Isn't life funny?, 19 Sep 2008
I too had to read it more than once...

What's the point of the author indulging in a 'Chautauqua' on 'Romantic' & 'Classic' 'Values', with the resultant (extravagant) soliloquy on the 'Value' of 'Quality', when the author can't even work out how to relate to his own child (who having spent the majority of his formative years in apparent mental turmoil - brought on by the behaviour of the author, as described in this book - was murdered in San Francisco 2 weeks before his 23rd birthday)?

This book is just another example of self-indulgence sold off as enlightenment...

What's the point? There is NO point.


I need 7 stars!!! ----->-->--,--'--@, 11 Jul 2008
Yeah, I am not very good at writting reviews but there you go...

This book is the kind that you borrow, read almost twice, slowly, and then you have to buy it to finish reading it the second time! The adventure, the trip is not just any trip, sprinkled with philosophy, sense of humour, and mechanics. I must say, that I never owned a cycle, and I probably never will, they scare me to death! Although I secretly love see them go past, and I would have so much enjoyed a trip like this with this guy in a classic Harley!! Oh yeah! hehe

Also, the amount of laughter and food for thought in it, and the glow of the main character made me love him dearly very early in the book, is a very caring, sometimes moody character, but his heart is real gold in powder.
I needed to have this book with me, besides my bed at night, or wherever; it is a reminder of how good is to be human after all (with or without greasy hands) ;-P

Summarising LOL, is entertaining, relaxing, and very well written. It is not only a book, for me it has become a friend.




A "Da Vinci Code " for the 1970s, 07 Jul 2008
I read this years ago, when I was studying Greek and Latin literature and Philosophy at university, and dismissed it more or less out of hand.

Coming back to it as a 40 year old father (the same age as Pirsig was when he made the journey depicted in the novel with his son)I found much more to enjoy and be affected by in the story itself. There is no doubt that the theme of the alienated son and father being reunited recalls that of the Odyssey and is genuinely moving, if clumsily resolved.

As for the philosophy, well, Pirsig admits without any embarrassment in his 1999 introduction to the book that, at the time of writing, he thought, quite incorrectly, that Phaedrus means wolf in Classical Greek. If you can't deal with a word like wolf, you won't exaclty handle mythos, logos or the technical terms in philosophical writing. If someone who clearly has no Greek at all wishes to pass himself off as an authority on the Pre-Socratics, or Plato, or Aristotle, that is just a bit embarrassing, really, and tells you all you need to know about how seriously to take his views.

Therefore the book strikes me as a (very superior, admittedly) Da Vinci Code for its day - a good story ornamented with some specious learning, and none the worse for that, as long as it is not taken seriously.

If Pirsig wants us to walk away thinking we should apply ourselves to our work a bit more and generally try harder, that is no bad thing, and as he admits himself, nobody would disagree with the message, but don't go looking for any great secret of life here. It is just a nice book.

The hallmarks of a good read, but...., 25 May 2008
This appears to have all the hallmarks of a good read for me: I'm very interested in philosophy, psychology, travel (plus a bit of a hippie so I'm sure there's a latent Buddhist in me somewhere). However, after trying this twice - and putting it down both times, never to be picked up again - I just can't see what the hype is about and am left wondering who this book actually appeals to. There doesn't seem to be anything vivid, interesting, or gripping about it. One of those books that I wanted to like so much, but found incredibly disappointing. Over-rated.

Over Rated., 18 Jan 2008
I bought and read this a few years back. The main reason was because it was highly recommended by some university types. I'm going to draw some flak on this review, because if you don't give it a 5, everyone thinks your a shallow pulp novel individual (which may be the case to a certain extent)...

The simple truth was that I couldn't really engage with the central character. Yes, there are a few moments of clarity - like when he discusses making parts himself. Unfortunately, the best elements become subsumed in a relatively dull life story. In other words, I found it dragged a bit. I didn't expect loads of action, but I did expect there to be a good deal more practical activity and a good deal less introspective discussion. I've got sympathy for the lead character (the author, as it turns out) - I just didn't enjoy his journey. The whole trip went nowhere and no-one seemed to have very much fun. Maybe I'm not supposed to have enjoyed reading it?

The Dalai Lama's autobiography should leave no one in doubt of his humility and genuine compassion. Written without the slightest hint of pretence, the exiled leader of Tibet recounts his life, from the time he was whisked away from his home in 1939 at the age of four, to his escape from Tibet in 1959, to the winning of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. The backdrop of the story is the 1950 Chinese invasion of Tibet. We learn in calm detail of imprisonment, torture, rape, famine, ecological disaster and genocide that in under four decades of Chinese rule have left a million-and-a-quarter Tibetans dead and the Tibetan natural and religious landscapes decimated. Yet the Dalai Lama's story is strangely one of hope. This man who prays for four hours a day harbours no ill will toward the Chinese and sees the potential for good everywhere he casts his gaze. Someday, he hopes, all of Tibet will be a zone of peace and the world's largest nature preserve. Such optimism is not naive, but a result of his daily studies in Buddhist philosophy and his doctrine of Universal Responsibility. Inspiring in every way, Freedom in Exile is both a historical document and a fable of deepest trust in humanity. --Brian Bruya

Isn't life funny?, 19 Sep 2008
I too had to read it more than once...

What's the point of the author indulging in a 'Chautauqua' on 'Romantic' & 'Classic' 'Values', with the resultant (extravagant) soliloquy on the 'Value' of 'Quality', when the author can't even work out how to relate to his own child (who having spent the majority of his formative years in apparent mental turmoil - brought on by the behaviour of the author, as described in this book - was murdered in San Francisco 2 weeks before his 23rd birthday)?

This book is just another example of self-indulgence sold off as enlightenment...

What's the point? There is NO point.


I need 7 stars!!! ----->-->--,--'--@, 11 Jul 2008
Yeah, I am not very good at writting reviews but there you go...

This book is the kind that you borrow, read almost twice, slowly, and then you have to buy it to finish reading it the second time! The adventure, the trip is not just any trip, sprinkled with philosophy, sense of humour, and mechanics. I must say, that I never owned a cycle, and I probably never will, they scare me to death! Although I secretly love see them go past, and I would have so much enjoyed a trip like this with this guy in a classic Harley!! Oh yeah! hehe

Also, the amount of laughter and food for thought in it, and the glow of the main character made me love him dearly very early in the book, is a very caring, sometimes moody character, but his heart is real gold in powder.
I needed to have this book with me, besides my bed at night, or wherever; it is a reminder of how good is to be human after all (with or without greasy hands) ;-P

Summarising LOL, is entertaining, relaxing, and very well written. It is not only a book, for me it has become a friend.




A "Da Vinci Code " for the 1970s, 07 Jul 2008
I read this years ago, when I was studying Greek and Latin literature and Philosophy at university, and dismissed it more or less out of hand.

Coming back to it as a 40 year old father (the same age as Pirsig was when he made the journey depicted in the novel with his son)I found much more to enjoy and be affected by in the story itself. There is no doubt that the theme of the alienated son and father being reunited recalls that of the Odyssey and is genuinely moving, if clumsily resolved.

As for the philosophy, well, Pirsig admits without any embarrassment in his 1999 introduction to the book that, at the time of writing, he thought, quite incorrectly, that Phaedrus means wolf in Classical Greek. If you can't deal with a word like wolf, you won't exaclty handle mythos, logos or the technical terms in philosophical writing. If someone who clearly has no Greek at all wishes to pass himself off as an authority on the Pre-Socratics, or Plato, or Aristotle, that is just a bit embarrassing, really, and tells you all you need to know about how seriously to take his views.

Therefore the book strikes me as a (very superior, admittedly) Da Vinci Code for its day - a good story ornamented with some specious learning, and none the worse for that, as long as it is not taken seriously.

If Pirsig wants us to walk away thinking we should apply ourselves to our work a bit more and generally try harder, that is no bad thing, and as he admits himself, nobody would disagree with the message, but don't go looking for any great secret of life here. It is just a nice book.

The hallmarks of a good read, but...., 25 May 2008
This appears to have all the hallmarks of a good read for me: I'm very interested in philosophy, psychology, travel (plus a bit of a hippie so I'm sure there's a latent Buddhist in me somewhere). However, after trying this twice - and putting it down both times, never to be picked up again - I just can't see what the hype is about and am left wondering who this book actually appeals to. There doesn't seem to be anything vivid, interesting, or gripping about it. One of those books that I wanted to like so much, but found incredibly disappointing. Over-rated.

Over Rated., 18 Jan 2008
I bought and read this a few years back. The main reason was because it was highly recommended by some university types. I'm going to draw some flak on this review, because if you don't give it a 5, everyone thinks your a shallow pulp novel individual (which may be the case to a certain extent)...

The simple truth was that I couldn't really engage with the central character. Yes, there are a few moments of clarity - like when he discusses making parts himself. Unfortunately, the best elements become subsumed in a relatively dull life story. In other words, I found it dragged a bit. I didn't expect loads of action, but I did expect there to be a good deal more practical activity and a good deal less introspective discussion. I've got sympathy for the lead character (the author, as it turns out) - I just didn't enjoy his journey. The whole trip went nowhere and no-one seemed to have very much fun. Maybe I'm not supposed to have enjoyed reading it?

