Scan barcode
thisotherbookaccount's review against another edition
4.0
In 2015, I had the privilege of travelling to Tibet, and it continues to be one of the most unique destinations that I have ever travelled to. Even though I am not a particularly religious person, I was moved by the fervour of the Tibetans. Tens of thousands of Tibetans would circle the Potala Palace (in a clockwise direction) every day, chanting prayers and spinning their prayer wheels. We saw pilgrims prostrating along roads, one painful mile at a time, just so that they can make their way from remote villages to Lhasa, Tibet's capital. Even after decades of oppression from Communist China, Tibetans and Tibetan Buddhism continue to thrive in this part of the world.
However, there is no denying that Communist China's influence on Tibet has taken root — and it is not difficult to notice it, either. Police and military posts are everywhere within and without towns and cities; men with machine guns patrol checkpoints along major highways, and our passports and permits had to be checked several times throughout the trip. Then there is the soft takeover of Tibet, with shops being taken over by Chinese merchants and Chinese signboards. In fact, 99% of the original Tibetan houses have been torn down and removed over the decades, replaced by buildings that look like any other second- or third-tier city in China. So even though the pilgrims continue to arrive in the Holy City, everything within it is but a shade of what it used to be half a century ago.
That is the reason why, in a way, I am glad that I hadn't read Heinrich Harrer's Seven Years in Tibet before 2015. If I did, the trip would have been filled with sadness and regret, knowing what Tibet used to be like before the Chinese invaded.
Harrer's account of Tibet — a free Tibet — comes from a place of genuine love and passion for the place, and it shows on the page. What I love most about his writing, somewhat stiff and pragmatic as it is, is that he doesn't allow his western biases to enter his accounts. Often you find travel literature written by westerners about their journeys through 'exotic' parts of the world. While that's all fine and good, they often can't help but to bitch and whine about how dirty and uncivilised everything is. In fact, even though this book singlehandedly piqued my interest in the genre, I have found very few books that do not spot that arrogance and superiority.
Harrer is different, and maybe it is because he's born an explorer and mountaineer. From a young age, he's always had a fascination with this part of the world, which is perhaps why his account of Tibet feels genuine, pure and unadulterated. By no means does he agrees with everything about Tibet, of course. In a section of the book, Harrer speaks of frontier justice in Tibet, and how the smallest crimes like theft can have grave punishments for the perpetrators. From his perspective, it doesn't make much sense, but he accepts things as it is, because that is how the locals do it. I really like the way he makes an effort to integrate himself into the Tibetan society and makes himself useful throughout the seven years that he was there. He wasn't writing a book about a week-long trip to an 'exotic' place, and he wasn't there for some sort of eat-prey-love bullshit. He's there to tell stories.
And the stories are great. On one level, you can read this book as one man's — or rather, two men, since he journeyed through most of the book with his friend — arduous journey, on foot, through some of the worst terrains on earth. On the other hand, you can read this book as a historical account of a civilisation in its heyday. You can also read this book as an intimate look at the life of the Dalai Lama through Harrer's friendship with the God King. Even though this part of the book takes up just 2–3 chapters, it is still a fascinating look at an otherwise larger-than-life character.
Which brings me to my frustrations, not with the book but what happened to Tibet. You see the Chinese invasion through Harrer's eyes, and he's very objective about the whole situation. While the Chinese were obviously the aggressors, Harrer doesn't shy away from the fact that the Tibetans were way too passive with regard to their responses to said aggression. The Chinese had already invaded Tibet for 10 days before Lhasa got word of it. Even while fellow Tibetans were dying and fleeing on the frontlines, people in the capital were oblivious and carried on with their lives and various festivities. Even when the Chinese came knocking at their doors, all the Tibetans did was to pray, and prayed very hard they did. Instead of mustering an army or calling for foreign aid, they called in their best oracles. They were complacent and, in some ways, too laid back for their own good.
So for me, it's frustrating to read about how the Tibetans didn't fight for themselves, and how they basically gave their home away to the invaders. And, as an atheist, it becomes even more frustrating to see how the Tibetans placed their bets on religion and superstition, when the invaders were coming with guns and bombs.
