Told in a dry, humorous style, this will appeal to readers who enjoyed the works of Houston/Bates and Shipton. It's a little short on high climbing drama, but is still a reasonably engaging read. I found it interesting that these women in the 1950's had so little trouble with their guides and porters, by comparison with some later expeditions.

This is a chronicle of the historic journey made by the 1955 first all female expedition to the Himalayas. It is an amazing adventure for those Betty Crocker days. While it ocassionally reads like a buddy book, its flavor is somewhat anachronistic and reflective of its time. It makes for a very interesting read.

This expedition, a somewhat grandiose term for a group of three women and their Sherpas, endeavored to explore the remote and then uncharted area of Nepal called the Jugal Himal. Their journey and trek through Nepal makes for a travelogue of delightful descriptions and anecdotes.

Unlike many modern day expeditions, these three women exhibited nothing but synchronized teamwork throughout their journey. This was not an ego trip for them. They were motivated by a genuine curiosity of the world in which they lived and an appreciation of the different people and cultures with which they came in contact.

True adventurers, they climbed unexplored ranges and reached the summit of a 22,000 plus peak without supplementary oxygen. They did all this without any casualties. It was very important for this particular expedition to be successful, because there were many nay sayers at the time who would have been only too willing to jump up and shout that women were not fit for such a venture. Thankfully, they were able to prove them wrong. Wonen can climb and lead an expedition!

In the spring of 1955, the Jugal Himal region of the Himalayan mountain range was an unexplored mystery when three women embarked on the first all-female expedition to the Himalaya. All three participants were obscure mountaineers unknown to the general public when they made their first ascent of a 22,000-foot peak. Tents In The Clouds: The First Women's Himalayan Expedition is a thrilling account of their adventure which is as stirring today as it was when first published in 1956. This new and revised edition includes nearly thirty stunning photographs, as well as a new foreword by renowned mountaineer Arlene Blum. Tents In The Clouds is secure in the annals of women's studies as both a classic of climbing literature and a testament to gender equality issues.

Well, this is certainly a change of pace for the fans of Kim Stanley Robinson's epic "Mars" trilogy. That series, of course, was an intricate meshing of hard science, ecological musings, adventure, and sociological speculations. In its scope and in the wealth of issues with which it dealt, it was not unlike Frank Herbert's classic "Dune" trilogy.

"Escape from Kathmandu" is something far different.

For one thing, it is set in the Nepal of our own timeframe (or close thereto...the four stories were originally written in the mid-'80s). For another, the protagonists are not colonizers or scientists or eco-rebels...they're hash-smoking Western expatriates who hang about the Himalayas in a rather carefree fashion, living for the thrill of climbing. Happily enough, for those with eyes to see, the area is rife with yetis, hidden cities and tunnels, and reincarnated lamas. So adventure is never too far away.

The plots themselves are rather slight and uncompelling, and they creak somewhat under the weight of the political views heaped upon them. Tibet and the Dalai Lama = good, China = bad (the Chinese are portrayed as genocidal militant oppressors and poachers to boot, although in the current political climes, many would tend to agree with this assessment). The ruling elite of Nepal are villains. Governments are almost uniformly bad, but luckily they will someday be overthrown by enlightened spiritual types.

Nevertheless, the book does offer some insight into the impoverished country of Nepal, although an earlier reviewer notes that most of the information is wrong or misleading, so don't take any of the descriptions of conditions as gospel truth.

It's especially weird to read this book now, given the very recent upheavals in the country in June and July of this year (the crown prince's killing spree and the resignation of the prime minister). Since some of the members of the royal family actually appear as characters in the stories, it's rather unsettling to find out their real-life fates lately.

On the whole, the books seems dated, but KSR fans might want to check it out.

I enjoyed Kim Stanley Robinson's shorter works, but had mixed feelings about the Mars trilogy, so when I found a copy of this book at the local used book shop, I was not sure what to expect.