Awesome, but very very sad, 02 Aug 2008
This is definately one of the most increadible autobiographies ever written. This is like the tibettan equivalent of the Anne Frank Diary, but spanning a whole lifetime. Everything you wanted to know about the situation in tibet, and many many things you'd probably rather you diddn't. Very relevent given that the olympics are comming up in china.

wonderful book by a wonderful man, 11 Jul 2008
For anyone who would like to get under the media surface of one of the planet's most iconic figures then 'Freedom in Exile' is the perfect place to start.Charting his life from his humble beginnings to his current exhalted position as the spiritual figurehead of one of our most enlightend religious traditions, his holiness never loses sight of where he came from,who he is and what he represents.
However,for me,what really made this such a revealing book is not the personal details of his fascinating life but his wider political insights.
Here is the Tibetan tragedy writ large.
The appalling brutal subversion of a tiny free Tibetan state of six million people by the corrupt,immoral authoritarian communist regime in Beijing. A nation of one billion people who used its power and military might to crush an ancient culture and grind its people into poverty. Wiping out over one million Tibetans in the process.
Despite the horrendous crimes against the Tibetan people, like that other great man of peace Nelson Mandela, His Holiness the Dalhi Lama does not wish ill upon his oppressors. Instead he seeks dialogue and a solution through peace in keeping with the peaceful Buddhist traditions he represents.
Inspiring !

Devastating, inspiring and heartbreaking - a book everyone should read, 07 Nov 2007
I have always felt a pull toward Tibetan Buddhism and have already read several books by the Dalai Lama. I don't know why I put off reading this one for so long (like another reviewer, it sat on my shelf for nearly a year before I read it). I'm glad I did. I was effortlessly drawn into a world so different to our cynical consumer-driven culture. the Dalai Lama is an engaging and talented writer, in spite of his protestations that his English is lacking.

His story is incredible and even more so is the depth of compassion and wisdom he displays - he is truly an inspirational soul, and a leader such as the world needs many more of. But this book isn't really about the Dalai Lama - it's about the horrific situation in Tibet. I had NO idea as to the extent of that nation's suffering. I cried as I read descriptions of how Tibetans have been tortured and slaughtered in the most horrific ways imaginable...truly, at times it makes you despair at the unspeakable cruelty of which human beings are capable of perpetrating against their fellow man. And yet juxtaposed with this is an immense ray of hope, in the form of the author himself and the extraordinary courage of his people. I am now committed to doing whatever I can to support and promote the Tibetan cause.

Read this book. It may just change your life.

Freedom In Exile The Auto-Biography of the Dalai Lama, 02 Mar 2007
Interesting, Amazing, Uplifting are just a few words I would use to describe this book. I couldn't put it down as it was just so very easy to read and that's coming from a bigginer at reading books over 200 pages long. If your interested in the life of the Dalai Lama its a must read.

Truly motivating, 12 Nov 2005
What an amazing life! The quiet dignity of this man and his passion for his people truly moved me throughout this book. At a time filled with so many other crusades to "liberate" nations from opression, how can Tibet be forgotten?
This is a MUST read for everyone and anyone. You will not be disappointed on any level. It is particularly comforting to know that His Holiness was just as capable of childish mischief as any other child!!!

Isn't life funny?, 19 Sep 2008
I too had to read it more than once...

What's the point of the author indulging in a 'Chautauqua' on 'Romantic' & 'Classic' 'Values', with the resultant (extravagant) soliloquy on the 'Value' of 'Quality', when the author can't even work out how to relate to his own child (who having spent the majority of his formative years in apparent mental turmoil - brought on by the behaviour of the author, as described in this book - was murdered in San Francisco 2 weeks before his 23rd birthday)?

This book is just another example of self-indulgence sold off as enlightenment...

What's the point? There is NO point.


I need 7 stars!!! ----->-->--,--'--@, 11 Jul 2008
Yeah, I am not very good at writting reviews but there you go...

This book is the kind that you borrow, read almost twice, slowly, and then you have to buy it to finish reading it the second time! The adventure, the trip is not just any trip, sprinkled with philosophy, sense of humour, and mechanics. I must say, that I never owned a cycle, and I probably never will, they scare me to death! Although I secretly love see them go past, and I would have so much enjoyed a trip like this with this guy in a classic Harley!! Oh yeah! hehe

Also, the amount of laughter and food for thought in it, and the glow of the main character made me love him dearly very early in the book, is a very caring, sometimes moody character, but his heart is real gold in powder.
I needed to have this book with me, besides my bed at night, or wherever; it is a reminder of how good is to be human after all (with or without greasy hands) ;-P

Summarising LOL, is entertaining, relaxing, and very well written. It is not only a book, for me it has become a friend.




A "Da Vinci Code " for the 1970s, 07 Jul 2008
I read this years ago, when I was studying Greek and Latin literature and Philosophy at university, and dismissed it more or less out of hand.

Coming back to it as a 40 year old father (the same age as Pirsig was when he made the journey depicted in the novel with his son)I found much more to enjoy and be affected by in the story itself. There is no doubt that the theme of the alienated son and father being reunited recalls that of the Odyssey and is genuinely moving, if clumsily resolved.

As for the philosophy, well, Pirsig admits without any embarrassment in his 1999 introduction to the book that, at the time of writing, he thought, quite incorrectly, that Phaedrus means wolf in Classical Greek. If you can't deal with a word like wolf, you won't exaclty handle mythos, logos or the technical terms in philosophical writing. If someone who clearly has no Greek at all wishes to pass himself off as an authority on the Pre-Socratics, or Plato, or Aristotle, that is just a bit embarrassing, really, and tells you all you need to know about how seriously to take his views.

Therefore the book strikes me as a (very superior, admittedly) Da Vinci Code for its day - a good story ornamented with some specious learning, and none the worse for that, as long as it is not taken seriously.

If Pirsig wants us to walk away thinking we should apply ourselves to our work a bit more and generally try harder, that is no bad thing, and as he admits himself, nobody would disagree with the message, but don't go looking for any great secret of life here. It is just a nice book.

The hallmarks of a good read, but...., 25 May 2008
This appears to have all the hallmarks of a good read for me: I'm very interested in philosophy, psychology, travel (plus a bit of a hippie so I'm sure there's a latent Buddhist in me somewhere). However, after trying this twice - and putting it down both times, never to be picked up again - I just can't see what the hype is about and am left wondering who this book actually appeals to. There doesn't seem to be anything vivid, interesting, or gripping about it. One of those books that I wanted to like so much, but found incredibly disappointing. Over-rated.

Over Rated., 18 Jan 2008
I bought and read this a few years back. The main reason was because it was highly recommended by some university types. I'm going to draw some flak on this review, because if you don't give it a 5, everyone thinks your a shallow pulp novel individual (which may be the case to a certain extent)...

The simple truth was that I couldn't really engage with the central character. Yes, there are a few moments of clarity - like when he discusses making parts himself. Unfortunately, the best elements become subsumed in a relatively dull life story. In other words, I found it dragged a bit. I didn't expect loads of action, but I did expect there to be a good deal more practical activity and a good deal less introspective discussion. I've got sympathy for the lead character (the author, as it turns out) - I just didn't enjoy his journey. The whole trip went nowhere and no-one seemed to have very much fun. Maybe I'm not supposed to have enjoyed reading it?

Awesome, but very very sad, 02 Aug 2008
This is definately one of the most increadible autobiographies ever written. This is like the tibettan equivalent of the Anne Frank Diary, but spanning a whole lifetime. Everything you wanted to know about the situation in tibet, and many many things you'd probably rather you diddn't. Very relevent given that the olympics are comming up in china.

wonderful book by a wonderful man, 11 Jul 2008
For anyone who would like to get under the media surface of one of the planet's most iconic figures then 'Freedom in Exile' is the perfect place to start.Charting his life from his humble beginnings to his current exhalted position as the spiritual figurehead of one of our most enlightend religious traditions, his holiness never loses sight of where he came from,who he is and what he represents.
However,for me,what really made this such a revealing book is not the personal details of his fascinating life but his wider political insights.
Here is the Tibetan tragedy writ large.
The appalling brutal subversion of a tiny free Tibetan state of six million people by the corrupt,immoral authoritarian communist regime in Beijing. A nation of one billion people who used its power and military might to crush an ancient culture and grind its people into poverty. Wiping out over one million Tibetans in the process.
Despite the horrendous crimes against the Tibetan people, like that other great man of peace Nelson Mandela, His Holiness the Dalhi Lama does not wish ill upon his oppressors. Instead he seeks dialogue and a solution through peace in keeping with the peaceful Buddhist traditions he represents.
Inspiring !

Devastating, inspiring and heartbreaking - a book everyone should read, 07 Nov 2007
I have always felt a pull toward Tibetan Buddhism and have already read several books by the Dalai Lama. I don't know why I put off reading this one for so long (like another reviewer, it sat on my shelf for nearly a year before I read it). I'm glad I did. I was effortlessly drawn into a world so different to our cynical consumer-driven culture. the Dalai Lama is an engaging and talented writer, in spite of his protestations that his English is lacking.

