{"title":"Alec Ash","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to our Alec Ash collection, where exploration meets eloquence! Alec Ash is an acclaimed author known for his immersive writing style and insightful perspectives. With a passion for unveiling the lesser-known corners of the world, Alec captivates readers through his vivid narratives and cultural insights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong his works, \u003cem\u003eThe Mountains Are High\u003c\/em\u003e stands out as a remarkable travel and adventure book that takes readers on a journey through breathtaking landscapes and unexplored terrains. Alec’s storytelling invites you to traverse high peaks and discover the stories hidden in every valley.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis books are perfect for those who yearn for armchair adventures or plan their own expeditions. Dive into Alec Ash’s literary world and let your wanderlust guide you on unforgettable journeys.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-mountains-are-high-by-alec-ash-9781914484377","title":"The Mountains Are High","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is it like to radically change your life? Writer Alec Ash meets the Chinese who are doing just this, 'reverse migrating' from the cities to the remote countryside of southwest China — and joins them himself, in an extraordinary and inspiring journey of self-discovery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2020, Alec Ash left behind his old life as a journalist in buzzy Beijing and moved to Dali, a rural valley in China's Yunnan province, centred around a great lake shaped like an ear and overlooked by the Cang mountain range. Here, he hoped to find the space and perspective to mend heartbreak after a broken engagement and escape the trappings of fast-paced, high-pressured city life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOriginally home to the Bai people, Dali has become a richly diverse community of people of all ages and backgrounds, with one shared goal — to reject the worst parts of modernity and live more simply, in tune with the natural world and away from the nexus of authoritarian power. It is into this community that Alec embeds himself, from political dissidents to bohemian hippies, charting his first year of life in Dali among these fascinating neighbours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Mountains Are High\u003c\/em\u003e is a beautifully written, candid memoir about the catalysts for change and personal development that comes from taking a leap of faith, and how remodelling your attitude to conventional success can genuinely transform your life. As one of the 'new migrants' tells Alec when he arrives — it is easy to change your environment, far more difficult to change your mind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"I am deeply impressed that Alec was able to create a new life for himself in this remote corner of rural China where 'the mountains are high and the emperor far away,' and indeed, to gain a new perspective on life. Beautifully crafted, \u003cem\u003eThe Mountains Are High\u003c\/em\u003e was a joy to read.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n— Lijia Zhang, author of \u003cem\u003eLotus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eThe Mountains Are High\u003c\/em\u003e is a fascinating story of modern China, told from the perspective of those trying to escape it. Alec Ash conjures up the paradise of Dali and the colourful characters that live there with an eye for the surreal. A writer of great talent.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n— Charlie Gilmour, author of \u003cem\u003eFeatherhood\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eThe Mountains Are High\u003c\/em\u003e is a treasure. Part escapist tale, and part a lesson on the history, culture, and people of enchanted Dali. It's a young man's journey we all yearn for and only dream of taking.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n— James M. Zimmerman, author of \u003cem\u003eThe Peking Express: The Bandits Who Stole a Train, Stunned the West, and Broke the Republic of China\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46833687462124,"sku":"9781914484377","price":48.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/17512263482869.jpg?v=1758474883"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/alec-ash.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}