Once dismissed by the Kangxi Emperor as nothing but a ‘ball of mud’, Taiwan has a modern GDP larger than that of Sweden, in a land area smaller than Indiana. It is the last surviving enclave of the Republic of China, a lost colony of Japan, and claimed by Beijing as a rogue province — merely the latest chapters in its long history as a refuge for pirates, rebels, settlers, and outcasts. In Rebel Island, Jonathan Clements offers a concise and vivid telling of Taiwan’s complex island story, beginning with the unique conditions of its archaeology before examining its indigenous history and its days as a Dutch and Spanish trading post. He delves into its periods as an independent kingdom, Chinese province, and short-lived republic, and the transformations wrought by 50 years as part of the Japanese Empire. In 1949, the island became a lifeboat for two million refugees from the Chinese Communist Revolution, and the White Terror began. Later chapters explain the recent conflicts that have emerged after the suspension of four decades of martial law, as the Taiwanese debate issues of self-determination, independence, and home rule — all under the watchful gaze of President Xi Jinping, and politicians around the world. Rebel Island is an essential guide to Taiwan’s past and present, providing invaluable context at a time of escalating tension over its future.

Japanese animation is at the nexus of an international multimedia industry worth over $23.6 billion a year, linked to everything from manga to computer games, Pokémon and plushies. In this comprehensive guide, Jonathan Clements chronicles the production and reception history of the entire medium, from a handful of hobbyists in the 1910s to the Oscar-winning Spirited Away and beyond. Exploring the cultural and technological developments of the past century, Clements addresses how anime’s history has been written by Japanese scholars, and covers previously neglected topics such as wartime instructional animation and work-for-hire for American clients. Founded on the testimonies of industry professionals, and drawing on a myriad of Japanese-language documents, memoirs and books, Anime: A History illuminates the anime business from the inside – investigating its innovators, its unsung heroes and its controversies. This new edition has been updated and revised throughout, with full colour illustrations and three new chapters on anime’s fortunes among Chinese audiences and subcontractors, 21st century trends in ‘otaku economics’, and the huge transformations brought about by the rise of global streaming technology.

Japanese animation is at the nexus of an international multimedia industry worth over $23.6 billion a year, linked to everything from manga to computer games, Pokémon and plushies. In this comprehensive guide, Jonathan Clements chronicles the production and reception history of the entire medium, from a handful of hobbyists in the 1910s to the Oscar-winning Spirited Away and beyond.Exploring the cultural and technological developments of the past century, Clements addresses how anime’s history has been written by Japanese scholars, and covers previously neglected topics such as wartime instructional animation and work-for-hire for American clients. Founded on the testimonies of industry professionals, and drawing on a myriad of Japanese-language documents, memoirs and books, Anime: A History illuminates the anime business from the inside – investigating its innovators, its unsung heroes and its controversies.This new edition has been updated and revised throughout, with full colour illustrations and three new chapters on anime’s fortunes among Chinese audiences and subcontractors, 21st century trends in ‘otaku economics’, and the huge transformations brought about by the rise of global streaming technology.

The modern nation of Finland is the heir to centuries of history, as a wilderness at the edge of early Europe, a borderland of the Swedish empire, and a Grand Duchy of tsarist Russia. And, as Jonathan Clements' vivid, concise volume shows, it is a tale paved with oddities and excitements galore: from prehistoric reindeer herders to medieval barons, Christian martyrs to Viking queens, and, in the twentieth century, the war heroes who held off the Soviet Union against impossible odds. Offering accounts of public artworks, literary giants, legends, folktales, and famous figures, Clements provides an indispensable portrait of this fascinating nation.This updated edition includes expanded coverage on the Second World War, as well as new sections on Finns in America and Russia, the centenary of the republic, and Finland's battle with COVID-19, right up to its historic application to join NATO.

"A lucid history of the rise and fall of militarism in Japan…" —New York Journal of BooksJapan at War in the Pacific recounts the dramatic story of Japan's transformation from a Samurai-led feudal society to a modern military-industrial empire in the space of a few decades—and the many wars it fought along the way. These culminated in an attempt by Japan's military leaders to create an Asia-Pacific empire which at its greatest extent rivaled the British Empire in scope and power. The battle for supremacy in the Pacific brought the Japanese to great heights but led ultimately to the nation's utter devastation at the end of World War II, culminating with the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki—the only time such weapons have been used in warfare. In this book, author Jonathan Clements offers fascinating insights into:The wars that Japan fought during its rise to supremacy in the western Pacific, including the Russo-Japanese War, the seizure of Manchuria and war in China, and the Pacific theater of World War II.The many military actions undertaken by Imperial Japanese forces including the horrific "Rape of Nanjing," the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the decisive defeat at the Battle of Midway, the savage Battles of Okinawa and Iwo Jima, and many more.The motivations and beliefs of Japan's leaders, as well as the policy decisions of a government dedicated to expansion which ultimately led to a complete dismantling of the nation's political and social order during the Allied Occupation.With over 75 photographs and maps, this book vividly recounts the brutal story of Japan's military conquests. Clements charts the evolution of the Japanese empire in the Pacific and the influence of a ruthless military-led government on everything from culture and food to fashion and education—including the anthems and rallying calls of a martial nation which were silenced long ago but continue to echo in Asian politics.

'A galloping journey through thousands of years of Chinese culinary history . . . a timely reminder that the country's modern cuisine is the delicious fruit of a rich, ancient and perhaps surprisingly multicultural tradition' FUCHSIA DUNLOP, SPECTATOR'A tasty portrait of a nation' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH'A splendid introduction to the complex history of China' GUARDIAN'A terrific read . . . Jonathan Clements writes with erudition and humour' DAILY MAIL'This book is itself a feast, each chapter a sumptuous course'Frederik L. Schodt, author of My Heart Sutra'Witty and insightful' Derek Sandhaus, author of Drunk in China****************The history of China - not according to emperors or battles, but according to its food and drink.The Emperor's Feast is the epic story of a nation and a people, told through one of its most fundamental pillars and successful exports: food. Following the journeys of different ingredients, dishes and eating habits over 5,000 years of history, author and presenter Jonathan Clements examines how China's political, cultural and technological evolution and her remarkable entrance onto the world stage have impacted how the Chinese - and the rest of the world - eat, drink and cook.We see the influence of invaders such as the Mongols and the Manchus, and discover how food - like the fiery cuisine of Sichuan or the hardy dishes of the north - often became a stand-in for regional and national identities. We also follow Chinese flavours to the shores of Europe and America, where enterprising chefs and home cooks created new traditions and dishes unheard of in the homeland.From dim sum to mooncakes to General Tso's chicken, The Emperor's Feast shows us that the story of Chinese food is ultimately the story of a nation: not just the one that history tells us, but also the one that China tells us about itself.

Before China's capital became a sprawling megacity and international centre of business and culture, its fortunes fluctuated under a dozen dynasties. It has been a capital for several states, including those headed by Mongolian chiefs and the glorious Ming emperors, whose tombs can still be found on its outskirts. And before all that, it was a campsite for primitive hominids, known as the Peking Man. A Short History of Beijing tells the story of this remarkable city, from its more famous residents - Khubilai Khan, Mulan, and Marco Polo - right up to the twenty-first century, as modern construction wipes out so much of the old city to make way for its twenty-million-strong population. Through his timely and intimate portrait of the world's most populous capital city, Jonathan Clements reveals the history of China itself. This first paperback edition includes a new final chapter, taking the history of Beijing up to the 2022 Winter Olympics and beyond.

The journey of Chinese food over 5,000 years of history - and the story it tells us about the land and its people.