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The Half Known Life: Finding Paradise in a Divided World
by Pico Iyer (Author) Format: Paperback
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (657)
'Nothing less than a guided tour of the human soul ... A masterpiece' Elizabeth Gilbert
'A work of spiritual evolution [and] inner journeys told through extraordinary exteriors' Washington Post
One of our most perceptive travel writers embarks on an exploration of the world's holiest places and where we might find paradise on Earth.
It's so easy, I thought, to place Paradise in the past or the future - anywhere but here.
After half a century of travel, Pico Iyer asks himself what kind of paradise can ever be found in a world of unceasing conflict. In a spectacular journey, both inward and outward, he roams the globe from Jerusalem to Belfast to North Korea, from crowded mosques in Iran to a holy mountain in Japan. By the end, he has upended any of our expectations and dared to suggest that we can find paradise right in the heart of our angry and confused world.
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Popular Highlights in this book
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A true paradise has meaning only after one has outgrown all notions of perfection and taken the measure of the fallen world.
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The Cloud of Unknowing: “By our love, the divine may be reached and held; by our thinking, never.”
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Review
A luminous and absorbing book, and one that is good to think with -- Caroline Eden ― Financial Times
Nothing less than a guided tour of the human soul. Filled with hope, wisdom, and extraordinary tenderness, this is a book not only for the ages, but for our very specific, very troubled age. A masterpiece. -- Elizabeth Gilbert
In elegant and ecstatic prose, Pico Iyer uncovers our wonderful capacity for hope, wearing his erudition so lightly. I was revitalised by this book -- Katherine May
Iyer shares Graham Greene's gift for the enthralling sentence, and can be a charming and perceptive companion . . . He reminds us that the key to good travel writing lies in the discrepancy between what you expect of a country and what you get. And at an even more primal level, he makes you want to go to the countries themselves -- Hugh Thomson ― Spectator
To step into The Half Known Life feels both a privilege and a necessity . . . Iyer is more than a guide or a compatriot in an unfamiliar land: in the inward journey to lucidity he is a companion of our own searching minds -- Yiyun Li
I defy anyone to read this profound travelogue and not immediately start reading it again. If there is a "paradise of words", this is it -- John Keay
A wise, immaculately written achievement that could only be contemplated after a lifetime of travel and reading and pondering. Reading The Half Known Life is to yield to the most invigorating and thought-provoking meditation. -- Nicholas Shakespeare
Thoughtful . . . Iyer comes across as that finest of all personality types, the pragmatic idealist ... There's a lovely patience in evidence here; he is calm, reasonable and curious -- Darragh McManus ― Irish Independent
Iyer has done the impossible with this book . . . This is a singular offering of magnetic story, deep thinking, truth telling and spiritual refreshment for our tumultuous young century -- Krista Tippett
I really really enjoyed the book -- Frank Cottrell Boyce
Even as Iyer takes you around the world, he remains a most faithful companion to the spirit of that ultimate journey into uncharted territories-our inner selves . . . The Half Known Life is a vigorous quest for the paradise within ― Los Angeles Review of Books
Iyer's chronicle, which begins with an appreciation of the sophistication, beauty and culture of Iran, becomes a requiem for a world - and an existence - estranged from itself . . . His book has the ring of a classic Buddhist meditation strategy ― New York Times
Thought-provoking . . . Iyer has an acutely observant eye for the telling detail and a delicious turn of phrase -- Richard Hopton ― Country and Town House Magazine
Reading Mr Iyer's book in the depth of winter, in a troubled world, it's heartening to think that paradise-or at least a glimpse of it-might be available from where we sit ― Wall Street Journal
A masterful merging of Iyer's past and current concerns, a book of inner journeys told through extraordinary exteriors ― Washington Post
Iyer's prose is elegant and never hurried as it roams like a travelling mind . . . He comes to his destinations with years of learned erudition and yet seemingly without expectations . . . It may be Iyer's unique positioning that makes The Half Known Life so much of this moment, in a world reeling from a devastating pandemic as well as lasting divisons ― Japan Times
