The King Never Smiles

by Paul M. Handley

The first independent biography of Thailand’s monarch, whose image as a benign Buddhist god-king masks one of the world’s most politically powerful thrones Thailand’s Bhumibol Adulyadej, the only king ever born in the United States, came to the throne of his country in 1946 and at the time of his death, in October 2016, was the world’s longest serving monarch. The King Never Smiles, the first independent biography of Thailand's monarch, tells the unexpected story of Bhumibol's life and sixty-year rule—how a Western-raised boy came to be seen by his people as a living Buddha, and how a king widely seen as beneficent and apolitical could in fact be so deeply political and autocratic. Paul Handley provides an extensively researched, factual account of the king’s youth and personal development, ascent to the throne, skillful political maneuverings, and attempt to shape Thailand as a Buddhist kingdom. Handley takes full note of Bhumibol's achievements in art, in sports and jazz, and he credits the king's lifelong dedication to rural development and the livelihoods of his poorest subjects. But, looking beyond the widely accepted image of the king as egalitarian and virtuous, Handley portrays an anti-democratic monarch who, together with allies in big business and the corrupt Thai military, has protected a centuries-old, barely modified feudal dynasty. When at nineteen Bhumibol assumed the throne, the Thai monarchy had been stripped of power and prestige. Over the ensuing decades, Bhumibol became the paramount political actor in the kingdom, silencing critics while winning the hearts and minds of his people. The book details this process and depicts Thailand’s unique constitutional monarch—his life, his thinking, and his ruling philosophy.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Asia, Banned Books, Politics, Historical

512 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2006

Reviews

[martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In some ways this feels like 3 books:

First we have a fairly complex and scholarly introduction to the semi-religious concepts of the Devaraja and the Dhammaraja. Not easy going but if you find it difficult read the next few chapters and then come back to it as you'll find it easier once you see the real life examples

Second there is the description of the efforts of a few powerful and ambitious aristocrats in the Court to rebuild the power and prestige of the monarchy by making it more relevant to the modern world and the real needs and concerns of the Thai people. This then moves smoothly into the period where the King, undeniably a good and caring man, grows into and becomes the Dhammaraja ideal.

Finally, the bit all Thai readers have been waiting for, Handley dishes a little dirt about the scandals and suspected scandals surrounding the family. This bit gets a wee bit tedious after a while even if it does help demonstrate some aspects of the conscious controlled attempt to create and maintain the strong monarchy

Right now, with Thaksin on everyone's minds (and the King's possible departure a constant concern for many), this book is highly topical. Will the Dhammaraja monarchy survive the succession - especially with ambitious and apparently unscrupulous politicians in the background trying to take on the mantle of the "one who really cares" and further their own aims and objectives?

My one criticism is that Handley sometimes tries a little too hard to make the facts fit the theory rather than adapting the theory to the facts. He is most uncomfortable, it seems to me, when he has to reconcile the King's undeniably genuine care and concern about his people with the book's underlying idea that the whole Dhammaraja idea was little more than a political power ploy dreamed up and executed by a few very able and intelligent aristocrats. The King believes he has the duty to be the Dhammaraja - he is not playing a puppet role.

It's often interesting to discuss this book (gently) with Thai friends. Many or most educated Thais accept unquestioningly the standard schoolbook line that the original overthrow of the absolute monarchy was in fact a move by the then King to modernise the system and bring in democracy. The idea that the role of the modern monarchy might have been somehow manufactured is a new one for them.

[ReaddictTH review · Rating 4 out of 5]