Still, this is a great book for anyone with any passing interest of Tibet. While it may not be the most exciting read of the year, it does have a special place in 2019's reading list. A recommended read.
However, there is no denying that Communist China's influence on Tibet has taken root — and it is not difficult to notice it, either. Police and military posts are everywhere within and without towns and cities; men with machine guns patrol checkpoints along major highways, and our passports and permits had to be checked several times throughout the trip. Then there is the soft takeover of Tibet, with shops being taken over by Chinese merchants and Chinese signboards. In fact, 99% of the original Tibetan houses have been torn down and removed over the decades, replaced by buildings that look like any other second- or third-tier city in China. So even though the pilgrims continue to arrive in the Holy City, everything within it is but a shade of what it used to be half a century ago.
That is the reason why, in a way, I am glad that I hadn't read Heinrich Harrer's Seven Years in Tibet before 2015. If I did, the trip would have been filled with sadness and regret, knowing what Tibet used to be like before the Chinese invaded.
Harrer's account of Tibet — a free Tibet — comes from a place of genuine love and passion for the place, and it shows on the page. What I love most about his writing, somewhat stiff and pragmatic as it is, is that he doesn't allow his western biases to enter his accounts. Often you find travel literature written by westerners about their journeys through 'exotic' parts of the world. While that's all fine and good, they often can't help but to bitch and whine about how dirty and uncivilised everything is. In fact, even though this book singlehandedly piqued my interest in the genre, I have found very few books that do not spot that arrogance and superiority.
Harrer is different, and maybe it is because he's born an explorer and mountaineer. From a young age, he's always had a fascination with this part of the world, which is perhaps why his account of Tibet feels genuine, pure and unadulterated. By no means does he agrees with everything about Tibet, of course. In a section of the book, Harrer speaks of frontier justice in Tibet, and how the smallest crimes like theft can have grave punishments for the perpetrators. From his perspective, it doesn't make much sense, but he accepts things as it is, because that is how the locals do it. I really like the way he makes an effort to integrate himself into the Tibetan society and makes himself useful throughout the seven years that he was there. He wasn't writing a book about a week-long trip to an 'exotic' place, and he wasn't there for some sort of eat-prey-love bullshit. He's there to tell stories.
And the stories are great. On one level, you can read this book as one man's — or rather, two men, since he journeyed through most of the book with his friend — arduous journey, on foot, through some of the worst terrains on earth. On the other hand, you can read this book as a historical account of a civilisation in its heyday. You can also read this book as an intimate look at the life of the Dalai Lama through Harrer's friendship with the God King. Even though this part of the book takes up just 2–3 chapters, it is still a fascinating look at an otherwise larger-than-life character.
Which brings me to my frustrations, not with the book but what happened to Tibet. You see the Chinese invasion through Harrer's eyes, and he's very objective about the whole situation. While the Chinese were obviously the aggressors, Harrer doesn't shy away from the fact that the Tibetans were way too passive with regard to their responses to said aggression. The Chinese had already invaded Tibet for 10 days before Lhasa got word of it. Even while fellow Tibetans were dying and fleeing on the frontlines, people in the capital were oblivious and carried on with their lives and various festivities. Even when the Chinese came knocking at their doors, all the Tibetans did was to pray, and prayed very hard they did. Instead of mustering an army or calling for foreign aid, they called in their best oracles. They were complacent and, in some ways, too laid back for their own good.
So for me, it's frustrating to read about how the Tibetans didn't fight for themselves, and how they basically gave their home away to the invaders. And, as an atheist, it becomes even more frustrating to see how the Tibetans placed their bets on religion and superstition, when the invaders were coming with guns and bombs.
