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kaaamyyya's review against another edition
4.0
This book was full of fascinating remarks on the way of life in Tibet. I found the book quite engaging almost all the way through . A small section towards the end was hard to get through due to nothing really happening, however over all I quite enjoyed learning about life in Tibet.
jenn_hyla's review against another edition
4.0
An adventurous yet dry account of two mountaineers dead set on climbing the Himalayas - war be damned. The author and his companion never give up as they escape POW camps, deportations, and starvation. As the title gives away, they make it to Tibet and give the reader an interesting look into pre-invasion Tibet, and the Dalai Lama's life before exile.
dilan11's review against another edition
Even though I knew a bit about Harrer and his SS background, I saw his arrogance coming through in the book and I just couldn't abide it. I love Tibet and the Dalai Lama too much to continue to read this.
krdegan's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting and inspiring book, made even more poignant by my trip to the mountains of Uzbekistan while I was reading it. I wrote that I still have to read the post-movie copy with the Afterward by Harrer (but of course I don't know what this means any more as I hardly even remember having read the book).
The quote below sounds patronizing now ("stage of evolution"), but I do often miss the pace of life in Uzbekistan and think that much would be lost if suddenly Uzbeks had to live their lives at the pace we do here in the US. I miss drinking tea for a half hour before getting to the point of a visit. I also miss a lifestyle in which having a guest in the home trumped all else. These things were frustrating when I had something that "had to get done." But in retrospect it's the times drinking tea or being treated like a royal guest that I remember...not the deadlines.
"I listened to the news the first thing every day and often found myself shaking my head and wondering at the things which men seemed to think important. Here it is the yak's pace which dictates the tempo of life, and so it has been for thousands of years. Would Tibet be happier for being transformed? A fine motor road to India would doubtless raise the people's standard of life very greatly, but by accelerating the tempo of existence it might rob the people of their peace and leisure. One should not force a people to introduce inventions which are far ahead of their stage of evolution. They have a nice saying here -- 'One cannot reach the fifth storey of the Potala without starting at the ground floor.'" p. 193
The quote below sounds patronizing now ("stage of evolution"), but I do often miss the pace of life in Uzbekistan and think that much would be lost if suddenly Uzbeks had to live their lives at the pace we do here in the US. I miss drinking tea for a half hour before getting to the point of a visit. I also miss a lifestyle in which having a guest in the home trumped all else. These things were frustrating when I had something that "had to get done." But in retrospect it's the times drinking tea or being treated like a royal guest that I remember...not the deadlines.
"I listened to the news the first thing every day and often found myself shaking my head and wondering at the things which men seemed to think important. Here it is the yak's pace which dictates the tempo of life, and so it has been for thousands of years. Would Tibet be happier for being transformed? A fine motor road to India would doubtless raise the people's standard of life very greatly, but by accelerating the tempo of existence it might rob the people of their peace and leisure. One should not force a people to introduce inventions which are far ahead of their stage of evolution. They have a nice saying here -- 'One cannot reach the fifth storey of the Potala without starting at the ground floor.'" p. 193
bstephens's review against another edition
1.0
Harrer was, I discover at the end of this tedious book, a Nazi, and a member of the SS no less. Small wonder then, that he makes no mention of this or of the crimes of Nazi Germany at any point in his otherwise detailed account of his time in Tibet during and after WWII. He is, however, often critical, even angry, about Tibetan culture. In 1946, for example, he describes with outrage the collapse of a poorly-constructed giant prayer pole that killed several people and injured many more. While the pointless nature of this tragedy is undeniable, the context of his criticism is breathtaking. He had just arrived at the capital city, Lhasa, and after many months on the run from a POW camp in India, finally catches up with news of the aftermath of the war. Europe and much of Asia and Africa had been laid to waste by fascism and militarism, and the whole world now knew the full extent of the horrors of Nazi brutality and the death camps. “Not exhilarating”, Harrer concludes blandly, noting his country was experiencing some “hard times.” No acknowledgment of his own connection with the organization that faithfully carried out the worst atrocities, let alone coming to terms with his complicity. No expression of disgust or anger over the deliberate industrial-scale murder of 12 million people. No, he reserves his indignation for a tragic accident around a religious ceremony.
Harrer hid his Nazi past, presumably aware it would not help the sales of his book, and his membership in the SS was not made public until it was revealed by a German magazine which published the information in the 1990’s. Articles appended to the edition I read do their best to contain and explain away these facts, seeking to cast Harrer as the last of the great explorers, but it’s shameful propaganda.
I wanted to read this book because I thought it would be an interesting story about the author’s relationship with the young Dalai Lama. I was disappointed. Most of the book is about Harrer’s experiences as he tries to escape across Tibet and frankly, although I am sure it was something for him, it quickly becomes repetitive and dull. Then there is much detail about him establishing a life in Lhasa, with observations about Tibetan government and culture at the time. I would estimate that less than ten percent of the book deals with his relationship with the Dalai Lama, and even that contains little or nothing of insight or interest. The rest of the book deals with the Chinese invasion in 1950, the military occupation of Tibet, and Harrer’s return to Austria.
Dull and infuriating in equal measure. Wish I had not read it.
Harrer hid his Nazi past, presumably aware it would not help the sales of his book, and his membership in the SS was not made public until it was revealed by a German magazine which published the information in the 1990’s. Articles appended to the edition I read do their best to contain and explain away these facts, seeking to cast Harrer as the last of the great explorers, but it’s shameful propaganda.