หลังจากโฉมหน้าศักดินาไทยที่เคยเป็นทั้งหนังสือต้องห้ามและหนังสือต้องอ่าน(แล้วแต่ระดับความเผด็จการของรัฐบาลในขณะนั้น) หนังสือเล่มต่อไปของผมก็เป็นหนังสือต้องห้ามเช่นเดียวกัน แต่อันนี้เรียกว่าอยู่ในระดับเหนือกว่าโฉมหน้าศักดินาไทยไปหลายขุม หนังสือเวอร์ชั่นภาษาอังกฤษหนา 500 หน้าเขียนโดย Paul Handley อัดแน่นด้วยข้อมูลประวัติศาสตร์ชนชั้นสูงสุดของไทยในมุมมองตะวันตกที่พูดอย่างตรงไปตรงมาที่สุดเล่มหนึ่ง
.
ผมคงพูดอะไรไม่ได้มากเกี่ยวกับเนื้อหาเพราะกฏหมายบางมาตราที่ทั่วโลกเขาไม่ยอมรับกัน ไปพูดข้อดีของหนังสือเล่มนี้กันดีกว่า อย่างที่บอกหนังสือเล่มนี้เสนอประวัติศาสตร์ไทยจากมุมมองตะวันตกอย่างตรงไปตรงมา ฉะนั้นหลายๆแง่มุมที่ผู้เขียนเล่าอาจจะเปิดมุมมองของคนไทยอย่างที่ไม่เคยเป็นมาก่อน ด้วยความที่เราถูกรายล้อมด้วยโฆษณาประชาสัมพันธ์ทำให้เราแทบไม่เอะใจ ไม่ต้องพูดถึงการถกเถียงในสังคมที่เราถูกล้างสมองตั้งแต่ยังเด็กแค่คิดเรายังรู้สึกว่ามันเป็นเรื่องที่ผิดหรือไม่สมควรด้วยซ้ำ
.
ดังนั้นจึงเป็นที่มาของคำว่าตาสว่าง แต่!! แม้จะเน้นหลักฐานและอ้างอิงมากมายหลากหลาย แต่ยังพอมีบ้างที่ข้อมูลบางอย่างอาจจะมีหลักฐานใหม่ๆที่เพิ่งเปิดเผยออกมาคัดง้างกับข้อมูลในหนังสือที่ค่อนข้างเก่าแล้ว (แต่เราจะไม่รู้เลยว่าอันไหนผิดถูกถ้าไม่ได้เปิดโอกาสให้ถกเถียงกันโดยเปิดเผย) อีกอย่างที่เป็นข้อด้อยคือหนังสือเล่มนี้ไม่เหมาะกับคนที่ไม่รู้อะไรเกี่ยวกับประเทศไทยเลยเพราะด้วยจำนวนชื่อบุคคล การอ้างอิงเหตุการณ์ต่างๆในประวัติศาสตร์ไทยจำนวนมากทำให้คนที่อ่านแล้วจะเข้าถึงเนื้อหาในเล่มนี้มากที่สุดคือคนไทย แต่กลับกลายเป็นว่าหนังสือถูกห้ามไม่ให้คนไทยได้อ่านเสียอย่างนั้น
.
หนังสือเล่มนี้เหมาะอย่างยิ่งที่จะเปิดมุมมองของคุณให้คุณได้เห็นอีกด้านหนึ่งของเหรียญที่แทบไม่มีใครคิดจะพลิกดูมาก่อน ซึ่งไม่จำเป็นต้องเชื่อหรือเห็นด้วยทุกอย่าง แต่ก็ไม่ควรวิพากษ์วิจารณ์เช่นกันถ้ายังไม่ได้อ่านหรือเพราะมันเป็นหนังสือต้องห้าม
.
คุณสามารถใช้หนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นเหมือนกับบันไดที่จะทำให้คุณก้าวข้ามกำแพงที่ถูกระบบการเมืองการปกครองสร้างและออกแบบไว้ เพื่อไปต่อยอดกับหนังสือเล่มอื่นที่มีข้อมูลเอกสารใหม่กว่า บางคนอ่านแล้วอาจจะเกลียดอ่านแล้วชอบหรือไม่รู้สึกอะไรอันนี้ไม่ว่ากัน แต่อย่างน้อยในฐานะที่เราเป็นมนุษย์คนหนึ่งเรามีสิทธิที่จะเลือกอ่านอะไรและไม่เลือกอ่านอะไรก็ได้ ไม่ใช่ให้คนกลุ่มเล็กๆมาบงการชีวิตของคุณ

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a strange one-- I wanted to understand what was happening in Thailand a little better, and my friend Sean suggested this, saying he'd heard it was pretty good. And it is good, though I think it also has its limits, both for what I wanted and in other contexts.

The book, taken broadly, is more or less a supplementary history of Thailand, partially since 1932, but mostly from 1947, a history that aims to integrate the role of the monarchy in terms of its influence on the political life of the state, an influence that till now has been underrepresented.

That said, it's not the entire history of Thailand, or not altogether-- so, as an outsider to that history, I felt like there was a lot going on here that I only partially understood. There were lots of names, and the way some of them dropped in and out of the story made me suspect I'd get it better if I also knew the authorized version of Thai history, the one where the King's influence has been scrubbed away.

The other problem reveals more my own reading tastes, and not necessarily anything wrong with the book-- but the personality of the King doesn't ever really come across here, at least not in the sense I think of biographies bringing across that understanding. The book is perilously free of revealing anecdotes that show the complexity of the subject in a flash of insight.... Instead, the book mostly shows you how the King was in the room when you thought he wasn't in a photograph of a well-remembered event. The contribution is to show the King's role in Thai history much more than it is to tell you something new about the King as man.

As a political actor, I think this is, on the one hand, a pretty developed exploration of the King's role, and also a bit of a hatchet job. If I knew Thai history, that hatchet job might make more sense-- because I'd need a tonic to the generally laudatory terms under which Bhumibol is discussed. But since I don't know that story, I really only learn here how the King was timid, then craven, and then exploitative of his people. It's a rough read in that sense. But that probably reveals my limits as an audience for this book, and might not really speak of the merit of this book when taken in the context of other Thai histories.

This is a thoughtful, serious, and incredibly well-researched book. But it's not a gossipy, or even especially insightful biography, if you're looking for psychological complexity, or a real sense of who Bhumibol is away from the throne.

[Carolin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bhumibol is a very interesting king...reined for such a long time in a changing country, was raised with Western standards and is living a strictly Buddhistic life, seen as holy by his people. He has done and still does a lot of good things but as everyone involved in politics there are some situations that he seemed to handle in a doubtful way.

