Rated of 5
by Michael P. (San Marcos, CA) Very enjoyable
One of the few books that had me nodding and smiling in agreement with the author as I read along. I was so "in sync" with the feelings and emotions Ms. Napoli used to describe her life at the mid-career point that I felt validated that I wasn't the only one who was experiencing the world the way I do. This sense of identification with an author happens very rarely for me so I really enjoyed the book. Highly recommended.
Rated of 5
by Penny N. (Saginaw, MI) Reporter finds peace with self
The first part of the book I really couldn't tell if this story was fiction, non-fiction or a biography. True the author really didn't have any idea what she had talked herself into. Yet after spending a year in the "happiest place on earth", Bhutan, she was able to step out of her stupor and write with sense of purpose about the things she had observed and participated in. The last third of the book lends itself to freeing the author from bad memories of earlier life in the USA. The many changes in this small country, with local interaction make the last part extremely interesting.
Rated of 5
by Sharon M. (San Diego, CA) Radio Shangri-La
I sat down many times to read this but could not get into it. Sorry
Rated of 5
by Susan S. (Lafayette, CA) Bhutan in transition
If you are looking for another Eat, Pray, Love, this book is not it. For me, that was a major plus. While it seems to be billed as another “travel to find myself” book, I found that where it was its most interesting was the look it gave us at modern Bhutanese life (and it dragged a little when the author focused on her own relationships with other westerners because I didn’t care about that). But I learned a lot about Bhutan, and the author seems to have begun her contacts with Bhutan and the Bhutanese people right at the point where Bhutan is in a transition period between keeping itself almost completely isolated from the modern world, and allowing the modern world in. And it seems pretty clear that the modern world is going to rapidly run roughshod over their old way of life. I found that aspect to be fascinating, and it left me with a lot of food for thought – it seems pretty poignant that their old ways will disappear, but why shouldn’t they have all of the benefits of modern technology and communication that we have? But does that make people happier? But even if it doesn’t, would it have been acceptable for their government to continue to keep them isolated? I finished it several days ago, and I still find myself thinking about it.
Rated of 5
by Prella M. (Lafayette, IN) National Happiness
Lisa Napoli, on her own quest to find contentment and satisfaction with her life, travels to Bhutan to aid the national radio station. Her observations and insights on this delightful small Himalayan kingdom make interesting reading. For me, it was a trip down memory lane to remember a wonderful vacation I had there some years ago. I recommend this for all arm chair travelers who wish to know more about other parts of the world or prospective visitors.
Rated of 5
by Ann O. (Kansas City, MO) The Happiest Place on Earth
After reading “Radio Shangri-La” by Lisa Napoli, one thing I can say is “I wish I could visit Bhutan!” But sadly I’m afraid that as Bhutan opens up to the world, it will cease to be the same unspoiled country that Napoli discovered.
As I read about Napoli’s adventures, I felt as though I were traveling with her, getting acquainted with her Bhutanese friends -- Ngawang, Pema, Pink and the others – and sharing their lives. Although I haven’t lived in another country, I traveled throughout the world for many years in my job for a non-profit organization. Reading this book brought back lovely memories of my experiences and the people who changed me by giving me a different perspective on my life and values.
However, partly because Napoli kept us at arms length, only teasing us about her problems and experience instead of bringing us into the heart and soul of her changed self and partly because I was more interested in Bhutan and its people, I didn’t enjoy Napoli’s personal musings as much as I did her descriptions of this beautiful country, these delightfully open-hearted people and their lives. All in all, though, it was an enthralling book.
A bold, mesmerizing novel about the woman known as "Typhoid Mary," the first known healthy carrier of typhoid fever in the burgeoning metropolis of early twentieth century New York.
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Although heavy on the scientific details, which slowed down the story for me (OK, I admit, I was one of those liberal arts majors who skipped out on...
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Loved this book. Magical, quirky, enchanting I could go on. All books do not have to be literary fiction, sometimes it is just so comforting to read...
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British Parliament asks Amazon to clarify why it pays $9 million in income tax on $23 billion of UK sales.(May 20 2013) Amazon will be called back to give further evidence to members of the British Parliament "to clarify how its activities in the U.K. justify its low corporate...
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by Michael P. (San Marcos, CA) 
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by Penny N. (Saginaw, MI) 
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by Sharon M. (San Diego, CA) 
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by Susan S. (Lafayette, CA) 