His story is incredible and even more so is the depth of compassion and wisdom he displays - he is truly an inspirational soul, and a leader such as the world needs many more of. But this book isn't really about the Dalai Lama - it's about the horrific situation in Tibet. I had NO idea as to the extent of that nation's suffering. I cried as I read descriptions of how Tibetans have been tortured and slaughtered in the most horrific ways imaginable...truly, at times it makes you despair at the unspeakable cruelty of which human beings are capable of perpetrating against their fellow man. And yet juxtaposed with this is an immense ray of hope, in the form of the author himself and the extraordinary courage of his people. I am now committed to doing whatever I can to support and promote the Tibetan cause.

Read this book. It may just change your life.

Freedom In Exile The Auto-Biography of the Dalai Lama, 02 Mar 2007
Interesting, Amazing, Uplifting are just a few words I would use to describe this book. I couldn't put it down as it was just so very easy to read and that's coming from a bigginer at reading books over 200 pages long. If your interested in the life of the Dalai Lama its a must read.

Truly motivating, 12 Nov 2005
What an amazing life! The quiet dignity of this man and his passion for his people truly moved me throughout this book. At a time filled with so many other crusades to "liberate" nations from opression, how can Tibet be forgotten?
This is a MUST read for everyone and anyone. You will not be disappointed on any level. It is particularly comforting to know that His Holiness was just as capable of childish mischief as any other child!!!

Not just "a customer", 17 Nov 2008
This is an inspiring and fascinating insight into the world of an extraordinary woman (Tenzin Palmo, previously Diane Perry), who endured all kinds of privations and gender discrimination in order to follow her arduous path to enlightenment. She belonged to a Tibetan Buddhist lineage, but her story reminded me of that of another British woman (Jiyu Kennett Roshi) of the same era, who became a Soto Zen Buddhist priest in Japan. Her book ("The Wild White Goose") is also well worth reading. In fact, although there is no mention of it, it would be surprising if the two women were not aware of each other as their paths must have crossed at some point.
Despite all the positive things I have said about the book though, I think the message that came over to me most strongly is that even if you copy Tenzin Palmo's example completely you will still only catch glimpses of enlightenment before you die! There's no short cuts.

Amazing, 11 Apr 2006
This book is one of the most amazing books tha I have ever read. I closed the back cover and open the front to read it again.This book is an experience rather then just something that you will read and forget about.

The strength and conviction of Tenzin Palmo should be an inspiration to all. Very few people ever put their money where their mouth is like her.

She has found what very few ever find, real contentment and a real purpose in life, proving that the things that we surround ourselves with are not this things that make us happy in the end.

I just can't recommend this book enough.

Cave in The Snow is hot stuff!, 18 Mar 2001
In 1976 Diane Perry, by then known by her Tibetan name Tenzin Palmo, secluded herself in a remote cave, over 13,000 feet up in the Himalayas, cut off from the world by mountains & snow. There she engaged in years of intense Buddhist meditation. Her goal was to gain Enlightenment as a woman.

Tenzin Palmo's path inspired, uplifted & gave me the giggles too! From Diane's war-worn childhood to her wild teen years in Swinging London during the 1960s to her determination to follow her calling to the exiled Tibetan communities in Northern India. From Diane's survival of strange childhood ailments to her connection with the rare Buddhist societies in England to her glimpses of the Path to Perfection, Vicki Mackenzie tells this modest pioneering woman's adventures on her way to the roof of the world among a people with a long lineage of spiritual attainment with a lively, insightful fluency enhanced by snippets of conversations & seemingly simple philosophies.

Vicki Mackenzie has written an articulate modern adventure story complete with everyday bean counters & spiritual soul counters.

There is an amusing & entertaining history lesson to be had from Cave In The Snow. Being of the same age as Tenzin Palmo, I was also exploring Buddhism, except I emigrated to America. Even so I came across the same shin-whacking taboo - women cannot become gurus, lamas, priests, imams or rabbis because...& the silly litany tumbles out of men's mouths the way excuses do when they're caught with their fingers in the cookie jars.

As any woman who has ever stumbled into male-run religions knows, it always knocks the breath out of us when, with that simple, lineal logic, we are cast into spiritual exile because those in the know consider the attainment of Enlightenment a man thang & the body female prohibits both the study & the fulfillment of spiritual perfection. As if Spirit has a gender!

Irony is one aspect of becoming spiritual that brought about the giggles. Among all that seriousness there are gentle glimpses of glee such as when a monk bids Tenzin Palmo to raise the volume on her boom box so he could hear the Spanish monks singing their prayers.

High amid the Himalayas, this odd English woman brings to those sonorous sounding monks the rarified harmonies of Gregorian chants. Any Buddhist monk I've ever seen has had a ready smile & a mischievous laugh. That is attractive to me - a religious people who enjoy laughing.

For anyone who wants their heart to soar, their spirit to burst open like a flower, their mind to enfold peace ... Very well done!

A treacherous path to enlightenment, 04 Mar 2001
This is an interesting view of what one woman undertook to journey toward enlightenment.The tale is one of great courage and is very inspiring. The attitude of traditional Tibetan Buddhism toward women was a shock to a Westerner. The chapter on the "flaws" of some of the Tibetan spiritual leaders reminded me that we all have a process in seeking enlightenment and that each person must witness him/herself throughout the journey. Even those who have reached a high level are still human beings. This was encouraging. However, I frequently found myself wishing the book were written better. The sometimes plodding style was occasionally distracting.

An inspirational read, 02 Aug 2000
Tenzin Palmo's life is a story of determination, courage and humility. In a time when few in the West had heard of Tibetan Buddhism, Tenzin Palmo travelled to India to embark on a spiritual journey by entering the often chauvinistic, monastic life of Tibetan Buddhism. With grace and fortitude she showed through her actions that women had equal right and ability to walk the path of enlightenment.

This book is an extremely digestible read and it is easy to be caught up in Tenzin Palmos's life from the outset.

I would go as far as to say this book has the potential to become a turning point in peoples lives.

Isn't life funny?, 19 Sep 2008
I too had to read it more than once...

What's the point of the author indulging in a 'Chautauqua' on 'Romantic' & 'Classic' 'Values', with the resultant (extravagant) soliloquy on the 'Value' of 'Quality', when the author can't even work out how to relate to his own child (who having spent the majority of his formative years in apparent mental turmoil - brought on by the behaviour of the author, as described in this book - was murdered in San Francisco 2 weeks before his 23rd birthday)?

This book is just another example of self-indulgence sold off as enlightenment...

What's the point? There is NO point.


I need 7 stars!!! ----->-->--,--'--@, 11 Jul 2008
Yeah, I am not very good at writting reviews but there you go...

This book is the kind that you borrow, read almost twice, slowly, and then you have to buy it to finish reading it the second time! The adventure, the trip is not just any trip, sprinkled with philosophy, sense of humour, and mechanics. I must say, that I never owned a cycle, and I probably never will, they scare me to death! Although I secretly love see them go past, and I would have so much enjoyed a trip like this with this guy in a classic Harley!! Oh yeah! hehe

Also, the amount of laughter and food for thought in it, and the glow of the main character made me love him dearly very early in the book, is a very caring, sometimes moody character, but his heart is real gold in powder.
I needed to have this book with me, besides my bed at night, or wherever; it is a reminder of how good is to be human after all (with or without greasy hands) ;-P

Summarising LOL, is entertaining, relaxing, and very well written. It is not only a book, for me it has become a friend.




A "Da Vinci Code " for the 1970s, 07 Jul 2008
I read this years ago, when I was studying Greek and Latin literature and Philosophy at university, and dismissed it more or less out of hand.

Coming back to it as a 40 year old father (the same age as Pirsig was when he made the journey depicted in the novel with his son)I found much more to enjoy and be affected by in the story itself. There is no doubt that the theme of the alienated son and father being reunited recalls that of the Odyssey and is genuinely moving, if clumsily resolved.

As for the philosophy, well, Pirsig admits without any embarrassment in his 1999 introduction to the book that, at the time of writing, he thought, quite incorrectly, that Phaedrus means wolf in Classical Greek. If you can't deal with a word like wolf, you won't exaclty handle mythos, logos or the technical terms in philosophical writing. If someone who clearly has no Greek at all wishes to pass himself off as an authority on the Pre-Socratics, or Plato, or Aristotle, that is just a bit embarrassing, really, and tells you all you need to know about how seriously to take his views.

Therefore the book strikes me as a (very superior, admittedly) Da Vinci Code for its day - a good story ornamented with some specious learning, and none the worse for that, as long as it is not taken seriously.

If Pirsig wants us to walk away thinking we should apply ourselves to our work a bit more and generally try harder, that is no bad thing, and as he admits himself, nobody would disagree with the message, but don't go looking for any great secret of life here. It is just a nice book.

The hallmarks of a good read, but...., 25 May 2008
This appears to have all the hallmarks of a good read for me: I'm very interested in philosophy, psychology, travel (plus a bit of a hippie so I'm sure there's a latent Buddhist in me somewhere). However, after trying this twice - and putting it down both times, never to be picked up again - I just can't see what the hype is about and am left wondering who this book actually appeals to. There doesn't seem to be anything vivid, interesting, or gripping about it. One of those books that I wanted to like so much, but found incredibly disappointing. Over-rated.

Over Rated., 18 Jan 2008
I bought and read this a few years back. The main reason was because it was highly recommended by some university types. I'm going to draw some flak on this review, because if you don't give it a 5, everyone thinks your a shallow pulp novel individual (which may be the case to a certain extent)...