The book was written in a fluent style, still it gets boring from time to time. It is critical and interesting but in my opinion it was written a little too much from this overall critical western perspective.

[Andrew]

Paul Handley presents a fairly even analysis... a bit skewed by confirmation bias, but generally fair. The title is misleading; it's not a biography of King Bhumibol so much as an analysis of the institution of the modern monarchy, which is inevitably bound up with Bhumibol, but separate. Handley's argument is at its strongest when he's drawing the devastating connections between Bhumibol and the 1976 Thammasat University massacre. Meanwhile, he's at his weakest when he's trying to articulate the relationship between Thaksin and the palace-- he winds up sounding ill-informed and slapdash, not surprising considering that events were still being played out as the book was being prepared for publication.

However, I was most fascinated not by the political machinations of the Mahidols and their associates, but by the drama of the king's inner life. Handley depicts Bhumibol as a king worthy of Shakespearean tragedy, striving for good but ultimately destroyed by political tumult, family strife, and ultimately, insanity and delusions of infallibility. As for the accuracy of this assessment, I can't say, but I really want to write a play based on this now.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally different perspective on the role of King Rama 9 (the world's current longest reigning monarch, of over 60 years) in modern Thai history than you get from any other literature. The book is illegal in Thailand, but a friend whose got a friend in the royal circles of Bangkok told me that all the royal family is now reading it...

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting reading about a topic I knew next to nothing about. I understand current Thai politics and culture much better now than before I started. The book would definitely benefit from maps, charts of the royal family lines, pictures, a pronunciation key and other helps for newcomers. I was very confusing keeping track of all the names.

[Radit Panjapiyakul · Rating 3 out of 5]

The topic of this book is a taboo in Thailand, to discuss the monarchy through the same perspective of normal human, with struggle, faults and with political ideas of its own is not something to be done in public. But here it is, written down by an American journalist who worked in Asia for many years. There are parts where it really reads like a biography and parts where it's more about Thai politics after 1932 revolution, which, the writer try to assert, was influenced by the palace more than we think. The pace of the book has its up and down. I found the many historical facts (and rumors) previously unknown to me quite fascinating to read for me as a Thai, but for foreigners, I think there are lots of passages that will not give them as much interest, like the deep dive into Thai politics landscape with so many name drops.

And the criticism in this book might seem heavy-handed to some people. But one should be reminded that there are already lots of material on this topic, mostly portray only the side that the palace or the government think are suitable or appropriate for the people. So the writer's aim here is to speak of the other side, a history of what cannot be written down. There's no need to repeat what are already repeated in the media so many times. And since it is very different from normal history where you can rely on published materials or some memorandums as references, this book can only grasp the glimpse of the truth from little quotes here and there, some rumors and some minor facts. That's the only way to get the real picture in this case, it seems. I find the effort to be quite difficult, the books sometimes fall to it owns need of dramas, to portray a character out of western fiction archetype where there should be conflicts at every steps and one's effort driven with a big idea behind, when the reality might be more simple and not as complicated as we want it to be.

In this way, the book need to be read with an open mind, while remembering what it really is, by no means a definitive biography, but one to consider as a lesson for all the parties involved in this period of history, so that we learn how Thailand and the monarchy can adapt and resolve the conflicts in the modern world that we are in today.

[njain23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The King Never Smiles” is a biography of the late King Bhumibol of Thailand. The reason this book is so remarkable is because it is illegal to write anything critical of the Thai monarchy, and because of the man it is about. When Bhumibol took power in the 1940s, royal families around the world had lost their absolute rule, and Thailand was no different. Bhumibol was an 18 year old born in Boston and raised in Switzerland who barely spoke Thai when his brother was mysteriously shot, sending him to the monarchy of a country he barely understood. He became a dhammaraja, or pious king, with no power except his persona, and no knowledge of his country outside of the handful of trips he took. From such a humble position, Bhumibol and his shrewd princes maneuvered to become the dominant political faction in a country that had 18 coups in some 80 odd years. How did he do it? And how did Paul Handley tell the story when a single case of lese majestere — defaming the king — carries with it a sentence of 10 years?

Bhumibol was a remarkably popular leader. He played saxophone and was known as the “jazz king.” He also raced cars, did photography, and sailed. His shrewd family members used his various interests and his wife’s beauty and popularity to emphasize his figure to the public as a charming figure above the dirty mess of Thai politics.

He also used his position as dhammaraja to gain merits in the Thai Buddhist tradition by donating vast sums of money and directing public works projects in his name to portray the image of a kind, fatherly monarch. This was in contrast to the steady drumbeat of military dictators, one after the other, who couped each other as the sun rose and set. The most powerful one of these generals, Phibun, was also one of the few who went against Bhumibol. When Bhumibol was weak, Phibun strove to weaken him further by co-opting religious ceremonies for himself and taking away honors traditionally given to the king. In response, Bhumibol learned to ally with the military, who launched a coup against Phibun. The navy, who sided with Phibun in the coup, ended up firing on a ship that Phibun was captured on, leading the prime minister to jump off the ship and swim to safety.

