Annapurna books from Amazon.com
	YetiZone is a member of the Amazon.com associates program. Books suitable for the Annapurna trekker are listed below, together with a star rating and a brief review. Click on the links to go directly to the title at Amazon.com, the online bookshop. Any transactions you make are with Amazon.com.

Title	Rating	Comments
Title: Trekking in Nepal Author: Stephen Beruchka Publisher: The Mountaineers	**	The classic work on trekking in Nepal. I've had a copy of this for years. It includes the Annapurna region treks.
Title: Trekking in The Annapurna Region Author: Bryn Thomas Publisher: Trailblazer	*	This guidebook contains a great deal of information about the Annapurna region. However it is exasperating to use, because the material is not laid out on either a daily basis, or a village by village basis, or even a trek by trek basis. About 50% of the book is about Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Title: The Snow Leopard Author: Peter Mathiessen Publisher: The Harvill Press	***	The most literary book in this list, and the second most recommended. The depth and breadth of this book makes it possible to read it several times and still gain new insight. Although written about a trip to Dolpo, to the west of the Annapurna region, the culture is very similar. Mathiessen's intertwining of his relationship with George Schaller, his knowledge of Zen Buddhism, the death of his wife, the journey, and his profound insight is a superb work.
Title: Himalayan Dialogue Author: Stan Mumford Royal Publisher: Tiwari's Pilgrims Book House 1990	***	Himalayan Dialogue is an anthropological study of Bagarchap and Taje villages which you will visit on day 3 of the Annapurna Circuit. The significance of this book lies in its explanation of the interaction of the ancient Bon-Po shaman and Nyingma Pa Buddhist religions in the area. The book contains a great deal of anecdotal information about cultural life in the Gyasumdo. It is an academic book and the first chapter is complex and is intended for anthropologists. Persevere, and you will be rewarded with rich detail about life in this region written by someone who lived in the region with his wife for over a year. If you are to buy only one book to take with you on the Annapurna Circuit, this is it. When I trekked the circuit I longed to know more about the people and their lives, yet I was insulated by language and culture, despite having a fluent porter-guide to help. This book will help more than any other to bridge the gulf between trekker and local.
Title: Annapurna Circuit - Himalayan Journey Author: Andrew Stevenson		This book is a recent travelogue of the Annapurna Circuit. It is not a guidebook. I have not yet read it and for this reason it does not have a star rating yet. Any suggestions from anyone who has read it?
Title: Buddhist Scriptures Author: Selected and Translated by Edward Conze Publisher: Penguin Classics	***	Edward Conze's book provides a wonderful treasure trove of Buddhist scripture. This work makes Buddhism accessible to the ordinary westerner. It contains simple translations of key passages. It is worth taking with you to Nepal because it will help you to understand the culture of the people of the Annapurna region. It would be my third choice of book.
Title: Annapurna Author: Maurice Herzog Publisher: Pimlico	*	'Boy's own' style French 'super heroes' conquer Annapurna in 1950. The recently released diary of Louis Lachenal, Herzog's partner on the summit, has recently spread doubt as to whether they actually attained the summit. Despite this they lost their extremities to frost bite. Let's hope they were wearing thermal underwear.
Title: The Seven Mountain Travel Books Author: H.W. Tilman Publisher: Diadem	**	Tilman's wit makes this book a must. Tilman's 'vagabond' style of low impact trekking and mountaineering was before its time and overshadowed at the time by the giant military style expeditions of the 1950s. Part 2 of 'Nepal Himalaya' describes his trip to the Annapurna region. The best part of the book (for me) is his description of the 'frog curry' he ate at Khudi. Was it just a coincidence that the French Annapurna expedition was in the region at the same time? We shall never know.
Title: Seven Years in Tibet Author: Heinrich Harrer Publisher:	*	Heinrich Harrer is a superb mountaineer, taking part in the first ascent of the North Face of the Eiger, AND the Walker Spur on the Grandes Jorassess. These ascents took place in the 1930s. Detained in India on his way to the Himalayas in 1939, Harrer escaped to Tibet. The rest is in the film.
Title: Hindu Myths Author: Translated by Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty Publisher: Penguin Classics	**	Hinduism as a religion has a massive scripture. This is the easiest way in. It will help you to make sense of the Hinduism you will suddenly encounter at Muktinath. Nepal is a Hindu state, despite being overwhelmingly Buddhist in the mountain regions.
