White Mountain

by Twigger Robert

Home to mythical kingdoms, wars and expeditions, and strange and magical beasts, the Himalayas have always loomed tall in our imagination. These mountains, home to Buddhists, Bonpos, Jains, Muslims, Hindus, shamans and animists, to name only a few, are a place of pilgrimage and dreams, revelation and war, massacre and invasion, but also peace and unutterable calm. They are a central hub of the world’s religion, as well as a climber’s challenge and a traveler’s dream.


In an exploration of the region's seismic history, Robert Twigger, author of Red Nile and Angry White Pyjamas , unravels some of these seemingly disparate journeys and the unexpected links between them. Following a winding path across the Himalayas to its physical end in Nagaland on the Indian-Burmese border, Twigger encounters incredible stories from a unique cast of mountaineers and mystics, pundits and prophets. The result is a sweeping, enthralling and surprising journey through the history of the world's greatest mountain range.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, History, Asia, Travelogue, 21st Century, India

480 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2017

Reviews

[Kirsty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came across a copy of Robert Twigger's White Mountain: Real and Imagined Journeys in the Himalayas whilst browsing for books to take on holiday. I hadn't heard of it before, but was very much intrigued by the title and blurb. I love travelogues and travel literature, and imagined that this would be a mixture of the two. Its blurb says: 'These mountains, home to Buddhists, Bonpas, Jains, Muslims, Hindus, Shamans and animals, to name only a few, are a place of pilgrimage and dreams, revelation and war, massacre and invasion, but also peace and unutterable calm.'

In White Mountain, Twigger professes that he wishes to look at and explore the links between real and imagined journeys over the vast range of the Himalayas. His father was born there, and he therefore feels a connection, which pushes him toward exploring the mountains himself. In his own trips to the region, he 'encounters incredible stories from a unique cast of mountaineers and mystics, pundits and prophets. The result is a sweeping, enthralling and surprising journey through the history of the world's greatest mountain range.'

White Mountain did not live up to my expectations. Rather than the geographical biography which I was expecting, I was met with an incredibly imbalanced range of chapters, some of which are so short as to say barely anything, and others which are so long that they ramble and meander around points which could be interesting, had they been focused upon. The historical detail was fascinating; the religious detail was rather overblown, and saturated the whole. The nods to science are rendered intelligently.

However, Twigger has an odd habit of repeating himself throughout, and giving the same details over and over again. Much of White Mountain, indeed, is about Twigger himself; he comes across as rather self-righteous, and often overshadows the fascinating stories of explorers in the region with his own experiences. Quotes from others have been included, but these are often left alone, and not analysed in any way.

Upon finishing White Mountain, I awarded it three stars, but after mulling my decision over, I have decided to downgrade it to two. The book had such a lot of potential which simply has not been reached, and the way in which it has been structured is jarring, and lacks balance. Photographs have been randomly placed throughout; they have little bearing for the most part about what has been written, and serve to interrupt the narrative. I would, for all of these reasons, steer clear of Twigger's books in future.

[Alasdair Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rich man with book contract does the tourist circuit in India. He has a contract which requires him to write a book. But what can he write about? Mainly Wikipedia pages about Tibet it seems.

The short chapters become ever more skippable as he rambles through his personal perspective on Tibet.

It's vaguely interesting when he gets back to describing his real journey before one of his long tangents into his internet reading.

It's kind of amazing. If you're privilege enough and have written enough before, you can print pretty much anything. It's a "tour de force" if turning a 50 page blog into a 450 page brick.

[Rachel Reece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome, beautiful read! But definitely read Into Thin Air and 7 Years in Tibet first, and be familiar with Himalayan geography. The book is very contextual and expects a baseline of knowledge haha.

[Angela Seewald · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was......perplexing.

[Kerry Hennigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When someone writes a terrific book about the history of desert exploration in the Sahara, and combines it with their own often humorous attempts to trek the sandy wastes and remote oasis, you don’t necessarily expect their book on the Himalayas to be equally as entertaining. Thankfully, with “White Mountain” Robert Twigger managed to not only equal “Lost Oasis: A Desert Adventure: In Search of Paradise” but push the drama up a notch. Granted with the Himalayas, Everest and mountain climbing disasters all part of the backdrop to his own trekking in the region, there’s bound to be drama. Twigger gives potted biographies of various European explorers and adventurers as pertains to their exploits in the region and manages to include a thoroughly colourful cast of characters, including well known names like Madame Blavatsky, Alexandra David-Neel, Alex Crowley and Heinrich Harrer. There are also the official agents of the British Empire, and their ‘pundits’ – the real-life Indian equivalents of Rudyard Kipling’s “Kim”. It seems that the high ground has always been a political and sometimes physical battleground – with such adversaries as Britain and Russian, China and Tibet, with foreign powers meddling or withdrawing to suit their own agendas. It’s up to the reader to decide who are the biggest losers – the great numbers of people whose cultures have been virtually erased by one or the other of the powerbrokers of the planet, or the dogged – and sometimes foolhardy – individuals who attempt to climb the great peaks of the Himalayas simply because they are there.

[WaterstonesBirmingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like to travel, and when I travel I like to read something that has the essence of where I'm going in it. On a recent trip to Nepal, and the Annapurna mountains specifically, I was struggling to decide what to take along. Should I read some classic adventure fiction? A guide to being the best Buddhist I can be? Maps? In the end, I decided on “White Mountain” and I'm very glad I did.

The premise is simple, Twigger takes the reader on a trip across the Himalayan range and the incredible cultures and history that they are steeped in. Mountaineers brush shoulders with mystics, Sadhus appear alongside ill-fated explorers and there is a lot of mapping. Told in short chapters; each with its own cast the book does a remarkable job of capturing the spirit of the mountains and their people. As I made my way through the book I felt that I got to know the peaks and foothills ever more intimately. The journey that Twigger was taking me on became ever more linked to my own, as I explored further, so too did the people I was reading about. All the way through the book, whether talking about locals, well meaning visitors or invaders I got the feeling that Twigger is truly a person who feels at home in the mountains, and that generosity of spirit permeates the whole telling and makes for a much more personal feeling journey. As he relates his own experiences one feels that the stories of old become that much more immediate. The reader sees how the views and meetings that Younghusband, Harrer and Mallory had would not be so dissimilar even today, and that is what makes this collection (and the Himalayas themselves) so exciting, they always were; and still are a mystical, exciting place to travel.

Whilst not everyone may be of a mind to travel out into the mountains, I would suggest to all that a trip with Twigger from the comfort of your armchair will be a deeply enjoyable and rewarding experience. Informative and exciting, this collection will make even the most dedicated homebody yearn for the thin, fresh air and icy enclave of the world's highest mountains.

Tsam

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

A land of mystery explored!

My thanks to my contacts at Pegasus Books, Iris Blasi, Katie McGuire, and Maia Larson, for my review copy of this book. You ladies rock!

The mountains of the Himalayas are steeped in mystery and legends. This is the home of fabled Tibet, the jumping off point for many colorful stories that deal with the power of the mind. It is the land of the highest mountains on Earth, mountains still dotted with the remains of those who died trying to conqueror the “Roof of the World.” There are the legends of the Yeti. It is home to many religions, customs, and scenery which is seen nowhere else.

This volume celebrates how these mountains seem to cast a spell over people who come from worldwide to take chances on climbing Everest, K2, Nanga Parbat, Annapurna, and others. Part personal experience, part guidebook and part history, the book should appeal to those wanting to scout the area before taking an expedition to the Himalayas. The history will appeal to those who wonder how life in the rarefied air of these mountains. The personal portion of the book shows the author’s experiences, which may whet an explorer’s appetite.

For myself, I think I expected to get something from this book which I failed to find. It is not the fault of the author, so the book will not get that big of a ding from me.

I give the book three stars…

Quoth the Raven…

[SUVENDU SUVASIS DASH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wonder why this book is not yet greatly popular despite such fascinating content and engaging style. I envy Robert Twigger’s literary style. He is a master of the language and the expressions in the book are immaculately crafted. The book is a page turner and would keep the reader engrossed all throughout. The stories about the people and places mentioned in this work are very well told and it’s a quintessential read for those interested in Himalayas, Buddhism and Tibetology. The author surprises you with the vastness of his research and the wide array of journeys he has made across the length and breadth of the Himalayas. The narrative is so illustrative that the reader would find herself transported to the scenes and places being described. Such authentic literary works are very rare in the nonfiction genre nowadays and Mr. Twigger does a great job while keeping people interested in illuminating works satisfied, yet longing for more. I’m also interested to read his work on the Red Nile.

[Wes F · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book would have more Himalayan climbing stories & characters, given its title and cover photo. It had some, and had some decent historical background on the area, but not enough of a story thread to be really engaging. It was much more focused on the Tibetan/Buddhist perspectives found by various peoples of the Himalayan--including much on folk beliefs/practices. I felt like it was a typical 20th-century PC look at the mystic cultures of far-off lands, where supposedly everything was so perfect for thousands of years & the people ever-so-happy & contented, until modernity arrived in the guise of British, Russian, or Chinese imperialism. Not that there were bad things done by those imperialists and their condescending viewpoints & supposed cultural superiority--but it was just all too overplayed. Like the Dalai Lama is the answer to every modern ill. So much lostness, darkness, sadness, poverty & subservience to gods-who-are-NOT-God. Got tired/bored of it all. Can't recommend this book to anyone, sorry. Give me some good straight-on climbing stories/experiences!

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

White Mountain: Real and Imagined Journeys in the Himalayas was a tour of a part of the world that is full of mythical tales and stories of conflict and expeditions. This book encompasses so many elements of the Himalayas - from its history to the religions of people who live within the mountains.

