"This book is a seminal work. It is impassioned, timely history that contributes by its sweep, subject, and approach. Because the author examines a wide variety of factors, including economics, politics, institutions, population, culture, and the environment, the book is a model of sound historical thinking."-- "Journal of Asian Studies"
Conrad Totman, retired from a career teaching Japanese history at Northwestern and Yale universities, is the author of several books, including "Early Modern Japan" and "The Lumber Industry in Early Modern Japan."