In 629; the revered Buddhist monk Hsuan Tsang set out across Asia in search of the Ultimate Truth; and to settle what he called “the perplexities of my mind.†From the Tang dynasty capital at Xian through ancient Silk Road oases; over forbidding mountain passes to Tashkent; Samarkand; and the Amu-Darya River; across Pakistan to the holiest cities of India–and back again–his sixteen-year journey was beset with every hardship imaginable. Pilgrimage complete; Hsuan Tsang wrote an account of his trek that is still considered one of the classics of Chinese literature.In 1998; Richard Bernstein; venerated journalist and Time magazine’s first Beijing bureau chief; retraced the steps of Hsuan Tsang’s long and sinuous route; comparing present and past. Aided by modern technology but hampered by language barriers; harried border crossings; hostile Islamic regimes; and the accidental U.S. bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade; Bernstein follows the monk’s path not only in physical but in contemplative ways. Juxtaposing his own experiences with those of Hsuan Tsang; Bernstein has crafted a vivid account of two stirring adventures in pursuit of illumination. Inspiring and profoundly felt; Ultimate Journey is a marvelous amalgamation of travelogue and history; cultural critique and spiritual meditation.
#21810 in Books Vintage 1994-04-26 1994-04-26Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.98 x 1.25 x 5.15l; 1.26 #File Name: 0679751254624 pagesGreat product!
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. what it was like to be in Moscow during the fall of the Soviet UnionBy Howard SchulmanDespite the book's Pulitzer Prize; I'm a little ambivalent about saying this in one of the best books I have read. For sure; some of the best parts are that Remnick seemingly has open access to all the major Soviet political players while he was there. And he doesn't even brag about it. The titans of Soviet politics seem to be open to all who want to speak with them; though Remnick's day job as the Moscow correspondent for the Washington Post certainly helped...a large part of his life in Russia then that he totally did not to write about.It's fun to follow him track down figures and weasel his way to get access to whoever he wants to talk with. He clearly is excited to be there during the transition and is personally invested in the story; as he speaks Russian and both his parents and his parents-in-laws have Russian ancestry. On the other hand; the book is a rag tag; contemporaneous collection of personal reporting and interests; lacking to some degree the broad overview that only comes with the passage of time.Doubtlessly; you get the feeling of what it was like living in the Soviet Union during the Gorbachev years and the transition to Yeltsin and the end of the Communist Party....with the addition of having Remnick magically inserting himself in front of whoever he wants to talk with to fill you in on the inside story.Enjoy it.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A highly impressive collection and analysis of a lot of ...By Bryan J. FarrellA highly impressive collection and analysis of a lot of information; put into a chronological format. Highly entertaining and informative. The author seems to have gotten into the weeds to gather his information; and that came across in the well-written narrative.New for me was how he removed the western veil from Gorbachev; who was neither as gentle nor as progressive as depicted in the west; though he certainly for change;Outstanding account!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Grand in scope and executionBy Frank J. EdwardsThe 1994 Pulitzer Prize winning "Lenin's Tomb" is a must-read for anyone interested in modern Russian history. David Remnick was a Washington Post reporter living in Moscow during the late 80's and early 90's and was thus a first-hand witness to Gorbachev's rise and fall and the final weakening of Stalin's horrific legacy. (Remnick is now a staff writer for the New Yorker). Fluent in Russian and a first rate wrier and intellect; Remnick shows us a dramatic historical event unfolding as seen from the trenches and above; told through his own first person experience and densely complimented by research and interviews with leading Russian political figures and the common man alike. If you've ever wondered what life was like in totalitarian Russia under Stalin; this work unveils the gruesome details. The book reads much like a journal; with fairly brief chapters devoted to single events and perspectives and; although the story does unfold and weave together; this technique lends a slightly choppy feel to the reading at times. This is a very minor complaint; however; for a book that is grand in scope and beautifully written.
