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Himalaya

Exploring the Roof of the World

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Himalaya

By: John Keay
Narrated by: Nick Holbek
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About this listen

Himalaya is one of the world's most extraordinary geophysical, historical, environmental and social regions.

Historian John Keay introduces us to the myriad mysteries of this vast, confounding and utterly fascinating corner of the planet, and makes the case that it is one of our most essential—and endangered—wonders.

More rugged and elevated than any other zone on earth, it embraces all of Tibet, six of the world's eight major mountain ranges and nearly all its highest peaks. It contains around 50,000 glaciers and the most extensive permafrost outside the polar regions. Over an area nearly as big as Europe, the population is scattered, often nomadic and always sparse. Many languages are spoken, some are written and few are related.

Religious and political affiliations are equally diverse. Borders are disputed, while jealous neighbors shy away from a common strategy for protecting an environment in which desert meets rainforest and temperatures can fluctuate between 30 and -30°C in the course of a single day.

For centuries, Himalaya has captivated an illustrious succession of admirers, from explorers, surveyors and sportsmen, to botanists and zoologists, ethnologists and geologists, missionaries and mountaineers.

©2022 John Keay (P)2022 W F Howes Asia Earth Sciences Environment Politics & Government Science
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More than a history book, a book of stories. More than a history book, a book of stories.

Insightful and touching

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One of my favourite audiobooks. It’s so rich in detail, so vast. Like the labyrinthine mountains and cultures it describes. I’ve listened five or six times and never got bored. Also, weirdly enough for something so engaging, it also lulls me to sleep if I’m awake late. I get lost in the worlds and have the best dreams.

Fascinating, comprehensive, intelligent

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Was so excited to listen to this book but I have steuggled to take any of it in. The language is complicated/ overly academic and the chapters are super confusing - jumping about across time and place and space. I think it might be better as a physical read.

so hard to understand

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