Tibet, Tibet: A Personal History of a Lost Land

This was a gift for my husband and he truly enjoyed it, commenting it was a thorough and fascinating view and perspective of Tibet that went beyond other types of books like this. Thought provoking.

I have been boning up on Chinese history and culture for nearly a decade now, and am to the point where I consider myself to be relatively well versed. Tibet, on the other hand, has always been rather hazy; informed by the Heinrich Harrer novel, a book on Tibetan Buddhism by Sogyal Rinpoche, and a rather short visit there. That is, until I read Patrick French's book. And what a book it is. After years of idealizing the remote land and its culture and inhabitants, Mr. French (a Tibetophile and former head of a Free Tibet organization) finally allows his powers of perception to override preconceptions based upon an archtype lodged deep within the recesses of his Western psyche. The conclusions he comes to (via investigation and a great deal of research) are sobering, if not chilling. What makes this book exceptional is that it is so good on so many levels. There's a lot of information here (I read it twice) and it makes for a very unique travel narrative. Think Tibetans are a non-violent people? Read their history. Believe Buddhists to be a sagacious lot of semi-divine beings? Think again. Western leaders are going to stand up to China any day now, aren't they? The author provides us with an overview of their efforts to date. Not even the Dalai Lama, who French interviews (and deeply respects) is exempt from the writer's newly found (compassionate) scrutiny. Quite simply, this is a vastly engaging book; one that says as much about China as Tibet. Troy Parfitt, author

Just finished this fascinating book. Arguably, it appears to be the most honest (i.e., authentic) book on Tibet that I've yet read. The author shares his journey into modern Tibet and provides interviews the numerous people he mets. He examines the evils of the communist takeover, including the horrors perpetrated upon millions of innocent souls by Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and other monsters. Consistent with ethical authors who are concerned with reporting facts, rather the create propaganda to support their own view, French tells it like it is - including such things as the flawed policies of the American government to support the communists in pursuit of the almighty dollar, rather than standing up for the freedom of those (i.e., Tibetans) oppressed by the communists. Richard Nixon's visits to China were discussed and Henry Kissinger's vile actions were simply unconscionable. While it is clearly evident that the author has a long history of supporting the Tibetan cause, he also discusses problems inherent with the Tibetan government-in-exile that have aggravated their own cause. Sadly, the author maintains that the mistakes that have already been made will not be resolved until the massive problems within the Chinese (not Tibetan) regime are toppled. I would highly recommend this book to those interested in this topic.

It's very clear after reading this book that the author loves Tibet and its people. The book is part travelogue and part history, with the emphasis on the travel throughout the country. We get "up close and personal" with many of the Tibetan citizens, and the author examines how the people are adjusting to living under the domination of the Chinese. The travel scenes are very well written, and the stark beauty and fearful danger of the country comes out in every sentence. For those of us who will never travel to this exotic spot,this book is a welcome read, for we learn much about the country and its people.

I will probably not do justice to the author since my choice of words and phrases are limited, unlike his. This is a very touching book. It is heartrending to read just the few instances of Tibetan suffering that French mentions. It also makes me very afraid for Chinese people because nothing much seems to have changed from the scenes described in the book in China, except for income. Money cannot make-up for lack of freedom; at least not in the long run.I also felt that French goes overboard in some of his interpretations of his subjects. He also has strong opinion over smaller issues like where he says the Tibetan Government (in exile) does not receive royalty from books written by the Dalai Lama - I am sure one big donation from one of his (Dalai Lama's) patrons would be worth many times what the royalties would have contributed.Anyway, you need to read the book not just if you are a Tibetophile, but as a human being, as a global citizen. I would like to reproduce a quote from the book, by Dalai Lama in 1959:"There are two great forces in the world today," he said. "One is the force of the people with power, with armies to enforce their power, and with a land to recruit their armies from. The other is the force of the poor and dispossessed. The two are in perpetual conflict, and it is certain who will lose ...Unless this is changed, the world will perish. Therefore every poet, every religious man, every political leader, should fight against this division till he dies." There you go - despondency and hope (that the fight will change it) in one paragraph!