My Journey to Lhasa

Rating:
Summary: Out of sight man.!!
Review: All I really need to say is not in review of Mrs David Neel's book but to remark that I read somewhere in your bewildering pages that she went to Lhasa disguised as a man, which seems to demonstrate that whoever wrote that hadn't bothered to read her book. According to her version she was disguised as an old Tibetan Woman from western Tibet, the mother of the Lama, Yongden, who she claims to have adopted and who remained with her for the rest of his life according to other bits and pieces I have gleaned over the years. Somebody,probably Sydney Smith, said he never read books he had to review because it would influance his preconceptions so, or something like that. The trouble with putting lies into print is that people are inclined to believe the printed word. "Of course its bloody true." he said "Didn't I read it in the bloody paper."

Rating:
Summary: Massively Overrated
Review: I did not see what the big deal was, and would not recommend it. Her language and the way she treated people is offensive, Eurocentric, condescending and narrow-minded -- typical of many travel books of this period. For those trying to learn about Tibet, there is not enough here to satisfy. This is your classic I-am-to-be-admired-because-I-left-the-comforts-of-civilization-applaud-me themed books. She is not a traveller but a trophy collector.

Rating:
Summary: A woman traveler makes to lhasa
Review: My Journey to Lhasa is a marvellous, cliff hanging tale of adventure comparable to Lawrence of Arabia's epic account. David-Neel made her trek to forbidden lhasa in the dead of winter succeeding where much younger, better equipped male explorers failed. Her thrilling yarn is the main highlight of a 101 year adventure packed life.This noted Buddhist scholar wrote 25 books on eastern themes after she made her death defying trip in her mid fifties. Although naysayers have claimed that David-Neel never went to Lhasa, our extensive research for our biography the Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel authenticates her travels as well as fleshes out the human aspect of this amazing character who Lawrence Durrell called "the mot astohishing Frenchwoman of our Times."

Rating:
Summary: Worth the Effort
Review: This is a book which I think of often. Ms. David-Neel had or should I say has quite a strong spirit. I would recommend all of her books to anyone interested in spiritual growth, women's triumphs or walking accross high Himalayan passes in the dead of winter with the Lama Yongden. I cross high Rocky Mountain passes regularly, but always in the comfort of an 18-wheeler.

Rating:
Summary: something else to interest you
Review: This is most certainly a worth while book to spend some time with. Reading these early Buddhist-travel journals is a rare pleasure indeed. If you are looking for something similar, and in many ways more enchanting, check out John Blofeld's book, "The Wheel of Life: The Autobiography of a Western Buddhist." The time periods are similar with Neel's, but Blofeld spends most of his time not in Tibet, but in China, exporing back woods monasteries and meeting up with taoists and other mountain ascetics. It's just wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: Out of sight man.!!
Review: This story of a solo woman, over 50, travelling in a strange country in the early 1900's should be read by every woman who is wondering if they dare travel anywhere. Once you read Alexandra's story of her journey to Lhasa in Tibet, you will never be afraid to travel anywhere in the world. Her incredible courage, her determination and her love of Tibetan people and culture make this one of the best reads in a very long time.

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational book for women travellers
Review: This story of a solo woman, over 50, travelling in a strange country in the early 1900's should be read by every woman who is wondering if they dare travel anywhere. Once you read Alexandra's story of her journey to Lhasa in Tibet, you will never be afraid to travel anywhere in the world. Her incredible courage, her determination and her love of Tibetan people and culture make this one of the best reads in a very long time.

Rating:
Summary: A spectacular find in a used book store!
Review: This woman's incredible journey to Tibet shoud be an inspiration to all women interested in travel. Her determination to complete this journey, and the physcial strength it took to manage it, was awesome.

Rating:
Summary: An unusual journey to say the least
Review: When I was reading the reviews of this book, I was struck by the one of the reviews. It was very negative, and the reviewer missed the beauty of this book entirely. I was glad that I had already read it. I read the reviews because I was curious to see if others had enjoyed the book as much as I did. I was buying it again as a present for a friend. The author was a very unusual person, and this book is very much worth the read. She wrote about customs and values honestly as she saw them. She was not a dispassionate viewer, but I also felt that she was not judgemental or superior. When customs of two peoples are as different as some of Tibet and France are, they will shock a person and that person will remark. However, I felt that she loved and respected the people she wrote about, and she did a remarkable job in recounting what she saw. She gave her readers the pleasure of a most unusual journey with her and her young companion through a country that was worth writing about.

Rating:
Summary: An unusual journey to say the least
Review: When I was reading the reviews of this book, I was struck by the one of the reviews. It was very negative, and the reviewer missed the beauty of this book entirely. I was glad that I had already read it. I read the reviews because I was curious to see if others had enjoyed the book as much as I did. I was buying it again as a present for a friend. The author was a very unusual person, and this book is very much worth the read. She wrote about customs and values honestly as she saw them. She was not a dispassionate viewer, but I also felt that she was not judgemental or superior. When customs of two peoples are as different as some of Tibet and France are, they will shock a person and that person will remark. However, I felt that she loved and respected the people she wrote about, and she did a remarkable job in recounting what she saw. She gave her readers the pleasure of a most unusual journey with her and her young companion through a country that was worth writing about.