The next series of military dictators, led by Sarit, were allied with the crown. They ended up sharing a common enemy — the Free Thai movement that had emerged during the Japanese occupation of the country during WW2. They recruited the poor farmers living in the north of the country and presented a communist movement. Bhumibol allied with the military and the US (by sending troops to fight in the Vietnam War) to arm and train his forces to fight the communist insurgency in the north. At the same time, he presented a public face of the compassionate dhammaraja, declaring that the farmers didn’t know any better and funding large public works projects in his name to pacify them and boost his personal image, while letting the military do the dirty work of fighting the insurgency. During this time, critics accused Bhumibol of not being a serious leader and instead traveling the world to play sax with Benny Goodman and sailing around the Gulf of Thailand in his boat. He changed his image into a serious patriarchal monarch with his moves against the communists.

A funny anecdote was that when Bhumibol was a teenager growing up in Switzerland, a prince of Cambodia who was also living in Switzerland tried to become friends with him since they shared so many common experiences. But Bhumibol lent him a saxophone which the prince never returned, so the friendship was off. Years later, Bhumibol spited him by not showing up to a religious ceremony hosted in Cambodia.

Another funny anecdote is that when the Free Thai movement teamed up with the military to coup Bhumibol’s handpicked government, they wrote a letter saying they “bow below the dust under the dust under his feet” (as the foot is a deeply dirty part of the body in Thai culture, and not only are they under his feet, but under the dust particles below the first layer of dust under the feet) so fully prostrating themselves under Bhumibol while moving against him. When Bhumibol visited England, the honor guard said the same line to him in Thai — “we bow below the dust under the dust under your feet.”

The rest of the book was basically an account of Thai military politics — generals fell out of favor, other ones moved to take their place, but overseeing all of this was Bhumibol — the king who never smiled.

[Olivia Ransom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book, Handley displays a great knowledge of all dynasties within Thailand, precisely where I got lost because of my lack of it. this book is not a biograohy under my eyes.

My concept of King Bhumibol has changed completely after reading this informative book.

[Sarah (berriesandbooks)]

not much of a non-fiction person anymore (thank you senior year of high school) but i still vividly remember how much life changed when the King passed. i need to pick this one up. maybe non-fiction will be my 2024 reading goal

[Thnr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting one. But frankly speaking, parts of it based on rumours which we may not be able to find the truth. The book could be taken as lack of in-depth Thai culture and beliefs understanding from how it was written and could be offensive to some Thai as the writing style is somewhat aggressive. However, I have to admit that the interpretation on his biology is nicely done. It appears that the author had really gone through a good research on Thai political history.

FYI, this book is banned in Thailand.

[Island Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

To say that this novel is informative would be an understatement. It was hard to believe that one author created this incredibly sourced historical account of Thailand. Towards the middle it was easy to see why it would be banned in Thailand as there is definite criticism. The ending was sublime, the final lines reading, "Ultimately, members of the royal family will have to make use of one of the monarch's greatest unspoken prerogatives: the alchemic ability and right to remake itself before others do it. That is the key to its survival." Glad I read this book, what often times felt like a tome. A must-read for anyone relocating to Thailand!

[Bettie]

http://yalepress.yale.edu/book.asp?is...

[Hermes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hereditary rule in modern Southeast Asia, a case study

A few hereditary rulers in Southeast Asia still have the people's confidence. Late in 2010, shops closed in the Javanese town of Yogyakarta to protect the governing sultan from democratic elections. The reputation of the Malaysian sultans is mixed, but King Norodom Sihanouk is still highly respected despite various strange moves in his political career. Nothing however beats the prestige of Thailand’s King Bhumibol. Paul Handley, once a journalist for the Far Eastern Economic Review, tries to take a look behind the most carefully crafted royal image existing, an image that is protected by strict lèse-majesté laws, and is more modern and democratic than it deserves.

Bhumibol’s kingship came unexpectedly. American-born Bhumibol was raised in Lausanne by his partially Chinese commoner mother who, given the lack of a Buddhist temple in the Swiss city, occasionally went to church. He spent his youth in a Christian school studying French, Latin and German, and skiing. He came to the throne at 18 after the violent death of his brother at a time when the monarchy had lost nearly all prestige. Slowly he transformed from a jazz-loving modernist king into a dharmaraja, a selfless king who rules by the Buddhist code of dharma. His public image one of kindly benevolence and impassivity, based upon a public image of silent penitential pleasurelessness, which the Thais taken as a sign of spiritual greatness.

The Royal house needed this, because its power is solely based upon moral authority. The King’s image was carefully crafted by courtiers as a bulwark against liberal democracy. The courtiers had managed to take control over education, religion, and history. With these tools they convince a nation that consisted for 80% out of farmers whose life was centred around the wat and Buddhist ritual about the holy trinity of nation, religion, and king. All non-royals were removed from school history books, and the Royal house introduced or changed a series of rituals that stressed sacrality, wisdom, and goodness. It also included a calculated presentation of the king as an enlightened Buddhist full of upekkhā, equanimity.

