Robert is very detailed yet precise in narrating each chapter. After reading what he wrote, I'm very sure anyone who is in love with classical Chinese hardwood furniture will agree that he is a real scholar in this field. For example, I never read an article about the seating materials so detailed and full of rational assumption like Chapter Seven in this book. Another example of a joyful moment is when I read the story of the four inscribed Ming Huanghuali chairs in Chapter Two. That was a joy anyone else could not get unless one is falling in love with this kind of Chinese artifacts and has read that chapter.
The only thing that is not "right" for the magnificent context is definitely the white-and-black plates instead of all-color plates, considering this book was just published 12 years ago.
BTW, I bought this book from Amazon and I got it in an extremely flawless condition--very clean, very new and not a single page with a minimal flaw. That's true.
Udom, BKK. August 28. 2009.