The simple truth was that I couldn't really engage with the central character. Yes, there are a few moments of clarity - like when he discusses making parts himself. Unfortunately, the best elements become subsumed in a relatively dull life story. In other words, I found it dragged a bit. I didn't expect loads of action, but I did expect there to be a good deal more practical activity and a good deal less introspective discussion. I've got sympathy for the lead character (the author, as it turns out) - I just didn't enjoy his journey. The whole trip went nowhere and no-one seemed to have very much fun. Maybe I'm not supposed to have enjoyed reading it?

Awesome, but very very sad, 02 Aug 2008
This is definately one of the most increadible autobiographies ever written. This is like the tibettan equivalent of the Anne Frank Diary, but spanning a whole lifetime. Everything you wanted to know about the situation in tibet, and many many things you'd probably rather you diddn't. Very relevent given that the olympics are comming up in china.

wonderful book by a wonderful man, 11 Jul 2008
For anyone who would like to get under the media surface of one of the planet's most iconic figures then 'Freedom in Exile' is the perfect place to start.Charting his life from his humble beginnings to his current exhalted position as the spiritual figurehead of one of our most enlightend religious traditions, his holiness never loses sight of where he came from,who he is and what he represents.
However,for me,what really made this such a revealing book is not the personal details of his fascinating life but his wider political insights.
Here is the Tibetan tragedy writ large.
The appalling brutal subversion of a tiny free Tibetan state of six million people by the corrupt,immoral authoritarian communist regime in Beijing. A nation of one billion people who used its power and military might to crush an ancient culture and grind its people into poverty. Wiping out over one million Tibetans in the process.
Despite the horrendous crimes against the Tibetan people, like that other great man of peace Nelson Mandela, His Holiness the Dalhi Lama does not wish ill upon his oppressors. Instead he seeks dialogue and a solution through peace in keeping with the peaceful Buddhist traditions he represents.
Inspiring !

Devastating, inspiring and heartbreaking - a book everyone should read, 07 Nov 2007
I have always felt a pull toward Tibetan Buddhism and have already read several books by the Dalai Lama. I don't know why I put off reading this one for so long (like another reviewer, it sat on my shelf for nearly a year before I read it). I'm glad I did. I was effortlessly drawn into a world so different to our cynical consumer-driven culture. the Dalai Lama is an engaging and talented writer, in spite of his protestations that his English is lacking.

His story is incredible and even more so is the depth of compassion and wisdom he displays - he is truly an inspirational soul, and a leader such as the world needs many more of. But this book isn't really about the Dalai Lama - it's about the horrific situation in Tibet. I had NO idea as to the extent of that nation's suffering. I cried as I read descriptions of how Tibetans have been tortured and slaughtered in the most horrific ways imaginable...truly, at times it makes you despair at the unspeakable cruelty of which human beings are capable of perpetrating against their fellow man. And yet juxtaposed with this is an immense ray of hope, in the form of the author himself and the extraordinary courage of his people. I am now committed to doing whatever I can to support and promote the Tibetan cause.

Read this book. It may just change your life.

Freedom In Exile The Auto-Biography of the Dalai Lama, 02 Mar 2007
Interesting, Amazing, Uplifting are just a few words I would use to describe this book. I couldn't put it down as it was just so very easy to read and that's coming from a bigginer at reading books over 200 pages long. If your interested in the life of the Dalai Lama its a must read.

Truly motivating, 12 Nov 2005
What an amazing life! The quiet dignity of this man and his passion for his people truly moved me throughout this book. At a time filled with so many other crusades to "liberate" nations from opression, how can Tibet be forgotten?
This is a MUST read for everyone and anyone. You will not be disappointed on any level. It is particularly comforting to know that His Holiness was just as capable of childish mischief as any other child!!!

Not just "a customer", 17 Nov 2008
This is an inspiring and fascinating insight into the world of an extraordinary woman (Tenzin Palmo, previously Diane Perry), who endured all kinds of privations and gender discrimination in order to follow her arduous path to enlightenment. She belonged to a Tibetan Buddhist lineage, but her story reminded me of that of another British woman (Jiyu Kennett Roshi) of the same era, who became a Soto Zen Buddhist priest in Japan. Her book ("The Wild White Goose") is also well worth reading. In fact, although there is no mention of it, it would be surprising if the two women were not aware of each other as their paths must have crossed at some point.
Despite all the positive things I have said about the book though, I think the message that came over to me most strongly is that even if you copy Tenzin Palmo's example completely you will still only catch glimpses of enlightenment before you die! There's no short cuts.

Amazing, 11 Apr 2006
This book is one of the most amazing books tha I have ever read. I closed the back cover and open the front to read it again.This book is an experience rather then just something that you will read and forget about.

The strength and conviction of Tenzin Palmo should be an inspiration to all. Very few people ever put their money where their mouth is like her.

She has found what very few ever find, real contentment and a real purpose in life, proving that the things that we surround ourselves with are not this things that make us happy in the end.

I just can't recommend this book enough.

Cave in The Snow is hot stuff!, 18 Mar 2001
In 1976 Diane Perry, by then known by her Tibetan name Tenzin Palmo, secluded herself in a remote cave, over 13,000 feet up in the Himalayas, cut off from the world by mountains & snow. There she engaged in years of intense Buddhist meditation. Her goal was to gain Enlightenment as a woman.

Tenzin Palmo's path inspired, uplifted & gave me the giggles too! From Diane's war-worn childhood to her wild teen years in Swinging London during the 1960s to her determination to follow her calling to the exiled Tibetan communities in Northern India. From Diane's survival of strange childhood ailments to her connection with the rare Buddhist societies in England to her glimpses of the Path to Perfection, Vicki Mackenzie tells this modest pioneering woman's adventures on her way to the roof of the world among a people with a long lineage of spiritual attainment with a lively, insightful fluency enhanced by snippets of conversations & seemingly simple philosophies.

Vicki Mackenzie has written an articulate modern adventure story complete with everyday bean counters & spiritual soul counters.

There is an amusing & entertaining history lesson to be had from Cave In The Snow. Being of the same age as Tenzin Palmo, I was also exploring Buddhism, except I emigrated to America. Even so I came across the same shin-whacking taboo - women cannot become gurus, lamas, priests, imams or rabbis because...& the silly litany tumbles out of men's mouths the way excuses do when they're caught with their fingers in the cookie jars.

As any woman who has ever stumbled into male-run religions knows, it always knocks the breath out of us when, with that simple, lineal logic, we are cast into spiritual exile because those in the know consider the attainment of Enlightenment a man thang & the body female prohibits both the study & the fulfillment of spiritual perfection. As if Spirit has a gender!

Irony is one aspect of becoming spiritual that brought about the giggles. Among all that seriousness there are gentle glimpses of glee such as when a monk bids Tenzin Palmo to raise the volume on her boom box so he could hear the Spanish monks singing their prayers.

High amid the Himalayas, this odd English woman brings to those sonorous sounding monks the rarified harmonies of Gregorian chants. Any Buddhist monk I've ever seen has had a ready smile & a mischievous laugh. That is attractive to me - a religious people who enjoy laughing.

For anyone who wants their heart to soar, their spirit to burst open like a flower, their mind to enfold peace ... Very well done!

A treacherous path to enlightenment, 04 Mar 2001
This is an interesting view of what one woman undertook to journey toward enlightenment.The tale is one of great courage and is very inspiring. The attitude of traditional Tibetan Buddhism toward women was a shock to a Westerner. The chapter on the "flaws" of some of the Tibetan spiritual leaders reminded me that we all have a process in seeking enlightenment and that each person must witness him/herself throughout the journey. Even those who have reached a high level are still human beings. This was encouraging. However, I frequently found myself wishing the book were written better. The sometimes plodding style was occasionally distracting.

An inspirational read, 02 Aug 2000
Tenzin Palmo's life is a story of determination, courage and humility. In a time when few in the West had heard of Tibetan Buddhism, Tenzin Palmo travelled to India to embark on a spiritual journey by entering the often chauvinistic, monastic life of Tibetan Buddhism. With grace and fortitude she showed through her actions that women had equal right and ability to walk the path of enlightenment.

This book is an extremely digestible read and it is easy to be caught up in Tenzin Palmos's life from the outset.

I would go as far as to say this book has the potential to become a turning point in peoples lives.

A very inspiring read , you will not be disappointed!!, 06 Nov 2008
Whether you are merely curious, a newcomer or an experienced practitioner of Nichiren SGI Buddhism, this is a very easy to read and inspiring book, detailing 100 personal experiences of people (in the US,though this style of Buddhism also exists in the UK )who have transformed negative situations and their lives through Nichiren Buddhism. The experiences range from the practical to the emotional and existential, covering personal relationships, chronic ill health (mental and physical), work and finances etc, alongside those who ask questions such as "what's my life all about ? " etc. In all a very easy, encouraging and inspiring read...you will not be disappointed.!

So many people, such inspiring stories, 27 Jun 2007
This is a great book to have in those places where you might want to read for a few mins (bedside/loo) .. Full of short 2 or 3 page pieces by hundreds of practising Nichiren Buddhists who practise with SGI. Each story relates their own personal experiences of how they have used the practise of this Buddhism in their lives to change or move their lives forwards. Stories with sadness, anger and frustration that are transformed through putting this buddhist practise into action in their lives. Inevitably, some stories will touch on similar situations with readers, offering hope of a way of changing their lives.

