5 comments about Ultimate Journey: Retracing the Path of an Ancient Buddhist Monk Who Crossed Asia in Search of Enlightenment.

1. _The ultimate Journey_
   retracing the path of an ancient buddhist monk who crosses asia in search of enlightment

   by richard bernstein

   I bought the book in HongKong several summers ago, as i waited for my Chinese visa, knowing this would be the last new English bookstore for awhile.
   It was a good choice, well written, interesting and really to the point. For it is a combination of travelogue and spiritual adventure in trying to retrace the path of Hsuan Tsang .
   Mixed up are the author's thoughts about the reading about Hsuan Tsang and his journey, the physical places that both visit as Bernstein follows the ancient monk's path, and social commentary not just on the places and people but reflects a lifetime of a newspaperman's experiences in this part of the world. What could be a very disjointed and fragmented 'stream of consciousness' travelogue turns out to be a rather organized investigation into not just the author's current travels but the relationship of the monks journey and what happened in the intervening years from the mid 7th C. Well written as the author is a successful and introspective newspaper writer, thoughtful as this is really a work from the heart for him, and for me very much to the point as i had the book with me in Xian as the Big Goose pagoda.
   Because of the dearth of english reading material that summer travelling, i think i read it twice, once straight through and at least once more a page or chapter at a time as i was starving for anything to read, even something i had already finished. I was not disappointed, for his writing and insights are deep and bear close reading. but most of all it was worth the weight in my already overloaded pack, a true recommendation from the heart and shoulders. enjoy.




2. I'm a Buddhist, an international 3rd world traveler and I love travel writing. I thought I'd love this book and was very disappointed. The author should have taken the time to develop some Buddhist practice before launching into inaccurate intellectual Buddhist psycho babble. If you want to write about Buddhism, close the books and develop a mediation practice....everything else misses the mark. Without that perspective the book is boring.



3. While not qualified to judge the author's comments on Buddhism, the book, for me, was one of the best travel books I've ever read. For some reason, Central Asia with its blood-stirring names -- Tashkent, Samarkand, the Silk Road, etc. -- has always fascinated me. Bernstein, in his 50s, did what I, now in my 60s, would have liked to have done but didn't -- travel the Silk Road and exotic points beyond. Perhaps his struggle with his mid-life crisis made his book all the more poignant to this old coot, but I found the story of the monk searching for truth and the story of the journalist searching for himself nicely completmentary. By the time I had finished this delightful book, I felt that I had accompanied the author along the way. And if Bernstein can do that for me, then I pronounce "Ultimate Journey" a helluva good read.



4. Great writing about travel, history and Buddhism are but a few of my major interests, so I was looking forward to digging into Richard Bernstein's ULTIMATE JOURNEY.
   
   But alas, this is not great writing about travel, history or Buddhism - though (with that latter gripe) as this book often drifts towards the upscale insularity and ivory-tower navel-gazing tendencies Western Buddhism is occasionally accused of, it's probably just as well.
   
   Bernstein's many, many digressions completely derailed this book - his writing about his own ancestry are one of the few places things come alive here, the other being his summation of Hsuan Tsang's actual journey through China, central Asia, and India.
   
   Elsewhere, we get a lot of stuff about the Chinese girlfriend (methinks she'd have written a far more interesting book), the career ennui of an exceptionally priveleged man (at this late date, not automatically interesting, or unique in the least), credentials (which are impressive), and a lucky sidekick (a tall "L. L. Bean"-esque Chinese gentleman, generally referred to as Brave King, described as being eager to tag along as a respite from guiding malevolent Turks around the Gobi, though I'd have liked to hear a bit more of what Brave King was actually thinking, and those Turks were probably just misbegotten midlife crisis dudes from Ankara off on some sort of half-cocked sand-blasted vision quest across the wilds of Xinjiang).
   
   There have been a number of great books about Asia, blending history, travel and occasionally Buddhism in grand fashion: Peter Matthiessen's SNOW LEOPARD, Pico Iyer's THE LADY AND THE MONK, Vikram Seth's FROM HEAVEN LAKE, and Ma Jian's RED DUST - the last three written by actual Asians. For all of it's pretenses, ULTIMATE JOURNEY does little to challenge the stature of those classics. Oh well.
   
