Seven Years in Tibet

Rating:
Summary: Insightful memoir
Review: I found this book to be a fascinating account into Tibet. It was interesting to see a Western perspective of the pre-1950 Tibetan culture-- I thought it was fascinating.

Rating:
Summary: Well!!
Review: There are some astonishing parallels between the story of an English governess in Thailand, "The King and I" and this story of a blond Teuton with dubious political leanings in 1940s Tibet. Both centralise their roles in the lives of a monarchic figure, each then a very much romanticised icon of forbidden or far-away lands. In both cases there is good evidence that this delicious intimacy was in fact limited to a few distant audiences with the figure in question. In the latter case, the Dalai Lama's own writings bear just a few, absent minded references to this much vaunted friendship, if at all and older hands at the Tibetan capital-in-exile Dharamsala in Northern India will smile ryely at any mention of Harrer. Nevertheless, as a work of semi-fiction, the book carries considerable merit but as a an accurate travel account, has to be undressed in layers before it becomes palatable.

Rating:
Summary: A very good book.
Review: This book was very good. It provided a very good picture of Tibet before the Chinese occupation. It is one of the best books I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Just could not put it down until I finish the book!!!
Review: I saw this book from a shelf of a friend of mine and I thought that it would be like a travel guide book. I read this one even before the movie was being made and as soon as I started the first chapter, I just can't wait what is in the next page 'til my eyes got so tired of reading... It is like being with Heinrich and Peter! Such an adventure and such were the lessons I too learned while reading the book. I was waiting for Heinrich to promote the movie and say something about his adventure but alas, a German magazine disappointed some audiences with by pointing out Heinrich's SSS affiliation. Still, it's 5 shining stars for me! MADJ

Rating:
Summary: Amazing, spectacular, timeless!
Review: Harrer's book describes Tibet in a way that I have never heard any other country described before. He tells how the Tibetan people are so devoted to their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. The scenes he describes makes the reader wish that he/she could go to Tibet themselves, but unfortunately they cant because of the Chinese occupation. Harrer shows the beautifulness of the Tibetan land and the horror of the Chinese occupation. He shows that Tibet was a rare and beautiful place that should be restored. Anyone who has suffered from repression, or anyone who just enjoys a good story in general, will find this book incredible.

Rating:
Summary: Great story but a bad job of translation and editing.
Review: This is a wonderful story and peaks the interest of the reader to know more about Tibet and Tibetans but the translation from German to English is crude and the editing is poor.

Rating:
Summary: A captivating adventure on the roof of the world.
Review: I think the author has done a fabulous job in bringing his experiences to the reader while not interfering too much with the central subject with his own hardships.The book should open the eyes of the world to a spiritual and peace-loving Tibet.A must read for all who know their books.

Rating:
Summary: Sad propaganda
Review: It's sad to see this book, written by a personal friend of the Dalai Lama's, used by the Tibetans as their propaganda. For a more objective understanding of the atrocities in Tibet, I would highly recommend The Making of Modern Tibet, by A. Tom Grunfeld, a professor of history at Empire State College of the State University of New York. Dr. Grunfeld's book details the terrible treatment the serfs in Tibet used to receive from their lords, and the political intrigues of the both the Dalai Lama's and the communist party's tactics.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing journey and the journeyman's tales.
Review: I read this book in April 1997 (before that bad movie was shown) and it was the only one in our school library, unread and unnoticed in the archives section. It was one of the best true-to-life adventures one can read. The book I read looked as though it has not been touched by anyone, as indicated by the cataloging sheet inside. Such a shame. Harrer said it all well in the end when he remarked, "It is disturbing what people consider important; here in Tibet, the yak dictates the pace of life," or something to that effect. Indeed, every true Asian should be reading this account on their neighbors before they get deluded by visions of economic growth and more stressful living. It is doing them wrong to dismiss the Tibetans as "simple" people; rather, everyone could find in this book that there is dignity in not being part of what is "modern." From the passionate eyes of a European adventurer, Asians and Westerners alike should discover what they've been missing. Marvel at Harrer's daring escape from the POW camp, his accounts of the people's way of life and spirituality, his respect for the Himalayas' majesty and his strong attachment to the Tibetans (He calls himself and friend Aufschnaiter half-Tibetans). Having loved Tibet for what it offered him, you can even forgive Harrer if he hated the Chinese for what they did.

Rating:
Summary: A book of hope and inspiration
Review: The central characters are called upon to reach deep within and discover couage and find freedom within themselves. I enjoyed the truth of the story and the history of the Dali Lama and Tibet occupation.