Summer Books

Books of Summer

My Land, My People: HH The XIV Dalai Lama

I snuck reading this on silent retreat in Ladakh, the culturally and ethnically Tibetan region in northern India. A great read, essentially the DL's autiobiography from childhood until his exile. Not just a personal story through, which does move the book along, but also includes excellent descriptions of Tibetan culture, as well as tracing the history of Sino-Tibetan relations across the centuries. I read this, then a month later watched "Kundun," which clearly used this as source material. Definitely recommended for anyone with an interest in Tibetan history and culture.

Shalimar The Clown: Salman Rushdie

And this one I read as I prepared to go to Kashmir- where much of the book takes place. (But see that entry for what actually happened to my Kashmir plans). An interesting take on historical fiction, sort of a contemporary historical fiction, mixing real people and events with fictional ones, which gave a unique view of history and offered a unique understanding of colonialism and its cold war consequences, echoed in layers of personal stories and larger world events. This was a very cool idea, executed very well at some points in the book, and poorly at others. Ultimately, though thought provoking and well written, there were just massive swaths of the book that I was incredibly bored, even though there were parts that made me unable to put it down. A mixed bag overall, with some moments of brilliance and some of utter ridiculousness and boredom.

Bangkok Haunts: John Burdett

The third (and last?) in the Sonchai Jitlecheep Bangkok noir trilogy that began with Bangkok 8. Also, without a doubt, the most ridiculous of the three. Still, I greatly enjoyed this adventure complete with the usual cast of prostitutes and Bangkok mafiosos, with the added dimensions of the Khmer Rouge, snuff films and Cambodian black magic. If you enjoyed the others, you'll read and enjoy this, but it is undeniably over the top.

Are You Experienced?

Ah, lad lit. Sort of like Nick Hornby lite, but extremely lite. I read this book in one sitting on a train in India. The story of a british lad who follows a girl to India for a gap year experience, with hilarity ensuing before he finds himself. The backpacker stuff in the bok did have its moments, like a group of Australians bragging about their various feats of derring-do, but otherwise an entirely forgettable reading experience.

The Great Railway Bazaar: Paul Theroux

Shout out to Matty for recommending this one. Paul Theroux gets on a train in London in the early 70's, crosses Europe, the Iron Curtain, into the Mid East, across India and Southeast Asia as the Vietnam War winds down, through Japan, across the bering sea and then all the way across the USSR and back to Europe. Though feels dated in its views of other cultures at times, the historical value is remarkable and observations of his fellow travellers are hilarious. Highly recommended, especially for other travel nerds. Particularly a good read on a sixteen hour train ride in India.

The Amber Spyglass: Phillip Pullman

A few years after having read the first two, I finally got around to reading this one. Not surprisingly, I absolutely couldnt put it down. Even better than the other two. I also had the interesting expereince of stopping through Oxford on the way back from India, and enjoyed seeing the sights described in the book. Most interesting was the history of science museum, complete with old maps and instruments that were so clearly the inspiration for the golden compass itself, as well as worlds contained in the books: ie, references to muscovites, tartars, and others on the maps. Worth checking out that museum if you are a fan.

What to Eat: Marion Nestle

Okay, another food nerd book. This one is ostensibly a nutrition book, about the pros and cons of various foods and a very straightforward what and how much of what to eat, and written by a well known nutritionist with no ties to industry. The book is organized by food group, and goes deeply into the politics behind the food and why we think its healthy- ie, lobbying from large companies at the FDA, subsidies that artificially lower prices on certain products that we are therefore more likely to eat (ie, corn-syrup sweetened goods), massive advertising campaigns, industry funded "science" and lawsuits against defensiveless "regulatory" agencies that are usually stuffed with industry people anyway. Utterly fascinating in the politics, extremely pragmatic and user friendly in its nutrition advice, I would highly recommend this book. Effectively answers questions like what does organic mean, what are trans fats, etc, etc. Amusingly mocks various specious fad diets, superfood claims, and other food misconceptions. On another note, I'd also highly recommend the muckraking documentary about Monsanto seeds that many people in India had recommended to me:

http://vodpod.com/watch/725926-the-world-according-to-monsanto-wide-eye-cinema-free-conspiracy-videos

And for more GOOD info on food health and politics: Center for Science in the Public Interest

The Quiet Room: Lori Schiller

Oh, the older I get the less I can abide terrible writing. This book, the mostly ghostwritten memoir of an upper middle class Tufts student who experiences a psychotic break and eventually develops schizophrenia is so riddled with idiomatic cliches that its nearly unbearable to read. On the other hand, its readable in one sitting. Writing aside, the story is a decent one and illuminates a lot about our mental health system from inside- inside the system and inside the mind of someone suffering from a very serious mental illness. Wouldnt particularly recommend it, though does have some interesting stuff. Don't blame me if you cant get past the prose.

Coming to Our Senses: John Kabat-Zinn

Hmm, Jon Kabat-Zinn may be the grandaddy of clinical mindfulness and meditation, but this book just lacked something. Although his science is great, and even his ideas are really good, the writing falls a little flat. Further, though a good concept on which to build a chapter- using our senses as a means into mindful awareness, it probably would have worked better as a book chapter not a whole book.

The Wise Heart: Jack Kornfield

Generally speaking, I'm a hueg fan on Jack Kornfield's work as one of the leading American Buddhist teachers. And this book was very, very good, without a doubt- the content was great, writing more than adequate, and the stories and examples both accessible and effective. Unfortunately, having read and listened to a lot of his other material, this felt a bit like a half-hearted rewarming of other material. If youre a fan of Jack Kornfield, you'll find more of his good stuff, but not much new here. If you're new to him, I'd recommend this, its a solid and efficient presentation of his classic ideas- many of which were previously only in his talks, in one book.

God's Middle Finger: