Radio Shangri-La

Praise

“ [an] affectionate portrait of life in a slower-paced, high altitude society…absorbing, often touching memoir”–The New York Times Book Review

“[An] affectionate portrait of life in a slower-paced, high altitude society…[an] absorbing, often touching memoir.” —The New York Times

“From the moment she walks off the plane, Ms. Napoli knows she’s a universe away… [She] is infatuated with Bhutan, and…has an eye for a good story.”–Wall Street Journal

“Joyful….You’ll close the book wishing you could head to Bhutan on the next plane.”–Toronto Star

“A rare gift….Radio Shangri-La is much more than just a story of a midlife crisis. It’s the chronicle of a country barreling toward change, and a woman’s search for what happiness really means at any age.”–Christian Science Monitor

“Napoli’s wry voice and honest insights create a thoughtful, engaging narrative…[she] avoids romanticizing Bhutan while capturing the country’s unique charm.”–The Globe and Mail

“Comparisons to the wildly popular Eat Pray Love,’ Elizabeth Gilbert’s international travel romp through meals, meditation, and men, are easy to see…In a refreshing twist on the female travel memoir, Napoli stands brilliantly apart from [Elizabeth] Gilbert in that, in the end, she chooses herself and not another man.”–Boston.com

“Lovely and fascinating.“–Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“Mesmerizing.”–Portland Oregonian

“Radio Shangri-La reminded me of Deborah Rodriguez’s 2007 bestselling Kabul Beauty School. Only better, if for no other reason than the writing here is just so sharp and terrific…Journalist Napoli writes stylishly about physical and spiritual renewal. Part travel memoir, part crossroads handbook, Radio Shangri-La is unforgettable.—JanuaryMagazine.com

“Fascinating.”–Spirituality & Practice

“Radio Shangri-La  has shades of Pico Iyer and Bruce Chatwin and a similar genius for parachuting the reader into a strange land and culture.  Bhutan has long fascinated me and Radio Shangri-La is the perfect vehicle to get there.”– Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone

“Radio Shangri-La is a beautiful, touching and deeply compelling memoir by a well-known public radio reporter who arrived in the tranquil kingdom of Bhutan to help establish the nation’s first radio station and, as important, to further her own mid-life assessment of a life that felt full of missteps.  The book is delightful reading–honest, moving and quietly spiritual as it offers both an intimate portrait of a country only halfway to modernity and a soul in quest of meaning.”–Scott Turow, author of Innocent

“Radio Shangri-La grabs you by the heart and takes you on a winding dual journey — into the self and into a fairy tale kingdom known for measuring happiness as its gross national product. Charming, illuminating, and often ironic, this memoir is a continuous discovery of myths and realities in finding deeper personal meaning.”–Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club and Saving Fish from Drowning

“Bummed out in midlife, [Lisa] Napoli went to Bhutan to volunteer at the country’s first youth-oriented radio station…She reveals the truths–and, yes, happiness–she found there. Perfect for everyone who loves finding-yourself-through-travel memoirs.”– Library Journal

“Enjoyable memoir about ex-journalist Napoli’s search for wholeness and spiritual renewal. A refreshingly uplifting book.”–Kirkus Reviews