Lost in Shangri-La

Listener Reviews

1. 4.0(1)

   What a Tale!

   Quite the true story. So amazing. Book is too long. Authors takes many diversions from main story. Abridged might be better.

   Brittni Clements · December 29, 2024

2. 5.0(1)

   A great story!

   Wonderful recount of a long lost fascinating true story of heartbreak and survival at the end of the Pacific war.

   TeQuita Simms · October 3, 2024

3. 3.0(1)

   Lost in a Long Tale

   I was looking forward to hearing this story, especially after listening to Unbroken. Sad to say the story was nowhere near as captivating as Unbroken. I felt the author veered off too often into background history that did not add to the story. Usually I am sad to end a book. This time I was happy to be back from Shangri-La!

   Serena Donahue · July 16, 2024

4. 5.0(1)

   Exciting Thriller, Yet True

   “Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II” is an exciting, true adventure story, as thrilling as any fictional “thriller.” It took the talent of an expert researcher, reporter, and author, Mitchell Zuckoff, to bring this long-forgotten WWII rescue saga to life. The book once again shows how ordinary people,both victims and rescuers, when challenged, can do extraordinary, heroic things, and then return to a quotidian existence as survivors. Zuckoff is admirable for letting the story speak for itself and not interjecting himself into the book, although it is clear that tracking down the sources to write this comprehensive and accurate book is itself a very interesting story. I like page turners and “Lost in Shangri-La” will ensnare most readers. The reader was adequate.

   Tia Bessie · August 18, 2023

5. 5.0(1)

   cool story

   I saw the writer on the Daily Show and was so glad to have heard it on raksBooks.

   Alanna Craig · May 27, 2021

6. 3.0(1)

   Starts off strong, loses some steam in 2nd half

   Overall the tale grabbed my attention from the beginning, and it gave me that unique pleasure of an audio book in that it made me happy to wake up on a Monday morning and realize that I was going to get to immerse myself in the story again as I commuted to work. But as the story progressed it just seemed to lose a little steam. In all, it felt like a really good article from a magazine like Smithsonian that had been padded out into a book. Part of this is not really the author's fault but rather the result of history. In particular I mean how the survivors, temporarily stranded among the native inhabitants of "Shangri-La," were in periodic contact with the outside world including journalists who were intent on keeping a great human interest story alive and selling papers. This whole P.T. Barnum aspect of the story was somewhat depressing, but of course it really happened and was a valid part of the story. The key point of interest in this tale is the valley dubbed Shangri-La where an isolated group of aboriginals lived. The rescue mission itself, when it finally is carried out, honestly isn't all *that* interesting. I don't think it lived up to the title's claim that this one was "the most incredible rescue mission of World War II."

   Priyanka Athavale · March 20, 2021

7. 5.0(1)

   Fascinating side story from WW2

   Excellent writing and narration of this story of human survival and the unexpected encounter of two cultures.

   kodin · August 25, 2020

8. 4.0(1)

   Lars

   I really liked this book, and the authors' narration. The fact that this very dramatic story had not "survived," meaning I had never heard about this before, and now has been brought to life again was very moving. A terrific listen - highly recommended.

   reviewer1000 · February 28, 2019