   -David Alston



5. Unbelievable that the author could have transformed an epic pilgrimage by a legendary Buddhist hero into a dreary travelogue which passes from train to cab to rickshaw against a background of the author's midlife crisis.
   The title itself is misleading because there is no journey. There is an uninspiring movement from place to place, but if there was any growth to be had, the author missed out on it. He professes no spiritual belief, and his disdain for the spiritual beliefs of those around him is explicit. Why travel around the world following the path of a devout Buddhist when you don't even believe in Buddhism?
   This book should be required reading for the author's mother and his wife, probably the only two people who would find his pathetic musings the least bit interesting. The most important lesson to be learned from Ultimate Journey is that Bernstein lived a really interesting life, but when he turned 50, he let his fears push him into trying to make something grand happen. If he had looked inside for his ultimate journey, it would have been a lot more interesting and meaningful than this tepid tome.
   I gave it two stars because of how clearly he describes the misery of travelling in China (now topping my "Do Not Visit" list).

No comments about Kyoto-Osaka: A Bilingual Atlas.

No comments about Delhi, Jaipur and Agra Travel Map (Globetrotter Travel Map).

5 comments about The Scariest Place in the World: A Marine Returns to North Korea.

1. Man... Talk about crabby... Everyone else who's reviewed this book so far here don't seem to be impressed. But I always enjoy James Brady's writing and this book was no exception. It's a memoir, of course. The underlying theme of the book is the march of time and how one looks back at -- or in this case, returns to -- a specific geographic place where youthful impressions were made, ideals died or changed... Where a young, unsure Marine officer discovered he did, in fact, have what it took to lead Marines in combat.
   
   Those looking for edge-of-your seat combat with Marines gunning down on-rushing human waves of Chinese infantry will be disappointed. This book is more like a love letter to youth and to the Marine Corps. And taken in that context, it's a fine book and a satisfying read.



2. The Scariest Place in the World by James Brady. Published by St. Martin's Press 11 April 2006. Paperback. ISBN 0312332432.
   $14.95US.
   The Scariest Place in the World is the latest missile by James Brady to remind the world that the Korean "Police-Action" should not be limited to a paragraph or two as in the recent history books.
   It was a "real" war, fought by "real" men, who "really" died leaving empty chaits at many a table around the world.
   The book is written speaking of the realities of war in a "tough-love", macho, politically incorrect style that will jar the reader awake causing them to remember those three years (1950-53) of warfare in which 37,000 American service men and women paid the ultimate price to stop the onslaught of communist aggression.
   Captain Brady tells of his indoctrination in the United States Marine Corps which contributed in forming the basis of his love of the Corps but more so the love of the men he served with, partied with and fought with.
   The book is a journey back in time, (remindful of "The Viet Journal" by James Jones), through the rigors of basic training providing backbround for stories for one's children and grandchildren that deserve to be told.
   There are biographical sketches of Senator John Chafee, Maurice "Mack" Allen, John Fitzgerald, Nathaniel "Taffy" Sceva, et.al., which are written lovingly as a tribute to the lives of these men and the women who loved and supported them. The memory of the funeral of Senator Chafee must have been most difficult to attend as it was a memory.
   The book is not devoid of humor as at times Brady's telling of an incident brought on a chuckle or two. But it would have had to been exerienced to understand the reason for the chuckle. In the same vein, a tear was shed at times by the memory stirred.
   The unabshed emotion(s) of the author are as open as any I have read. Brady doesn't mask his love for his compatriots-in-arms, expressing his love not for dramatic flare, but to tell them and the world "This is how I feel and it is also the Raison d' etre for the book".
   James Brady dedicated the book to all who fought in Korea and provided to those who will not make the journey back a return from the comfort of an easy chair.
   It is an easy read and thoughful. Try it!



3. As a previous reviewer I thought that Brady's book would be more of a focus on the DMZ and perhaps show some insight into "the scariest place." I did enjoy his war time reminiscences but that wasn't why I purchased his book. I didn't particularly care for his 'how he belatedly was awarded the Bronze Star,' and chumming around with colonels and generals at galas and such as it sounded like 'how great I am after all.' Oh, and by the way, Senator Chafee was my CO. I got tired of Mr. Brady selling his earlier pub,"The Marines of Autumn" (which is a fine read) but in particular I did not like him pimping (perhaps a bit too strong) his "The Coldest War." There are sections of the book where he cites this book seemingly every other page. After awhile I started to feel a bit sorry for Mr. Brady which is too bad as I'm sure that he was a fine officer for his Marines of Dog Company. It's an ok book for what it is but it really isn't about "the scariest place."



