Bhutan [Hardcover]

Robert Dompnier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 5, 1999

     In the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, Buddhist values guide everyday life, and the rulers are believed to have a special relationship with gods and saints. Here are Bhutan's arts, architecture, rivers, streets, and scenes from Bhutanese daily life, presented by a Himalayan scholar. One hundred and forty color photographs show the landscapes, monasteries, dwellings, people, and craftwork of this remote and seldom visited country.
     

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Less known than its Himalayan neighbors Tibet and Nepal, Bhutan is the subject of few books. Yet, as French photographer and reporter Dompnier strikingly demonstrates, it is a fascinating country with a unique Buddhist culture, strong traditions, great variations in topography from jungle to barren towering mountains, and, so far, relative isolation from the outside world. Primarily a book of photographs, this work is a good introduction to both the natural and cultural landscape. Particularly commendable are the many photos of people carrying out their daily routines or, elaborately garbed, participating in religious festivals. Most public libraries should have at least one book on Bhutan, and while this one is expensive, it is the kind of book that will generate further interest, capturing Bhutan as it is now before the inevitable tourist invasion.
-Harold M. Otness, Southern Oregon Univ. Lib., Ashland
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Robert Dompnier made over fifty trips to the Himalayas between 1985 and 1998. He is the coauthor of Tibet: Another World and has written numerous articles for various international magazines on Bhutanese and Tibetan culture.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 177 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1st edition (October 5, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570625107
• ISBN-13: 978-1570625107
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 11.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,676,584 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #75 in Books > Travel > Asia > Bhutan

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning depictions of a beautiful country and people, March 31, 2000

By 

Rebecca (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bhutan (Hardcover)

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.