Reviews

"A significant contribution to the outpouring of recent writings on Tibet."

"A tenderly crafted study that is equal parts love letter, traditional history, and oral history . . . Throughout, Laird's colorful and lively writing brings to life thousands of years of Tibetan history, inviting the reader on his journey to a strange and wonderful land."

"A thoughtful dialogue . . . about Tibet's past not simply as a sequence of events, but as seen through the perspectives of myth, spirituality, morality, human frailty, and fate . . . Will deepen general readers' knowledge of Tibet, its religion, and its engaging leader."

"Laird uncovers a history of Tibet not found in other books about the country."

"The Fourteenth Dalai Lama's fresh account of Tibetan myth and history, as shared at Dharamsala over a three-year period with Thomas Laird, is wonderful instruction and a great true pleasure, not less to because of the small informal moments that clarify these encounters with that delightful Buddha being who manifests in the beleaguered public figure of His Holiness."

"This book presents a much wider range of material than we are accustomed to hearing discussed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Journalist Thomas Laird Includes valuable background information throughout, lending valuable support to their conversations; but it is the Dalai Lama's mastery of a wealth of historical information that makes this captivating reading."

"This is the Dalai Lama's personal look at his country's past as well as a summary of his life's work as the leader of the Tibetan people."

"Thomas Laird captures the beauty, the magnificence, the humor of this world spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama."

"Thomas Laird's lively conversations with His Holiness the Dalal Lama and the history and mythology of Tibet couldn't come at a better moment, as China stubbornly persists in negating the distinctive Tibetan identity. The honesty, subtlety, and complexlty of His Holiness's thoughts of these crucial matters comes through in these fascinating dialogues. Everyone who cares about Tibet, or about a stable peace in Asia, should read this amazing account."

"You get a strong sense of the Dalai Lama's personality, culture, and beliefs. There are Insights, too, into how the Dalai Lama's Buddhist training has Influenced his political-historical view."

Nepal-based American journalist Laird (Into Tibet: The CIA's First Atomic Spy and His Secret Expedition to Lhasa) has long been following events in Tibet. Between 1999 and 2000, he interviewed the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet in India, where His Holiness has been in exile since 1959. Laird asked the Dalai Lama about his life and his understanding of the history and development of Tibetan Buddhism. For this reason alone, this book makes a significant contribution to the outpouring of recent writings on Tibet. We see the human being behind all the media generated wherever the Dalai Lama goes, and we see how he interprets the events that have brought his native land and followers to where they are today. Laird does, however, comment and expand considerably on his subject's remarks, so the reader is given an edited, filtered, and sympathetic look at this remarkable man. Like most books on Tibet, this one is politically charged and highly critical of Chinese actions there. An epilog brings the continuing story up to 2006; the bibliography is commendably thorough. Laird's book will find a readership in both public and academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/06.]-Harold M. Otness, formerly with Southern Oregon Univ. Lib., Ashland Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

"A significant contribution to the outpouring of recent writings on Tibet."
"A tenderly crafted study that is equal parts love letter, traditional history, and oral history . . . Throughout, Laird's colorful and lively writing brings to life thousands of years of Tibetan history, inviting the reader on his journey to a strange and wonderful land."
"A thoughtful dialogue . . . about Tibet's past not simply as a sequence of events, but as seen through the perspectives of myth, spirituality, morality, human frailty, and fate . . . Will deepen general readers' knowledge of Tibet, its religion, and its engaging leader."
"Laird uncovers a history of Tibet not found in other books about the country."
"The Fourteenth Dalai Lama's fresh account of Tibetan myth and history, as shared at Dharamsala over a three-year period with Thomas Laird, is wonderful instruction and a great true pleasure, not less to because of the small informal moments that clarify these encounters with that delightful Buddha being who manifests in the beleaguered public figure of His Holiness."
"This book presents a much wider range of material than we are accustomed to hearing discussed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Journalist Thomas Laird Includes valuable background information throughout, lending valuable support to their conversations; but it is the Dalai Lama's mastery of a wealth of historical information that makes this captivating reading."
"This is the Dalai Lama's personal look at his country's past as well as a summary of his life's work as the leader of the Tibetan people."
"Thomas Laird captures the beauty, the magnificence, the humor of this world spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama."
"Thomas Laird's lively conversations with His Holiness the Dalal Lama and the history and mythology of Tibet couldn't come at a better moment, as China stubbornly persists in negating the distinctive Tibetan identity. The honesty, subtlety, and complexlty of His Holiness's thoughts of these crucial matters comes through in these fascinating dialogues. Everyone who cares about Tibet, or about a stable peace in Asia, should read this amazing account."
"You get a strong sense of the Dalai Lama's personality, culture, and beliefs. There are Insights, too, into how the Dalai Lama's Buddhist training has Influenced his political-historical view."