- Paperback: 208 pages
- Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications (1 Sep 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 086442471X
- ISBN-13: 978-0864424716
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.7 x 1.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 530,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
Greenwald's quest reveals more about modern Nepal...than writings that take themselves much more seriously' -- Chicago Tribune
Product Description
Greenwald's story of his obsessive search for the perfect Buddha statue. His souvenir-hunting turns into an ironic metaphor for the clash between spiritual riches and material greed. Politics, religion and serious shopping collide in this witty account of an enlightening visit to Nepal.
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First Sentence
ON THE morning of Monday, 19 October, 1987, I woke up at a place called Gosainkund - a pocket of sacred lakes, dedicated to Lord Shiva, some four thousand meters high in the Nepali Himalayas. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
ON THE morning of Monday, 19 October, 1987, I woke up at a place called Gosainkund - a pocket of sacred lakes, dedicated to Lord Shiva, some four thousand meters high in the Nepali Himalayas. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
Shopping For Buddhas is a book that describes the author's search for a "perfect" Buddha statue during his stay in Nepal, which sounds simple, even dull. That simple description doesn't tell you that the book is based on a series of stand-up shows and that Jeff Greenwald has a great eye for detail and a humourous turn of phrase. At the same time he provides a huge amount of detail about the cultural background of Nepal, of the Hindu symbolism that the statues and carvings, paintings and buildings all represent, the history of the country and he even manages to touch on subjects such as the problems in Nepal with drugs, art theft, poverty and the government.
All of the information is historic however since this is not a new book - my copy has an afterword dated March 1996 - and Nepal has changed a lot since then including a civil war and much unrest. As such the book provides a very entertaining and interesting background to the country but is probably not that helpful as a current guide for visitors planning a trip to the country - which you might expect from the Lonely Planet branding.
As someone who has visited Nepal more recently, I found this book to be a great way to backfill my knowledge of the country and a great way to map my experiences there onto the historical and cultural background of the country. And, of course, whether you plan to go there or not, the book is hugely entertaining: well written and thought provoking but without ever being dull or heavy to read.
I heartily recommend the book to anyone who enjoys travel literature, good stories and some culture and history thrown in.
All of the information is historic however since this is not a new book - my copy has an afterword dated March 1996 - and Nepal has changed a lot since then including a civil war and much unrest. As such the book provides a very entertaining and interesting background to the country but is probably not that helpful as a current guide for visitors planning a trip to the country - which you might expect from the Lonely Planet branding.
As someone who has visited Nepal more recently, I found this book to be a great way to backfill my knowledge of the country and a great way to map my experiences there onto the historical and cultural background of the country. And, of course, whether you plan to go there or not, the book is hugely entertaining: well written and thought provoking but without ever being dull or heavy to read.
I heartily recommend the book to anyone who enjoys travel literature, good stories and some culture and history thrown in.
Format:Paperback
I read this book in a library out of general interest in Tibet/Nepal. However it was such a funny, charming, informative and very moving book that it was clear early on that it was more than just a "travel guide". Longing to read it again I ordered it from Amazon. My vague interest in Buddhism became far more than just an interest - because of the down to earth way Jeff Greenwald related his experiences. He somehow humanised the Buddha and the many deities connected to Buddhism and Hinduism, making this very complex subject easier to begin to understand. Greenwald has a wicked sense of humour and re-reading this book has opened a lot of doors for me. Namaste!
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An author who can invoke the sights and smells of Kathmandu proceeds with an amusing character whose self imposed mission is to find the perfect statue of Budda. A very entertaining tale highlighting the tension between advancing the spritual self and amasing material goods. For those who have been to Kathmandu it will resonate with your memories, for those that haven't then it should inspire you to go!!
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