Seven Years in Tibet

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Summary: A good insight into an ancient country.
Review: Seven yaars In Tibet is a good insight into an ancient country by an outsider not caught up in political intrigue or the religion that at times permeiates some first hand accounts in book by local authors. Henrich Harrier shows both the ceremonial and pragmatic side of Buddhism and the Dali Lama in a simple worded well writen book.

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Summary: Excellent insight into a lost culture
Review: Heinrich Harrer's natural writing style makes this book a pleasure to read. Although Harrer states that he is not trained in literature, his writing style is pleasant and down to earth. This book - written through the eyes of an Austrian - gives not only an insight into the lost culture of Tibet but also expresses the sensitive character of the Austrian mountaineer. (Don't listen to the news telling us that he was a Nazi. When you read this book, you will learn that he did not have the time nor the interest to kill jews. In contrast, he loved - and was loved by - a people who pick up little insects before anyone steps on them.) Many years ago, my mother introduced me to this book. She was born in Harrer's hometown Huettenberg and has met him a few times. Maybe someday you have time to visit the little museum about Harrer's adventures in Tibet in this charming Austrian mountain village.

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Summary: A childhood memory - one of my favourite books
Review: I still remember the old copy of that book in my grandfather's house in Graz, Austria (also the place of Harrer's university years) that I subsequently read a couple of times and always enjoyed the total immersion in the adventures of my countryman. Later, when I grew up, I got to know Harrer in Huettenberg, his hometown in Carinthia where he had installed a small museum about his travels and, of course, his Tibetan years and got even more fascinated by this man and his adventures (so much, in fact, that I had to go to Switzerland and climb the Eiger; however, I haven't been to Tibet yet). Thus I was predetermined to go and watch the movie and re-read the book another time. Again I got caught in the tremendous power of the story and read through the whole book in one night (in German, though). My advice: go and read the book, whether or not you know the movie.

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Summary: A super story by a true life adventurer who found Shangri-La
Review: In my mother-in-law's attic in Northern Germany one winter day in the 1980's I dug through her and my German wife's old books . I found "Seven Years in Tibet", an original publication of the 1950's. I read and re-read this beautiful story of a beautiful people subsequently caught up in the politics of the modern world. I am so pleased that the story has been republished and a movie released. Now even more people can share in the pleasure and alas, the subsequent sorrow of the people of Tibet, the true Shangri-La.

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Summary: Do Not See the Movie: Read this book!
Review: This book combines the best of travelogue, adventure, inspiration, history, and anthropology into a one-sitting read. A primer for fans of travelogue, this amazing account follows one man's trials as a German climber in British India at the outset of WWI through the end of the war up to the Chinese takeover in Tibet, where he had befriended the young Dalai Lama. A look back at a snapshot of a world which barely exists, one is amazed by how far humanity has come since this book was written nearly 40 years ago.

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Summary: best true adventure I have read
Review: The other reviws say it too well... I liked the part where he escaped from the british prisoner of war camp, the first time best...

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Summary: Wonderful
Review: You have got to read this book. It is so good. It starts out with the description of an escaped German POW's travels through fuedal Tibet, then onto the Forbidden City of Lhasa, and finally the teaching of the Dalai Lama himself! Then he is forced to flee through the 18000 foot valleys of the Roof of the World before the rampaging Chinese. This book is touching emotionally, in the fact that it shows the life of a vibrant people and culture so tragically snuffed out. It is a wonderful advernture story, and if you enjoy reading about exotic religions, forbidden cities, inhospitable land, and god-kings, then this is the book for you.

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Summary: Good Fiction, Incredible Non-fiction
Review: I read this book only because it was the inspiration for a song of the same name on David Bowie's 1997 album Earthling. As a devout Bowie fanatic I was obliged to read the book cover to cover despite any tendancies towards boredom. Much to my chagrin, I was completed engrossed in Harrer's recount of that period in his life and felt much simpathy both towards the Tibetans and the Dalai Lama. A lot of humanity here folks. I recommend this highly and hope that it will enrich your understanding of Tibet as it did mine

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Summary: A remarkable adventure and a touching view of the Dalai Lama
Review: The moment was timeless--WWII, a german mountain climber and the untouched "other-worldly" land of Tibet. The relationship between the European wanderers and the young Dalai Lama is wonderful to read about. If you're a climber, you'll be amazed at their 8-month climb across the Himalayas. If you're a fan of HH Dalai Lama, you'll love this view into his early life and his introduction to the Western mind. And if you simply love a good story, you'll enjoy this true adventure

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Summary: Inspirational, informative,excellent, non-fiction
Review: This book describes a period in two men's lives that would be unbelievable if made up. The fact that it is a true account of their adventures in the Himalayas, Tibet, India, etc. makes it all the more incredible. I am not a follower of Buddha or the Dalai Lama or any of that Eastern philosophy, but the story of the author spending time in a land he had only read about in prisoner of war camps and coming to be friends with the Dalai Lama in the Forbidden City in Tibet is truly an amazing and inspirational tale. This is a story of the incredilbe power of the human spirit to survive and thrive in adverse conditions. An excellent read.