Hard science was absent in this modern day tale of hash smoking expatriates set in Nepal. Using Yeti's and other local lore while taking big swipes at China, governmental corruption, NGO's and other likely targets, this book did not cover new territory.

However, this book is FUN. As an old Asian expatriate hand, and as a jaded NGO representative, I am typically unimpressed by writers touching on these topics. This enjoyable read had me laughing out loud.

The writing itself was fairly crisp and to the point. No overall plot to speak of, parts of this book could have served as independant short stories.

Put this on your "just for fun" list but do read it!

I found this book in a hotel lobby and started to read it while waiting for a friend. It was so funny I had to find a copy so I could finish it. The book consists of 4 long stories. the first story is a hilarious meeting between a yeti, a couple of trek guides, and former president Jimmy Carter in a Kathmandu hotel. In the second story, the hero accidently climbs Mt. Everest. The third story involves the real location of Shangrila (Shambahla) on the dangerous Nepal/Tibet border, disputed by India and china. The pace is fast, with a lot of surprises, and I rationed myself to one story a day so I wouldn't finish it too soon. However, in writing the fourth story, the author seems to have lost interest. It's tedious, repetitive, and suddenly ends without any resolution. I think the author just quit writing or couldn't see how to complete the story.

Snowboarding to Nirvana is so exciting that I finished it in only 2 nights - I couldn't put it down. There are really cool spiritual lessons in this book that I will never forget. I've read plenty of books on Eastern philosophy and religion but this one is by far the most fun and inspiring. The meditation techniques explained in the book are great - they are easy to practice and they really work. My intuition is stronger, I feel I'm more energetic throughout the day, I'm happier and more optimistic, and negative feelings and anxieties don't stick around as much! On top of that, the book is full of many adventures and romantic encounters intertwined with some really cool tips on this awesome sport - snowboarding. After reading this book I had to give it a shot! For the women out there - you gotta try it! Read this book and get on the slopes. But beware - you'll get hooked!

Of course I was going to buy ths book! I read the first release, Surfing the Himalayas, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. The first book explained meditation and mindfulness in a more clear and entertaining way than any other Buddhist or Eastern philosphy-type book I've ever read. The second go 'round of Frederick Lenz's intense adventures in the snow covered peaks of the world's largest snowboard park had me crazily wanting to go there myself. I started boarding after reading the first book, and it has effected my whole life - literally. The second volume of Tantric Buddhist knowledge and wisdom is a western Buddhists crown jewel! These days, people who practice self discovery need something different to re-inspire their journey to enlightenment. If you want a new slant on ancient Buddhist teachings, this is what you've been looking for. It's easy to say, but the messages were so clear that I'm literally a changed person because of them. If you read this, Thank you, Frederick Lenz! I love snowboarding, and I love your books! THANK YOU! I am eagerly awaiting your next epic.

This is one of the best books I have ever read on Tantic Buddhism. In order to improve mentally you just need to simply meditate and see where it goes unstead of spending your money on book after book on how to improve your life. The strange thing is that the author killed himself in 1998 after it was discovered that he was running a semi-Jim Jones type cult and was responsible for a lot of mind control and sexual exploitation. It is strange that since, he was known to start of with good intentions in the 70's that such a good book came out as late as the ninties when he was in full swing with his cult. One would think that anything of quality would've came out before his ego got the best of him with the money homes and cars.

Doug Scott is known as a "pure, aesthetic" climber; he prefers a simple climb with a few friends, rather than a seige of 100 sherpas and 1000 oxygen bottles. He has also led an amazing life. Therefore, I really wanted to like this book.

The pictures are fantastic, but the problem with this book is Scott's writing. He is terrible at conveying what it really feels like to be way up in the freezing and isolated Himalaya, or hanging from a vertical rock.

