Video Night in Kathmandu: And Other Reports from the Not-So-Far East

A lively, perceptive view of Asia--an astonishingly vast range of countries included--in the mid-1980s, and even more valuable because it contains an epilogue which moves into the twenty-first century. Iyer approaches each country from a different perspective, then ties it all together in his conclusion. I appreciate the open-ended quality of this study, which reflects the breadth of vision and understanding of the author.An endlessly fascinating book!

As I was reading, I couldn't help but think Iyer was trying to prove his point too much by rattling away with endless examples of globalism and American influence on Asian countries. Ok, so you can order guacamole in Indonesia. You can eat burgers in Nepal. Kids breakdance in Beijing. There are Philipinos singing Frank Sinatra in karaoke bars in the back alleys of Manila. We get the point. As an expat living in Asia, these things are a given, and in Asia 2010, I am surrounded by American culture everyday. But then I realized my gripe was based on one thing--the year 2010.Video Night in Katmandu on the other hand, was written in 1989, and it was a very different world then. Internet had barely a presence in Asia at that point, and only the rich had mobile phones. Online streaming movies and music were non-existent, and current and reliable world media in countries like China and Burma (or even Thailand, for that matter) was shaky at best. It's amazing to think how much things have changed over the last twenty years due to technology. Actually, it's a bit scary.Overall, the book is a quaint reminder of what once was, but its commentary on American influence in Asia seems to lack the punch it may have once had. That said, Iyer's writing is eloquent, and his cultural insights struck a good balance between humorous and heartfelt; a balance I hope to find in my own travel writing. I particularly enjoyed the Thai and Burma sections, and his final chapter, where he gives updates about some of the characters he met along his travels.

Pico Iyer is a writing star. His lyrics flow, his thoughts captivate. The book is slightly dated, but still worth reading and thinking about or studying if you want to be a travel writer.

HIghly recommend this book to anyone who has studied abroad, loves traveling, and/or wants to travel. His insights into the culture and people he meet encourage the reader to think more deeply about the people you interact with when traveling.

completely satisfactory

Perhaps it's because I'm reading it 20 years later, but I was not so impressed with this book, for all the reasons mentioned above. He admits it's a tourist's eye view of cultures which are far more complex. It is descriptive in an almost circumstantial kind of way, and not elevating at all, or much. I thought it was sweet that he kept in touch with so many of the people he met during his travels, and he seems to have a genuinely good heart. But I felt like he was poking fun at many of them, too. Read it for the snapshot of Asia in the late-80s that it is, and a very narrowly focused one at that.

Favorite travel author.

I lived in Japan, as did/does the author. This is the first book that , in my view, clearly explains the Japanese national mindset. It's not all about Japan, though, and the other nations he visits provide grist for more brilliant analysis.