As part of his training the young king had to learn arcane rituals, Buddhist philosophy and deep meditation techniques. Thai kingship is based upon complementary Indian cosmologies of Hindu-Brahmanism and Buddhism. They were based on a semi-divine warrior-king, the kasatriya, whose claim to absolute dynastic power was justified, after military might, by his blood and pure practice (page 17). To justify and sustain rule, a Thai king has to conduct himself in accordance with the dharma, the cosmic law. Not man but dharma rules the world. Humans only roll the wheel of dharma. Dharmais coterminous with truth, so pursuing it is pursuing pure virtue, the way to get there is through practice, just like the Buddha. This includes the acceptance of anicca (impermanence), practicing dana (almsgiving), selflessness, piety, charity, mercy, and rectitude. Hierarchy in Buddhist society is constructed upon levels of closeness to enlightenment. Those more virtuous are better suited to lead others. Karmic energy and merit can outlast mortal life, and birth as a royal is a sign of great karma and merit accumulated in earlier lives. The king then has to follow the raja dharma of 10 kingly virtues: charity, morality, sacrifice, integrity, gentleness, restraint, avoidance of hatred, nonviolence, patience and conciliation.

The Hindu-Brahman link that took root in Angkor considers the sovereign a sacral devaraja, or god-king. Buddhism recognises no real deity, but Hinduism has permanent self strength, or atman, the deity of the self. Understanding the self leads to understanding all, or enlightenment. If ultimate reality lies in the deity of the self, then at its highest level it can be a manifestation of the gods, notably Shiva or Vishnu. With the highest level of atman a Hindu king can be a god, and this allows the king to be more forceful. Devarajas automatically belong to the highest caste, so they automatically carry superior self-knowledge. The devaraja protects the earth and the cosmos, the seasons and the weather, giving fertility to soil and women. He harmonises earth with cosmos, by organising the kingdom as a miniature cosmos around the palace as a miniature Mount Meru. Brahmins play an important role in court rituals, e.g. in cutting the king's hair.

Consequently, hierarchy is of great importance, and is expressed among others through rajasap, the language for communicating with the king, who himself speaks in every day language. A formal address begins and ends with "may the power of the dust on the soles and the dust under the soles of your royal feet protect my head and the top of my head".

According to Mr. Hanley, King Bhumibol has grown to believe that has obtained "matchless wisdom in the ways of man and the cosmos". The King is genuinely personable and desirous of helping people. But political, social, and economic activities have to remain in the narrow realm of the throne's needs and interest. Democracy, constitutionalism, and capitalism only divide people, hence the quiet nod of the throne to an endless number of coups d'état.

To obtain the status of dharmaraja, the king had to be seen as the person most willing to sacrifice his assets, the most generous and unattached to his wealth. To finance this largesse, land in central Bangkok as well as other real estate was reclaimed, and investments were made through the Siam Commercial Bank (e.g. leading to the foundation of the Dusit Thani hotel group), and by selling telling the people that they would obtain merit by spending to the king. This also paid for the first development aid projects of the royal family. The royal family itself was weakened due to the tradition of marrying half sisters. On the political front, the King always had to share power with the military, that is usually ineffective and corrupt. Throughout time the King’s ideas move towards the paramount importance of national unity under the king, requiring diligence, selflessness, and duty to the immediate and national family. National unity would rise out of the pure intentions of the dharma. The king was no supporter of selfish capitalism, and modern bureaucracy and the legal system sabotaged national unity. He claimed that his own projects provided superior return on investment, and that the Thais were to docile in accepting their karma. Hard work should be a moral duty. The urbanites, he found, were too selfish, and the peasants too lazy (page 200). The King turns to a conservative, anti-democratic ideology, and visits monks known for magic and supernatural powers. He also still follows a daily schedule advised by royal astrologers (page 253).

It has no negative impact on his popularity among the people:

When the king falls ill, everybody flies about in panic; when the government falls, no one cares, because government is only entertainment.

In the mid 1980's the palace does not look so functional in a time of rising standards of education. The married and otherwise not very smart or beloved crown prince has five children with his commoner mistress, and rumours abound about Queen Sirikit advancing her family’s interests. Corruption is still rampant and the quality of government remains questionable, despite heavy involvement of the palace. The 1990’s are a financial boon for the royal coffers. Thanks to investments in real estate, Siam Cement, Siam Commercial Bank, and minority shares in lots of businesses from Michelin tires to Toshiba television tubes, its total market capitalisation increases to over $ 1 billion.

In 1992 the public balks at another coup and constitution with lots of power for military. But king supports the new government, and does not hold much of constitutions anyway:

Viewed through Buddhist lenses, they were impermanent, always mutable, and not worth fighting over

The king has consistently undermined institutions that support constitutional monarchies in the European style. He saw such institutions as competitors to his prestige. He even preferred corrupt and mercenary generals (the Thai army has one general per 300-350 troops) to professional non-political soldiers, let alone professional politicians. The King keeps competing with the government with his charities that help farmers, but also lectures bureaucrats and politicians publicly about solutions for Bangkok's notorious traffic problems. The Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 allows the King to claim the role of the nation's most important helper, although the government does more. Inspired by E.F. Schumacher’s “Small is Beautiful”, he also speaks out against capitalism and in favour of a "self-supporting economy", offering enough to survive. But it does not stop the King to require that the government injects some one billion dollars at unfavourable terms in saving Siam Commercial Bank.

