$14.00

Paperback

A Fortune-Teller Told Me

Tiziano Terzani

This is a very unique book. The author is Italian born, but he has spent most of his adult life in China and Southeast Asia. He is, by trade, a journalist. He combines the observational powers and cynicism endemic to his profession. He is also an excellent storyteller.

In 1973 the author came across a fortune-teller who told him that he must avoid flying in the year 1993, or he would die. Terzani was skeptical, but as 1993 approached he decided that not flying for a year might be a good idea. Ignoring the possibility of death, the attractiveness of traveling by ship, train, auto, etc. might be both interesting and rewarding.

In his words, it turned out to be "one of the most extraordinary years I have ever spent". He visited Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. His observations and experiences developed into a wonderful travel book that most people would certainly enjoy.

His observations about people and cultures are first rate. His side trips to visit soothsayers or fortune-tellers add a very fascinating dimension to what would be an excellent read without this little bit of spice.

I learned a tremendous amount about Asia and would recommend this book to other armchair travelers who want to see a very interesting part of the world from a very unique perspective. I rate this book very highly and found in very engrossing and easy to read.

Review by Len Oppenheim

If you like Asia, astrology, traveling, adventure, or just plain old weirdness… you will love this book. I guarantee it. This is one of the best books about fortune telling (and I am a professional astrologer) and travel that I have ever come across hellip; and I own over 150 astrology books and I have read many true-life travelogues. Buy it—you will like it.

Review by Michael Laughrin.

Warned by a Hong Kong fortune-teller not to risk flying for an entire year, Tiziano Terzani—a vastly experienced Asia correspondent—took what he called "the first step into an unknown world… It turned out to be one of the most extraordinary years I have ever spent: I was marked for death, and instead I was reborn."

Traveling by foot, boat, bus, car, and train, he visited Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Mongolia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. Geography expanded under his feet. He consulted soothsayers, sorcerers, and shamans and received much advice—some wise, some otherwise—about his future. With time to think, he learned to understand, respect, and fear for older ways of life and beliefs now threatened by the crasser forms of Western modernity. He rediscovered a place he had been reporting on for decades. And reinvigorated himself in the process.