Book excerpt: "Part travelogue, part silk-weaving primer, this is a tender portrait of an American family's travels in Laos's Houaphon Province. As they learn about the ancient silk weaving traditions in the hill tribe community of Xam Tai, so too they gain an appreciation for the strong sense of well-being in Lao culture. Over the past decade, Beck and Hirschstein have developed deep connections with the villagers of Xam Tai who produce the finest, most intricate, most traditional silks in the world. The weavers raise their own fiber from silkworms, dye it using local natural dyes, and weave the patterns of their ancestors into healing cloths, ceremonial textiles, and daily wear. Hirschstein and Beck provide an in-depth and rare view into the everyday lives, cultures, and craft of Lao silk weavers"--Front cover French flap.