My only tiny moan is that I wish the stories weren't just from US citizens .. but maybe that's the next book !

Isn't life funny?, 19 Sep 2008
I too had to read it more than once...

What's the point of the author indulging in a 'Chautauqua' on 'Romantic' & 'Classic' 'Values', with the resultant (extravagant) soliloquy on the 'Value' of 'Quality', when the author can't even work out how to relate to his own child (who having spent the majority of his formative years in apparent mental turmoil - brought on by the behaviour of the author, as described in this book - was murdered in San Francisco 2 weeks before his 23rd birthday)?

This book is just another example of self-indulgence sold off as enlightenment...

What's the point? There is NO point.


I need 7 stars!!! ----->-->--,--'--@, 11 Jul 2008
Yeah, I am not very good at writting reviews but there you go...

This book is the kind that you borrow, read almost twice, slowly, and then you have to buy it to finish reading it the second time! The adventure, the trip is not just any trip, sprinkled with philosophy, sense of humour, and mechanics. I must say, that I never owned a cycle, and I probably never will, they scare me to death! Although I secretly love see them go past, and I would have so much enjoyed a trip like this with this guy in a classic Harley!! Oh yeah! hehe

Also, the amount of laughter and food for thought in it, and the glow of the main character made me love him dearly very early in the book, is a very caring, sometimes moody character, but his heart is real gold in powder.
I needed to have this book with me, besides my bed at night, or wherever; it is a reminder of how good is to be human after all (with or without greasy hands) ;-P

Summarising LOL, is entertaining, relaxing, and very well written. It is not only a book, for me it has become a friend.




A "Da Vinci Code " for the 1970s, 07 Jul 2008
I read this years ago, when I was studying Greek and Latin literature and Philosophy at university, and dismissed it more or less out of hand.

Coming back to it as a 40 year old father (the same age as Pirsig was when he made the journey depicted in the novel with his son)I found much more to enjoy and be affected by in the story itself. There is no doubt that the theme of the alienated son and father being reunited recalls that of the Odyssey and is genuinely moving, if clumsily resolved.

As for the philosophy, well, Pirsig admits without any embarrassment in his 1999 introduction to the book that, at the time of writing, he thought, quite incorrectly, that Phaedrus means wolf in Classical Greek. If you can't deal with a word like wolf, you won't exaclty handle mythos, logos or the technical terms in philosophical writing. If someone who clearly has no Greek at all wishes to pass himself off as an authority on the Pre-Socratics, or Plato, or Aristotle, that is just a bit embarrassing, really, and tells you all you need to know about how seriously to take his views.

Therefore the book strikes me as a (very superior, admittedly) Da Vinci Code for its day - a good story ornamented with some specious learning, and none the worse for that, as long as it is not taken seriously.

If Pirsig wants us to walk away thinking we should apply ourselves to our work a bit more and generally try harder, that is no bad thing, and as he admits himself, nobody would disagree with the message, but don't go looking for any great secret of life here. It is just a nice book.

The hallmarks of a good read, but...., 25 May 2008
This appears to have all the hallmarks of a good read for me: I'm very interested in philosophy, psychology, travel (plus a bit of a hippie so I'm sure there's a latent Buddhist in me somewhere). However, after trying this twice - and putting it down both times, never to be picked up again - I just can't see what the hype is about and am left wondering who this book actually appeals to. There doesn't seem to be anything vivid, interesting, or gripping about it. One of those books that I wanted to like so much, but found incredibly disappointing. Over-rated.

Over Rated., 18 Jan 2008
I bought and read this a few years back. The main reason was because it was highly recommended by some university types. I'm going to draw some flak on this review, because if you don't give it a 5, everyone thinks your a shallow pulp novel individual (which may be the case to a certain extent)...

The simple truth was that I couldn't really engage with the central character. Yes, there are a few moments of clarity - like when he discusses making parts himself. Unfortunately, the best elements become subsumed in a relatively dull life story. In other words, I found it dragged a bit. I didn't expect loads of action, but I did expect there to be a good deal more practical activity and a good deal less introspective discussion. I've got sympathy for the lead character (the author, as it turns out) - I just didn't enjoy his journey. The whole trip went nowhere and no-one seemed to have very much fun. Maybe I'm not supposed to have enjoyed reading it?

Awesome, but very very sad, 02 Aug 2008
This is definately one of the most increadible autobiographies ever written. This is like the tibettan equivalent of the Anne Frank Diary, but spanning a whole lifetime. Everything you wanted to know about the situation in tibet, and many many things you'd probably rather you diddn't. Very relevent given that the olympics are comming up in china.

wonderful book by a wonderful man, 11 Jul 2008
For anyone who would like to get under the media surface of one of the planet's most iconic figures then 'Freedom in Exile' is the perfect place to start.Charting his life from his humble beginnings to his current exhalted position as the spiritual figurehead of one of our most enlightend religious traditions, his holiness never loses sight of where he came from,who he is and what he represents.
However,for me,what really made this such a revealing book is not the personal details of his fascinating life but his wider political insights.
Here is the Tibetan tragedy writ large.
The appalling brutal subversion of a tiny free Tibetan state of six million people by the corrupt,immoral authoritarian communist regime in Beijing. A nation of one billion people who used its power and military might to crush an ancient culture and grind its people into poverty. Wiping out over one million Tibetans in the process.
Despite the horrendous crimes against the Tibetan people, like that other great man of peace Nelson Mandela, His Holiness the Dalhi Lama does not wish ill upon his oppressors. Instead he seeks dialogue and a solution through peace in keeping with the peaceful Buddhist traditions he represents.
Inspiring !

Devastating, inspiring and heartbreaking - a book everyone should read, 07 Nov 2007
I have always felt a pull toward Tibetan Buddhism and have already read several books by the Dalai Lama. I don't know why I put off reading this one for so long (like another reviewer, it sat on my shelf for nearly a year before I read it). I'm glad I did. I was effortlessly drawn into a world so different to our cynical consumer-driven culture. the Dalai Lama is an engaging and talented writer, in spite of his protestations that his English is lacking.

His story is incredible and even more so is the depth of compassion and wisdom he displays - he is truly an inspirational soul, and a leader such as the world needs many more of. But this book isn't really about the Dalai Lama - it's about the horrific situation in Tibet. I had NO idea as to the extent of that nation's suffering. I cried as I read descriptions of how Tibetans have been tortured and slaughtered in the most horrific ways imaginable...truly, at times it makes you despair at the unspeakable cruelty of which human beings are capable of perpetrating against their fellow man. And yet juxtaposed with this is an immense ray of hope, in the form of the author himself and the extraordinary courage of his people. I am now committed to doing whatever I can to support and promote the Tibetan cause.

Read this book. It may just change your life.

Freedom In Exile The Auto-Biography of the Dalai Lama, 02 Mar 2007
Interesting, Amazing, Uplifting are just a few words I would use to describe this book. I couldn't put it down as it was just so very easy to read and that's coming from a bigginer at reading books over 200 pages long. If your interested in the life of the Dalai Lama its a must read.

Truly motivating, 12 Nov 2005
What an amazing life! The quiet dignity of this man and his passion for his people truly moved me throughout this book. At a time filled with so many other crusades to "liberate" nations from opression, how can Tibet be forgotten?
This is a MUST read for everyone and anyone. You will not be disappointed on any level. It is particularly comforting to know that His Holiness was just as capable of childish mischief as any other child!!!

Not just "a customer", 17 Nov 2008
This is an inspiring and fascinating insight into the world of an extraordinary woman (Tenzin Palmo, previously Diane Perry), who endured all kinds of privations and gender discrimination in order to follow her arduous path to enlightenment. She belonged to a Tibetan Buddhist lineage, but her story reminded me of that of another British woman (Jiyu Kennett Roshi) of the same era, who became a Soto Zen Buddhist priest in Japan. Her book ("The Wild White Goose") is also well worth reading. In fact, although there is no mention of it, it would be surprising if the two women were not aware of each other as their paths must have crossed at some point.
Despite all the positive things I have said about the book though, I think the message that came over to me most strongly is that even if you copy Tenzin Palmo's example completely you will still only catch glimpses of enlightenment before you die! There's no short cuts.

Amazing, 11 Apr 2006
This book is one of the most amazing books tha I have ever read. I closed the back cover and open the front to read it again.This book is an experience rather then just something that you will read and forget about.

The strength and conviction of Tenzin Palmo should be an inspiration to all. Very few people ever put their money where their mouth is like her.

She has found what very few ever find, real contentment and a real purpose in life, proving that the things that we surround ourselves with are not this things that make us happy in the end.

I just can't recommend this book enough.

Cave in The Snow is hot stuff!, 18 Mar 2001
In 1976 Diane Perry, by then known by her Tibetan name Tenzin Palmo, secluded herself in a remote cave, over 13,000 feet up in the Himalayas, cut off from the world by mountains & snow. There she engaged in years of intense Buddhist meditation. Her goal was to gain Enlightenment as a woman.

