The cover of this book pretty much explains its content. Despite its claims of creating a reference guide that spans all the major characters and themes in the asian mythosphere, it falls way short in its balance of information. This book basically covers the traditions of India, China and Japan, while just glancing at other mythologies. However, even the most fundamental characters in the Chinese and Japanese mythologies are curiously absent. What's more insulting is that it groups the mythologies of Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines into a single category, implying that a singular tradition binds all three countries. This shows the author's lack of resources, or lack of interest. A quick glance at the book's bibliography further reinforces that the author didn't really use a wide asian base of information. Overall, this is just a handy reference guide for people who know nothing of Asian tradition, but have the itching need to know about every single godling in the Indian pantheon. Ambitious goals shold have ambitious results, unlike this book.