1. ISBN13: 9781741048322
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Lonely Planet has found the best of Nepal. Lose yourself in the temple-strewn alleys of Bhaktapur, the quiet beauty of a Himalayan vista or the vibrant excitement of a Bodhnath Stupa pilgrimage - then find your next adventure with our 8th edition of this indispensable guide.

Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honest advice, designed to give you the information you need to make the most of your trip.

In This Guide:

Adrenaline-packed activities chapter has you paddling, biking and climbing Nepal
Full-Color Feature reveals the best temples, festivals and mountain trails
Green Index helps you tread lightly

Customer Review :

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1. ISBN13: 9781558215498
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Review :

The most influential mountaineering book ever featuring exploration, the exhilirating summit, and the nightmare descent

My second favourite Mountaineering book of all time! This is the most widely-read and influential mountaineering book ever published. Annapurna was the first 8000m mountain to be climbed, with Herzog becoming a national hero.

Because the maps at the time were incorrect, the team initially floundered looking for a route to either Dhaulagiri or Annapurna. Deciding that Dhaulagiri was too difficult, they found their way to the North Face of Annapurna. They quickly, and luckily, raced up the mountain. On June 3, 1950 Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal reached the summit of Annapurna without oxygen.

The descent turns into a nightmare, and is better than any fictional writer could dream up. Herzog loses his gloves and his hands become frostbitten and Lachenal's feet become frostbitten. Both barely make it back to camp. Lionel Terray and Gaston Rebuffat help them, but the weather turns into a white-out. They wander around helplessly before finding a crevasse to spend the night. They were caught in an avalanche. The medical treatment they received by the expedition doctor was unbelievable and almost primitive.

"The summit was a corniced crest of ice, and the precipices on the far side which plunged vertically down beneath us, were terrifying, unfathomable. Our mission was accomplished. But at the same time we had accomplished something infinitely greater. How wonderful life had become! What an inconceivable experience it is to attain one's goal and, at the very same moment, to fulfill oneself. I was stirred to the depths of my being. Never had I felt happiness like this - so immense and yet so pure."

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A mountain shrouded in mystery

The year 1950 doesn't seem that long ago. But in terms of mountaineering, 1950 is ancient history. Mount Everest had not yet been climbed. The use of oxygen on high peaks wasn't common. And some of the highest mountains in the world were still shrouded in mystery.

In 1950, a French expedition ventured into Nepal hoping to be the first to climb a peak over 26,000 feet. But with bad maps and no aerial photographs to guide them, they spent weeks just trying to get close enough to a mountain to climb it. The one they finally chose, Anapurna, turned out to be doozy.

"Anapurna" is an accounting of this expedition by its leader, Maurice Herzog. It's not a particularly well-written book, but it still has some fascinating history and exciting moments.

If you're only looking for climbing adventure, there's much in the book you can skip. Fast forward to the summit attempt by Herzog and Louis Lachenal. On the way down, they and two other climbers get lost in a storm and struggle to stay alive. This gripping section is the best part of the book.

Still, it's interesting to read other parts of the expedition as well. Today, mountain climbing has become almost ruthlessly efficient as small parties summit fast and get down as quickly as possible. The 1950 expedition, by contrast, had nine Frenchmen and employed scores of Sherpas and porters to move goods and supplies in a series of camps. It took it months from start to finish.

While Herzog does fine recounting events, he doesn't do well portraying the people of the expedition. The Frenchmen are all portrayed as hard-working team members who barely, if ever, complain. It's hard to tell them apart.

The relationships between the French and the Sherpas and porters is interesting, though sometimes uncomfortable for today's reader. Herzog has high praise for many of them. But there's a section near the end where the expediton forcibly employs local men to help them carry their supplies. Herzog rationalizes that they all get well-paid in the end.

If you stumble over some of the mountaineering lingo ("bergschrund," "cagoule") in the book, take note that there's a glossary in the back. I didn't discover it until after I was done reading!


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A classic tale of alpine conquest

I enjoyed this book a lot. It read well for being a translation. I have not read accounts from other members of the expedition, so I can't speak to criticisms of its accuracy. As a climber, I can sympathize with Herzog's ambitions to go on in the face of danger - it takes a great deal of self control not to. I think He is too gracious to be called self gratifying and his arguably wreckless decisions are probably defensible given the ethics of his day. While I would not suggest cannonizing Annapurna as a definitive history of mountaineering book, it is certainly worth the read. If you are interested in reading an accurate book about Himalayan climmbing, read No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks by Ed Viestuers first. If you want a good story and aren't offended by subtle Francocentric biases, Annapurna is still highly recommended!


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Excellent mountaineering literature.