Tenzin Palmo's path inspired, uplifted & gave me the giggles too! From Diane's war-worn childhood to her wild teen years in Swinging London during the 1960s to her determination to follow her calling to the exiled Tibetan communities in Northern India. From Diane's survival of strange childhood ailments to her connection with the rare Buddhist societies in England to her glimpses of the Path to Perfection, Vicki Mackenzie tells this modest pioneering woman's adventures on her way to the roof of the world among a people with a long lineage of spiritual attainment with a lively, insightful fluency enhanced by snippets of conversations & seemingly simple philosophies.

Vicki Mackenzie has written an articulate modern adventure story complete with everyday bean counters & spiritual soul counters.

There is an amusing & entertaining history lesson to be had from Cave In The Snow. Being of the same age as Tenzin Palmo, I was also exploring Buddhism, except I emigrated to America. Even so I came across the same shin-whacking taboo - women cannot become gurus, lamas, priests, imams or rabbis because...& the silly litany tumbles out of men's mouths the way excuses do when they're caught with their fingers in the cookie jars.

As any woman who has ever stumbled into male-run religions knows, it always knocks the breath out of us when, with that simple, lineal logic, we are cast into spiritual exile because those in the know consider the attainment of Enlightenment a man thang & the body female prohibits both the study & the fulfillment of spiritual perfection. As if Spirit has a gender!

Irony is one aspect of becoming spiritual that brought about the giggles. Among all that seriousness there are gentle glimpses of glee such as when a monk bids Tenzin Palmo to raise the volume on her boom box so he could hear the Spanish monks singing their prayers.

High amid the Himalayas, this odd English woman brings to those sonorous sounding monks the rarified harmonies of Gregorian chants. Any Buddhist monk I've ever seen has had a ready smile & a mischievous laugh. That is attractive to me - a religious people who enjoy laughing.

For anyone who wants their heart to soar, their spirit to burst open like a flower, their mind to enfold peace ... Very well done!

A treacherous path to enlightenment, 04 Mar 2001
This is an interesting view of what one woman undertook to journey toward enlightenment.The tale is one of great courage and is very inspiring. The attitude of traditional Tibetan Buddhism toward women was a shock to a Westerner. The chapter on the "flaws" of some of the Tibetan spiritual leaders reminded me that we all have a process in seeking enlightenment and that each person must witness him/herself throughout the journey. Even those who have reached a high level are still human beings. This was encouraging. However, I frequently found myself wishing the book were written better. The sometimes plodding style was occasionally distracting.

An inspirational read, 02 Aug 2000
Tenzin Palmo's life is a story of determination, courage and humility. In a time when few in the West had heard of Tibetan Buddhism, Tenzin Palmo travelled to India to embark on a spiritual journey by entering the often chauvinistic, monastic life of Tibetan Buddhism. With grace and fortitude she showed through her actions that women had equal right and ability to walk the path of enlightenment.

This book is an extremely digestible read and it is easy to be caught up in Tenzin Palmos's life from the outset.

I would go as far as to say this book has the potential to become a turning point in peoples lives.

A very inspiring read , you will not be disappointed!!, 06 Nov 2008
Whether you are merely curious, a newcomer or an experienced practitioner of Nichiren SGI Buddhism, this is a very easy to read and inspiring book, detailing 100 personal experiences of people (in the US,though this style of Buddhism also exists in the UK )who have transformed negative situations and their lives through Nichiren Buddhism. The experiences range from the practical to the emotional and existential, covering personal relationships, chronic ill health (mental and physical), work and finances etc, alongside those who ask questions such as "what's my life all about ? " etc. In all a very easy, encouraging and inspiring read...you will not be disappointed.!

So many people, such inspiring stories, 27 Jun 2007
This is a great book to have in those places where you might want to read for a few mins (bedside/loo) .. Full of short 2 or 3 page pieces by hundreds of practising Nichiren Buddhists who practise with SGI. Each story relates their own personal experiences of how they have used the practise of this Buddhism in their lives to change or move their lives forwards. Stories with sadness, anger and frustration that are transformed through putting this buddhist practise into action in their lives. Inevitably, some stories will touch on similar situations with readers, offering hope of a way of changing their lives.

My only tiny moan is that I wish the stories weren't just from US citizens .. but maybe that's the next book !



A tangible link to another world, 25 Aug 2005
This must have been a very special person indeed. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche plays down his abilities and his reputation in the style of the "hidden yogi", but through the lines of this book shines a person full of a compassion and a devotion we ordinary beings can only dream of.

These are his memoirs, but it is also the story of the fall of Tibet and the survival of Tibetan Buddhism. Through this master and a few others like him, the link is tangible to the lost land of caveyogis and concealed treasures. The memories he recounts are full of what to us westerners seems like mystery and magic but also of perseverance and dedication. And although mystery and magic may be lost on us, the latter two are for anyone who wishes. As is said in the book about a nun: "She had nothing more than the bare essentials and a darn fine practice!".

I do recommend this book. Buddhist or not: read it with an open mind and find a world that seems so much richer than our abundant times of SUVs and reality shows.

An amazing book., 22 Aug 2005
This is the most amazing book I read on Tibetan Buddhism in a very long time. It is a profound teaching but is very easy to read. It contains the splendid view and life of Tulku Urgyen. This Dzogchen master tells storys about masters and teachings that he met and heard about during his life in Tibet and in exile. If you know very little about Tibetan Buddhism then you should, as the translators say in the preface, "don't get lost in the details of time and place; just experience the spiritual ambiance". An what an ambiance it is! The story of the master in the hollow tree and Karmapas horse are two stories that you are not likely to forget. My girlfriend found it very moving and special book all tough she isn't a Buddhist. For people like me that are practicing in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism this book is a treasure. It makes your devotion to these masters grow and makes your resolve to practice these teaching stronger and deeper. I would even like to say that it would be a great loss not to read this book if you are a Tibetan Buddhist. Let yourself be amazed.

Isn't life funny?, 19 Sep 2008
I too had to read it more than once...

What's the point of the author indulging in a 'Chautauqua' on 'Romantic' & 'Classic' 'Values', with the resultant (extravagant) soliloquy on the 'Value' of 'Quality', when the author can't even work out how to relate to his own child (who having spent the majority of his formative years in apparent mental turmoil - brought on by the behaviour of the author, as described in this book - was murdered in San Francisco 2 weeks before his 23rd birthday)?

This book is just another example of self-indulgence sold off as enlightenment...

What's the point? There is NO point.


I need 7 stars!!! ----->-->--,--'--@, 11 Jul 2008
Yeah, I am not very good at writting reviews but there you go...

This book is the kind that you borrow, read almost twice, slowly, and then you have to buy it to finish reading it the second time! The adventure, the trip is not just any trip, sprinkled with philosophy, sense of humour, and mechanics. I must say, that I never owned a cycle, and I probably never will, they scare me to death! Although I secretly love see them go past, and I would have so much enjoyed a trip like this with this guy in a classic Harley!! Oh yeah! hehe

Also, the amount of laughter and food for thought in it, and the glow of the main character made me love him dearly very early in the book, is a very caring, sometimes moody character, but his heart is real gold in powder.
I needed to have this book with me, besides my bed at night, or wherever; it is a reminder of how good is to be human after all (with or without greasy hands) ;-P

Summarising LOL, is entertaining, relaxing, and very well written. It is not only a book, for me it has become a friend.




A "Da Vinci Code " for the 1970s, 07 Jul 2008
I read this years ago, when I was studying Greek and Latin literature and Philosophy at university, and dismissed it more or less out of hand.

Coming back to it as a 40 year old father (the same age as Pirsig was when he made the journey depicted in the novel with his son)I found much more to enjoy and be affected by in the story itself. There is no doubt that the theme of the alienated son and father being reunited recalls that of the Odyssey and is genuinely moving, if clumsily resolved.

As for the philosophy, well, Pirsig admits without any embarrassment in his 1999 introduction to the book that, at the time of writing, he thought, quite incorrectly, that Phaedrus means wolf in Classical Greek. If you can't deal with a word like wolf, you won't exaclty handle mythos, logos or the technical terms in philosophical writing. If someone who clearly has no Greek at all wishes to pass himself off as an authority on the Pre-Socratics, or Plato, or Aristotle, that is just a bit embarrassing, really, and tells you all you need to know about how seriously to take his views.

Therefore the book strikes me as a (very superior, admittedly) Da Vinci Code for its day - a good story ornamented with some specious learning, and none the worse for that, as long as it is not taken seriously.

If Pirsig wants us to walk away thinking we should apply ourselves to our work a bit more and generally try harder, that is no bad thing, and as he admits himself, nobody would disagree with the message, but don't go looking for any great secret of life here. It is just a nice book.

The hallmarks of a good read, but...., 25 May 2008
This appears to have all the hallmarks of a good read for me: I'm very interested in philosophy, psychology, travel (plus a bit of a hippie so I'm sure there's a latent Buddhist in me somewhere). However, after trying this twice - and putting it down both times, never to be picked up again - I just can't see what the hype is about and am left wondering who this book actually appeals to. There doesn't seem to be anything vivid, interesting, or gripping about it. One of those books that I wanted to like so much, but found incredibly disappointing. Over-rated.

Over Rated., 18 Jan 2008
I bought and read this a few years back. The main reason was because it was highly recommended by some university types. I'm going to draw some flak on this review, because if you don't give it a 5, everyone thinks your a shallow pulp novel individual (which may be the case to a certain extent)...

