Among Warriors: A Woman Martial Artist in Tibet [Paperback]

Pamela Logan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 2004

An expedition to the furthest reaches of Tibet to find a legendary warrior tribe colorfully chronicled by a martial arts expert.

The province of Kham is one of the remotest regions in all of Tibet, and its people, the fierce horsemen who for twenty-five years waged a relentless guerilla war against the Chinese occupation, the most elusive. In Among Warriors, Pamela Logan, a recognized expert in the martial arts, gives a breathtaking account of her journey across the windswept plateaus and icy mountain passes of eastern Tibet to find them. Written with vast sympathy for an embattled culture, Logan's vivid evocation of drinking tea with monks and herdsmen, dodging Chinese police, and observing pilgrims making their way toward Lhasa, will captivate anyone interested in Buddhism, the martial arts, or one of the world's last inaccessible regions.Pamela Logan holds a thrid-degree black belt in Shotokan karate and a doctorate in aerospace science from Stanford University. In 1992 she was appointed Director of Research for the China Exploration and Research Society. She lives in Southern California.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Chasing elusive chimeras is familiar territory for many exotic travel books. Take Pamela Logan: an overeducated, third-degree karate black belt who landed a grant to crisscross China and Tibet in search of a route into the forbidden province of Kham. In that stony, mountainous terrain live the Khampa, horsemen renowned for bitter guerrilla battles against the Chinese army that annexed Tibet.

An extremely hardy soul, Logan bicycles though high snowy passes, hitchhikes across barren reaches broken by few settlements, stumbles through driving rain with Buddhist pilgrims, befriends orange-robed monks, and treks along slick ice pathways hung over precipitous drops in eastern Tibet. En route, she ponders the discipline of karate and swallows gallons of yak butter tea. The dialogue she recreates is stiff but fresh; vivid phrasing beautifully renders the people, the landscape, and her own evolution. --Francesca Coltrera --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

In the fortress that is Tibet no place is more remote than the province of Kham and no people more elusive than the Khampa, the fierce horsemen who for twenty-five years waged a relentless guerrilla war against the Chinese occupation. In Among Warriors, a different kind of warrior sets out to find the Khampa: Pamela Logan, an American with a Ph.D. in aerospace science, and a third-degree black belt in karate. Logan cycles, hitchhikes, and treks across the windswept plateaus and icy mountain passes of eastern Tibet. She drinks tea with monks and herdsmen, dodges Chinese police, and watches in awe as religious pilgrims inch their way toward Lhasa by prostrating themselves at every body length. Writing with vast sensory power and sympathy, Logan produces a gem that will captivate those interested in Buddhism, the martial arts, and one of the world's last inaccessible regions.



"[Logan] writes of getting to Lhasa with all the wistfulness of Chekhov's three sisters dreaming of Moscow."--New York Times Book Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 298 pages
• Publisher: The Overlook Press (October 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585675474
• ISBN-13: 978-1585675470
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,890,579 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it!, March 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Among Warriors: A Woman Martial Artist in Tibet (Paperback)

A friend of mine passed this book along to me and I am so glad she did!

The author did a wonderful job describing her journey; I felt as if I was right there with her through the entire trip!

Her determination and courage were so inspiring!

Thanks, Pam!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courageous reporting on both an emotional and physical level, September 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Among Warriors: A Woman Martial Artist in Tibet (Paperback)

In "Among Warriors - A Martial Artist in Tibet", Pamela Logan frankly relates her travel experiences, documenting the emotional and physical challenges she faced. She courageously reveals the beginning steps of her growing understanding and appreciation for the Buddhist faith as she searches for the elusive warriors of Kham; none of the typical travel writer's pretence at omnipotence here - Logan is open to what the experience brings her and we are fortunate to share vicariously in her journey. In addition, she faithfully and vividly describes a relatively unknown part of the world - very useful on my recent trip there!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for karateka!, May 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Among Warriors: A Woman Martial Artist in Tibet (Paperback)

This is a great book. As a female karateka with an interest in Tibet and international travel I was impressed with the author's frankness, curiosity and determination. There was never a dull page or unnecessary word, much like the movements of the kata. She takes us all on the journey, and how fortunate are we to be along for the ride.