4. I loved this book. I served in Korea with USMC during the exact same time frame. It brought back many memories



5. I bought this book as a xmas present for my grammpa, he was a marine who fought in Korea the same time the author did....He is half was through it, and he is really enjoying it. Can't say enough good things about it!

No comments about Passage through India.

2 comments about Kyoto: A Contemplative Guide.

1. The author has put a lot of TLC into writing this book and it shows. Aside from being a love letter to the city of Kyoto, it is a top-notch guidebook for anyone interested in exploring the temples of Kyoto. No other guidebook contains such carefully-researched and well-written descriptions of these temples. Though it was written decades ago, not much has changed at these sites, so don't let the date of publication deter you from using this book. I would highly recommend bringing this book along with the most recent edition of "Gateway to Japan" on your next trip to Kyoto.



2. I totally agree with the previous reviewer. This is the best and ONLY guidebook to Kyoto - the story of Kyoto's history through the story of a succession of temples and palaces, each of which typifies that period. Beautifully and gently written. Wonderful wonderful stuff. Tragically I've lost my copy. It shouldn't be so hard to find a new one. Tuttle, please reissue!!

No comments about Iran Map by Cartographia.

1 comments about Fodor's Singapore, 12th Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. The book has most of the items that are necessary to the traveler, i.e. the section in the beginning, "Smart Travel Tips,"; however, there should be a section describing a brief history of Singapore and there should be a more detailed description of the walking tours, including better maps, of the ethnic neighborhoods.

1 comments about The Silk Road: Xi'an to Kashgar, Seventh Edition (Odyssey Illustrated Guide).

1. I found this book most useful on a recent trip along the Chinese Silk Route and would recommend anyone doing the same to purchase the book.

5 comments about Tokyo Metropolitan Area Rail & Road Atlas/English/Japanese.

1. I gave up trying to get around with this atlas because not all of Tokyo is covered in the street maps and I found myself wandering out of their limits too often. The street maps that are included are excellent; they are highly detailed and include major buildings, but there is no key linking the individual maps. The rail maps are also excellent and extremely useful. I just wish the whole thing was a more complete atlas. If it's not reasonable to include street maps of every inch of the city there should be a level of detail in between the highway (macro) map and the street (micro) maps.
   
   If you are taking a short trip to Tokyo you don't really need this atlas, unless you are a map nut like me, the maps in the travel books are adequate for most people. If you find yourself needing this much detail head for the nearest Police booth. Apparently the main function of Tokyo police booths is to help people find addresses in this crazy city!



2. I currently am in Tokyo and have been for 3 months and have use used this map book extensively throughout the Metro area. I happen to have the first edition (1993) that I bought in the US. I have tried to see if this book has been updated but Amazon.com is unclear about this - leading me to believe it has i in fact, not been updated. There are entire trains and subway lines not listed because they are new since 93. I was on the tiny Tamagawa line yesterday and two of the station names have been changed! Seems like some residents didn't like living means in front of a cemetary (Tamabochi-mae). Other than the old edition this is a great map book , especially for the essential area of train/subway travel. domo.



3. I live in the Tokyo area, and this guide is useful for riding the trains, but I think they could organize it better. It takes a little getting used to. The train maps are divided up by companies and types of trains not by areas... so you get really confused at first. Buy this book for the train maps, not the street maps. I wouldn't rely on these street maps (which take up a majority of the book) for driving. This book was recommended to us. We also looked through several English atlases like this one, and this seemed to be the best one available in English....



4. I live in the Tokyo area, and this guide is useful for riding the trains, but I think they could organize it better. It takes a little getting used to. The train maps are divided up by companies and types of trains not by areas... so you get really confused at first. Buy this book for the train maps, not the street maps. I wouldn't rely on these street maps (which take up a majority of the book) for driving. This book was recommended to us. We also looked through several English atlases like this one, and this seemed to be the best one available in English.



5. This book was bought by my parents in the 1980's. Though it probably was more complete when it was printed, it's really old. There has been numerous revisions and reprints to it...now called Tokyo City Atlas by the same publisher, Kodansha. I don't know why its still for sale when 4 new revisions and 20 to 30 years have come and gone...