A great writer like Jon Krakaur or Joe Simpson can spend pages explaining how their fingers were numb; their bladders were full, but it was too cold to do anything about it; the wind slammed the tent against their faces, etc., so you know what it really feels to spend a shivering night up in the mountains. In contrast, Scott will say, "and so we spent the night on the mountain and it was really cold. So, the next day......." The writing is cold [no pun intended], and rather boring.

For readers interesting in great mountaineering writing, I would recommend Into Thin Air by Jon Krakaur; Touching the Void by Joe Simpson and/or The Last Step by Rick Ridgeway, all well written. They cover less geographical ground than Scott, but they are all great reads.

This is not a paperback. Nor is it a hard-cover. Rather, it is a coffee table book measuring 12" x 9.5". With this in mind, I can fully excuse Scott for filling 70% of most pages with stunning photos, and the rest with text. This is not "a read".

Not only does this volume aid in picking out lines on various large peaks, but it shows Scott as he truly is: an introspective hippie with a physique made for moutaineering. It stands to reason then, that Scott picks very hard and interesting lines on mountains all over the world, from snow and ice to big-walls, to high altitude.

If you are a mountaineer, you should have two books on your coffee table. This one, and Chris Bonington's "Mountaineer" in the same format. Then your friends might just understand why you climb.

Doug Scott was capable of taking me to a place I have never been before (for now). His writings skills may not be Hemmingway (nor mine), but in combination with the photographs, this book made my heart race with passion. My love for the mountains was established way before I read this book, but the book rekindled the flame. Unlike INTO THIN AIR's Jon Krakauer, Doug Scott is the superman of climbers. While you are reading, scenes appear, places with such beauty and excitement glare into your eyes and mind. Hey a picture is worth a thousand words. Doug Scott made this book a true LIFES adventure.

Experience the book and take a trip to the top of a mountain,

O

I learned alot about the world of small village life. The doctor's experience of having to follow a "guide book" and being thrust into a situation where she felt completely overwhelmed felt very familiar to me (student teaching) and I could relate to the madness of her everyday challenges. Although, in my situation, no one's life is at stake. I am a complete "Foodie" and got very interested in the type of foods that were being discussed in the book. I really liked the turns in the story and the characters were fun to root for (except the kidnapper). The faith that guided many of these characters can give all of us hope not matter what type of challenges come our way. Thank you to Craig Danner for this wonderful read.

We read this book AND were fortunate enough to meet the author and his wife, who lived much of the story...this book is an amazing experience! There was so much to talk about. My favorite parts were the beautiful characters. I loved all of them by the book's end, even the creepy ones. They'll haunt you forever. Also loved the education on religious practices and Indian Gods...treat yourself to this book! Don't pass it by! If you've ever wanted to travel or immerse yourself in another culture, this is your chance.

Let me say up front that I know Craig Danner and this book well--I'm his sister-in-law. But I'm also an avid reader, and this is an unforgettable book that demonstrates a rare understanding of women's experiences and a dazzling sense of place. The central character is Doctor Mary, who flees Baltimore after her husband's untimely death for a remote Indian village high in the Himalayas. As she struggles to make sense of her new life and her past experiences, Mary finds herself intertwined with a diverse cast of characters--the waiter in the local dhaba (cafe), a lonely and insecure British traveller, a desperate and aging addict, the unpredictable hospital nurses--and as they change her life, she influences theirs as well. The way Craig writes about Mary's emotions and experiences shows his deeply felt insight into women's lives, and is one of the strongest aspects of a compelling book. Craig knows from whence he writes. He spent more than a year working in India as a medical care provider, and his book resonates with the authenticity of a writer who has been there. His descriptions of the dynamics of village life, of the Himalayan tourist trade, and of the conflicts that occur when people of different cultures live and work together, all ring true. "Himalayan Dhaba"'s sense of place is lyrical and haunting, with gorgeous descriptions that make you feel like you're there as the story unfolds. "Himalayan Dhaba" is a story that will draw you in and stay with you long after you've put the book down. The characters are finely drawn and memorable--they're flawed, human, struggling and hopeful. The setting is exotic, yet the story sounds universal themes of human hope and triumph, and reminds us all of the beauty in everyday life. Don't miss this book!