Title: The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation Author: Edited by Evans-Wentz Publisher: Oxford University Press	*	This book describes the liberation of Tibet by Padma Samba when he converted it to Buddhism. Padma Samba is a cultural hero little known in the West. The book contains a biography of the 'lotus born' guru. To western tastes it is downright weird, yet it challenges our presumption of the classic paradigm of a religious leader. I can't imagine Cecil B De Mile making a film of this stuff, but there are echoes in our own culture of this character. If you want to read something out of the ordinary from 2,500 years ago, (or was it 1,000 years ago?) read this.
Title: Atisha's Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment Author: Commentary by Geshe Sonam Rinchen Translated and Edited by Ruth Sonam Publisher: Snow Lion Publications	**	Atisha was at least a 100% authentic historical figure. His Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment was written as a guide to the Buddhist doctrines for the ordinary Tibetan. In Tibet, works such as these are usually the basis for commentaries. This book, is a commentary in the ancient tradition, yet written recently for a Western audience. It is rather unique and delightful.
Title: The Life of Milarepa Author: Translated by Lobsang P Lhalungpa Publisher: Book Faith India	*	Milarepa is a popular Buddhist historical religious figure in the Annapurna region. He spent some time living in a cave Nyseshang on the Annapurna Circuit. The cave is described in Stan Mumford Royal's book. Milarepa's life story shows how someone who did tremendous damage to others, when he sought revenge for wrongs done, can redeem himself and win a positive karmic 'balance' (Forgiveness in the Christian sense)
Title: The Principal Teachings of Buddhism Author: Tsongkapa Publisher: Classics of Middle Asia	*	This is a classic of Tibet, I have to admit I haven't read it yet! Please email me if you have.
Title: Travelers' Tales Nepal Editor: Rajendra Khadka		A collection of travellers' tales from Nepal which I have not read, but which has been bought by visitors to these pages.
Title: The Violet Shyness of their eyes Author: Barbara J Scott		This is a womens' travelogue written by a lady who spent a year in Nepal teaching English. I've not read it, but people visiting this page have bought it.
Title: Vignettes of Nepal Author: Harka Gurung Publisher: Sajha Prakashan, Kathmandu	**	This book is written by a Nepalese from Lamjung who became an academic at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Containing his observations from the perspective of a Nepalese, a Scots academic, a Nepalese government minister and a trekker it is unique. I had to search high and low in Kathmandu to get my copy. I think it may be out of print.
Title: Kings, Myths & Apple Pie Author: Liesl Messerschmidt Publisher:	*	This little book contains gems of cultural information about each day of the Annapurna Circuit. Its written by Liesl, the daughter of Don Messerschmidt the anthropologist. It looks like Liesl will soon shine in her own right. I share her love of the book 'Rum Doodle'. This is a great little book, buy it at Pilgrims as it is published only in Nepal.
Title: Trekking in the Himalayas Author: Tomoya Kozawa Publisher: Yama-Kei Publishers 1980	***	A truly beautiful picture book in the Japanese tradition. Replete with illustration, in the form of drawings, sketches, paintings, maps. photographs and information it is highly recommended, but sadly out-of-print. This book inspired this web site.
Title: Journey to Mustang Author: Guiseppe Tucci - Translated by Dian Fussel Publisher: Ratna Pustak Bhandar	**	The legendary professor Tucci was an antagonist of Heinrich Harrer's. The two met briefly. Tucchi's book contains some information about the Kali Gandaki side of the Annapurna Trek. Unusually for an academic, Tucci wrote both academic and popular books about his travels.
Title: Mustang Sandesh Author: various Publisher:		This is a magazine which was available on the Annapurna circuit at in 1997.
Title: A Short History of Buddhism Author: Edward Conze Publisher: Unwin Paperbacks	*	A history of Buddhism, It explains how Buddhism reached Nepal and Tibet.
Title: Map - Annapurna Nepal Kertenwerk der Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur verliechende Hochgeburgsforschung Nr 9 Publisher: Nelles Verlag ScheilBheiner Str 371 D-80935 Munchen Germany	*	This is the essential map to the region. It is accurate as I have checked some of the more obscure features myself with a GPS. Buy this before you get to Nepal as it seems rather expensive in Nepal.
Title: Yeti Author: Trilok Chandra Majupuria and Rohit Kumar Publisher: Know Nepal Series No 9	*	One of many yeti books in Nepal. Don't forget that the yeti is a protected animal in Nepal.

Many of these books may also be purchased by mail order  from Pilgrims Bookshop, P.O. Box 3872, Kathmandu, Nepal. You may fax Pilgrims at (977-1) 424943, and they may be emailed at info@pilgrims.wlink.com.np