I wanted to read this book because I thought it would be an interesting story about the author’s relationship with the young Dalai Lama. I was disappointed. Most of the book is about Harrer’s experiences as he tries to escape across Tibet and frankly, although I am sure it was something for him, it quickly becomes repetitive and dull. Then there is much detail about him establishing a life in Lhasa, with observations about Tibetan government and culture at the time. I would estimate that less than ten percent of the book deals with his relationship with the Dalai Lama, and even that contains little or nothing of insight or interest. The rest of the book deals with the Chinese invasion in 1950, the military occupation of Tibet, and Harrer’s return to Austria.
Dull and infuriating in equal measure. Wish I had not read it.
megroach's review against another edition
4.0
The language is incredibly visual — and now I want to see all of these places myself. I did not expect to become so personally invested in past Tibetans’ fates! Harrer must have taken amazing notes — this book is detailed and charming, but he also somehow manages to hop through chunks of time and events without giving the reader pause.
clarinade's review against another edition
5.0
I am entirely, emotionally affected by this book. Though the writing style in general lacked embellishments and so sometimes made it a little dry to read, I clung on to every page, particularly those describing Harrer's life in Lhasa and his interactions with the Dalai Lama. Maybe it was the numerous parallels that I was able to draw between the diverse characters in the book and my beautiful friends from Upper Mustang who, while geographically part of Nepal, are culturally and spiritually more akin to Tibetans. Maybe because I am so fascinated with the historical significance of this book, taking place in the seven years preceding China's invasion of Tibet, and the preservation up to that point of a thousand-year-old culture with pure spiritual traditions. Or maybe because in some ways I can identify with Harrer's feelings of being completely at home in a foreign land on the other side of the world. He says, "... part of my being is indissolubly linked with that dear country. Wherever I live, I shall feel homesick for Tibet". I cried all the way through the Epilogue which detailed the events that happened in the wake of the Chinese invasion, particularly as I have met and spoken with people who live in Tibetan refugee camps, never having known their home land because of China's refusal to let Tibet be free.
But I think what resonated most with me is the pure, unblemished nature of the Tibetans who so openly welcomed Harrer and his companion Aufschnaiter into their country and allowed such a unique insight into their beautiful culture. They remind me so strongly of the wonderful people I have met in Nepal. I connected with each one of them and loved reading of Harrer's interactions with them. I laughed and cried through this book, and have learnt so much that I am desperate to find out more.
Highly recommended - anyone with even a slight curiosity about this mysterious, hidden place and its Buddhist traditions, or even just with a craving for a wonderful travel story, should most definitely read this book.
But I think what resonated most with me is the pure, unblemished nature of the Tibetans who so openly welcomed Harrer and his companion Aufschnaiter into their country and allowed such a unique insight into their beautiful culture. They remind me so strongly of the wonderful people I have met in Nepal. I connected with each one of them and loved reading of Harrer's interactions with them. I laughed and cried through this book, and have learnt so much that I am desperate to find out more.
Highly recommended - anyone with even a slight curiosity about this mysterious, hidden place and its Buddhist traditions, or even just with a craving for a wonderful travel story, should most definitely read this book.
fredmoyer's review against another edition
4.0
This book has two distinct parts: [1] the difficult journey that Heinrich Harrer (author) and Peter Aufschnaiter had reaching the Tibetan capital, Lhasa and [2] Heinrich’s experiences and observation of Tibetan life while living in Lhasa.
In the first part, their difficulties were many – and it was, among other things, fortuitous breaks in the weather and chance encounters with kind Tibetan nomads that allowed them to even survive the journey. During this time, you see how difficult it was to travel at “the top of the world”, and you get a glimpse of the lives of the average Tibetan.
In the second part, Heinrich (and Peter) soon become welcome guests of the Tibetan upper class. At this point, the book switches to glimpses of the life of the upper class, the religious pageantry displayed for the devout (and superstitious) multitudes and cloistered life of the Dali Lama.
The book ends with the Chinese conquest of Tibet – and so the start, I assume, of the wholesale dismantling of the rich historical Tibetan culture described in this book.
In the first part, their difficulties were many – and it was, among other things, fortuitous breaks in the weather and chance encounters with kind Tibetan nomads that allowed them to even survive the journey. During this time, you see how difficult it was to travel at “the top of the world”, and you get a glimpse of the lives of the average Tibetan.
In the second part, Heinrich (and Peter) soon become welcome guests of the Tibetan upper class. At this point, the book switches to glimpses of the life of the upper class, the religious pageantry displayed for the devout (and superstitious) multitudes and cloistered life of the Dali Lama.
The book ends with the Chinese conquest of Tibet – and so the start, I assume, of the wholesale dismantling of the rich historical Tibetan culture described in this book.
yvetteadams's review against another edition
4.0
While the writing was a little on the dull side, this is a really fascinating true story and I enjoyed it more and more as I read. I was surprised at how very isolated and primitive Tibet was in the 1940s. Harrer really loved the people of Tibet and that comes through in his writing. I loved reading about the young Dalai Lama. Such a character.
I've since watched half of the movie and will finish it at some stage, but it's pretty ordinary so far.
I've since watched half of the movie and will finish it at some stage, but it's pretty ordinary so far.
iluv2fly1's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! It isn't the most catchy writing or anything, but I was completely enthralled. He entered a world that almost no one had seen before and he happened to be there for the end. There is so much I learned about Tibet that I had just absolutely no idea about before.