"This book offers an engaging journey through Thai history -- from the kings of Siam and the Vietnam War to the invention of Pad Thai and the modern tourist invasion. Thailand's dramatic history includes its emergence as a prosperous Buddhist state, its transformation from a kingdom to a constitutional monarchy and its rise to prominence in Southeast Asian affairs. [...] With this book, historian Richard A. Ruth has skillfully crafted an accessible history that explains how Thailand became the only country in Southeast Asia to resist European domination, how Thai Buddhism has wrought profound political and social changes, how Thai cuisine has conquered the world -- and more recently, how the consequences of globalization and military rule continue to reshape Thai society" -- Back cover.