The Ideal Man: The Tragedy of Jim Thompson and the American Way of War

Two new things I learned reading this book were 1. that Thailand was manipulating American leaders for military and economic aid in the 1950s and 60s and 2. the common situations of Thompson's expat disenfranchisement from not only his host country of Thailand but his home-country, the USA. This is a common experience among the vast majority of expats.Author Joshua Kurlantzick delved deeply into Jim Thompson and his situations in Thailand with fellow Americans, international expats, and US involvement in South East Asia. Thompson also witnessed the negative effects of the transformation of Thailand during the 'Americanization' period of the 1950s and 60s.There is lots of information about specific Thai political figures and occurrences in Thailand during the 1950s. A reader can learn a lot about the Thai political and economic situation starting with the post WWII leadership of Pridi who led the Thai democratic party and the country itself. Thompson knew Pridi and met with him on occasion. At this time the Viet Minh were working to drive the French colonialists out of VN. Thompson noted that the Viet Minh fighters were nationalists first and would possibly use communism to drive the French out if Washington shunned them. The Viet Minh would choose Washington over Moscow if the US gave support. This was not the case and the Viet Minh allied with Moscow. Thompson presciently predicted the future in advance, yet was doubted by the upper echelons of the US government military. Thompson accurately knew what was happening, much moreso than the American civilian bureaucrats and military leaders back in D.C. Even bureaucrats and military leaders that were in South East Asia were incredibly ignorant of South East Asia in general and Vietnam in particular.The CIA eventually put a "burn" on Thompson, ordering US government civilians and military personnel to avoid contact with Thompson. He said things the civilian and military bureaucrats did not want to hear.What is intriguing is that although Jim Thompson was a unique person who was in many ways 'larger than life,' he experienced the common conditions and afflictions of being a long-term expat --> He had no home. For many long-term expats living abroad their native country is no longer "home" and their host country isn't either and will never be. Many long-term expats can relate to this. Many (but not all) expats are not a part of the host nation's society, culture and legal system, yet they are not a part of these elements in their native country either after several years abroad. To some this brings a feeling of being marginalized while to others it's feeling that you are more a 'citizen of the world' surrounded by your own bubble of friends, family, and colleagues, wherever you may be on the planet.The early life of Thompson by Kurlantzick shows him born and raised in an aristocratic Delaware family with connections. Thompson went to NYC and lived well in New York and worked as architect. In the Army during WWII at the age of 34 however, Thompson was a private first-class and had to salute the many "dregs of Delaware." Thompson referred to the this period of the 1930s and 40s as what he described as a "total waste." But Thompson applied for training into the OSS (precursor to the CIA) and attained the rank of Major after successfully completing the training. This is when his expat life began, as he was transferred to work in North Africa and the Mediterranean theaters during WWII.After WWII, Thompson would end up in Thailand and gain powerful connections, trust, and friendship of many influential Thais.He regularly hosted guests for dinner which included tours of his house, his art collection, and scotch, during the sunset in the Bangkok heat. Some of his dinner guests included Eleanor Roosevelt, the du Pont, and Truman Capote.Jim Thompson has always held some mythic lore in the expat community of South East. I think there are three the main reasons: his past work in the OSS, becoming the "Silk King," and the mysterious circumstances of his disappearance.This is a very informative book because it delved into Thompson's views of US involvement in South East Asia, the transformation of Thailand, and doing business as a expat. Like almost all expats, Thompson went through stages of difficulty and what I would define as culture shock.Interest by most in Jim Thompson seems to focus on his mysterious and still unsolved disappearance. But far more intriguing, was his life.A great book by Joshua Kurlantzick.

The book was excellent but editing was terrible. Insights into U.S.A. Disastrous Southeast Asia policy in the midst of McCarthism were particularly relevant. Very good research but published book is filled with errors making it annoying to read.Great story of a remarkable American hero.