I consider "Annapurna," by Maurice Herzog to be an excellent read about mountaineering. Although I would generally recommend this book to anyone, I consider it an essential part of a mountaineers literature collection. For climbers, learning the lessons secondhand from Herzog rather then coming home from an expedition with fewer extremities than you had when you left seems to be the preference. This is a great book to study the mountain of Annapurna as well as to check yourself and your practices while high on your own mountains. After reading "No Shortcuts To The Top," by Ed Viesturs, I found that Viesturs continually referred to this book while he was enduring his quest to climb all of the 8,000+ meter peaks to keep himself in check. Viesturs admits that some of his practices on expeditions, such as always having two pair of mittens, as well as only using mittens that actually attach to his down suit, may be the cause that he climbed all 8,000 meter peaks without frostbite.

A couple of things to consider is that this book was translated from French, as well as written in the early 1950s. Herzog's climbing team were primarily Chamonix guides. Because of this, there are some small and certainly manageable grammar errors, as well as an overall general different way of saying things. I personally didn't mind this and consider it to have perhaps even strengthened my literary capabilities. In fact, I would often find myself quite humored by the grammar peculiarities. Perhaps they even aided in conceptually creating the environment and time period of the book.

I would also say that I didn't observe the excessive self praise by Herzog that was mentioned in another review of this book. Although only a fool would expect a personal account of anything to be completely objective, it felt generally objective to me, and I felt that Herzog applied most of his praise to his team's abilities rather than his own.

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Good book

This book may have began a genre of climbing/adventure accounts because it was written some time ago, and this, more than the content (in my opinion) is the reason this book is the number 1 mountaineering book of all time; at over 11 million copies sold.

The first part is a bit slow and sort of parallel's the teams slow slogging through the land to get to the mountain. Overall, this was a harrowing and heroic feat, and gripping to read. It also opens the door to following books which dispute Herzog's point of view.

Good, not great. And there are some great books about climbing.

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1. ISBN13: 9781741041880
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Lonely Planet Knows Nepal

Enjoy the high passes, breathtaking landscapes and exhilarations of trekking in Nepal with Lonely Planet. Whether you want to make a tilt at Everest Base Camp, reach remote Tibetan villages or circuit sacred lakes, this guide lets you light out for the roof of the world.

In This Guide:

Color section details life on the trail, from teahouses to prayer wheels
Everything you need to know to get prepared
Comprehensive listings of teahouses, lodges and camp sites along the way

Customer Review :

Gives only the "greatest hits" of Nepal trekking

This book includes the biggest and most well-known treks around Nepal, and the descriptions of those treks are very detailed and comprehensive. The maps provided are accurate and helpful. If you are looking for alternatives or treks off the beaten tourist tracks, few of the featured routes fit that bill. In addition, there are very few short (less than 4 days) treks, and almost no routes within close proximity to Kathmandu. This book is good if you are coming to Nepal for less than a month and only want to hit one or two of the major treks. If you are planning to come for longer, or live here and want to explore less-touristy routes, you will need to supplement this book with your own research.

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1. ISBN13: 9780684865454
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Dull Exposure: Enduring One Man's Passionless Scribble

Reading David Breashears' pedestrian and flaccid account of his climbing and film-making career is like post-holing through waist-deep snow, only to reach a fogged-in summit. By the end of this poorly constructed narrative, the reader knows less about what makes Breashears tick than about the inner workings of IMAX cameras.

Breashears' mountaineering adventures could have made great storytelling. Instead, the lack of emotional depth he brings to his accounts make them as inspiring as a package of freeze-dried mashed potatoes. Breashears uses the same monotone style to describe the loss of climbing friends, horrific climbing tragedies, doomed rescue attempts, and summiting the highest peaks in the world. However compelling the circumstances, the absence of human feeling renders the stories one-dimensional and, eventually, boring. For someone who claims to have an "enduring passion" for mountains, Breashears' writing is singularly lacking in anything remotely resembling passion.

Breashears' recounting of his film-making career is equally lackluster. What could have been a fascinating tale of the melding of high altitude mountaineering with cinematography -- each of them demanding and unforgiving in their own right -- comes across instead as a monotonous catalogue of Breashears' film credits. His insistence on describing in obsessive detail the mechanics of film-making while ignoring the human element makes for what must be some of the dullest passages ever written about mountaineering.

Breashears brings the same emotionally barren approach to the descriptions of his personal life. When his marriage fails, he spends less than a paragraph describing the process of separating and its aftermath. Throughout, the sparse and wholly unenlightening descriptions of his personal travails seem rudimentary. Indeed, Breashears devotes more attention to his tedious and repetitive descriptions of IMAX camera technology than to the death of friends or loss of his wife.