The monarchy's resistance to change is unremarkable: a number of contemporary monarchies, including those of Brunei, Nepal, and the Middle East, have also stalled the modernisation of government. The Thai difference is that, rather than maintaining the monarchy's stature through mass coercion and repression, Bhumibol has employed language and more importantly visual statement to persuade his subjects that Thailand is culturally and corporeally dependent on a strong monarchy, and that Thais are better off for it. (page 429)

The author's narrative is strongly based upon the king, his relation with his prime minister, and the king's Hindu Buddhist ideology. Little broader context is given, e.g. regarding national economic policy (usually not the forte of military governments), causes for corruption etc. Although the core story is clear and supported by details ad nauseam, the broader context is marginalised. The first and last chapters are worth buying the book, as they give an interpretation of the workings of the Thai monarchy. The other chapters account for the king's reception of the many coups and constitutions, and are somewhat tedious to read.

[Reza Amiri Praramadhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bhumibol Adulyadej, also known as King Rama IX of Thailand, was Thailand's longest reigning king, whose reign spanned from more than half of 20th century up to his death in 2016. such is the longevity of his reign, that many Thais born and died knowing only him as their monarch, putting him on par with the likes of Queen Elizabeth II of United Kingdom. However, the similarity between them stopped there, for as the book shown, Bhumidol took a very different approach of reigning (and ruling) over his subjects from Elizabeth's.

The book opens with Siam history up to Bhumibol's reign, with the Hindu-Buddhism tradition of Dhammaraja, which became Bhumibol underpinning philosophy of ruling. In this way, King of Siam while not expected as an incarnation of living God, is a person next of being a God, from whom the goodness spread to his subjects throughout his kingdom, ruling in absolutist fashion. However, as history showed, this way of governing was at odds with the emerging Nationalists, Socialists and Republicans, who believed in the rule of the people. After his uncle, King Rama VII was toppled in Siamese 1932 Revolution, The Monarchy was in precarious position. Hoping for a pliant boy-king, the Revolutionists accepted Ananda Mahidol, Bhumibol's elder brother, as Rama VIII. However, after Rama VIII very mysterious death, with his head being shot by a revolver. Bhumibol ascended the throne as Rama IX and supposedly, never again seen smiling in public.

Bhumibol was proven to be more adept in politicking than he looked. First he was supported by bunch of Princes and Nobles who were keen on a revenge to the Republicans such as Pridi Banomyong and then Plaek Phibunsongkram, who were keen to diminish Bhumibol into ceremonial role at best, which was at odds with Bhumibol's Dhammaraja agenda. Bhumibol in contrast to the neighboring Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia, managed to push his politics without throwing himself into practical politics, enabling him to cast the image that he could do no wrong and the errors were caused by the politician.

As the Cold War gathered pace and the pool of supportive royal princes shrunk due to their death of old age, Bhumibol found support within the military, who proceeded to do countless coup d'etats which caught my interest on Thailand since then. In military, Bhumibol found protectors of Royalist politics such as Sarit Thanarat, Thanom Kittikachorn and most importantly, Prem Tinsulanonda. Every opposition against the king was conveniently labeled as communists, while in some political crises, The King managed cast himself as above politics, and at one point, supposedly defused a huge wave of democratic demonstration. Preparing for his eventual death, Bhumibol was faced with the problem of successors too small to fill in the shoes he left. For reigning for so long, he left no room for administrative practice for his unruly crown prince, who in personality, is no Bhumibol. The book ended with how the monarchy managed to weather 1998 Asian crisis and the rise of Thaksin Shinawatra and their early collaboration.

As the book shown, most of the problems of the book was caused by Bhumibol's Dhammaraja thought. He was keen to be seen as the unifying symbol for Thais, yet this vision clashed by his politicking, him picking sides in polarizing times, mostly came in support for the military rulers. These two conflicting things could never be reconciled during Bhumibol's whole reign, even out of the scope of the book, as a few more military coups happened under his sanctions, the one that toppled Thaksin Shinawatra and other democratically elected Politicians. As the Cold War was over and the threats of communism subsided, The monarchy was content to utilize lese majeste law to silence its critics, which probably the cause of why this book was forbidden to read in Thailand. Nevertheless, this book unveils the huge layers of state sponsored propaganda and demystified Bhumibol not as a personification of Buddha, but just as another politician and statesman.

[Arvydas · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a kingdom where smiling is mandatory and truth is treason, The King Never Smiles rips off the golden mask of Thailand’s royal fairytale.

Paul Handley delivers a blistering exposé of corruption, U.S. collusion, royal depravity, and a nation gagged by its own absurd “face-saving” silence.

Paul M. Handley’s The King Never Smiles is not just a biography—it’s a political autopsy of Thailand’s modern monarchy. The book tears off the golden silk curtain surrounding King Bhumibol Adulyadej, long portrayed as a wise, semi-divine patriarch. Instead, Handley sketches a man who maintained power through a toxic mix of mystique, military alliances, foreign patronage, and the suppression of dissent.

