Mohawk hair-cuts in Bali, yuppies in Hong Kong and Rambo rip-offs in the movie houses of Bombay are just a few of the jarring images that Iyer brin...
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reviews
Jul 18, 2011
K.D.
rated it: 
The book is about his 6-month visit to the different countries in the Far East in 1985. Each country has its own chapter in the book but the sequence is not chronological. I think it was arranged according to how Iyer would like to impact or influence the mind of the reader and I think he was able to do that effectively. The first chapter is about the paradise island of Bali focusing on the effect of the tourism to the previously gentle and virgin island. The character of Wayan, the child-father
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Nov 20, 2009
keith
rated it: 
Disappointing. Pico rails about how badly the West has polluted the rest of the world, lamenting the ruined purity of far-flung places. Michael Jackson cd's for sale in Indonesian villages? I'm shocked, shocked! For anyone who has been around the world a bit, this book is just too obvious, and for anyone who hasn't, it's a cynical and jaded expose of...nothing too interesting. What a clever fellow! He finds what he expects to find; this book is about as interesting as a restaurant review o
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Mar 31, 2011
HappyReading
rated it: 
Noopur Raval is a student of Masters in Arts & Aesthetics, JNU, a photographer, blogger and interesting character! In her first post she writes about her favorite travel read – Video Night In Kathmandu by Pico Iyer, on HappyReading Blog:
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If I were traveling and wanted to read a book along and not get depressed as I moved and be able to put that book/travelogue’s perspective onto my own travels, which book would I pick? This is the question I would ask myself over and over More...
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If I were traveling and wanted to read a book along and not get depressed as I moved and be able to put that book/travelogue’s perspective onto my own travels, which book would I pick? This is the question I would ask myself over and over More...
Jul 29, 2011
Manu
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Set in the mid 80's, Pico's travel writing worked on two levels for me - one, in terms of his destinations, and the other, in terms of time. Right from the first page, with his interpretation of the Rambo phenomenon in Asia, his sharp wit makes this book a great read.
He uses individual characters in different places (India, China, Tibet, Nepal, Burma, Thailand, HongKong, Japan, Philippines) to describe the place's character. In some cases, the stereotypes are reinforced, but in a lot of others, More...
He uses individual characters in different places (India, China, Tibet, Nepal, Burma, Thailand, HongKong, Japan, Philippines) to describe the place's character. In some cases, the stereotypes are reinforced, but in a lot of others, More...
Nov 22, 2011
Tocotin
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This was a fun book, very fast reading, even though quite dated (the 80s), about how East meets West through popculture. There was a part about Japan too, and judging by it I'd say the author has a good insight into the cultures he's writing about, for someone who doesn't speak the languages of the countries he's visited. Sure, he is a little bit too awed by the (putative) mysteriousness and perfectionism of Japan, so probably his highly poetic descriptions of other places - like Burma or Tibet
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Apr 25, 2011
Dan
rated it:
A book of "I traveled to ____ and saw how East Meets West" stories. I mean, nothing wrong with that. Some of them were naturally interesting, particularly Burma, which he describes as this land lost in time. Also, he wrote this in 1988, but a lot of it feels like it was last year, particularly when he's discussing the up-and-coming Eastern business world.
A lot of it reinforced stereotypes: Thailand has sex tourism, the Philippines is super US-influenced, Bali has ... lots of More...
A lot of it reinforced stereotypes: Thailand has sex tourism, the Philippines is super US-influenced, Bali has ... lots of More...
May 24, 2011
Jennifer
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Though I'm a big fan of Pico's work - and, okay, this is a really weird reason to award something three stars instead of the requisite four - I didn't think there was enough "judgment" or "opinion" contained in his prose. (Yes, I know that this is what most readers hate about Iyer's central voice, but I can't help it. I'm obsessed with it.) I think what I really look for in any travel memoir, or basically any nonfictional narrative, is a stable narrator figure. I want, for al
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Jun 30, 2009
Melinda
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I read this book in preparing for a trip to Asia - also, my boyfriend happened to own it. It was interesting, but to me, it was more that it captured the 1980s in Asia, rather than delivered any ground-breaking insight into the culture. In may cases, it was almost as if Iyer saw what he wanted to see - a single-minded Chinese populace, an introspective and peaceful Burma, an efficiency-oriented Japan etc. He does point out some contrarian aspects of each culture, but the bulk of the writing seem
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Aug 26, 2009
I first heard of Pico Iyer by reading his liner notes in THE ESSENTIAL LEONARD COHEN compilation. Then I heard him interviewed about his interactions with the Dalai Lama on the NPR program Fresh Air. Clearly, he is a devout seeker with an admirable curiousity.
This book describes the exoticism that goes both directions in the cultural "East" and "West". It opens with Iyer's observations of how different Asian countries were impressed by the movie RAMBO and the More...
This book describes the exoticism that goes both directions in the cultural "East" and "West". It opens with Iyer's observations of how different Asian countries were impressed by the movie RAMBO and the More...
Dec 27, 2011
Patrick
rated it:
A somewhat dated travelogue of Asia, that examines the effects of Westernization on the East. The author's time in Asia happened in the mid 80s, with the latest visit being 1987. Obviously, Asia has changed immeasurably since then, and his descriptions of a Beijing full of bicycles, the Philippines under the Marcos regime, or Bollywood movies where the women are all plump, give the book a quaint "snapshot" feel. That said, much of Iyer's observations about some of the deeper cultural p
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Aug 24, 2010
Ingrid
rated it:
Pico Iyer's books are always extremely insightful. He has such a unique way of viewing the world and then relating it to others. I always find myself feeling much more open, thoughtful and understanding after reading his books (as well as jealous of how many different countries he's gotten to travel to). I am always impressed by the intimate quality of his writing and the way he sucks you into his stories and experiences abroad.
