Absolutely one of the best books that I have read on the country of Bhutan. After reading several chapters, I was ready to travel on one of the tours to Bhutan, which are led by authors Russ and Blyth Carpenter.

This meaty little book is informed by the experience of the authors'numerous visits (including working trips) to Bhutan, extensive research, and the wisdom of many lively but respectful conversations with Bhutanese friends. Gorgeous color photographs by the authors supplement the vivid, lucid writing. There is intrigue in seeimg how these two self-described linear thinkers are gradually changed by confronting an intuitive culture with a Tantric lifestyle and a heritage of both Tibetan Buddhism and the remnants of the pre-Buddhist Bon religion. What will be the effect of television, which has only now entered the culture, on this relatively isolated culture? What do monks do all day? What does it mean to measure a culture by its Gross National Happiness? Why is Bhutan known as Little Switzerland? These are among the many questions the Carpenters answer. One could not have better guides to this intriguing country.

This is a marvelous series of sketches that illuminate the mystique of Bhutan. The Carpenters, through their work and travel in and love for Bhutan, bring a personal and western perspective to a unique part of the world. Blessings of Bhutan serves as a bridge for the western traveler that allows for full appreciation of the uniqueness of Bhutan as a destination and a way of life.

Larry Snider's book is filled with beautiful, sensitive photographs. I have seen Snider's works before, and it is a great pleasure to be able to "visit" them as often as I like by simply owning this volume.

For anyone who loves the art of photography and portraiture, adventure travel, or remote and ancient cultures, this book is a treasure. It contains haunting, sublime portraits of people of China, Tibet, Bhutan, and Ladakh: laughing children, wise elders, rakish young men, monks, families, laborers, and women, old and young, at work or dressed in ceremonial finery. The portraits were not taken in a studio, and the architecture of their settings -- monasteries, villages, shops, and streets -- are as intriguing as the subjects themselves.

The poignancy and beauty of these portraits lies not only in their technical and artistic excellence, but also in their deft blending of contrasts: the exotic and the familiar, the ancient and the modern, the distinctly Asian, and the rare Western or perhaps global artifacts of our modern culture.

A World Away merits one's attention again and again, as the portraits yield evocative details and depth of meaning with each viewing. This collection is a compassionate and eloquent account of the people encountered during the artist's Asian travels. It would make an elegant gift, and, since the book's impact is visual rather than verbal, the recipient need not speak English to enjoy it.

A thoughtfully engaging and beautifully produced monograph which details the artist's travels thoughout Asia. It is no wonder the artist's work is in so many musuems and has been the subject of numerous exhibits.

Ali and Ripley's masterwork cannot be touched in terms of the completeness of individual descriptions, but this volume is amazing in that it draws together all the subcontinent's spp. into one book. Even so, the tome is too heavy to carry to the field. The taxonomy is updated, as is the species list. The colour illustrations are of a very high quality; my quibble is that the individual species are too small to be very useful. The maps are miniscule and that limits their utility; the use of two colours would have helped under the circumstances. Otherwise, this book is a long-awaited treasure.

Simply the best available guide to the birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Subcontinental birders have long awaited a comphrehensive guide to the birds of this region.

No other guide comes close in quality of drawings, text and range maps. Though too large and heavy to be called a field guide. It is still brought on trips to be reviewed after a day in the field.

We eagerly await the publication of this book as a true 'field guide'- that will be useable in the field.

This is the best one-volume book on the market at this time. It has very good illustrations and good species accounts that include excellent range maps. It is the only book of one volume that covers all the birds of the Indian subcontinent with this quality of illustration. The range maps are very good and there is an adequate amount of information about each bird. It's too heavy to take into the field on your trip to India, but it is an excellent reference.

'Folk tales of Bhutan' is the first of a two volume collection of Buthanese folk tales and legends by Kunzang Choden. The second volume is entitled, 'Bhutanese Tales of the Yeti'. Both are excellent books that are very fascinating and also fun to read. Kunzang Choden has not only done a wonderful job by retelling these stories in both her books, but she has also preserved Buthanese oral tradition for everyone to appreciate.

Something that is slowly vanishing, as the country progresses, Kunzang Choden has grabbed the truth of it and recorded it splendidly before it fades away. Culture. Tradition. The passing down. What was once done orally,the indigenous folktales of Bhutan as the author remembered them told in her childhood are offered to us with an array of humorous, touching, pleasing stories. Apparently the author realized that the stories were starting to be replaced by modern technology. In doing so, so much was lost. Here she takes us on a rich journey through her country, and it's fading folktales that she has vividly bought back to life. And for those who want to know more about this country, this book would be even more recommended.

Returning from my first visit to Bhutan in November, 1999, I searched for a book which genuinely captures the beauty and uniqueness of this Himalayan Buddhist kingdom and her people. The combination of Dompnier's stunning photography and thoughtful text are more than I had hoped to find. The format, choice and excellence of pictures and insightful text aptly convey a sense of this very special place. For anyone interested in the iconography of Tibetan Buddhism, learning about a people and culture unlike any other on this planet, or looking for photojournalism at its best about the Himalayas , I highly recommend this book. Personally, it serves me well to keep alive cherished memories of a place I know I will visit again.

I am not much of a reader but this book simply took my breath away, the author did an excellent work that a thousand writers working for a thousand years could not have possibly realized.

NOT REVIEW:
The book is not available in Bhutan or else in India, though it is said to contian some facts on political turmoil in Bhutan. The author happened to be the close friend of the Third King of Bhutan, so the contents will be invaluable to the reseachers and the Bhutanese historians.

Most guidebooks for birders are very general in their descriptions of birds. "Birds of Bhutan" tells you when and where in the country you can view them. Includes endangered, endemic and vagrant species. Beautifully detailed showing all local varieties, this book is Written very specifically about Bhutan Birds but, still gives information about where in Asia these birds range. This Book is a must have!

THIS IS A COMPARATIVE SOCIAL GEOGRAPHY OF BHUTAN, NEPAL AND LADAKH. IT IS THE ONLY BOOK OF THIS NATURE IN CIRCULATION. THROUGH IMPRESSIVE COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS AND INTERESTING TEXT IT DISTINGUISHED BETWEEN EACH OF THESE KINGDOMS: HISTORICALLY, IN RELIGION, CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, IN ART, AND IN GOVERNMENT. ALTHOUGH NOT A TRAVEL GUIDE IT RELATES IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT WILL BE USEFUL TO VISITORS TO THIS ETHERIAL REALM