Still, this is a great book for anyone with any passing interest of Tibet. While it may not be the most exciting read of the year, it does have a special place in 2019's reading list. A recommended read.
tanya_the_spack's review
4.0
A very enjoyable read. I saw the movie a long time ago and barely remember it, but I think the movie only covers a tiny portion of the book and alters that tiny part quite a bit. So, from that misty recollection, I would say the book is much better. I read the book already knowing a fair amount about the politics involving Tibet and China, and this gave a nice backdrop of culture to that through the nonfiction tale of simply a grand adventure.
pingthevile's review
3.0
Interesting account of Harrer's journey. The first half of the book, I thought, was much more interesting... the details and stories of their journey through Tibet. Once he got into Lhasa, it was less interesting to me and was quite dry, though it had some ups and downs.
anitaofplaybooktag's review
2.0
Mr. Harrer did a good deed by writing this memoir as it raised the awareness of Tibet and its oppression under the Chinese far and wide.
However, I must admit to being surprised that he accomplished his mission. The makings of a riveting tale were there, but the manner in which Harrer tells his story could not have been more dull. I'm not sure how he managed to make two years of mountainous travel and seven years in a completely foreign land so boring, but he did.
The first moments of suspense came in the last 40 or so pages where the Chinese invade Tibet and it is unclear what might happen to the Dalai Lama. These last pages also detailed the teacher/student relationship between the author and the Dalai Lama, and I did find it interesting to hear how someone so young was so intellectually curious.
Other than that last portion, the book is no more than a diary. This happened and then that happened. A recitation of facts, dates, places . . .no "characters" were brought to life. Even his travel companion was rendered flat. Somehow with all the hardships they endured together, there wasn't one instance of an argument or tension or an example of how they worked together to solve problems.
It's the difference between writing like this:
She typed her book review on the computer. It was negative.
and
She agonized about what to write in her review. She couldn't fathom that they actually made a movie of this book. Starring Brad Pitt! How? She was dying to write something scathing, but a big part of her felt alone. How could no one else think this book was so boring? How could she have been the only one? The author clearly was a great man even if he couldn't write well. Maybe she should give the book 3 stars just to reward him for his greatness. She tried to add that last star, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.
You get what I mean. It's ten times worse because this man went on a HUGE ADVENTURE. It should have been absolutely scintillating. A missed opportunity by any measure. Curious what the movie makers did to bring this book to life . . .I'm sure in the hands of professional writers it probably came out great.
However, I must admit to being surprised that he accomplished his mission. The makings of a riveting tale were there, but the manner in which Harrer tells his story could not have been more dull. I'm not sure how he managed to make two years of mountainous travel and seven years in a completely foreign land so boring, but he did.
The first moments of suspense came in the last 40 or so pages where the Chinese invade Tibet and it is unclear what might happen to the Dalai Lama. These last pages also detailed the teacher/student relationship between the author and the Dalai Lama, and I did find it interesting to hear how someone so young was so intellectually curious.
Other than that last portion, the book is no more than a diary. This happened and then that happened. A recitation of facts, dates, places . . .no "characters" were brought to life. Even his travel companion was rendered flat. Somehow with all the hardships they endured together, there wasn't one instance of an argument or tension or an example of how they worked together to solve problems.
It's the difference between writing like this:
She typed her book review on the computer. It was negative.
and
She agonized about what to write in her review. She couldn't fathom that they actually made a movie of this book. Starring Brad Pitt! How? She was dying to write something scathing, but a big part of her felt alone. How could no one else think this book was so boring? How could she have been the only one? The author clearly was a great man even if he couldn't write well. Maybe she should give the book 3 stars just to reward him for his greatness. She tried to add that last star, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.
You get what I mean. It's ten times worse because this man went on a HUGE ADVENTURE. It should have been absolutely scintillating. A missed opportunity by any measure. Curious what the movie makers did to bring this book to life . . .I'm sure in the hands of professional writers it probably came out great.
joshada's review
5.0
Its a beautiful book...Tibet was a free nation which China forcefully invaded and occupied..Long Live His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama...
itsgs's review
5.0
This book is how I will picture and remember Tibet (until the day I become fortunate enough to visit). Wonderful, beautiful read about a very special place and its people. I delayed reading the last chapter of this book by almost 2 years because I wanted this Tibet, which no longer exists in the real world, to live in my imagination forever..