The Heart of the World: A Journey to the Last Secret Place. by Ian Baker - 2004.

New York, NY Penguin Group: Penguin Press, 2004. Hardcover First Edition [2004]; First Printing indicated. First Edition [2004]; First Printing indicated. Near Fine in Near Fine DJ: The book shows a couple of small, faint smudged areas at the bottom edge; the binding is square and secure; the text is clean. The DJ very faint wrinkled areas at the upper edge of boty panels; the price is unclipped. No longer absolutely pristine, but remains and handsome copy: very close to 'As New'. NOT a Remainder. NOT a Book-Club Edition. NOT an Ex-Library copy. 8vo. 511pp. Introduction by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Hardback with DJ. How does a writer condense fifteen years of a journey to seek the sacred places of Tibet? Enter the covers of this fascinating if overly long book, release your sense of time, absorb the tenants of Buddhism, and discover how an obsession controlled the life and vision of one Ian Baker. Much has been written about this physically demanding and spiritually enlightening journey Baker made from 1982 to 1997, but though the facts of the hardships and the challenges of the physical trek through the treacherous mountains of Tibet in search of the mystical waterfall in the Tsangpro gorge may be familiar to some, the final rewards of accompanying Baker through the pages of this book are experiences not found through reviews. This is a book that, though long, must be approached by a fellow traveler willing to endure the disappointments and the frustrations Baker endured in his search for the Last Secret Place. The journey is well worth the investment of time of the reader as it is impossible not to feel the spiritual enlightenment along with Baker as he reaches his goal. This is a book for the patient reader in search of true adventure, willing to absorb the mystical qualities of Tibetan Buddhism, and desirous of acknowledging the fact that there remain on this very disturbed planet places where we can become as close to the meaning of life as possible. Highly recommended.