Further reading

There are many excellent books and films about Tibet. The following, broken down into categories are only some of the publications you might find of interest.

-Campaign Reading

-Biography

-Travel Writing

-Contemporary Politics And Socio-Economics Of Tibet

-Tibetan History Post-1950

-Tibetan History Pre-1950

-Films about Tibet

 Campaign reading

Fire Under the Snow: True Story of a Tibetan Monk: Palden Gyatso and Tsering Shakya

Shocking account of one man’s 33 year long ordeal in Chinese prison and his revelation since his escape in 1992 of the human rights abuses in Tibet.

 

Sky Burial: An Eyewitness Account of China's Brutal Crackdown in Tibet. Blake Kerr.

Having witnessed the repression of a peaceful demonstration in 1987 Lhasa, Kerr, a young physician returned to Tibet to document the population control measures imposed by the Chinese on the fledging Tibetan population.

Tears of Blood: A Cry for Tibet: Mary Craig

Extensively researched and masterfully told, the author of Kundun reveals the decades of persecution, environmental devastation, and human atrocities suffered by Tibetans since the Chinese invasion of 1950.

 

Inside the Treasure House: Time in Tibet: Catriona Bass

A former English teacher, Catriona Bass details the cultural-tensions and repressions in 1980s Lhasa.

     
Biography

Freedom in Exile His Holiness the Dalai Lama 

The Dalai Lama's second volume of autobiography touches on his childhood, rule in Tibet, his flight from the Chinese and his life and work in exile up to 1988.

 

The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama: Thomas Laird

Conducted over three years, journalist Thomas Laird offers His Holiness’s personalised account of Tibet’s history and his life’s work as both spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people.

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Portrait of the Dalai Lama: The Life and Times of the Great Thirteenth Sir Charles Bell

Biography of the 13th Dalai Lama (1876-1933), often called “the Great”, who lobbied in vain for support from the outside world against the Chinese invasion he foresaw     
 

A Tibetan Revolutionary: The Political Life and Times of Bapa Phuntso Wangye:

Melvyn C. Goldstein, Dawei Sherap and William R. Siebenschuh

The as-told-to autobiography of one of the most important Tibetan Communists in the China today.

Daughter of Tibet: Rinchen Dolma Taring 

Mrs Taring's autobiography tells of daily life in aristocratic society in Lhasa prior to 1950 and her starting the Tibetan Homes Foundation in India following her escape.

 

Captured in Tibet: Robert Ford 

As a radio officer in 1950 for the government of Tibet, Ford spent 5 years being "re-educated" in a Chinese prison following the invasion. Also see this link.

Warriors of Tibet: Story of Aten and the Khampas' Fight for the Freedom of Their Country: Jamyang Norbu

The story of one Khampa's flight with his family and his fight against the Chinese with the guerrillas of Mustang.

 

Last seen in Lhasa: The Story of an Extaordinary Friendship in Modern Tibet: Claire Scobie.   Memori of Scobie's relationship with a wandering Buddhist nun, Ani, spanning a period of nine years.

Heartlands: Travels in the Tibetan world: Michael Buckley
Armed with 300 maps, Buckley searches for renmants of the true Tibet in Ladakh, Bhutan and Outer Mongolia, discovering resilient nomads, stuffed kangaroos and cycle routes around snowbound passes.

 

Running a Hotel on the Roof of the World: Five Years in Tibet: Alec Le Seur
A light-hearted and politically insightful account of the author’s experiences of running a hotel in Tibet.

Travel writing 

Touching Tibet: Niema Ash

 

 

An incidental traveller’s account of hospitality and hardship in the early 1980's Tibet.

 

The Struggle for Tibet: Tsering Shakya and Wang Lixiong

 

 

A series of four exchanges between the two authors considering the paradoxes of Tibet’s history, China’s cultural imperialism and the challenges facing Tibetan writers and thinkers of today.

 

The Status of Tibet: History, Rights, and Prospects in International LawMichael C. van Walt van Praag
Tibet’s independence examined within the legal framework of international law. See also:www.tibet.com/Status/statuslaw.html

 

Circles of Protest: Political Ritual in the Tibetan Uprising, 1987-1992: Ronald D. Schwartz

An examination of how protest against the occupation of Tibet has served as a vehicle for expressing and reinforcing Tibetan nationalism.

Contemporary politics and social-economics of Tibet

Tibet: The Road Ahead: Dawa Norbu

A first-hand description of life in rural Tibet, 1950-59 and analysis of Tibet's future in post-Deng China.

 

Tibet: Survival In Question Pierre Antoine Donnet

An experienced Beijing press correspondent's investigation of the politics of Tibet in the 1990s.

Contemporary Tibet: Politics, Development and Society in a Disputed Region: June Teufel Dreyer and Barry Sautman

Published in 2005, offers a fresh perspective on the controversial Tibet question and considers topics including: representations and sovereignty, economic development and political conditions, the exile movement and human rights, historical legacies and international politics, identity issues and the local society.

 
 

State Growth and Social Exclusion in Tibet: Challenges of Recent Economic Growth (Nordic Institute of Asian Studies Reports):Andrew Martin Fischer

Using official Chinese statistics and fieldwork analyses, Fischer explores the changing socio-economic landscape and challenges facing Tibetans from rapid state-led growth. A must for those wishing to understand the transformations in the Tibetan areas of China.

