Praise

"Quick-witted and perceptive…something more than a deft and entertaining traveler’s tale." — The New Yorker

"The book is filled with Iyer’s enthusiasms and opinions, both engaging and provocative, and is…a sensual feast of rich impressions." — Los Angeles Times

"A fresh approach, embellished by the author’s humorous and perceptive style." — San Francisco Chronicle

Mohawk haircuts in Bali. Yuppies in Hong Kong. In Bombay, not one but five Rambo rip-offs, complete with music and dancing. And in the new People’s Republic of China, a restaurant that serves dishes called "Yes, Sir, Cheese My Baby," "A Legitimate Beef," and "Ike and Tuna Turner." These are some of the images — comical, poignant, and unsettling — that Pico Iyer brings back from the Far East in this brilliant book of travel reportage. A writer for Time, Iyer approaches his subject with a camera-sharp eye, a style that suggests a cross between Paul Theroux and Hunter Thompson, and a willingness to go beyond the obvious conclusions about the hybrid cultures of East and West.