Lisa Napoli was in the grip of a crisis, dissatisfied with her life and her work as a radio journalist. When a chance encounter with a handsome stranger presented her with an opportunity to move halfway around the world, Lisa left behind cosmopolitan Los Angeles for a new adventure in the ancient Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan—said to be one of the happiest places on earth. Long isolated from industrialization and just beginning to open its doors to the modern world, Bhutan is a deeply spiritual place, devoted to environmental conservation and committed to the happiness of its people—in fact, Bhutan measures its success in Gross National Happiness rather than in GNP. In a country without a single traffic light, its citizens are believed to be among the most content in the world. To Lisa, it seemed to be a place that offered the opposite of her fast-paced life in the United States, where the noisy din of sound-bite news and cell phones dominate our days, and meaningful conversation is a rare commodity; where everyone is plugged in digitally, yet rarely connects with the people around them. Thousands of miles away from everything and everyone she knows, Lisa creates a new community for herself. As she helps to start Bhutan’s first youth-oriented radio station, Kuzoo FM, she must come to terms with her conflicting feelings about the impact of the medium on a country that had been shielded from its effects. Immersing herself in Bhutan’s rapidly changing culture, Lisa realizes that her own perspective on life is changing as well—and that she is discovering the sense of purpose and joy that she has been yearning for. In this smart, heartfelt, and beautifully written book, sure to please fans of transporting travel narratives and personal memoirs alike, Lisa Napoli discovers that the world is a beautiful and complicated place—and comes to appreciate her life for the adventure it is.
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"I really liked this book! I got it as a library eBook and read it quickly because it was such an interesting and fun read. It takes place during the democratization of Bhutan, when the kind stepped down and his son took over, and the country held its first democratic election!" — Mara (4 out of 5 stars)
"I really liked this book! I got it as a library eBook and read it quickly because it was such an interesting and fun read. It takes place during the democratization of Bhutan, when the kind stepped down and his son took over, and the country held its first democratic election!"
“Charming, illuminating, and often ironic, this memoir is a continuous discovery of myths and realities in finding deeper personal meaning.”
“A beautiful, touching and deeply compelling memoir.”
“Bhutan has long fascinated me and Radio Shangri-La is the perfect vehicle to get there.”
“[An] affectionate portrait of life in a slower-paced, high altitude society…[an] absorbing, often touching memoir.”
“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.”
“Joyful…You’ll close the book wishing you could head to Bhutan on the next plane.”
“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.”
“Napoli’s wry voice and honest insights create a thoughtful, engaging narrative…[She] avoids romanticizing Bhutan while capturing the country’s unique charm.”
“Lovely and fascinating.”
“Mesmerizing.”
“Fascinating.”
“Perfect for everyone who loves finding-yourself-through-travel memoirs.”
“Enjoyable memoir about ex-journalist Napoli’s search for wholeness and spiritual renewal. A refreshingly uplifting book.
" Just exactly what I wanted to know about Bhutan. Written by a proficient journalist, it's a fun, quick read. "
" Good memoir. Eat, Pray, Love-ish. Good insights on how closed cultured are transformed by external exposures. "
" I felt like there wanted to be more, but also that if it had been any longer i would have been really annoyed. Honestly I am not really sure what I thought. I have questions about the "white girl goes to asia to find herself" genre in general but I admire the need and followthrough to improve one's happiness. "
" Very informative memoir about an American journalist's adventures in Bhutan "the happiest kingdom on Earth", and the modern changes it is going through. She finds her whole life philosophy changed when she returns tothe US. "
" I like the story and history about Buthan and all the little details only a visitor like the author can observe. However, I'm not sure I like the writing very much. "
" Learned a lot about Bhutan from this engrossing memoir. Also, had a chance to meet the charming author. "
" Very good story, and great description of Bhutan and the Bhutanese "
" Great read and gives insight into Bhutan and its culture and citizens. Would have liked more description about its landscape. "
" A coming-of-age book that isn't traditional. It's the coming-of-age for both Lisa (the author) and the country of Bhutan. "
" What an amazing book. Not only is it a beautiful memoir, it is also an incredibly wonderful book showcasing the history of the region. "
" 3.5 star. Was interesting and captivating 2/3 of the way and kind of falters after that. Nonetheless was still a good read. "
" I really enjoyed this book. The author really brought the people and culture of Bhutan to life! I will be visiting Bhutan later this year and her story has really got me very excited to experience this amazing place as soon as possible!! "
" The Book is well structured in leading to the main point in the story. It was pretty predicable in some areas, but always with an inspiring twist. The end also ended with a nice twist. Pretty Inspirational just the character placement was a little off. "
" It was interesting learning about Bhutan from the author's personal experience. However, I felt the end of the book was dragging on a bit when she continued the story after her original return home. Otherwise it was a fairly educational and entertaining read. "
" I got this free from ReadItForward, and it is my favorite free read yet. I love learning about life in other countries, and I had never even heard of Bhutan. I would recommend this to any fellow arm chair tourists out there. "
" Interesting take on the changes taking place in Bhutan. And what happens when people come to visit from Bhutan and then disappear when their visas expire. Not a fairy tale, but realistic reactions of an American who spends more time living/working in Bhutan than the average tourist. "
" AMAZING -- so much more that I thought it would be...I miss it already... "
" abandoned this one too. though I think it's worth it for the cultural insight, the author is a little too self-absorbed and it grates. "
" Great book! Wonderful and easy read! "
Lisa Napoli was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and has had a long career in print, radio, television, and online journalism. She has worked at the New York Times, Marketplace, MSNBC, and KCRW. She is the author of three previous books, Radio Shangri-La, Ray & Joan, and Up All Night: Ted Turner, CNN, and the Birth of 24-Hour News. She has directed several documentaries about Southern culture.
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