Paul U. Unschuld's translation of the Ben cao gang mu is a monumental achievement of scholarship, and one that makes available to English readers its incredible trove of information about premodern Chinese culture. A Catalog of Benevolent Items introduces some of those treasures in a thematic reader that will appeal to students, curious readers, and anyone interested in natural history and the nature of knowledge.--Andrew Schonebaum, Associate Professor of Chinese Studies, University of Maryland Unschuld's complete Ben cao gang mu translation is a milestone for Chinese medicine, providing an essential window on Li Shizhen's masterwork. Astutely organized by topic with Unschuld's critical introduction to each section, A Catalog of Benevolent Items is a necessary companion to the full work, both engaging and enlightening the reader.--Donald Harper, Centennial Professor of Chinese Studies, University of Chicago This work will be useful to medical professionals, researchers, and teachers of Chinese medicine, history, and culture--an invaluable resource that can then be used to examine the depths of the complete volumes and dictionaries that comprise the Ben cao gang mu.--Z'ev Rosenberg, author of Returning to the Source: Han Dynasty Medical Classics in Modern Clinical Practice