The simple truth was that I couldn't really engage with the central character. Yes, there are a few moments of clarity - like when he discusses making parts himself. Unfortunately, the best elements become subsumed in a relatively dull life story. In other words, I found it dragged a bit. I didn't expect loads of action, but I did expect there to be a good deal more practical activity and a good deal less introspective discussion. I've got sympathy for the lead character (the author, as it turns out) - I just didn't enjoy his journey. The whole trip went nowhere and no-one seemed to have very much fun. Maybe I'm not supposed to have enjoyed reading it?

Awesome, but very very sad, 02 Aug 2008
This is definately one of the most increadible autobiographies ever written. This is like the tibettan equivalent of the Anne Frank Diary, but spanning a whole lifetime. Everything you wanted to know about the situation in tibet, and many many things you'd probably rather you diddn't. Very relevent given that the olympics are comming up in china.

wonderful book by a wonderful man, 11 Jul 2008
For anyone who would like to get under the media surface of one of the planet's most iconic figures then 'Freedom in Exile' is the perfect place to start.Charting his life from his humble beginnings to his current exhalted position as the spiritual figurehead of one of our most enlightend religious traditions, his holiness never loses sight of where he came from,who he is and what he represents.
However,for me,what really made this such a revealing book is not the personal details of his fascinating life but his wider political insights.
Here is the Tibetan tragedy writ large.
The appalling brutal subversion of a tiny free Tibetan state of six million people by the corrupt,immoral authoritarian communist regime in Beijing. A nation of one billion people who used its power and military might to crush an ancient culture and grind its people into poverty. Wiping out over one million Tibetans in the process.
Despite the horrendous crimes against the Tibetan people, like that other great man of peace Nelson Mandela, His Holiness the Dalhi Lama does not wish ill upon his oppressors. Instead he seeks dialogue and a solution through peace in keeping with the peaceful Buddhist traditions he represents.
Inspiring !

Devastating, inspiring and heartbreaking - a book everyone should read, 07 Nov 2007
I have always felt a pull toward Tibetan Buddhism and have already read several books by the Dalai Lama. I don't know why I put off reading this one for so long (like another reviewer, it sat on my shelf for nearly a year before I read it). I'm glad I did. I was effortlessly drawn into a world so different to our cynical consumer-driven culture. the Dalai Lama is an engaging and talented writer, in spite of his protestations that his English is lacking.

His story is incredible and even more so is the depth of compassion and wisdom he displays - he is truly an inspirational soul, and a leader such as the world needs many more of. But this book isn't really about the Dalai Lama - it's about the horrific situation in Tibet. I had NO idea as to the extent of that nation's suffering. I cried as I read descriptions of how Tibetans have been tortured and slaughtered in the most horrific ways imaginable...truly, at times it makes you despair at the unspeakable cruelty of which human beings are capable of perpetrating against their fellow man. And yet juxtaposed with this is an immense ray of hope, in the form of the author himself and the extraordinary courage of his people. I am now committed to doing whatever I can to support and promote the Tibetan cause.

Read this book. It may just change your life.

Freedom In Exile The Auto-Biography of the Dalai Lama, 02 Mar 2007
Interesting, Amazing, Uplifting are just a few words I would use to describe this book. I couldn't put it down as it was just so very easy to read and that's coming from a bigginer at reading books over 200 pages long. If your interested in the life of the Dalai Lama its a must read.

Truly motivating, 12 Nov 2005
What an amazing life! The quiet dignity of this man and his passion for his people truly moved me throughout this book. At a time filled with so many other crusades to "liberate" nations from opression, how can Tibet be forgotten?
This is a MUST read for everyone and anyone. You will not be disappointed on any level. It is particularly comforting to know that His Holiness was just as capable of childish mischief as any other child!!!

Not just "a customer", 17 Nov 2008
This is an inspiring and fascinating insight into the world of an extraordinary woman (Tenzin Palmo, previously Diane Perry), who endured all kinds of privations and gender discrimination in order to follow her arduous path to enlightenment. She belonged to a Tibetan Buddhist lineage, but her story reminded me of that of another British woman (Jiyu Kennett Roshi) of the same era, who became a Soto Zen Buddhist priest in Japan. Her book ("The Wild White Goose") is also well worth reading. In fact, although there is no mention of it, it would be surprising if the two women were not aware of each other as their paths must have crossed at some point.
Despite all the positive things I have said about the book though, I think the message that came over to me most strongly is that even if you copy Tenzin Palmo's example completely you will still only catch glimpses of enlightenment before you die! There's no short cuts.

Amazing, 11 Apr 2006
This book is one of the most amazing books tha I have ever read. I closed the back cover and open the front to read it again.This book is an experience rather then just something that you will read and forget about.

The strength and conviction of Tenzin Palmo should be an inspiration to all. Very few people ever put their money where their mouth is like her.

She has found what very few ever find, real contentment and a real purpose in life, proving that the things that we surround ourselves with are not this things that make us happy in the end.

I just can't recommend this book enough.

Cave in The Snow is hot stuff!, 18 Mar 2001
In 1976 Diane Perry, by then known by her Tibetan name Tenzin Palmo, secluded herself in a remote cave, over 13,000 feet up in the Himalayas, cut off from the world by mountains & snow. There she engaged in years of intense Buddhist meditation. Her goal was to gain Enlightenment as a woman.

Tenzin Palmo's path inspired, uplifted & gave me the giggles too! From Diane's war-worn childhood to her wild teen years in Swinging London during the 1960s to her determination to follow her calling to the exiled Tibetan communities in Northern India. From Diane's survival of strange childhood ailments to her connection with the rare Buddhist societies in England to her glimpses of the Path to Perfection, Vicki Mackenzie tells this modest pioneering woman's adventures on her way to the roof of the world among a people with a long lineage of spiritual attainment with a lively, insightful fluency enhanced by snippets of conversations & seemingly simple philosophies.

Vicki Mackenzie has written an articulate modern adventure story complete with everyday bean counters & spiritual soul counters.

There is an amusing & entertaining history lesson to be had from Cave In The Snow. Being of the same age as Tenzin Palmo, I was also exploring Buddhism, except I emigrated to America. Even so I came across the same shin-whacking taboo - women cannot become gurus, lamas, priests, imams or rabbis because...& the silly litany tumbles out of men's mouths the way excuses do when they're caught with their fingers in the cookie jars.

As any woman who has ever stumbled into male-run religions knows, it always knocks the breath out of us when, with that simple, lineal logic, we are cast into spiritual exile because those in the know consider the attainment of Enlightenment a man thang & the body female prohibits both the study & the fulfillment of spiritual perfection. As if Spirit has a gender!

Irony is one aspect of becoming spiritual that brought about the giggles. Among all that seriousness there are gentle glimpses of glee such as when a monk bids Tenzin Palmo to raise the volume on her boom box so he could hear the Spanish monks singing their prayers.

High amid the Himalayas, this odd English woman brings to those sonorous sounding monks the rarified harmonies of Gregorian chants. Any Buddhist monk I've ever seen has had a ready smile & a mischievous laugh. That is attractive to me - a religious people who enjoy laughing.

For anyone who wants their heart to soar, their spirit to burst open like a flower, their mind to enfold peace ... Very well done!

A treacherous path to enlightenment, 04 Mar 2001
This is an interesting view of what one woman undertook to journey toward enlightenment.The tale is one of great courage and is very inspiring. The attitude of traditional Tibetan Buddhism toward women was a shock to a Westerner. The chapter on the "flaws" of some of the Tibetan spiritual leaders reminded me that we all have a process in seeking enlightenment and that each person must witness him/herself throughout the journey. Even those who have reached a high level are still human beings. This was encouraging. However, I frequently found myself wishing the book were written better. The sometimes plodding style was occasionally distracting.

An inspirational read, 02 Aug 2000
Tenzin Palmo's life is a story of determination, courage and humility. In a time when few in the West had heard of Tibetan Buddhism, Tenzin Palmo travelled to India to embark on a spiritual journey by entering the often chauvinistic, monastic life of Tibetan Buddhism. With grace and fortitude she showed through her actions that women had equal right and ability to walk the path of enlightenment.

This book is an extremely digestible read and it is easy to be caught up in Tenzin Palmos's life from the outset.

I would go as far as to say this book has the potential to become a turning point in peoples lives.

A very inspiring read , you will not be disappointed!!, 06 Nov 2008
Whether you are merely curious, a newcomer or an experienced practitioner of Nichiren SGI Buddhism, this is a very easy to read and inspiring book, detailing 100 personal experiences of people (in the US,though this style of Buddhism also exists in the UK )who have transformed negative situations and their lives through Nichiren Buddhism. The experiences range from the practical to the emotional and existential, covering personal relationships, chronic ill health (mental and physical), work and finances etc, alongside those who ask questions such as "what's my life all about ? " etc. In all a very easy, encouraging and inspiring read...you will not be disappointed.!

So many people, such inspiring stories, 27 Jun 2007
This is a great book to have in those places where you might want to read for a few mins (bedside/loo) .. Full of short 2 or 3 page pieces by hundreds of practising Nichiren Buddhists who practise with SGI. Each story relates their own personal experiences of how they have used the practise of this Buddhism in their lives to change or move their lives forwards. Stories with sadness, anger and frustration that are transformed through putting this buddhist practise into action in their lives. Inevitably, some stories will touch on similar situations with readers, offering hope of a way of changing their lives.