A glimmer of interest is aroused when Breashears describes his experiences on Everest during the tragic events of May 1996, chronicled in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air. But Breashears brings no new insights to those events. Instead, he parrots Krakauer's critique of the commercialization of Everest and of Anatoly Boukreev's choice not to use supplemental oxygen while guiding clients. His criticism of Boukreev seems rote, as if he felt obliged to support Krakauer's take on the Everest tragedy but did not give the matter much thought (Krakauer is a friend of Breashears and wrote the foreword to "High Exposure."). Like Krakauer, Breashears does not bother to consider or discuss Boukreev's years of Himalayan climbing experience, his established practice of climbing without supplemental oxygen and his reasons for doing so, or Boukreev's philosophy that clients need to be self-sufficient on Everest. Ironically, Breashears makes the same point (regarding the need for clients to be self-sufficient on Everest) just pages before he criticizes Boukreev. Breashears does acknowledge (grudgingly) that Boukreev's successful rescue of several climbers on the South Col during a severe storm and subsequent failed attempt during the same storm to rescue his expedition leader from higher on Everest were "heroic." However, the reader is left with the disturbing impression that Breashears added the gratuitous Boukreev bashing as a favor to Krakauer.

The problem with this book is that Breashears at all times keeps the reader at rope's length. He never fully trusts the belay, and as a result we are never privy to what draws him to the world's highest peaks, how he deals with the constant danger of high altitude mountaineering, or why he returns again and again to Everest after witnessing several tragedies. Its as if he is in a tent at Camp IV while we are left at Base Camp reading uninspired (and uninspiring) equipment lists. We are never allowed into his tent to share the frustration, excitement, apprehension or exaltation of an Everest summit bid.

It is not entirely Breashears' fault that "High Exposure" works neither as autobiography or adventure story. The book's disjointed and rambling narrative, its repetitiveness (how many times do we need to know how fast an IMAX camera consumes film?) and its lack of storyline cry out for editing. It is obvious that Breashears' editors were not nearly as capable as his climbing partners.

There is no doubt that Breashears is a gifted high altitude climber and film-maker. Unfortunately, his inability to share his feelings make this book self-absorbed without being self-revealing.

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After Krakauer

Since reading Krakauer's "Into Thin Air", I have wondered about the world of and the people in the mountaineering community. After reading David Breashears stunning "High Exposure", I have a better understanding of both.

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Up from the depths

Imagine being so broke that you're living between two palettes of plywood in a lumberyard...outdoors...in Wyoming...in the winter. Wow, that is exactly what Breashears did while trying to find wildcat work in Wyoming's oil fields. He eventually crawled his way out of poverty to pursue his real passion, mountain climbing. Eventually he found his calling as a movie maker and was in the process of making an IMAX movie on Mount Everest in the fateful year 1996. You get the sense that were it not because Breashears and his team had to lug heavy camera equipment up the mountain that year they could easily have also been high up on the mountain during the 1996 Mount Everest tragedy. This autobiographical memoir wends its way through Breashears early childhood and mountain climbing exploits in Colorado to his numerous forays into the Himalaya with particular focus on numerous attempts at difficult ascents of new routes on Mount Everest.
The early part of the book spends too much time belaboring his childhood and the latter part of the book re-hashes much of what is already known about the 1996 tragedy, albeit from a different perspective.
Nevertheless, it is a good, enjoyable read.

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good read

this is a good book for those who want insight into the world of climbing. this year i have read five books by everest climbers and this one has given me the best understanding of the discipline and training involved in climbing. breashers's account of his climbing career, beginning with his childhood passion for rock climbing, is far from self-indulgent. instead the reader gains respect the skill, psychological mindset, and preparation required for rock climbing and high peak climbing. my only complaint is that breashers rarely mentions the well-known physical hardships endured in high peak climbs. he rarely describes his physical state of being, as if climbing involves only technical logistics, not also overcoming the physical hardship of functioning in states of dehydration, sleep deprivation, oxygen deprivation, undernourishment, and frostbit extremities. nonetheless, his narrative has left me with valuable lessons about how disciplined training can provide one with the confidence necessary for making wise decisions when faced with formidable challenges.

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A good psychology read

This is as much a book about climbing Everest as it is an autobiography about a man's inner struggles. Would be a good read for a psychology class. The author gives great attention to detail and does a good job explaining the sport of mountain climbing to the novice.

As you read about the people who climb Everest, you'll think: Why? And then you'll find the answer: Because it's there!

I can summarize the book in two words: VERY HUMAN. Breshears is not afraid to tell you his strengths and weaknesses, nor is he hesitant to point out the same in others.





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1. ISBN13: 9781857334586
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Editorial Review :

Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.

Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include:

* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* do's, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken

"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel

"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel

"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer

"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine

"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times

Customer Review :

Nepal-culture smart: a quick guide to customs and etiquett

I purchased this book before traveling to Nepal on a medical mission earlier this year. If you only have time to read one book about Nepal-this should be the one! Written by a woman who lived in Nepal for two years,Ms.Feller captures everything you need to know to prepare you for the culture of this fascinating country. Had I not read the book, I would have been unaware of the significance of unusual details i.e. extra long fingernail,body language-sideways rocking of the head,etc. The book is small and easy to pack.
Barbara
May 2009

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