Himalaya

A Human History

By: Ed Douglas

Narrated by: James Cameron Stewart

For centuries, the unique and astonishing geography of the Himalaya has attracted those in search of spiritual and literal elevation: pilgrims, adventurers, and mountaineers seeking to test themselves among the world's most challenging peaks. But far from being wild and barren, the Himalaya has been home to a diversity of indigenous and local cultures, a crucible of world religions, a crossroads for trade, and a meeting point and conflict zone for empires past and present. In this landmark work, Ed Douglas makes a thrilling case for the Himalaya's importance in global history and offers a soaring account of life at the "roof of the world".

Spanning millennia, from the earliest inhabitants to the present conflicts over Tibet and Everest, Himalaya explores history, culture, climate, geography, and politics. Douglas profiles the great kings of Kathmandu and Nepal; he describes the architects who built the towering white Stupas that distinguish Himalayan architecture; and he traces the flourishing evolution of Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism that brought Himalayan spirituality to the world. He also depicts the story of how the East India Company grappled for dominance with China's emperors, how India fought Mao's Communists, and how mass tourism and ecological transformation are obscuring the bloody legacy of the Cold War.

©2020 Ed Douglas (P)2021 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

An excellent book with a disinterested narrator

Himalaya tells an epic history in a relatable manner. It deserves a narrator who is actually interested in the material. Instead, the narrator sounds like he's reading the words phonetically instead of telling a story. I would have returned the book, but the writing was strong enough for me to listen while doing yardwork. I then go back and read parts of the book in the printed version.

This is not a good book

This book is basically a list of names and places it gives very little story very little context and if you’re not familiar with that part of the world it is completely Confusing. It is not worth your money or your time.