My only tiny moan is that I wish the stories weren't just from US citizens .. but maybe that's the next book !



A tangible link to another world, 25 Aug 2005
This must have been a very special person indeed. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche plays down his abilities and his reputation in the style of the "hidden yogi", but through the lines of this book shines a person full of a compassion and a devotion we ordinary beings can only dream of.

These are his memoirs, but it is also the story of the fall of Tibet and the survival of Tibetan Buddhism. Through this master and a few others like him, the link is tangible to the lost land of caveyogis and concealed treasures. The memories he recounts are full of what to us westerners seems like mystery and magic but also of perseverance and dedication. And although mystery and magic may be lost on us, the latter two are for anyone who wishes. As is said in the book about a nun: "She had nothing more than the bare essentials and a darn fine practice!".

I do recommend this book. Buddhist or not: read it with an open mind and find a world that seems so much richer than our abundant times of SUVs and reality shows.

An amazing book., 22 Aug 2005
This is the most amazing book I read on Tibetan Buddhism in a very long time. It is a profound teaching but is very easy to read. It contains the splendid view and life of Tulku Urgyen. This Dzogchen master tells storys about masters and teachings that he met and heard about during his life in Tibet and in exile. If you know very little about Tibetan Buddhism then you should, as the translators say in the preface, "don't get lost in the details of time and place; just experience the spiritual ambiance". An what an ambiance it is! The story of the master in the hollow tree and Karmapas horse are two stories that you are not likely to forget. My girlfriend found it very moving and special book all tough she isn't a Buddhist. For people like me that are practicing in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism this book is a treasure. It makes your devotion to these masters grow and makes your resolve to practice these teaching stronger and deeper. I would even like to say that it would be a great loss not to read this book if you are a Tibetan Buddhist. Let yourself be amazed.

The finest travel companion, 15 Dec 2004
I have many of Watts' books. While nothing can touch his spoken lectures for incisive, paradigm-shattering clarity, and although The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are stands out as his seminal work, this collection of writings is brilliantly lucid, easily digestible in short sittings, and provides those much needed flashes of enlightenment that every modern mind requires. A perfect travelling companion, I can see this book getting dog-eared and stained through many years of backpacking. Fantastic!

just marvelous, 27 Dec 1998
This is perhaps the best of the half dozen or so Watts books I've read. Watts is a brilliant philosopher of the "Big Picture", and it is all wonderfully laid out here: Cosmic consciousness, Tantric Buddhism, the Hippies, Tao... he nails them all in splendid fashion. Highly recommendable.

A concise summary of Watts' enlightening lectures., 24 Aug 1998
Unlike "The Book", one of my favorite books of Watts, "Cloud-Hidden..." is a collection of short essays that can be digested in a brief sitting. Some of these essays are direct transcriptions of his lectures. Yet, I find myself returning to this book quite often for a quick "Watts fix".

Isn't life funny?, 19 Sep 2008
I too had to read it more than once...

What's the point of the author indulging in a 'Chautauqua' on 'Romantic' & 'Classic' 'Values', with the resultant (extravagant) soliloquy on the 'Value' of 'Quality', when the author can't even work out how to relate to his own child (who having spent the majority of his formative years in apparent mental turmoil - brought on by the behaviour of the author, as described in this book - was murdered in San Francisco 2 weeks before his 23rd birthday)?

This book is just another example of self-indulgence sold off as enlightenment...

What's the point? There is NO point.


I need 7 stars!!! ----->-->--,--'--@, 11 Jul 2008
Yeah, I am not very good at writting reviews but there you go...

This book is the kind that you borrow, read almost twice, slowly, and then you have to buy it to finish reading it the second time! The adventure, the trip is not just any trip, sprinkled with philosophy, sense of humour, and mechanics. I must say, that I never owned a cycle, and I probably never will, they scare me to death! Although I secretly love see them go past, and I would have so much enjoyed a trip like this with this guy in a classic Harley!! Oh yeah! hehe

Also, the amount of laughter and food for thought in it, and the glow of the main character made me love him dearly very early in the book, is a very caring, sometimes moody character, but his heart is real gold in powder.
I needed to have this book with me, besides my bed at night, or wherever; it is a reminder of how good is to be human after all (with or without greasy hands) ;-P

Summarising LOL, is entertaining, relaxing, and very well written. It is not only a book, for me it has become a friend.




A "Da Vinci Code " for the 1970s, 07 Jul 2008
I read this years ago, when I was studying Greek and Latin literature and Philosophy at university, and dismissed it more or less out of hand.

Coming back to it as a 40 year old father (the same age as Pirsig was when he made the journey depicted in the novel with his son)I found much more to enjoy and be affected by in the story itself. There is no doubt that the theme of the alienated son and father being reunited recalls that of the Odyssey and is genuinely moving, if clumsily resolved.

As for the philosophy, well, Pirsig admits without any embarrassment in his 1999 introduction to the book that, at the time of writing, he thought, quite incorrectly, that Phaedrus means wolf in Classical Greek. If you can't deal with a word like wolf, you won't exaclty handle mythos, logos or the technical terms in philosophical writing. If someone who clearly has no Greek at all wishes to pass himself off as an authority on the Pre-Socratics, or Plato, or Aristotle, that is just a bit embarrassing, really, and tells you all you need to know about how seriously to take his views.

Therefore the book strikes me as a (very superior, admittedly) Da Vinci Code for its day - a good story ornamented with some specious learning, and none the worse for that, as long as it is not taken seriously.

If Pirsig wants us to walk away thinking we should apply ourselves to our work a bit more and generally try harder, that is no bad thing, and as he admits himself, nobody would disagree with the message, but don't go looking for any great secret of life here. It is just a nice book.

The hallmarks of a good read, but...., 25 May 2008
This appears to have all the hallmarks of a good read for me: I'm very interested in philosophy, psychology, travel (plus a bit of a hippie so I'm sure there's a latent Buddhist in me somewhere). However, after trying this twice - and putting it down both times, never to be picked up again - I just can't see what the hype is about and am left wondering who this book actually appeals to. There doesn't seem to be anything vivid, interesting, or gripping about it. One of those books that I wanted to like so much, but found incredibly disappointing. Over-rated.

Over Rated., 18 Jan 2008
I bought and read this a few years back. The main reason was because it was highly recommended by some university types. I'm going to draw some flak on this review, because if you don't give it a 5, everyone thinks your a shallow pulp novel individual (which may be the case to a certain extent)...

The simple truth was that I couldn't really engage with the central character. Yes, there are a few moments of clarity - like when he discusses making parts himself. Unfortunately, the best elements become subsumed in a relatively dull life story. In other words, I found it dragged a bit. I didn't expect loads of action, but I did expect there to be a good deal more practical activity and a good deal less introspective discussion. I've got sympathy for the lead character (the author, as it turns out) - I just didn't enjoy his journey. The whole trip went nowhere and no-one seemed to have very much fun. Maybe I'm not supposed to have enjoyed reading it?

Awesome, but very very sad, 02 Aug 2008
This is definately one of the most increadible autobiographies ever written. This is like the tibettan equivalent of the Anne Frank Diary, but spanning a whole lifetime. Everything you wanted to know about the situation in tibet, and many many things you'd probably rather you diddn't. Very relevent given that the olympics are comming up in china.

wonderful book by a wonderful man, 11 Jul 2008
For anyone who would like to get under the media surface of one of the planet's most iconic figures then 'Freedom in Exile' is the perfect place to start.Charting his life from his humble beginnings to his current exhalted position as the spiritual figurehead of one of our most enlightend religious traditions, his holiness never loses sight of where he came from,who he is and what he represents.
However,for me,what really made this such a revealing book is not the personal details of his fascinating life but his wider political insights.
Here is the Tibetan tragedy writ large.
The appalling brutal subversion of a tiny free Tibetan state of six million people by the corrupt,immoral authoritarian communist regime in Beijing. A nation of one billion people who used its power and military might to crush an ancient culture and grind its people into poverty. Wiping out over one million Tibetans in the process.
Despite the horrendous crimes against the Tibetan people, like that other great man of peace Nelson Mandela, His Holiness the Dalhi Lama does not wish ill upon his oppressors. Instead he seeks dialogue and a solution through peace in keeping with the peaceful Buddhist traditions he represents.
Inspiring !

Devastating, inspiring and heartbreaking - a book everyone should read, 07 Nov 2007
I have always felt a pull toward Tibetan Buddhism and have already read several books by the Dalai Lama. I don't know why I put off reading this one for so long (like another reviewer, it sat on my shelf for nearly a year before I read it). I'm glad I did. I was effortlessly drawn into a world so different to our cynical consumer-driven culture. the Dalai Lama is an engaging and talented writer, in spite of his protestations that his English is lacking.

His story is incredible and even more so is the depth of compassion and wisdom he displays - he is truly an inspirational soul, and a leader such as the world needs many more of. But this book isn't really about the Dalai Lama - it's about the horrific situation in Tibet. I had NO idea as to the extent of that nation's suffering. I cried as I read descriptions of how Tibetans have been tortured and slaughtered in the most horrific ways imaginable...truly, at times it makes you despair at the unspeakable cruelty of which human beings are capable of perpetrating against thei