Its a very funny read. If you've never been to Tibet, the book will still entertain you, and make you want to go! If you HAVE been to Tibet, then you'll enjoy it even more.

7 of 7 found the following review helpful:


hilarious book!  Feb 25, 2005 By Mike
Much better than all those boring books on Tibet. This one made me laugh out loud! He doesn't really try to tell the sad story of Tibet, as it's about all the crazy antics that went on in this amazing hotel (a Holiday Inn - in Tibet??!!) but as you read it and laugh at the funny stuff, you can't help gain a better understanding of what life is like there. If you want to know more about Tibet or just want a good read that will make you laugh, get this one.

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:


One of the Funniest Books EVER!  Nov 23, 2007 By Margaret Knoebel "pivorino"
I loved this book and have read it over and over. I laughed out loud on almost every page. One of the funniest stories was how the maids who initially worked there destoyed all of the vacumn cleaners by not changing the bags because they thought the dirt went through the cord into the wall!!! Talk about culture shock! I have given this book to numerous people who are not necessarily interested in traveling, Tibet or China and they have all loved it!

5 of 7 found the following review helpful:


Good Book  Jan 01, 2004
I enjoyed reading this book about a man that gets a job in Tibet at the Holiday Inn which is nothing like the holiday inns here. Had information about the country and some funny parts.

1 of 2 found the following review helpful:


Against depressing Tibet  Mar 21, 2009 By Roman Nies
The sub-title - "5 years in Tibet"- is a misnomer, certainly dictated from the publisher who wanted the allusion to the seven years of Heinrich Harrer, the most successful book on Tibet. Said this it is safe to say that this is not so much a book on Tibet. Rather on hotel stories. If you are interested in it, read it, if you want to read a book about Tibet, consider what the author says on the last page: " I have not set out to describe the political or religious scene during my time in Tibet. There are many people with greater knowledge of this and there are countless books on this subject. My aim has been to provide you with an insight into life at the unlikeliest Holiday Inn in the world". Who cares, I would have commented.
But this is the proper drama, because whenever the author writes about "political" or "religious" scenes or folklore, he is really good in that. The same goes for his humour. It is a pity that in these 5 years he had not more to tell.
He is a sound observer who has all his wits together. He is not another advertiser for "Free-Tibet-". He is able to keep to a critical objectiveness, for example when he writes, that the Chinese do not so much care about economics than politics. That is why boycotts of China do not work. They only hurt the people, having no effect on the Chinese government. And he also criticizes that "Westerners" do not understand it.
He expresses his pensiveness also when he says that the "god old Tibet" searched by romantic Westerners was little different from medieval Europe, with absolute power in the hands of a few who were guided solely by their own personal interests. Government jobs were bought and sold, human rights were nonexistent and mass exploitations were the order of the day. Traditionalists will be pleased to know that some of these old habits like stabbing opponents or decapitate unwanted rivals are still existent in present day Tibet.
The Chinese tried also to end these cultural old fashions. In these days when it is apparent that the Tibetans were not won by Communism, the Capitalism tries to do it better. And there are signs that they succeed. And the author has something important to say about this: "It is the Tibetans themselves who are making the change."
This is the course of life everywhere. Tourists who visit Tibet bring with them a contribution to destroy what they find there.

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