Book review: A Fortune-Teller Told Me

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By Tiziano Terzani

Synopsis: Warned by a fortune-teller not to risk flying, the author – a seasoned correspondent – took to travelling by rail, road and sea. Consulting fortune-tellers and shamans wherever he went, he learnt to understand and respect older ways of life and beliefs now threatened by the crasser forms of Western modernity.

How did this book end up in my hands? I read this book on my Kindle in its original Italian version (Un indovino mi disse) after having spoken about it with a friend who loved it.

Was it a page-turner? It wasn’t for me, no. In fact, I struggled to get into it and I even had to start reading it twice from the beginning after having put it aside for a good few months.

Having read the synopsis, did the book meet my expectations? Unfortunately not. I maybe expected less politics and more fortune-telling but got way too much politics for my liking between a fortune-teller and the other. I also thought that Terzani wasn’t as open to these ancient beliefs as the first chapter or so led me to believe.

Three words to describe it. Political. Informative. Reflective.

Do I like the cover? Yes, I do. Terzani has a lovely smile!

Have I read any other books by the same author? I have only read Letters Against the War, which I liked so much that I shared it with several friends.

Will I be recommending this book? Not unless you have a huge interest in Asia and Asian politics. It reads a little like a travelogue, which is nice, but if you’re looking for the spiritual and esoteric you might be disappointed.

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