Rating: 
Summary: An engaging story
Review: Has real culture and traditions in this book. A story of human growth. Great book
Rating: 
Summary: Incredible Adventure
Review: I'm always intrigued by adventure stories of this kind from the 19th or early 20th century. Europeans of the time were an amazing lot, venturing into the unknown with little but their wits about them, under conditions unimaginable today. Heinrich Harrer's story of his capture at the outset of WWII, his daring escape from a prison camp, and his journey into the forbidden land of Tibet makes for exciting reading. I picked up this book mostly because I am fascinated by the present Dalai Lama, and hoped that I'd get more insight into Harrer's relationship with him than I did from the movie, but on this score I was a bit disappointed. Harrer is not a writer, and his businesslike prose didn't quite convey the magic of this encounter the way the movie did. But otherwise, the details of life in pre-1950 Tibet were fascinating. Tibet was an isolated land untouched by the modern world, with hardly a prayer of resisting the powerful Chinese. This poor country simply became a pawn in the post-war power struggle--the Chinese needed to protect their borders, and used the pretext of a long historical relationship, particularly with the eastern part of the country, to annex the entire territory. A sad ending to a great tale.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic book, Amazing Detail and Information, Too Much Ego
Review: I read this book for the first time when I was only 13. I was absolutely captivated by Harrer's stunning descriptions of pre-occupation Tibet, and specifically Lhasa. Harrer portrays life in a world forbidden to foreigners and that no longer exists.His memoir begins with his attempt to summit Nanga Parbat in the himalayas and continues through his captivity in a British POW camp through his many escape attempts to reach Tibet. Harrer continues through his exhausting trek through the unwelcoming plains of Tibet, even encountering the infamous Khampa bandits. Harrer then goes into his stay in Lhasa, emphasizing his time tutoring the young 14th Dalai Lama. He also discusses his time working as a public servant for Lhasa alongside fellow escapee, Peter Aufschnaiter, mapping Lhasa, building dykes along the river et cetera. Finally Harrer discusses the downfall off Tibet due to the Chinese invasion from an insider's standpoint, even up to Harrer's escape from Tibet. His writing makes old Tibet so real, and his final words (which I will not reveal) speaks to our hearts as humans, not as Americans, Chinese, Tibetans, Germans, Austrians, or whatever we may be. The only flaw that I can think of for this book is Harrer's ego shows through his writing. While it is not a major flaw, it is annoying. I highly reccomend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Really Captivating
Review: Heinrich Harrer was a member of the Austrian Olympic skiing team in 1936, and a capable mountain climber. When World War II broke out he was in northern India, with a climbing expedition; and was interned by the British before he could make it back to the Europe to join up. He and several companions made several attempts to escape, finally succeeding and making it across the border and into Tibet. At that time Tibet was extremely difficult to enter. For a wonderful history of western attempts to reach Lhasa, I recommend Peter Hopkirk's "Trespassers on the Roof of the World". The Tibetans had adopted a policy of complete isolation, and it was only after an appallingly difficult journey and many hazards, along with much trouble with local officials and bureaucracy, that Harrer and his companions finally reached Lhasa. Much of the story deals with the journey itself; the chapter "The Worst Trek of All" ends with them within reach of Lhasa itself. A chapter or two later, they are granted asylum there -- a very rare event -- and they find useful employment in civil engineering works around the city. Harrer includes a great deal of observation of Tibetan private and public life. Harrer was also fortunate enough to meet and make good friends with the Dalai Lama. Unfortunately Harrer is a bit vague on dates, but it appears he was the Dalai Lama's tutor for a bit less than a year. In that time he got to know him well, and was clearly a strong influence on the boy, although the Dalai Lama was a powerful character in his own right, knowing clearly what he wanted and what he thought was right. Harrer built a cinema for him and shot movie film for him around Lhasa, and talked to him about Western technology. Finally, in November 1950, Harrer, the Dalai Lama and many other Tibetans fled as the Chinese invaded. Among the photographs in the book is one of the Dalai Lama's caravan escaping through the Himalayas. The book was published in 1953, but there is an epilogue, written in 1966, covering events in Tibet since then; a sad story. Harrer is no great stylist, but this is a famous travelogue for good reason. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: A Nazi's view of Tibet
Review: Heinrich Harrer was a devoted Nazi. He joined the Austrian chapter of the Nazi party in 1933 when it was still illegal to do so in Austria. In 1949 when the Dalai Lama was the absolute ruler of Tibet most Tibetans were illiterate. 5% of the people in Tibet were slaves and 90% were serfs. Tibet has been a part of China for 2,000 years.
Rating:
Summary: Penetrating Insight or Indiana Jones
Review: No doubt that �Seven Years in Tibet� is an intimate portrait. A careful re-read will show an almost Indiana Jones quality to the book. Despite the objections to the contrary, Heinrich Harrer is a storyteller -- and a good one. I have to admit to an almost subjective experience with the book. I found my original copy (which I gave away as a gift) in a small store in Dharamsala in India. It was a close companion and source of solace at a time and in a place that was alien to me. I am certain that Harrer felt the same way when he was interned in India in 1939. Harrer escaped only to find himself in Tibet. The narrative of the escape is the stuff of legend is revisited in detail in the book and in the movie with Brad Pitt (also available on Amazon.com). However, I do have to caution the reader -- it is a European perspective and almost flirts with a benign sense of condescension. In an odd sort of way, Harrer is almost neo-imperialist. He is a mountain climber so he is no stranger to survival and unique cultures. It is a rounded account of the Tibetans and could only be told by one who lived among them. Was he able to penetrate the veil? Only you the reader will be able to ascertain that one. Harrer has interesting impressions of both His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Oracle. If you asked them, I am certain the story would be different. Tibetans as a people have as much right to a sense of self determination as anyone. Their cause will not be furthered by infusing a sense of noble subject or a sense of idealized Shangri-La. Thanks goodness Harrer does fall into this trap and I need to give him props for that. It is a read that I never tire of even a second or a third time. Miguel Llora
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