Scan barcode
A review by ehays84
Seven Years in Tibet by Heinrich Harrer
4.0
This is one of those classics that I knew I would get around to eventually. As I'm slowly trying to read all of the best travel and adventure books, this sort of ticked two boxes, plus the exposure to Tibetan life and Buddhism was very interesting as well.
Really his story of getting from India to Lhasa is remarkable. He probably downplays the accomplishment. For anyone other than a highly trained mountaineer like himself who had also spent lots of time previously at high altitudes, this would have been impossible. Indeed, several of his fellow escapees had to turn back.
Then the time in Tibet is an amazing window into a now forever gone independent Tibet.
I remember learning about his story growing up from my father, watching the movie with him which I remember being kind of mystified by, and having friends who went to the free Tibet concerts. So reading this finally connected a lot of dots.
The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that it is really written like a diary, which I believe it is based on. But I would have preferred that he turn it into more of a narrative. But all in all an incredible story.
Really his story of getting from India to Lhasa is remarkable. He probably downplays the accomplishment. For anyone other than a highly trained mountaineer like himself who had also spent lots of time previously at high altitudes, this would have been impossible. Indeed, several of his fellow escapees had to turn back.
Then the time in Tibet is an amazing window into a now forever gone independent Tibet.
I remember learning about his story growing up from my father, watching the movie with him which I remember being kind of mystified by, and having friends who went to the free Tibet concerts. So reading this finally connected a lot of dots.
The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that it is really written like a diary, which I believe it is based on. But I would have preferred that he turn it into more of a narrative. But all in all an incredible story.