Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh @ richardeward.com

Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh
by Helena Norberg-Hodge
from Sierra Club Books

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

• Ancient Futures
  I learned of this book in reading 'Three Cups of Tea.'I enjoyed that book, but enjoyed this one even more. I found the author's observations of the changes and 'hoax' of development to be thoroughly refreshing. It offers a sobering and realistic assessment of how traditional cultures and values can be and have been undermined by the greed and homogenization brought with 'development.' I recommend this book to anyone who's ever wondered what 'development' means for traditional peoples and cultures.

• ANOTHER WAY
  After reading this book, I suddenly realized the root problem of Western Civilization: We have no culture. Where there was once culture, we now have an expanding economic order threatening all life on the planet. Through its mechanism of growth and expansion, the global economy is conquering and converting life's diversity into an ecological and social monoculture of cash crops, Levis, soda pop and movie theatres. Perhaps moonscape would be a better word. Of course, it doesn't have to be this way. Our... more info

• Inspiring
  This book has changed the way I looked at the issues of development, modernisation & morals. An amazing read, beautifully written and with great insights.

  I have just returned from a trip to Ladakh and I could really relate to what Ms.Norberg talks about in the book.

  Just a couple of side issues. It'd be good to know what exactly went wrong in Ladakh. Here are a people who for 2000 years had lived successfully by the rules of Buddhism. How & why did Buddhism fail these people in the face of... more info

• Wonderful and Depressing
  Rarely have I felt more dispair about the direction of what we know as civilization as I felt halfway through this book. The Ladakh people are described as happy, healthy, and self-reliant. Suddenly, the "real world" happens to them, and they come to see themselves as poor, when before they had no need of money.

  The authors do a nice job of weaving a story of hope at the end but I have concern for the future of these people. It helps me understand the decision the government of Bhutan has made to isolate... more info

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