I arrived in Thailand as a young Army Officer on 20 November 1970. Everyone knew of this legendary figure. Whispers! How had he disappeared! What happened?I too became immersed in all that is Thai.To visit, "The house on the Klong" and I have the book. It is to me a Hajj, a journey, a spiritual journey, a historical journey, a cultural journey. Thailand use to be and can still be a cultural drug, best consumed with care.I too came to doubt the US policy in S.E. Asia. ( I also served in Vietnam) as he did.However, I was not a hire ranking official.On the day I departed Thailand for Vietnam, my eyes watered, because I was leaving a dream, my friends, my Thai soldiers, my Thai friends.I returned over 20 years later and Thailand had become so different, so, "Western."I would come to Thailand 3 or 4 times per year for business over the next 4 years.Thailand had, "Drank the Kool Aid." The Western way of life. So sad, so sorry.There are days when i review photos, momentos, or art of Thailand, I think about moving to Thailand, up North. However, not to happen.I must also inform you that I met the grand nephew of Jim Thompson. He is a noble man. A quiet man. A man whom I learn to admire and I wish there were more of him in this great country.May God bless Jim Thompson soul and bless his familyI am so blessed and honored to have read the book and met one of his family members.Robert Johnson

This is an unusual review -- the contents of this book are fascinating, but Wiley, the publisher, shipped a defective product. My copy of this paperback has dozens of spacing errors on every single page, making it borderline unreadable. I've never seen anything like it in a published book -- it looks like a bad HTML rendering on the Web. These errors are both between words and within words. Bizarre.

Someone (Wiley, shame on you) didn't proof the book. There are space breaks inside of words, letters hanging out in space - as if someond didn't format the document. Which is a tragedy because the topic and writing is so good. If I were the author, I'd sue.

Jim Thompson is more than a name; he's an icon, but most people know of him only because of the silk company he founded -- and for his mysterious CIA past. This book puts the life and death of Jim Thompson into a wider context -- that being post-WW II American involvement in SE Asia. It is a good read, but it also includes references to all of its sources - including many that are new. The author comes closer to the reality of Jim Thompson than most others have -- and in the bargain he shows that it is as difficult for an expatriate to adopt a new country as it is for him to return home. This book will be enjoyed by all those who love SE Asia and who wish they could have known it as it was when Jim Thompson was battling to keep America out of the Vietnam conflict.

As a young Luce Scholar, the author entered a portal of another time and place. A character index may have been helpful. Allusions to the 'Ugly American' 1958(c) are definitely there. To this day in SE Asia, many expat, farangs, pensioners... go missing or are mysteriously found dead. The 16 chapters/episodes are void of titles. The Notes & Index are helpful for Googling. Per Epilogue, it is fortunate that unlike the Koreas, Vietnam remained intact albeit a communist system. In traditional cultures, the bonds of human slavery are difficult to severe. Democratization in a 'social class-caste' system is challenging. 'Nuts'~ Authoritarianism is alive and well sadly. Hope this book inspires many to visit Siam and purchase a JT silk necktie or fashionable scarf!

I didn’t read the one other review because the book was recommended by a friend. The book I received has the same printing problem, see the image. The erroneous spacing between letters within words is incredibly distracting when trying to read.

The Ideal Man is a very interesting book which discusses the Thai silk industry, and the history of southeast Asia post WWII. However, the printing is of poor quality, with spaces in the middle of words throughout the book. This makes it hard to concentrate on the material.

This book is much more than just an account of Jim Thompson's disappearance in the Malaysian Cameroon Highlands. His role as a CIA member and involvement in post WW2 Thailand with its shifts in power and support for the USA 's subsequent actions in SE Asia is important in the detail of events and the personalities involved.If you have ever bought a Jim Thompson silk tie in Bangkok you will never look at it the same way again!

I bought the book second hand, and I recieved a book that was as good as new. Promt delivery. Good show!