Tibet and China in the Twenty-first Century: Non-violence Versus State Power: In the 21st Century Non-violence Versus State Power: John Heath

Seeking to contextualise the Chinese occupation of Tibet, Heath examines the reasons for Mao Zedong's decision to invade Tibet; the consequent changes ranging from ecological demise to cultural erosion and economic development, and explores the question of how best achieve a solution acceptable to both parties.

 

In Exile from the Land of Snows: The Definitive Account of the Dalai Lama:John F. Avedon

Modern history of Tibet until 1984 looking at the struggles of the exiles to preserve their culture, the suffering of those who stayed and the fight of the Mustang guerrillas.

The Dragon in the Land of Snows: a history of modern Tibet since 1947: Tsering Shakya 

Relying heavily on primary sources this is a much-needed account of Tibet’s history since 1950 including political manoeuvrings in Tibet, the Dalai Lama's escape in 1959 and the CIAs involvement resisting the Chinese invasion.

 

The CIA's Secret War in Tibet: Kenneth Conboy and James Morrison 

An account of the CIA’s efforts in bolstering the Tibetan resistance movement including its help in securing the Dalai Lama's safe passage to India.
 

The Snow Lion and the Dragon: China, Tibet and the Dalai Lama:Melvyn C. Goldstein 


Goldstein offers a balanced view and analysis of the Sino-Tibetan conflict and his proposal for the future.

 

The Tibetan Independence Movement: Political, Religious and Ghandian Perspectives: Jane Ardley 

A serious analysis of the Tibetan independence movement, this book views the struggle from a comparative perspective, making an overt comparison with the Indian independence movement.
 

Violence of Liberation: Gender and Tibetan Buddhist Revival in Post-Mao China:Charlene E. Makley

A powerful study on how the Tibetan region of Labrang became part of China as well as the transformations of the region since 1950.

   

Tibet history pre 1950

A History of Modern Tibet, 1913-1951: The Demise of the Lamaist State: Melvyn C. Goldstein and Gelek Rimpoche

The well-known anthropologist examines the Tibetan feudal system and reasons that underscored the lack of Tibetan resistance to the Chinese invasion. It also looks at internal Tibetan politics and the roles of other nations.

 

Trespassers on the Roof of the World: The Race for Lhasa: Peter Hopkirk

Peter Hopkirk colourful tale of many adventures in the race for Lhasa in the 19th and 20th centuries by inquisitive Western explorers through the Chinese invasion of 1950.

Tibet: A Political History: Tsepon W. D. Shakabpa 

A long-standing member of the Tibetan Government before the Chinese invasion, Shakabpa relies on government archives and ancient text to provide a definitive guide to Tibet's political history from the 7th century to modern times.

 

Tibet and its History Hugh E. Richardson 

Tibet's history from early records to the Chinese invasion by a British diplomat and the first European to be permitted to reside in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa.

Tibet history Pre-1950

Tibetan Nomads: Environment, Pastoral Economy, and Material Culture: Shuyler Jones

Artefacts of the National Museum of Denmark unveil an illustrated guide through Tibetan nomadic culture and artistic traditions.

 

Imagining Tibet: Perceptions, Projections and Fantasies:Thierry Dodin, Heinz Rather

A comprehensive attempt to trace the images of Tibet in the writings of explorers and missionaries, through to scholars, and present-day activists.

 

Lhasa: Streets with Memories (Asia Perspectives: History, Society & Culture): Robert Barnett

Uncovering the foreign misconceptions and hidden texts of Lhasa.

 

Duel in the Snows: The True Story of the Younghusband Mission to Lhasa by Charles Allen

The true story of the Younghusband mission to Lhasa.

  

Films about Tibet

Cry of the Snow Lion

Hard-hitting documentary about the history of Tibet since the Chinese invasion.

Narrated by Martin Sheen.
 

 

 Windhorse

Peter Wagner's drama about a Tibetan singer and the plight of his country, focusing on the threat of integration into the Chinese system


 The Forbidden Team

Documentary about the Tibetan football team as they face rials and tribulations in attempting to play their first international match.

 

 Tibetans: A Life in Exile

Robb Bradstock's documentary about Tibetan life and culture in exile.
Buy a copy in our shop here


 

 Kundun

Martin Scorsese's award winning epic about the life of the Dalai Lama.

 

 Seven Years in Tibet

Adaptation of Heinrich Harrer's experiences in Tibet and the time he spent with the young Dalai Lama.

 Tibet: A Buddhist Trilogy

A re-mastered release of the seminal 1977 documentary about Tibetan life.

 

 

 Sacred Sites of the Dalai Lamas

A documentary pilgrimage to some of the most sacred sites in Tibet.

 Wheel of Time

Werner Herzog documentary referring to sand mandala rituals, and containing interviews with the Dalai Lama.

 

 The Lost World of Tibet

Dan Cruickshank's documentary about life in Tibet before the Chinese invasion, incuding film from the 1940s and 50s.

 The Cup

Touching feature film about a group of young monks living in a Tibetan exile temple in Bhutan determined to watch the World Cup on TV.

 

 Himalaya

Picturesque Eric Valli feature about a group of nomads struggling to get their yak herd safely over the trecherous terrain.

(Link is for the VHS version) 


 The Unwinking Gaze

Joshua Dugdale's recent documentary about the day-to-day life of the Dalai Lama, including extensive interviews.

 

Leaving Fear Behind


Documentary of interviews with Tibetans in Tibet made in 2008.
Filmmakers Dhondup Wanghen and Jigme Gyatso were arrested for making this film.
Mail us to screen the film