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The scope and promotion of animal welfare are deeply tied to both local and international considerations, with issues of animal mistreatment and exploitation inexorably affected by region-specific inequalities in terms of access to resources and by the priority given worldwide to humans in environmental and resource planning.

In this work, the author combines her experience in grassroots activism and academic credentials to successfully bridge local and international perspectives on animal welfare. The narrative fluidly weaves together field notes, cross-cultural observations, and personal reflections to expand awareness and understanding of, and inspire deeper thinking on, the subject of animal welfare.

Yashi no Hakage (Under the Shade of Coconut Fronds) is an early twentieth-century compilation of diary entries made by Taiwan Sotokufu Museum’s first director Kawakami Takuya during his travels through the South Pacific and East Indies. This book, compelling to Taiwanese readers in translation today, is a classic from colonial-era Taiwan offering insight into the ecological landscape and natural history of contemporary Southeast Asia. A considerable translation and editing effort in more recent years created a Chinese version of this work that brought this work to light among Taiwan readers.

Paying tribute to Kawakami’s work, Archived Shadows, centering on the life of Hosokawa Takahide, leverages delightful prose and vivid illustrations to capture the thrill and excitement surrounding botanical field work during the first half of the twentieth century. This ostensibly non-fiction effort touches on many historical places and scenes. Also, the author’s occasional metaphysical side journeys detract not a whit from the rigor invested in creating this serious literary work.

Few countries are more aware of the realities and serious nature of geopolitics than Taiwan. After the Second World War, Taiwan, at the center of the first Western Pacific island chain, stood firmly on the frontlines of the global Cold War, its position further complicated by unresolved animosities with its neighbor, the People’s Republic of China. Now, well into the 21st century, Taiwan, in upholding its sovereignty and helping secure this strategically vital island chain, must persistently strategize to survive in a landscape defined now more than ever by great power conflict.

This book brings an invaluable Taiwanese perspective to East Asian politics and regional military affairs, with firsthand observations and opinions provided by relevant experts. Should global conflict erupt again, this island chain, with Taiwan at the center, will undoubtedly be a key battleground. Readers may appreciate this work as an informative, much easier-to-understand 21st century update to Sun Zi’s The Art of War that not only reveals the likely nature of future conflict in the region but also shows how peace may be sustained. This is an excellent work for all readers interested in international affairs and geopolitics.

Green Jail is author and filmmaker Huang Yin-Yu’s personal, emotively written memoir of his pursuit of memories and a heritage on the verge of disappearing. While interviews with Granny Hashima bring the outlines of the life story of Yang Tien-Fu, Iriomote Island’s last Taiwanese mine foreman, into gradual focus, past and present are juxtaposed to paint a picture of the Japanese Empire at both its height and dissolution and, in the process, resurrect long-buried memories of colonial-era Taiwan.

Readers follow the author’s meticulous preparations for this groundbreaking historical documentary. Although meant as an addendum to the film, this work stands well on its own. The narrative honestly reveals the author’s rationale for retaining and omitting certain information and lines of inquiry in the final film, how Huang established his relationships with key individuals, and how he cobbled together key facts from the meager clues still remaining. The deep consideration invested in making this film may be gleaned only from the pages of this book.

This encyclopedic work on railways of the world was organized and written over two and a half decades, during which time the author traveled regularly in search of anything and everything train related. His dedication proves without a doubt that one dedicated individual can indeed craft a world-class encyclopedia of world railway history and knowledge.

The author, a self-styled “biologist”, led numerous field surveys worldwide targeting railway-related individuals and infrastructure. “Samples” collected by the author, categorized, verified, analyzed, were finally compared with Taiwan's own railway heritage to show the country’s position in worldwide railway heritage and highlight the unique aspects of its railway culture. The author concisely explains relevant principles as well as curates his own railway experiences over the years to help readers clearly understand the history and import of railways globally and in Taiwan.

Author Jiang Wan-Ci’s “thick description” approach to this work captures brilliantly the authentic lives of migrant workers in a narrative that explores migrant worker culture as well as these workers’ various and sundry Taiwanese employers. Interactions between migrant workers and their employers generate authentic stories that bear only a passing resemblance to traditional employee-employer relationships.

The narrative follows the everyday lives of migrant workers, from neighborhood clean-up activities and weekend get-togethers at Taipei Main Station to shared celebrations of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, motorbike outings, experiences caring for their disabled clients, and participation in local festivals. The unique experience of each migrant worker is part of a shared tapestry of life, with their work in Taiwan projecting clarity and singular brilliance into their own lives.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), whether eaten, topically applied, or inhaled, is meant to provide the body with nourishment, relieve sickness, and resolve the symptoms of illness. Its holistic healing methods are intimately tied to the surrounding social and environmental fabric, with TCM traditionally viewed as a bridge linking humans to the divine. In fact, before the advent of modern medicine, TCM prescriptions were regularly given at temples and then filled at apothecaries, underscoring the deep ties between herbal remedies and religious faith in Chinese culture. TCM is meant to not only heal the physical but the spiritual as well.

Drawing from the well of history, the narrative can’t help but pique reader interest in Taiwan’s TCM apothecaries. One story relates how a young Austronesian returns to his home village and builds a successful herbal therapy brand leveraging local healing-herb culture and multi-generational herbal medical wisdom. Another tells how a second-generation TCM shop owner, by adding a home-delivery service to the family business, builds a platform for sharing TCM knowledge to a wider audience and enlarging their customer base.

Herbal apothecaries are tied intimately to the surrounding land and soil. The thirty stories in Tonic for the Ages are the fruit of countless interviews and recordings conducted across the Kaohsiung area. Each is one piece of a puzzle that, when finished, tells an enticing story of the ever-changing natural and human landscapes in this corner of southern Taiwan.

In Taiwan, “indie bookstore” is generally used as a catch-all term for non-chain-affiliated booksellers that focus primarily on book sales. The name “indie” emerged in the domestic publishing industry around fifteen years ago. While some ended up being the proverbial “flash in the pan”, others found their business footing and have stood the test of time. Their individual airs, experiences, and proclivities give each a unique story to tell and values to share.

Published in 2014, Beyond Bookstores includes original essays on forty-three indie bookstores around Taiwan. Although far from comprehensive, the stores covered are largely representative of the industry overall. Although ten years now separate today from these writings, there remains significant value in the time, effort, and insights invested in this work. The COVID-19 pandemic in fact led to nearly one in five of the shops covered either going out of business or changing their business model. For those with a curiosity and/or passion for indie bookstores, this work is an invaluable window onto the development and recent history of these bookstores in Taiwan.

Taiwan’s culinary ethnographers are familiar with older cities and districts such as Wanhua and Dadaocheng in Taipei as well as Tainan City, with its sweet sauces and fresh seafood. Taichung City, situated in central Taiwan and neither particularly old nor remarkably new, presents more of a culinary enigma. What flavors and foods does this city have to offer?

Folk culture enthusiast Yang Shuang-Zi begins this work by imagining the everyday culinary cravings of schoolgirls during the prewar Japanese colonial period before veering off into her own foodie adventures and memories spanning Taichung’s diverse neighborhoods. Eschewing appeals to age, reputation or authenticity, the narrative is inspired instead by the author’s own memories and experiences, imbuing this book with engaging stories and memorable insights.