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Summary: The Seeker's Bible
Review: Peter Matthiessen is truly an American treasure, one of those rare writers who balances both erudition and accesibility. You want to read his books but you'd also like to hang out with him over a cup of green tea some cloudy afternoon.Of his many books, fiction and non-, the Snow Leopard is by far the best -- an outstanding anthropological journey but also a moving journey of the soul. What has always stuck me about his search for the elusive snow leopard was not the result but the cause. After his wife dies of cancer, Matthissen is clearly searching for something - forgiveness? penance? peace? His ultimate lesson is that he climbs the great peaks and finds nothing but the wonder joy of the search itself. What a tremendous insight. Read this book and go on the journey, then read it again -- it is like a bible to the seeker.
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Summary: An Amazing Chronicle of Self-Discovery
Review: Peter Matthiessen spellbinds the reader with his poetic style and uncanny insight, as he invites us into his (rigorously and minutely) examined life. For those who are confused by his Zen philosophy and symbolism, I recommend reading his "Nine-Headed Dragon River" first. In it, Matthiessen narrates how he came to be a follower of Zen Buddhism, and what motivated him to take this journey into the Himalayan mountains. Personally, I find Matthiessen to be the most astonishing and fascinating author alive today.
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Summary: zen and the art of chasing wild cats
Review: Simply one of the best books I've ever read. Matthiessen manages to capture the length and breadth of his journey in every sense of those words. A book this helpful on the spiritual aspects of the journey would be excellent; a book this fascinating about a trek like his would be great; put 'em together and you win a national book award. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to think, learn, and grow. If you want simple entertainment enter John Grisham in the search box.
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Summary: Spectacular book
Review: Spare, lyrical and honest, the Snow Leopard lifts the reader's mind to the high deserts of Nepal. Reading it is almost like spending an afternoon in quiet contemplation. I've read several books that deal with Zen and what makes this book work is that the author is unflinchingly honest about the internal journey that is at the heart of the book. He shares with the reader the mental baggage he brings with him, and that makes the external journey -- described in vivid detail -- seem all the more real. I can understand why other reviewers say they went to Nepal after reading it.
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Summary: The Snow Koan
Review: The Snow Leopard is a journal of a mountain trek to a remote monastery in northwestern Nepal near the Tibeten border. Matthiessen joins an expedition headed by none other than George Schaller to study the Himmalayan blue sheep in rut. Excellent chronicle of the trek with vivid scenic descriptions interdispersed with philoshical musings and background on Buddhism. Matthiessen is a Zen-buddhist at the time of the journey and he was presented with a koan by his guru (roshi) prior to setting out on the trip. "All the mountains are covered with snow, why is this one bare?" They arrive at their destination after a month's hard journey. The monastery lies at the base of Crystal Mountain, which is bare. And all the surrounding mountains are covered with snow. Matthiessen gazes up in amazement but is unable to make anything of the koan. He is stupified. He tries and tries, but nothing! Total stupification. Buddhist stupification. But he's okay with that. It's because he's not ready for it, he tells us, not ready to receive the message and he accepts that. He accepts it completely, he says. Well, fine, but maybe he didn't try hard enough. Or maybe it was the thin air, the altitude and the light-headedness. But still, he should have been able to make something of it once he got down off the mountain and started writing the book. As koans go, it wasn't that difficult. Not much more than a beginner's koan, really. If he couldn't do anything with this koan, what hope was there for him? Maybe zen was not for him. That was the apparent message, and yet he just didn't get it. Talk about being in denial. But these are mere details, the book itself is a good read. Engaging descriptions, nice pace, interesting philosphical patter, well crafted book - Matthiessen's best by far. You'll like this book - it's portenteous tone will reel you in - a quest for a sight of the mythic snow leopard, while he sorts out his life and the death of his wife. Okay, so he never sees the snow leopard. It's only because he wasn't ready for it, not because he wasn't looking. And he was divorcing his wife anyway, so her death, maybe he was ready for that.
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Summary: In Looking Much is Seen
Review: The Snow Leopard is about a journey which appears to have only one purpose - to see a snow leopard, but it ends up being about so much more. Humanity, nature and the elements, religion and spiritualism - this book has it all. I read this book only a couple of months ago and could not believe that it was written before I was born! It is so fresh and modern in feeling and context. It also reminds me of another excellent book that I have recently read called Going to Dolpo (writer Timothy Doyle). In both books the author walks into Dolpo in the Tibetan Himalayas, a remarkable accomplishment in itself. Both men are drawn into their own personal Buddhist pilgrimage. Far superior to the usual traveler yarns, I would recommend both these books to the independently-minded reader.
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Summary: I am Tukten
Review: The Snow Leopard is Peter Mathiessen's travel through the Himalayas. Matthiessen writes in diary form and describes his journey in four chapters. Each chapter is filled with descriptions pertaining to the smallest ice crystal to the biggest mountain. Matthiessen explains various religions, such as Buddhism and Taoism, and observes different Indian cultures. The main issue The Snow Leopard evolves around is not whether the snow leopard is seen but Matthiessen finding the meaning of life. Matthiessen adds spiritual meaning to his journey. For example, he writes about a dream he had during the night, and talks about the dream as a "hallucination that precedes reincarnation." Matthiessen views his Indian helpers and their poorly dressed outfits; he can only feel compassion. The compassion Matthiessen writes about allows the Reader to learn about the author's personality. For example, "our own brave invalids consent to carry lightened loads." The Indians exaggerate their condition, but Matthiessen does not judge them; he considers them "brave." The author is extremely intelligent because he quotes from scientific textbooks, sacred scriptures and other books he read. He applies the quotes into his journey experiences. For example, Matthiessen talks about "Bigfoot" and how it is termed yeti in Buddhism and a Gigantopithecus in science. The Snow Leopard not only takes Peter Matthiessen on a spiritual journey, but also the Reader. The Reader's journey is a day by day ride through the Himalayas looking at life through a spiritual man, allowing the Reader to ask questions concerning his own life.
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Summary: The Self of Dreams...
Review: THE SNOW LEOPARD is the best book I've ever read. Period. Read this book. In sum, it is Peter Matthiessen's recounting of his trek in the Himalayas with the naturalist George Schaller to establish a new national park on behalf of the Nepali government.In substance, it is a luminescent prose poem of a spiritual journey through a universe in which the mundane is holy, the sacred is the commonplace and the profane is touched with glory. My copy has traveled throughout the world with me, the one indispensable item I take with me when leaving home. No review can do such a magnificent book justice. Read this book.
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Summary: Over Rated!
Review: This book got such glowing reviews that I had to purchase it. A high standard was set by these reviews, and unfortunately, I was disappointed. Another reviewer mentioned that they couldn't get past the "Zen stuff", and I agree. There were sections that were so detailed on historical Zen philosophy that I had to skip the chapter before falling asleep. Maybe I'm looking for more "action", but I can tell you this book was a big disappointment.
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Summary: The Sixteenth Review
Review: This book is great for those of you who love to think at a higher level. The book took a while for me to catch on, but once it had me, it had me good. This is an excellent choice if you like a Down to Earth Novel (ie: Biographies, non-fiction). The book is a real keeper, and I recommend this to anyone who has red Travels by Michael Chrieton. Among other things, it teaches about defeat and failure, as well as adaptation and understanding. Although not its intended purpose, the author also gives a few insights about fear, religion, and questions how you are different. Well, end of review, its getting late, and I gotta go
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