James Bond has always been a figure of fantasy and Benson, in his routine fourth Bond novel (after The Facts of Death) wisely keeps him fantastic. An international mercenary terrorist gang called the Union pilfers the British secret formula for Skin 17, the only aircraft material that can withstand a speed of Mach 7. Besides its technological importance, Skin 17 is a triumph for the lagging British military, so spymaster IvI needs Bond to get it back, and to find the turncoat who helped the Union steal it. The terrorists hide the formula for Skin 17 on a microdot implanted inside the pacemaker of a Chinese national, who dies a few days later when the airplane he's flying in is hijacked and crashes on Kangchenjunga, third-highest mountain of the Himalayas: hence this novel's title. Bond, of course, is dispatched to retrieve the microdot. En route to a blood-filled, ice-encased climax, Agent 007 indulges his old tastes for dangerous women and beautiful cars. Thanks to Q, the violence features some deliciously nasty weapons, including a gadget-laden Jaguar XK8. Benson's prose, including the dialogue, is wooden, but the action he provides is fast and furious and Bond fans will note the narrative scores "a first for Bond... sex at 7,900 meters" -a high point in a novel that otherwise is middling all the way.

For me this was a very disappointing book. I thought it started well with lots of action and detail but soon petered out to a wordy tome with action in fits a starts and a poor finale. Marquis as the villain was cardboard and Bond made some big mistakes. He would never compromise SIS rules by forming a relationship with his PA, no matter how desirable, and they have all been that. Raymond Benson has produced vintage James Bond prior to this, almost to Ian Fleming standard - no one get be quite as good as the master - this lets him down. I don't suppose my lack of interest in mountain climbing helped but I found the passages on the climb, a big chunk of the book, very slow and what action that did take place lacked the usual Bond detail. "The Facts of Death" had pace, action, detail and Bondness as did Benson's other Bond books. "High Time to Kill" seems to have suffered from altitude sickness. I look forward to "The World Is Not Enough" and hope both Messrs. Bond and Benson are back on track.

Although I must confess to having really enjoyed reading HTTK, it struck me that it was one of the worst written books ever. It reads like a teenager's english essay! Having said this it was probably the slickest, fastest moving, and most action packed Bond book of all time. This is proved by the fact that I finished it in just two sittings. All the essential bond elements were there but were overdone- the Jaguar's special 'extras' were ridiculous and the girls and fights were so frequent its a wonder Bond had any energy left for his mission! The story concerns itself mainly with introducing the Union(SPECTRE II!)in a way reminiscent of Flemings introduction to SMERSH in Casino Royale. The Union(with the help of an old rival of Bond's) have stolen an important British Military secret and Bond is sent to recover it. Overall Bensons latest effort pretty good but their is still much to be improved on!

If you are looking for an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, or any real form of Buddhism, this is not a book for you. Expose yourself to the Buddhist system of thought somewhere else. If you are expecting some insight into snowboarding and care whether Lenz is a "world-class" snowboarder, stay even farther away.

While I enjoyed the book, I was somewhat disturbed by the inclusion of some mystical allegory (or whatever) being thrown in and made to appear to be integral to Tibetan Buddhism.

Like so many things... read the book and take with you what makes sense for you. There are a LOT of really good concepts laid out in understandable terms for the Western mind. This always carries the problem of losing something in the translation. Read it and don't worry that it ALL does not make sense... or even remain logically consistent.