Key Ideas:
At its heart, the book unveils how Bhumibol, far from being a passive constitutional monarch, was a calculating political player. He was complicit in building a regime rooted in corruption, inherited privilege, and military-backed repression—masquerading as stability. His moral authority, said to be earned through Buddhist humility, was in fact orchestrated with Western PR, U.S. Cold War interests, and violent suppression of progressive voices.

Corruption, Stupidity & Foreign Influence:
Handley explores how the Thai elite—interwoven with the palace—thrived by funneling wealth from national assets and foreign deals. The West, especially the U.S., turned a blind eye, needing a “stable” anti-Communist regime in Southeast Asia. As long as Thailand remained docile and strategic, Washington didn’t care if its monarch was enabling idiocy at the top and mass suppression below. Bhumibol’s reign is painted as a farcical combination of feudal theatrics and CIA-fueled statecraft, cloaked in pseudo-religious reverence.

Face-Saving Nonsense™:
Thailand’s obsession with “saving face” is dissected as both cultural quirk and political weapon. From royal ceremonies to public policy disasters, this absurdity served as a buffer against accountability. Military coups? Economic disasters? Embarrassing scandals? All neatly swept under the “mai pen rai” carpet. No one dare ask why the king never smiled—because questioning the monarchy was (and still is) punishable by law.

Kra Canal & Geopolitical Intrigue:
A fascinating section revolves around the Kra Canal, a long-theorized megaproject that would allow shipping to bypass the British (now Singaporean-City of London corporate prison and protectorate)-controlled Malacca Strait—a geopolitical choke point. The canal would elevate Thailand’s regional status and weaken Anglo-American maritime dominance. Unsurprisingly, every serious push mysteriously died—sabotaged through elite opposition, royal “concerns,” or sudden funding “problems.” Some allege Western and even Chinese backdoor sabotage, fearing a shift in shipping lanes. Cue in conspiracy: was this tied to the disappearance of the “Thai royal family diamonds” during international travel? Were they sold, stolen, or used as collateral? No one knows. And no one dares to ask.

Richest Royals, Rotten Core:
Despite the monarchy’s extreme wealth (often cited as the richest royal family in the world, richer than the Saudis or Windsors), its moral foundation has collapsed. The late King’s successor, Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), is an international embarrassment. Currently residing in Germany, surrounded by mistresses and bizarre rituals (including a poodle treated as royalty), he embodies elite degeneration. His estranged wife and shifting harem only fuel the mockery. But Thais? Silent. Still. Afraid. Even satire is a crime in the land of smiling obedience.

Thailand: The “Good Boy” of Southeast Asia
While publicly “neutral” and wrapped in Buddhist peace talk, Thailand was a loyal backdoor ally to the U.S. during the Vietnam military rape by America. Why? Because the Thai elite and the monarchy saw dollar signs, geopolitical favor, and a way to crush internal dissent (especially those scary “Communist” peasants wanting basic rights).

Enter the American GI—brutalized by jungle warfare, spiritually shattered, but looking for booze, sex, and a strip club before the next napalm run. Thailand became a flesh-and-freedom pitstop for the Empire.

US Military Bases: Welcome to R&R Hell
From Udon Thani to Korat, the U.S. set up major air bases in Thailand during the 1960s and 70s. These weren’t just airstrips—they were mega multi billion dollar launchpads for B-52s bombing Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Of course the money went to Americas major construction companies while Thailand pretended to look away, but American dollars were pouring in.

And guess who signed off on this “arrangement”? Yes—the Thai monarchy, hiding behind plausible deniability while cashing in. The Thai government let CIA and USAF operatives operate almost unchecked. In return, the palace was “protected,” both militarily and diplomatically. Stability had a price tag—and Washington paid it.

Prostitution: Industrialized “National Service”
Roughly 500,000 Thai women were funneled into the sex industry during this period, most of them serving as comfort providers for U.S. troops on Rest & Recreation (R&R) breaks. Entire cities like Pattaya were turned into brothel metropoles—artificial paradises designed for broken soldiers.

Was it shameful? Sure.
Was it profitable? Hell yes.
Was it condemned by the King? Absolutely not. Not a single royal voice was raised. Not once.
⸻

Handley’s work is explosive, brave, and crucial. It’s no surprise the Thai government banned it. Thailand is a case study in how monarchy, when mixed with military and foreign manipulation, breeds a kind of political absurdity where everyone knows the truth, but no one is allowed to say it. And that’s the real tragedy—not the dog in a crown, but the people kneeling before it.

The key here is to understand Eastern Asian obedience which is often rooted in Confucian hierarchy—where loyalty, conformity, and respect for authority outweigh individual thought. In practice, this breeds quiet societies that endure corruption, censorship, and elite abuse under the illusion of harmony. It’s not peace—it’s polite submission dressed as culture.
Perfect place for a "Brave new World"....