Humming with wisdom and a profound appreciation of nature's inherent contradictions, Pico Iyer's meditation on paradise-where it is, what it means, if it can be found on Earth-is much more than a diary of his country-spanning travels. It's a work of philosophy, probing the scientific and the spiritual to understand why the most beautiful places often become such sources of pain, and how paradise might be re-discovered ― Elle US
Iyer's smooth, intelligent yet elegant prose style makes this an enjoyable and often thought-provoking read ― New York Journal of Books
Everywhere Pico Iyer travels his keen vision allows him to see both ravishing beauty and profound flaws ― Shelf Awareness
From one of the most perceptive writers of our times, this one brings forth a lifetime of explorations to upend our ideas of utopia and ask how we might find peace in the midst of difficulty and suffering. Could there be anything better to pick at the start of the year? ― Harper’s Bazaar India
Iyer flexes his remarkable skill of reading between the lines of passing conversations to extract profound meaning and draw connections between disparate places across the world . . . He does provide hours of thought-provoking meditations on what it means to speak of paradise ― New York Times
Mesmering . . . riveting . . . revelatory . . . Iyer poetically depicts the otherworldly beauty of these places while trenchantly examining the paradox of utopia -- Thuy Dinh ― NPR
Iyer is the loveliest of writers, a person whose prose is in harmony with the man himself: sharp-minded, witty, benevolent, wise, and never for a second ponderous or spiritually meretricious. To read Iyer, initially, is to entertain ourselves, and then, well, the rest is up to you -- Jim Kelly ― Air Mail
Iyer travels the globe-from Iran to Kashmir to Japan to Northern Ireland-to demystify how different communities perceive eternal happiness, and how their quest to achieve it manifests in the face of political, social, and environmental instability. The result is a lyrical, if paradoxical, meditation on a fervent pursuit for happiness that often feels out of reach ― TIME, The 100 Must-Read Books of 2023
Book Description
One of our most perceptive travel writers embarks on an exploration of the world's holiest places and where we might find paradise on Earth.
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Publication date : 3 April 2024
Language : English
Print length : 240 pages
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From Australia
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From other countries
prabhuraj
5.0 out of 5 stars Pico iyer
Reviewed in India on 23 August 2025
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Loved reading it and was an absolute joy .His travelogues are moving and reflection of the world we live in..mskes you dwell long after you have finished reading it..will love to re read
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Charlie
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read, makes one think about life.
Reviewed in Canada on 26 October 2026
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A great book combining travel writing with philosophical reflection. A good read and gives much food for thought. Recommended.
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SarahS
4.0 out of 5 stars Printing errors
Reviewed in Mexico on 19 February 2023
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The edition of the book that I received has a printing error, with some pages of another book included. It’s very confusing at first as he is writing about Australia and then the book switched to commentary about making the film sequel to the Karate Kid.
I enjoy Pico Iyer’s descriptions and travel narratives.
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N. E. M. Goulder
5.0 out of 5 stars Paradise in a candlelit alley
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 April 2024
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Pico Iyer's works now run well into double figures, of books ranging from reflective travel writing all the way to a biography of the Dalai Lama and beyond. His prose is always a delight, with a striking ability to relocate a discussion to a parallel a thousand miles away without pause to draw breath.
"The Half Known Life" is a charming set of reflections on what kind of a paradise is really possible here on earth. Iyer's hugely-travelled and long-reflected view is that it is up to each of us to create our own. He has a wonderful capacity to head into spaces of "retreat" - a Californian monastery, the temples in Japan, the cemetery on Sri Lanka - and draw positives from the asceticism. Somehow he conjures up the expression of complete incredulity in a putative interaction between Novak Djokovic and a monk above Gokurabashi who roars "Wrong!" at him for misplacing his tennis shoe one step too high. All the time he makes the reader think again about their presuppositions. It is a joy to read, and a pleasure to meet the inner mind of one of our most talented and lateral-thinking writers.