I must tell this story. I had to buy three copies of this book before I could finish it! Either the cover is just too good to pass up, or the text is such an easy read - I don't know WHAT it is, but I've had my first three copies lifted (as in taken, stolen, borrowed (?), whatever) before I could finish reading it! I tend to think that's an odd sort of compliment to the book and its author. One was lifted directly from my hotel room in Seattle; it sat on the bed next to my expensive camera and my favorite "travel tape" collection. JUST the book went to a new home. It gets frustrating. So off I went to buy yet another copy of Surfing! Oh well, I finally sat and read my fourth copy in one afternoon, jealously guarding the danged thing. I highly recommend reading this book. It's fun and enlightening, light and inspirational. Just read your book entirely before you set it down - it has legs.

"Charged with energy, humor, and insight, this is the engaging story of a young American snowboarder who travels to the Himalayas seeking the ultimate high - but surfs into an experience more transcendent than he could ever imaged. In an accident of karmic destiny, the young man plows into a Tantric Buddhist monk named Master Fwap who takes him on as a spiritual apprentice. Using snowboarding as a path to enlightenment, the charming and learned Master Fwap shows how, by freeing the mind and challenging the soul, one can master any mountain - and master himself."

Surfing the Himalayas is one of the greatest spiritual adventures ever written. It can be easy compared to The Celestine Prophesy, or any book by Carlos Castaneda. Master Fwap's enlightening humor takes your mind into a higher level of awareness at the turn of each page. This is an adventure that should be enjoyed by all.

"The Seduction of Silence" portrays five generations of an Indian family and their search for spiritual enlightenment and domestic happiness. Although the novel opens (and, in a sense, closes) with Aakash, the family patriarch, the story focuses on the women--their occasional happiness, their common misery, and their fate. Aakash's wife, Jyoti Ma, begins a tradition that repeats itself with each generation: through selfishness and pride and naivete, she drives the members of her family away. This theme continues with her daughter, Tulsi Devi, granddaughter, Rohini, and great-granddaughter, Saakshi. With each generation, too, the men are basically absent: they either leave the family in search of mystical awakening or become aloof or tyrannical husbands who alienate their children.

The first part of the novel, set in a Himalayan Eden, reads like an allegory, in prose reminiscent of magic realism. As the story progresses, however, and the setting changes to Delhi and then to London, the tone gradually becomes less magical and more realist. The effectiveness of this technique is decidedly mixed, especially because the novel is fairly short for a multi-generational epic. The first section works in spite of its brevity; the "fairy tale" of Aakash and Jyoti Ma and their children is enchanting without being sentimental. But, once the family moves to the squalor and the bustle of India and England urban centers, the story feels rushed, the details seem random, and the author allows increasingly less time for the reader to "get to know" the members of each succeeding generation. Furthermore, the melodramatic (and somewhat expected) climax, which briefly recalls the fairy-tale imagery of the first part of the novel, is too forced to be remotely believable.

Through it all, each generation seeks comfort in different beliefs, from Hindu mysticism to 1960's hippie culture to Anglo-American spiritualism to yoga meditation. The philosophical motif that links each generation's seeking (the oft-repeated phrase "everything happens for a reason") is a bit corny--particularly because it's never clear what the reason is--but since the characters (and the author) skeptically disparage each other's beliefs (there's even a mocking reference to the "Arthur Conan Doyle Room" for seances), the story avoids being preachy.

The "Seduction of Silence," then, is far too simple and (even at 400 pages) brief for the many complex themes it tackles. Still, Le Hunte has written a captivating and pleasant debut effort that ultimately succeeds because of its involving story and all-too-human characters.

"The Seduction of Silence," is an easy book to read, quite involving, and 2/3's good. As you've read, it's a multigenerational saga, and though the author distances herself from the Indian slant, it is, through and through, a novel of India.

Bem Le Hunte places her story in rural India - the villages of the Himalayan region - and in that aspect as well as in the gentleness of the spirituality portrayed, it's unlike the seething urban dramas we've gotten used to. It's also quite connected to the "Ramayana," and a reader who knows that story will find many parallels in the wanderings of Aakash and Ram with Ram, Sita, and Lakshman. The primary spiritual lesson is "god will provide," and in this story god does provide - through thick and thin.

Ms. Le Hunte has a good feel for class, caste, character, and Hindu cosmology and though the novel is a bit on the "fairy tale" side I found the reality to be grounded enough to keep the story on track. She runs into difficulty when the venue shifts from village India to the hippie London of the 1960's. Her grasp of the milieu seems much less sure, and the story seems to suffer for being rushed; and though she provides us with a touching conclusion, it's a little too "deus ex machina," to be completely sasifying.

Even so, I recommend this book for its understanding of how the myths play out in daily life, and for an entertaining read.

I am always delighted in finding new fiction that is both entertaining and that it gives the reader several views of culturally rich characters and location.
After hearing Bem le Hunte read and share some excerpts from the book I am eagerly awaiting her second novel and I am recommending
The Seduction of Silence to many of my friends.
The combination of an almost perfect character, an inperfect wife, the trials of their offsprings and the beautiful setting in which the story develops make this book a favorite that has been well received abroad and finally comes to the US.

I've used this book for 2 treks in Nepal and it was a disappoinment (the book, not the treks). As mentioned above, the book provides a plethora of trekking essentials (preparation, etc.) and background info. To use it as a guide on the actual trail is altogether another matter.

The maps are too general and is NOT suitable for actual guidance. The suggested itinerary varies too greatly for the average trekker. Some suggested trekking days that are way too difficult to complete or way too short. Things are changing quickly in Nepal...and the book does not keep up with this adequately.

I've meet many people on the trail that were also dissapointed in the misinformation regarding festival dates. The Nepalese use a lunar calendar so it is easy to see why the dates can be off from year to year. It is unfortunate if someone plans their vacation by this. There are too many misleading information here...and for a foreigner/tourist/traveller/trekker, this can prove disappointing and costly.

Take it from someone who's been there, use this book to entertain yourself, not to trek with.

this book was a great help in introducing me to the world of trekking, in terms of all the equipment i would need and the things i could expect while on a trek in nepal... it made the idea of trekking in nepal very feasible to me, and gave me confidence... but once i started trekking in nepal, i only used it as a light reference, mainly to look at the maps and see how far along i was on the trek, and perhaps to gain some information about the areas i was going through... as the author states, the suggested itineraries are not absolute, and, according to how much time and money you have, should only be used as a reference; some suggested days were too long for my group, and on other days we trekked longer distances than suggested... it's not every year you get to go to a place like nepal, so i suggest you give yourself plenty of time to enjoy your trek, take some extra rest days, and not make your trek a race...i needed more money than what this book suggested i would need; prices change... and also, especially on the annapurna trekking route, many lodges are being built every year and it's impossible for guidebooks such as this to keep up; i often thought it unfair for books like this to name specific lodges, while other lodges, some of them new, with better food and people, go unmentioned; talking with guides, porters, or other trekkers would be a good way of finding quality lodges... i think this book does a very good job of preparing you for a trek in nepal, but once you're there, keep your mind open for other sources of information, and use this book as a reference guide and not your one and only trekking "bible"... you'll get more out of your experience in nepal that way...

I bought it when I was planning to travel to Nepal. Unfortunately, I couldn't go, but the informations on the book helped me a lot to get in contact with nepali culture and details about trekking in this interesting country.

Reading Frederick Lenz talk about snowboarding and mountaineering is like listening to the Pope deliver a seminar on effective birth control methods - neither has any relevant expertise or knowledge about the respective topics. Save your money, or if must read the book, mail me and I'll send you my copy. It sucked

I do much traveling in my car and have taken up listening to books on tape. I have began to notice that my favorite audio books were the ones where the author read the passages. They know the work so well that it really carries across in the presentation.

Surfing the Himalayas audio tape is no exception. Dr. Lenz has excellent inflection and was a pleasure to listen to. I would recommend this for the commuters out there who are interested in "Eastern" topics.

The book-on-tape is edited (unfortunately) but great to listen to in the car