[Edwin Pietersma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A work about a fascinating king who I have seen many times but in fact knew little off. After reading this work, it revealed to me how much of a fascinating and troubled life he had, how the course of the world and Thailand shaped his life, and in particular the Buddhist aspects of his governance, for which now I can better understand the revering of this Thai king. Given the controversy surrounding this book, I can understand several of the critiques. The negative aspect of the book is the overbearing of the role of Bhumibol, creating a relatively bad image in the first part, and therefore failing to adequately explain its popularity. At times, I feel some critiques are not fair or too from an AmericanWestern perspective. In addition, at times there are quite some paradoxes in the work. However, I still very much enjoyed the reading, and makes me want to learn more about this fascinating king and it makes me wonder what the author has to say more about the current times.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ambitious history that reads a little drily if only due to the huge scope it has to cover, Handley delivers an effective overview of Thailand's modern history filtered through royal and elite power struggles.

You get a good feel for Bhumibol's thinking as Handley digs through speeches, actions, and rumours to show a frustratingly out-of-touch conservative who has the best misguided intentions. Steeped in cold war theory, privileged princes, and US imperalist funding, watching any sort of progress continually thwarted is intensely frustrating, even in Handley's reserved style.

He has some solid insights into the dysfunction and function of the monarchical system, though later in the book uncritical endorsement of the IMF's philosophy does strike me the wrong way in a book so wary of imperialism. But overall, Handley takes a general liberal view of the whole history that would be welcomed by most centrist historians.

[Jill McNish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This purports to be a biography of Thailand’s much revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who ruled for an astonishing 70+ years in a country rife with political upheavals and revolutions. The longevity of his reign is a miracle given the turbulence of his government. It speaks to Bhumibol’s wisdom as well as his savvy and wilyness; he was a king who was not averse to entering directly into decisions of state even when in theory this was not permissible. This biography does not hesitate to give Bhumibol credit where credit is due but also illuminates his manipulative and controlling nature. It is not legal to possess this book in Thailand because Thailand adheres to the principle of les majiste, i.e. it is a crime to assault the dignity of the monarch. And therein lies part of the problem with this biography. The author was not able to probe into the private life of his subject because all but the most public facts are essentially secret and unknowable. This left enormous questions about this man, his personal thoughts, feelings, and actions, unexplored. Upon Bhumibol’s death, the throne passed to his oldest son, Prince Vajiralongkorn who is known to be a corrupt and dissolute reprobate. These facts are not allowed to be discussed openly in Thailand either. I have to give this author credit for the research he WAS able to do about Bhumibol and the politics of Thailand, but in the final analysis this was not a very satisfying biography.

[Rhonda Hankins]

Intensely detailed analysis of the Thai monarchy with a focus on King Bhumibol who ruled for over 70 years.

The research for this book is kind of mind blowing. The constant maneuvering amongst the royals, the military, and the politicians gets a bit repetitive. These folks were relentless and ruthless in their quest for power.

This book gave me a better understanding of the purpose/philosophy of the monarchy in Thailand and helped me get some idea of why there are portraits of the king everywhere (or at least there were in the 1990s when I spent a lot of time in Thailand.)

It's a well written book with a lot of interesting tidbits but it's dense and I found it a slow slog.

[Rozie Bakar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A history of the great King Bumibhol and his generation before and after.

I like the way the author described his history of living as a young prince in Switzerland although they werent too detail.

However, I feel the book is more about the politics in Thailand and less about the royal family . Still, the royal family is too heavily involved in political issues in Thailand to not to be related to in the book.

I had to skip a few chapters as I felt too drowning in the political turmoil .

A good insight of Thailans' great King Bumibhol.

[James Anuntasethakul · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, the thing I want to get from this book is that how King Bhumibol being widely known. Paul clearly explains the relation between King Bhumibol and the army and how he can protect the "monarchy" by himself.

I think that Paul's explanation about King Bhumibol's act is a bit ambiguous but it's ok
if you wanna get a basic knowledge about why he became famous to many other people, you should read this book.

[S.J. Nielsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great info if you live/work in SE Asia and need to understand culture, politics, history of Thailand. It's also an interesting read if you DON'T have those needs, but is way more detailed than most casual readers would enjoy. The King of the title died in 2016, after a multi-decade reign, and whether his son will have the respect his father was able to generate among the population and politicians is an open question, as is what will become of Thailand if he cannot gain it.

[Syed Emir Ashman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book about King Bhumibol the Great. It is a neutral account of his life from the perspective of a Western outsider. I appreciated the short primer at the beginning of the book on theories of Thai kingship and the history of the Chakri kings.

Although the author tries to paint Bhumibol in a nuanced vein, I nonetheless ended up admiring the good king. That is probably because generally, I empathize and share King Bhumibol’s views on governance.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Partly a modern history of Thailand and partly a building of the mythos of the god-king, The King Never Smiles describes King Rama IX's unlikely ascent to power and the creation of the modern governance of Thailand. It's now a bit out of date.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I try not to leave low reviews, especially when delving into new subject matter, but the editor failed this author by not trimming excess content and superfluous details from what was otherwise an informative read.

[Adam Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the definitive story of Thailand which every farang living in Thailand or contemplating living here should read.

[Mohd Jamizal]

History train in Thailand always fascinating. The reason why Thailand never been occupied.

[Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real-life tale of the Wizard of Oz - with dire consequences for a nation.