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Pamela A.
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing read!
Reviewed in the United States on 7 May 2025
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I loved this book so much that I've recommended it to friends and given it as a gift. The writing is poetically descriptive, bringing the people and places to life in a way that made me feel like I was right there seeing them through the eyes of the author. It gave me insights into historical context, culture, and ways of being far beyond what I would have seen as a mere tourist.
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velferox
2.0 out of 5 stars Not very good
Reviewed in Mexico on 5 November 2024
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Extremely meh
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Vidya Nand Garg
4.0 out of 5 stars A guided tour of holy places
Reviewed in India on 11 December 2023
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Pico Iyer takes his readers to a
guided tour of Iran,Ladakh, Sri Lanka, Japan and Varanasi . He also makes us meet Dalai Lama ,Thomas Merton and a few other good people. A book full of insights and spiritual observations.
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Brian Lewis
4.0 out of 5 stars Paradise on Earth
Reviewed in the United States on 3 December 2023
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This book combines philosophy and travel, as the author seeks to find communities that offer visions of paradise or utopia. Much of the author's time is spent in Sri Lanka, although he also takes in North Korea, for reasons I don't quite understand.
He is an interesting, thoughtful travel companion, although the book is more about his personal philosophical and religious insights than it is about the places where he travels.
Recommended. I enjoyed it, but I have to admit to being ready for it to come to an end, and it is a pretty short book.
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Birdsong Way
3.0 out of 5 stars Like the curate’s egg……
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 March 2023
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
…..good in parts. There are quite a few interesting moments, but I wonder who edited the ms. In my opinion, whoever it was did not do a good job, not least in terms of punctuation — although I read the Kindle version, so perhaps that’s not a fair comment.
However, a good deal of tidying would have made for easier reading : jumping abruptly from here to there and back again is not a good idea. Stream-of-consciousness is one thing ; sloppy narrative is something else entirely.
Pico Iyer seems to be widely revered, so on the off-chance that this book represents a sort of literary hiccup, I’m about to embark on an exploration of ‘The Art of Stillness.’ Fingers crossed.
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dev
5.0 out of 5 stars Pico Iyer lucid travelogue embedded with culture of the place
Reviewed in India on 5 July 2023
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Wonderful to travel around sitting in your house Pico exceptionally talented writer with a keen sense of culture
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dazey
5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful, profound and interesting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 April 2023
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This was and is a glorious book of travel, insights, wisdom and energy. I would happily read it again. Like a great documentary it unveils truths without giving direct opinions, leaving the reader space to consider and think about the dichotomies of place and people and beliefs.
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Jayme A. Sokolow
5.0 out of 5 stars Iyer has written another gem!
Reviewed in the United States on 30 April 2026
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Thoughtful, outstanding! A must read.
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C. Davis Burdick
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, great service
Reviewed in the United States on 21 March 2023
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Worthy of its awards. Author has accessible writing style and covers a lot of territory. Interesting observations based on his eclectic life experiences and willingness to open himself to new experiences.
As for Amazon: I was merrily reading and came to page 92 and found pages missing in this copy. I reported and returned book on a Saturday and a new one was on my doorstep by early Sunday afternoon. Who gives 24 hour free service on a weekend??? Amazon does!
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G.KRISHNAN
4.0 out of 5 stars Pico Iyer does not disappoint. He is brilliant as is usual
Reviewed in India on 4 February 2023
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Binding quality is poor.Pages 224-25 were already detached/separated from the binding.There is a spelling error too on the dust jacket!Least expected from Penguin!
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Ranjana Narawane
2.0 out of 5 stars Trying hard to make a point but still missing it... (is there one word to express)
Reviewed in India on 19 November 2024
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Actually, I fou d it very hard to understand the point the author was trying to make in each of the places he visited.