Feb 26, 2009
shannon
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Insightful but interminable. I was bored blank by the last 5 pages of each essay. His main sentiment for each region was interesting, but he reworded and repeated it endlessly. This was deadening when it should have been inspiring or at least enlightening. Maybe it was more so in the 80s, since this material has gotten out of date very quickly. I don't think Asia's changed much, but our perception of it has come to match what Iyer observed so much that his descriptions seem heavy-handed and
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Jun 19, 2009
Heather
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This was required reading in a university course I took (a looong time ago) and as my introduction to everyday life in East and South Asia, it was certainly an eye-opener. I found the author's attitude slightly off-putting, though; he seemed to criticise the East for not being Western enough, then criticised them for picking up too much from the West, then looked down at them for being too Eastern!
Jun 21, 2009
Charles
rated it:
It's not a vacation until I finish a book. I finally finished this book in Amsterdam yesterday. It's slightly snooty writing. I found his intrasentence interjections of ", of course," and ", naturally," and the like tiresome, and I don't know that he fulfilled his mission as stated in the start of the book, but it was anecdotally entertaining at least, especially his chapter on India.
Nov 12, 2009
Rachel
rated it:
I have been wanting to read this for years, there it was at the booksale last Sunday. I started reading it on a bus trip to LA on Tuesday and have been working on it ever since. I had heard about Pico Iyer, but hearing his actual voice on the page is really great. I will definitely look for more of his work.
Mar 05, 2009
Great travel narrative! witty, funny and perceptive in his writing- tibet,nepal,china,the philippines, burma,hong kong,india,thailand and japan. Interestingly, his descriptions of these countries stick in your head for a long time..
Mar 18, 2010
Elizabeth
rated it:
As much as I wanted to enjoy this book unfettered by all of the baggage that comes with writings about "the East" - or more generally travel writing I just couldn't.
I need to revisit this review and explain myself a little more thoroughly.
I need to revisit this review and explain myself a little more thoroughly.
Aug 20, 2009
Colleen
rated it:
interesting idea...have picked it up many times, but can't really get into it....doesn't draw you in with a compelling story to keep you interested
Apr 13, 2010
Rick
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I really like Iyer's writing. His chapter on India, although 25 years old, is still spot on in many ways.
Aug 17, 2009
Katie
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Brillant insightful stories from the East, with details I remember from Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand....
Jan 16, 2012
Sashi
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Very funny tracel book on Asian countries. Favorite was the chapter on a chinese railway station.
Mar 09, 2010
Michael
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This was a truly painful book to get through. Pico Iyer's observations were fine - it's just that he took forever to make them, and then, having made them, he made them again... and again... and again. For about 30 pages per country. It was interminable. Save yourself some time and read the first couple of pages of each chapter.
About the only chapter that bucked the trend was the one on India, where Iyer focused on the Bollywood film industry, and managed to get some interesting inte
About the only chapter that bucked the trend was the one on India, where Iyer focused on the Bollywood film industry, and managed to get some interesting inte
Nov 17, 2011
Agustinus
rated it:
one of the best and contemplative travel books from one of the best travel writers i have ever read
Oct 08, 2010
Chhaya
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While reading this I found myself wondering often what Iyer would say now since the West has encroached even further into Asian cultures in the intervening 20 years. Minor point though since this has a unique perspective and is a well-written thinking person's travelogue.
Apr 12, 2011
Steven
rated it:
Travel changes the traveler and the location. More of a commentary on travel. The author visited some locations repeatedly over the course of years and found local flavor eroding. As far as I can tell, paradise exists only in the mind, as too many note over the centuries that remote locations are never as pure and authentic as they uses to be.
Overall, I liked it, especially that the author did not sugar coat what he found.
Overall, I liked it, especially that the author did not sugar coat what he found.
Oct 06, 2008
Daniel
rated it:
This was my first Pico Iyer read and it was fantastic. His writing is dense but colorful, and his command of language is enviable. Hard to believe he was about my age when he penned this. His descriptions are fascinating as he explores a world that most have never seen and probably no longer exists. Made me fantasize about having the time or money to take six months and travel around Asia.
Nov 09, 2010
Stacey
rated it:
This was a very enjoyable collection that had me wanting to wrap up my South American trip and head to Asia. Of course, Iyer's Asian travels took place many years ago, and having been to China in 2009, I know that a lot has changed since this collection was published. On the other hand, reading about some of these places before they were "discovered" was probably part of the fun.
Aug 09, 2009
Lindsay
rated it:
Rating: 2.5
Iyer's stories of his travels in Asia range from quite interesting to generalizations from a tourist's point of view. The real downside is that this book dates from the 80's, so it is hard to put much stock in any descriptions holding true today. (Also, as a "younger" reader, any cultural references - movies, celebrities, etc. - from the time were completely lost on me.)
Iyer's stories of his travels in Asia range from quite interesting to generalizations from a tourist's point of view. The real downside is that this book dates from the 80's, so it is hard to put much stock in any descriptions holding true today. (Also, as a "younger" reader, any cultural references - movies, celebrities, etc. - from the time were completely lost on me.)
