Madam, Have You Ever Really Been Happy?: An Intimate Journey through Africa and Asia [Paperback]

Meg Peterson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 31, 2005

Explore Africa and Asia’s exotic and humble locales with Meg Peterson as she sets out to circle the globe carrying nothing more than a backpack. Unfettered by deadlines and armed with an open ticket and a camera, she takes off, making plans as she goes. She rides on dilapidated buses through Egypt and Zimbabwe and squeezes into hot, crowded trains in India. She views a sunrise from the summit of Mt. Moses in the Sinai and a private cremation on the banks of the Ganges.

In Kenya Meg encounters roadblocks and Masai warriors, and in Nepal she finds romance with an Austrian scientist. Abandoned at 14,000 ft. by their drunken guide, the two climb to Everest Base Camp through the snow, traversing the Khumbu Glacier and struggling up Kala Pattar (18,500 ft.) to gaze on Everest, Nuptse, and Lhotse.

Full of rich and unusual details, Meg Peterson’s book takes you into the heart of her journey, an adventure that changed her understanding of herself and the world.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

MEG PETERSON has traveled extensively and has recently completed the Wainwright Walk across England, hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, and circumambulated Mt. Kailash (18,000 ft.) in Tibet. A freelance writer, she lives in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (May 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595346014
• ISBN-13: 978-0595346011
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,931,902 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book!, June 6, 2006

By 

Jon M. Pollack (Seattle, Wa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Madam, Have You Ever Really Been Happy?: An Intimate Journey through Africa and Asia (Paperback)

Meg Peterson shows us her great personal story and tells us in a way that we don't want to put down the book. Its not only a travel tale, but a journey of self-discovery. Don"t miss it!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Madame, Have You Ever Really Been Happy, June 4, 2006

By 

Carole Outwater (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Madam, Have You Ever Really Been Happy?: An Intimate Journey through Africa and Asia (Paperback)

I knew I would like this book right off. The first paragraph got my attention when Meg described a woman catching up with her to ask this question after a gym class. "Is it true that you took a trip around the world---alone?" She said she'd heard this often. People thought she was doing a brave and courageous thing, maybe even a crazy thing, taking a trip around the world alone.

Now that I've read this book, I find myself reflecting on it and see how Meg Peterson's journey through Africa and Asia had so many facets. It was a time to be alone, a time to make sense of important relationships, and a time to rediscover life and the world. She did do that. Sometimes with humor and often with gusto, daring and spice! I laughed when I read where she got her book title.

Meg paints more than words with her descriptions. She paints entire scenarios. Through her words,I got to experience geographical and political conditions in far reaches of the world that I might never get to visit. She also shared fascinating conversations with many intriguing and colorful people. From her angle of vision, life is full of adventures even with all its pitfalls and glories.

Finally, her book allows us a glimpse into the soul of another person, Meg Peterson, and sharing her story is what makes this book a page turner.

3.0 out of 5 stars Generation Gap?, July 27, 2011

By 

Dawn (CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MADAM, HAVE YOU EVER REALLY BEEN HAPPY?: An Intimate Journey through Africa and Asia (Kindle Edition)

I really expected to love this book. The material is super interesting, but I just couldn't relate to the author. I'm not sure why. I have struggled just to get through half of it. I'm not sure what it is, but maybe it's a generation gap (I was born in 1970)? I kind of feel like I'm reading something written by my grandmother. I don't want to be mean because I suspect that if I met Meg in real life, we would probably have a very interesting conversation. I think maybe her personality just doesn't come through in the writing...