The only thing that stood out for me was that the author actually took the pains to visit these places which are/ have experienced anguish.
Also the UK background in the prose did not resonate with me as a India reader who has not grown up in those suburbs around Oxford.
Curious to know the genesis of the authors first name viz Pico
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Raoul J
4.0 out of 5 stars Spiritual travelogue
Reviewed in the United States on 10 March 2023
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Very well-written and interesting travels in a number of “sacred” or spiritual places. The author delicately analyzes subtle undercurrents and behaviors in these various places. It is informative and i learned a lot. At times, it’s a little lengthy and could have been tightened or distilled, but with travel, sometimes the unedited immediacy is the richest in flavor.
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Michael M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Exceeds already high expectations
Reviewed in the United States on 20 February 2023
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Whenever I get a new book I read the opening materials and first chapter to determine where it fits into my ever growing “to read” piles. Every once in a very blue moon I come upon a book that, despite all the other books waiting their turn, I just keep on reading to the end. This was one of those.
Like all the best journeys of discovery Iyer’s journey either never arrives at the expected destination or the destination found is not that expected. This book is every bit as personal as his previous “memoir with haunting father” and every bit as interesting as movies in Kathmandu or falling in love in/with Japan.
Block out a day or two before you begin. You wion’t want to put this down—not even after it ends.
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M Polo
5.0 out of 5 stars Like to travel and Dream?
Reviewed in the United States on 29 January 2025
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If you do you will love this book. A very quiet book that really makes you think about life, your life, and life in other cultures. Very much broadens your view of how members of other cultures and countries view their world and other cultures and countries. If I were a teacher I would definitely put this on the required reading list. And it was a wonderful read!
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J. Mark Tuthill
5.0 out of 5 stars Read it twice
Reviewed in the United States on 5 April 2024
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This is a fascinating book that takes you many places in this world of ours. Both inward; and outward. There are many complex juxtapositions and jumps in place and time. Thus, it can be confusing. The was the first I had read of Iyer’s, so I was unfamiliar with his style. The second read made more sense and lead to deeper understanding. Glad it took the time.
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Chen George
5.0 out of 5 stars As always, narratives that haunt long after the last sentence
Reviewed in the United States on 26 May 2024
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I took two weeks to finish this book, as I did not want to miss his reflections embedded in his lyrical expression.
“The thought that we must die…. is the reason we must live well.” I will keep in this quote in my heart.
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Vona
4.0 out of 5 stars Rambling travel tale
Reviewed in the United States on 12 August 2023
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This is an interesting reflection on travel around the globe, ostensibly to seek paradise but everywhere encountering sorrow, pain, suffering as the life lived. Very cautionary, good insights. Serve where you are.
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Robert C Damon
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book
Reviewed in the United States on 8 October 2025
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Great insightful read
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KaffeGlass17
2.0 out of 5 stars "I was lost in a purgatorial fog"
Reviewed in the United States on 18 July 2023
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How could a gem of a writer like Pico Iyer could write such a drab book is beyond my comprehension. I know Pico Iyer as a fun, interesting, lively mind. But is this really what he created out of a wondrous quote by Herman Melville about "half-known life"?
I am afraid too much preoccupation with meditation, silence, spirituality, death turned his mind dull. This book started as a "half-interesting" book with some stories and information to cater to typical travel reader like me with wanderlust and sense of adventure... but it took such a glum turn that I could not have seen coming!
Like Iyer himself said in the book, "I was lost in a purgatorial fog." (p. 202). Well, I couldn't have put it better myself.
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L. Spillane
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully crafted account of our shared humanity
Reviewed in the United States on 8 February 2023
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A book that you want to read again as you end. Full of savory delights in the telling and retelling of shared human experiences and ends with, “I would just let life come to me in all its happy confusion and find the holiness in that. I sat where I was, along the river, and watched the carnival play out.”
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!
Reviewed in the United States on 30 April 2023
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Pico Iyer is a world traveler, and an expert on world religions and cultures. This book is well worth the read!!
