A Fortune-Teller Told Me: Travels in the Far East: Earthbound Travels in the Far East: Amazon.co.uk: Tiziano Terzani: Books

Product Description

When a Hong Kong fortune-teller warned Tiziano Terzani that he should avoid plane flights in 1993, he decided to take the old man's advice. Fortunately his employer "Der Spiegel" did not seem unduly perturbed by the idea of a Far Eastern correspondent who wouldn't board an aeroplane. So by foot, boat, bus and car, the author visited or re-visited Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China, Mongolia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, all the while receiving much advice about the future, because he made a point of consulting fortune-tellers throughout the region. Underlying all this was a serious matter: the problem of destiny, of good or evil fate and how to deal with it, and the problem of identity now that the ancient world of diversity seems about to succumb to the strident demands of economic growth. The consequences of Terzani's decision was a year full of unexpected events and encounters, in which he reflects on his own fate and on that of the people he meets. And the fortune-teller did save him from an air crash when a UN helicopter on which he was to have travelled went down in Cambodia.

From the Back Cover

When a Hong Kong fortune-teller warned him not to risk flying for a whole year, Tiziano Terzani, an experienced Asia correspondent, decided to face the challenge directly. It was, he writes, 'like the first step into an unknown world'.

In the course of that year, the author travelled by foot, boat, bus, car and train, visiting or revisiting Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Mongolia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia – all the while consulting fortune-tellers, shamans and sorcerers and receiving much advice – some wise, some otherwise – about his future.

With time to think, he learnt to understand, respect and fear for older ways of life and beliefs now threatened by the crasser forms of modernity. He also, in the company of monks and magicians, meditated on the general problem of destiny, of good or evil fate and how to deal with it, and on the problem of identity now that the ancient world of diversity seems about to succumb to the strident demands of 'development'.

The result is an immensely engaging, insightful and idiosyncratic journey, filled with unexpected delights and strange encounters. A best-seller and major prize-winner in Italy, the book – by 'one of Europe's most accomplished writers' (in the words of William Shawcross) – is a powerful warning against the new missionaries of materialism.
(And – yes – the fortune-teller 'did' save him from an air crash.)

"My undertaking not to fly turned into a game full of surprises. If you pretend to be blind for a while, you find that the other senses grow sharper to compensate for the lack of sight. Avoiding planes has a similar effect… It turned out to be one of the most extraordinary years I have ever spent: I was marked for death, and instead I was reborn."
TIZIANO TERZANI

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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

Journey into the both Asia and the writer's mind..... 18 Feb 2002

By anandkpr77@yahoo.com

Format:Hardcover

Terzani captures the spirit of Asia in this book. He's a writer with much experience in Asia and this can be seen from his analysis and interpretations of the many nuances of Asian culture and politics. As a Malaysian, I find his description about Malaysia accurate and unlike many other travel books, he managed to look at both the good and bad side of Malaysian life...
If you ever want a good initiation into the world of travel literature, this is the one. Bottom line, buy this book. It is worth every penny you spend...

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Profound, insightful and wistful 24 Sep 2008

By C. Salmon

Format:Paperback

I loved this book. I found Terzani's wistful yearning for the world gone, now submerged in materialism and concrete mirroring my own sadness at watching beautiful places ruined by needless development.

At times I found the endless fortune tellers soothsaying a bit boring, but his descriptions inbetween, especially of Singapore, Malaysia and Burma were beautiful. He was insightful and profound, sometimes even quite pigheaded and judgmental, which I found very refreshing in this world of political correctness. One of the best travel books I have read.

This book is amazing at capturing flavor of asia 16 Dec 2000

By Cynthia Murray

This guy is just really clued in to asia and also turns a very precise phrase. I happen to like asia, divination, feng shui; so this guy writing about his material is just an incredible find for me. Friends of mine have their eye on my copy, but I'm not through reading it, so I need to order from UK to get them their own (it's not available in the states). I guess I bought it at some airport while traveling, didn't even realize what gem it was until, several weeks later, when I started reading it and was immediately captivated.