Some parts of this book took a lot of effort to read as it's very factual and dense, and thankfully as I've read Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer I had loads more context for the climbing and mountaineering sections. As for the sections on history and religion, a lot of this was very new to me.

It was fascinating to learn more about the journeys and the myths and legends surrounding this mountain range. But one thing that did make this book difficult to read at times was the organisation of it - I feel like the structure of the different sections was a bit mismatched.

🗺🌍📜⛰

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hopelessly drawn to this magical region, Robert Twigger approaches the Himalayas to unravel some of those real and imaginary trips and the unexpected links between them. As he travels the winding trail through the mountains to its end in Nagaland and the Indo-Burmese border, Twigger uncovers incredible tales from an assortment of mountaineers and mystics, gurus and prophets. The result is a captivating, surprising and far-reaching journey through the history of the highest mountain range in the world. Paul, The Book Grocer.
Buy it here for just $10

[Prachiti Talathi Gandhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

White Mountain - Real and Imagined Journeys in the Himalayas.. the title sound interesting. I picked up the book because of this title. The book is quite a door stopper size. Starts with Ancient history of the Himalayas and tribes there. It discusses about some beliefs and rituals in those tribes.
In the beginning it sounds like an reasearch paper but as you progress it becomes interesting.
Different styles of author comes across as you progress through the book.
There is only on drawback with this book, no pictures. May get little too much to read sometimes.

[Tfalcone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You Net Galley for the free ARC.

The Himalayas have always had a mythical quality for me and I imagine for many others.

This book does a great job of bringing you the history, the mythology, the influence of religions and the science of life at altitude. Historically speaking, the influence of the British Colonialism and the continuous struggle between China and Tibet are enlightening (pun intended).

My favorite parts were the history of the mapping expeditions and, of course, the history of the mountain climbing and summiting the first peaks.

Yes, the Yeti gets a chapter, too.

Great Book!

[Taylor Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though it was well researched and covered some interesting topics, including some fascinating esoteric histories, I found the writing style throughout this to be a bit half-baked. The author tries to link certain ideas and images together without a need to and some of the more introspective and meditative passages are really poor. I feel that Twigger would have benefited from more methodically laying out his thinking on how all his experiences and research came together and then go forward to form a more complete illustration of the Himalayas as a spiritual and cultural place.

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a friend so neatly summarised after I was struggling to articulate how I felt, this book is ‘sometimes interesting, frequently condescending, and almost always tone deaf’. Twigger manages both to avoid some of the potholes created by being a white man talking about colonialism, but at the same time falls face first into the mire of orientalism and the other. I was left cringing my way through certain chapters but intrigued by the history of Tibet. As another reviewer so succinctly put it, this book is…perplexing.

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

A complete mishmash and mostly unoriginal as the author rehashes topics such as the 1904 British invasion of Tibet, and the 1996 tragedy on Everest. My biggest gripe though was the author's continual use of 'man, 'mankind' and 'he, instead of 'humankind' or 'people'. Completely unacceptable in the second decade of the 21st century and totally alienating for all non- male readers

[Sharon Watkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of this book that I found interesting and absorbing, but although I am fascinated by all things Himalayan, there was also a lot in this volume that felt flat. And I could never get a handle on the author's narrative organizing principles. 3 1/2 stars

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent, well informed and inspirational.

[Ulrika Eriksson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of small goodies in this book in which Twigger is mapping how people through the ages have tried, or not tried, to conquer these mountains, by many regarded as holy or magic. Intertwined is the history of the area and beautiful and poetic reflections: “one purpose of life is to reconcile ‘dropness’ with ‘oceanness’ in as much as the drop contains a consciousness of being both the ocean and the drop…” and funny proverbs: ‘If you have no problems, buy a goat’. It was interesting reading about different breathing techniques, for example the gTummo technique, and mushrooms that gave a Viagra effect; and the fatal effect Roosevelt´s naïve view upon Stalin had on Eastern Europe. And then you get to learn how a new Dalai Lama is chosen, thoughtfully, in no hurry and in this case, during several years.
Actually … I think I must read this book again and take a closer look on the lovely hand drawn maps with their naïve sketchings. Did Twigger do them as well?

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy Twigger's unique mix of physical and mental exertion, his ability to find worlds of meaning in the unregarded, his making plain complex issues through real common sense, if you have found his previous books as rewarding as I have, then buy and you will fiind much happy reading.

[Bertie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Surprsingly boring, with long tangents about the tedious religious history and frustratingly little of the travel journalism aspect of what ought to be a fascinating trip to this part of the world. DNF after 40%

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part travelogue; part cultural anthropology; part history; part philosophy; part adventure narrative. Unfortunately, the parts do not form a great whole. There is much to recommend this book for the moments it offers but in its entirety White Mountain is lacking cohesion.

Rating 3 out of 5 Stars

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable mix of short stories, from the simple (climb this mountain) to the obscure (history of Buddhism). I enjoyed some and found other impossible to read. Definitely a sideways look at the Himalayas and worth a read