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Bernard . Pucker
5.0 out of 5 stars Keep searching!!!
Reviewed in the United States on 10 July 2023
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A superb travel guide to find Paradise with the attention to detail that makes each stop or station along the way memorable if not confusing. Candor and clarity as well as gentle kindness informs the trip. Only questions and a sense of humility and gratitude remain.
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rhea cutillo
2.0 out of 5 stars Misprint edition
Reviewed in the United States on 8 September 2023
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The pages don’t add up around 91, but i realized that it was a problem from there on out. Hard to believe how a misprint of this could happen from such a large publisher. Makes the book unreadable. I was starting to get into it too, was a bit boring in the beginning.
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Richard J Katz
2.0 out of 5 stars Why does this exist
Reviewed in the United States on 16 December 2024
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I don't know. I tried it--wife tried it--friends. Nobody can figure why we need this. 2 Mehs!
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L. Young
1.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Depressing and Distasteful
Reviewed in the United States on 13 February 2023
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I have read several of Iyer's other books and purchased this one hoping for something spiritually uplifting. I was completely disappointed. Essays about Iran, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Kashmir, Sri Lanka. While some of these may be physically beautiful they all represent the epitome of man's brutality to man riven by hatred of one group for another. Nothing spiritually uplifting can come from this despite some references to the Dalai Lama and Thomas Merton. The nightly news is bad enough. I didn't need this too. I was so happy when I finished this book. Avoid.
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Lauren
1.0 out of 5 stars Missing pages!
Reviewed in the United States on 19 February 2024
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I bought this book for my dad for Christmas and as he was reading it, he discovered several places with missing pages. He was enjoying the book but now I am returning it and will try to find it at a book store so I can check for missing pages before purchasing. Not sure how to alert the publisher of the mistake.
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Graham Snyder
1.0 out of 5 stars Sweep the leg - how a printing error made me leave the path
Reviewed in the United States on 29 April 2024
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A rather thoughtful and philosophical take on the travelogue, until I got to page 89 when, for the next four pages, it became a chapter called the "The Zabka Experience" in a memoir by Ralph Macchio. Unfortunately, the mix-up happens repeatedly for other page segments. I can only think how someone's reliving of the 80s is sucking right now.
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Allen Levey
5.0 out of 5 stars A most interesting travel log of the East
Reviewed in the United States on 31 August 2023
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Written beautifully with a great deal of honesty.
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Jae Clark
1.0 out of 5 stars Pass on this one
Reviewed in the United States on 19 August 2023
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Disappointing from the beginning. Seemed like a rehash or a collection of excepts from his journals. Perhaps he had a book deadline and tossed this together. For whatever reason it was created this book deserved a better editor to have made this readable or rejected in full. At times it was a jumble of words making no sense. I've read PI before and expected better. Sad.
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MM
5.0 out of 5 stars on time, as advertisd what's not to rate a 5?
Reviewed in the United States on 29 March 2023
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book came on time and as advertised. thanks!
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Marianne L. MacDonald
1.0 out of 5 stars Defective copy
Reviewed in the United States on 7 June 2023
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I started this book and it wasn’t making sense, and finally realized that it is only 2 of the chapters repeated over and over. But it took me too long to notice and I can’t return it. Won’t buy books here again.
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Courtney
1.0 out of 5 stars Misprinted!!!
Reviewed in the United States on 13 February 2023
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I pre-ordered this book! Coming up to sections of the book that are clearly NOT The Half known Life Pico Iyer - but instead excepted from Ralph Macchio!?!
Amazon should send me a refund or a proper copy of this book. One of my favorite authors!
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Travis Bias
1.0 out of 5 stars Mixed pages from other book
Reviewed in the United States on 29 December 2023
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This book has multiple pages and sections replaced with another Ralph Macchio (the Karate Kid?) book, making it unreadable. Happy to remove this review with a refund.
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