World history is littered with tales of great conquests and catastrophic defeats, of the rise and fall of empires, armies and global corporate entities. Does man ever learn the lessons that history teaches him and is he doomed to continue making the same mistakes until at best, the lessons are learnt or at worst, he destroys his own means of survival? This is a compelling book of many levels and is the result of one man's experiences garnered over nearly half a century living and working in the many different countries of the Far East, which will appeal equally to historians, travellers, businessmen and aviation enthusiasts. Deeply involved in the development and implementation of aviation communication systems over a period when technological advances meant more dramatic changes than will ever be the case again, Bernard Leroy observed not only the countries he visited but also shifting political alliances, social migration and changes in the balance of power from the days of the empire, to the superpowers and, looking forwards, to the tiger economy. Detailed historical accounts bring to life the development of differing peoples, and in many cases their struggles to gain independence, which has resulted in the richly diverse and cultural nations that make up Asia today. He examines the life cycle of global entities, be they modern day corporations or the Roman or Mongol Empires, the rise and decline of which seem to follow a similar pattern sharing many characteristics, and presents a probing study of management practice for the global entrepreneur which may lead you to conclude that at the end of the day, productive communication and common sense are the two vital, but often overlooked, ingredients for success.