Customer Reviews

Yak Butter & Black Tea: A Journey into Tibet

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This book is a VERY visceral account of a Western American's journey into his own machismo and through minority areas within the Chinese Empire. There is disappointingly little information about the Dulong/Drung people, and it is very easy to question the ethics of how two Western men bent on being the first Westerners to get into the Drung Valley treated people--especially Tibetans whose hospitality they could be viewed as exploiting, but even petty Chinese bureaucrats. Brackenbury is self-critical and seems to come to realize the indefensible aspects of his conduct. At the same time, he clearly endeavored to ease suffering through his medical and chiropractic skills and to minimize the negative impact on those he encountered. His indisputable physical courage is complemented by the courage to present material that is used by some amazon reviewers to indict him.

Although the book is mostly about him and what he put himself through on a very difficult trek, I think that it provides insight into the brittle relations between the indigenous leaders (who generally accepted, aided, and even defended him) and the colonial Chinese officials who do not learn the language and are the active agents of ethnocide. Battling provincial bureaucrats is a major part of the travel literature genre, and Brackenbury seems to me to be fair in showing some virtues as well as vices of the Chinese officials.

I loved this book for its fantastic insight into the perils of such a journey. The personal contributions really make this book work!

So many travel writers today are over concerned with politically correctness and, touchy feely encounters with the inhabitants of the places they go. Indeed, nowadays it is increasingly more difficult to find real adventure off the beaten track. Wades memoirs bring to live travel writing of the old school, where real physical obstacles half to be over come, along with a true quest into the unknown. Some of the readers have condemned Wade for his political incorrectness, but I believe this reflects a lack of understanding for all that happened and the circumstances of the adventure. I think the author handled himself well under the circumstances he found himself in, those circumstances not being what he had anticipated. and he does portray the tale with brilliant and brutal honesty. What an unforgettable story! Yak butter and Black tea is one of the best modern day adventure travel books I have read this year. I give it two thumbs up.

First of all this was a simply written adventure tale that kept my interest. His single handed quest into an unknown region sparked a desire in me to strap on one of my numerous packs and head out. He inspired me, one who spent 4 years back packing mostly in Asia 30 yrs ago. Secondly, the book made be aware of how common backpack travel is China today. His trip would have been impossible 20 yrs ago. Thirdly, it was an honest account, that has given international exposure to a people that are about to be Chinese-ized. And those who critized the author as the Ugly American, forget to mention that he gave medical treatment to many of the poor people he met. Bottom line - if you're a person who hasn't had your brain politically corrected and you love a good adventure tale, I hope you read this.

This book was a great read, and a refreshing brake from the run of the mill books on travel. I almost couldn't put it down, finishing it up in two evenings! What makes Dr. Brackenbury so appealing is his stark honesty, along with his ability to accurately portray, to convey to the reader an understanding of what he is going through. There is a clear-cut ethical dilemma in his decision to undertake this illegal expedition into a closed part of Tibet. And yet he makes no attempt , to hide from the reader his own responsibility, short comings and mistakes. I was in particular impresses with the physical difficulties of the trip, the difficulty in obtaining food, in staying healthy, and warm. With out over doing it, the author portrayed these obstacles in such a way, as I could imagine my self there, cold and hungry and afraid. This book abounds with accounts of real encounter, real danger and actual suffering, both physical and emotional and to an extent that is necessarily missing from most travel literature. I have read virtually every account about past illegal attempts to visit Tibet, my favorite two books have been up till now 7 years in Tibet, and trespassers on the top of the world. Yak butter and black tea is the first book I have read in resent times that approaches the true live drama and adventure I enjoyed in these. Within the first few pages of the book, it becomes apparent that the author is somewhat harsh in personality, strong willed and forceful. Someone less so would not have been able to complete such a journey, There were instances where I didn't agree with his methods of obtaining help from the native Tibetans. But I was also impressed with his candid attempts to put something back. Time and again, he shares his limited medicine, and takes time out to treat the villagers with his chiropractic skills. The book builds to an exciting climax as Brackenbury finally does make it to the "forbidden valley" as he calls it. His first encounter with the People of the Drung was poignant indeed. I think what struck me most, was a passage near the end of the book where the author portrays his reluctance to leave his temporary primitive out law existence, and go back to modern life.

This book is tremendously interesting and exciting. It took me to a different world, far from McDonald's and KFC. I loved it and highly recommend it.

Wade Brackenbury may not be a great writer, but he is a GOOD story-teller. He seems like an honest, decent guy who just happens to like adventure. I liked the way he tried to help everyone he met in Tibet by using his chiropractic or medical skills whenever he could. He realized that his presence caused some of the local folks problems, and he tried to minimize them as much as possible. Pascal, who had studied the Drung Valley for years and was the instigator of this trip, seemed to be less concerned about the trouble he was causing, although he too appeared to have a love for the Tibetans, in his own way. I wish Brackenbury had known more of the language and could have learned more about the people in the Drung Valley to share with his readers, but if Pascal had not "wimped out" of the expedition, this might have been the case. The most valuable part of this book, to me, was realizing how these people have been unfairly taken over by the Chinese, who have no right to Tibet. Since reading this book, I have joined with other concerned students who are interested in helping the Tibetan cause. As far as the book was concerned, I finished it in one night and would definitely call it a "fun read" for anyone who is interested in adventure!

I read this book a few years ago, when I was just getting into reading travel narratives. This is a great one to start off the genre with. It's an easy read, and a great story.

I read _Yak Butter & Black Tea_ with great interest! Dr. Brackenbury uses his many skills to explore the unknown worlds around which we live but are unaware of. China is a fascinating country and I loved seeing it through Wade's eyes. He brings the people home to me: their faces, their families, their lives and lifestyles. Wade's interest in a people whom he was not even sure existed any longer took me with him on an unforgettable adventure! I know that there is more to the story than the book tells, because I have read his unpublished manuscript; and know of all the beautiful pictures he took along the way and was not allowed to include with his book for the sake of keeping the price in an affordable range. Those who want more need to contact the publisher. Meanwhile, I am looking forward to more books from Wade. His life is speant getting to know people, using his medical skills to help them whenever he can, and telling their stories. I highly recommend that anybody interested in Asian cultures read _Yak Butter & Black Tea_.

Such a shame that Dr. Brackenbury was limited to the small size of this book. His adventure obviously covered far more width and depth than his publishers were able to allow him.

I was particularly touched by his compassion for the people he visited, his desire to use his medical skills for their benefit, and his unwillingness to compromise personal principles to further his adventure goals. His respect of their beliefs and culture especially touched me. Having met this author personally, I believe he would have taken a train load of supplies in with him to distribute freely..such is the impression of the warmth of his heart for his fellowmen.

Curious about the book? Read it. Not everyone who reads it will be a five star fan, but every one can enjoy the journey through Dr. Brackenbury's eyes.