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Title: The Dragon in the Land of Snows: A History of Modern Tibet Since 1947 by Tsering Shakya ISBN: 0-14-019615-3 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 03 October, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.4 (5 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Objectivity, rare in a book about Tibet
Comment: What I noted the most about this book is the fact that the author tries very hard to be objective and impartial in his analysis of the situation in Tibet. Most western books on the topic tend to be blatantly pro-Tibetan independance and are a laundry list of shocking atrocities. I call this the 'Bad China, Good Tibet' view of history. This point of view is non-controversial and highly simplistic in which China is demonized and in which Tibetans are nothing more than clear victims of history.
The fact of the matter is, the situation in Tibet is HIGHLY controversial and HIGHLY complex. Simply considering history to be simply 'Bad China, Good Tibet' is a disservice to Tibetans because it fails to give justice to the vicissitudes of their situation. Furthermore, it preempts further inquiry into the full array of historical issues at work and dumbs down the entire dramatic conflict incredibly.
This is why I found this book a refreshing look at Tibet's conflict with China. The author tries very hard to remain objective. Instead of using his book to demonize China and list atrocities, he tries to explain Beijing's acts from within the framework of Chinese politics and ideology. This is not to say that he does not give sufficient attention to atrocities, however. The author is also critical of myopic policies of the Tibetan government in handling the 1950 invasion. He also examines India's difficult tightrope walk of trying to have good relations with Beijing while providing humanitarian assistance to the Tibetans. In short, this book tries to be a balanced view of the Chinese occupation of Tibet- This in itself is all-too seldom seen in the west, where we see Brad Pitt (in 7 Years in Tibet) showing us how a nice Nazi mountain-climber introduces the joy of cinema to a rosy-cheeked, perpetually 8-year old Dalai Lama.
Rating: 4
Summary: Great Research Book.
Comment: This book is a great resource for those that might be writting a paper on Tibet,I wouldn't recommend reading it from cover to cover however because Mr. Shakya's writting style leaves a lot to be desired, and the only real problem thati had with the book was with the last chapter devoted to the current Pachen Lama crisis, which i found frusturating because it deserves so much more & is too complex of an issue for the about three or four pages the author allowed it. Anyone interested in that area should definately read "hostage of Beijing. the abduction of the pachen lama" by giles van grasdorff.
Rating: 5
Summary: an important contribution
Comment: Tsering Shakya's book is dispassionate and comprehensive. Instead of simply rehashing and remixing previously published work, it adds to existing accounts by incorporating interviews with first-hand witnesses among the Tibetan exile community (he apparently has not interviewed any Chinese witnesses, which is unfortunate but understandable). Although I have read widely on this subject before, I found much here that's new and not a little that's surprising. I'm sure Tsering Shakya is taking a lot of flack for writing this book. I hope he perseveres, because I believe that the cause of peace is best served by unbiased and unflinching accounts such as this one.
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Title: The Snow Lion and the Dragon: China, Tibet, and the Dalai Lama by Melvyn C. Goldstein ISBN: 0520219511 Publisher: University of California Press Pub. Date: April, 1999 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism by John Powers ISBN: 1559390263 Publisher: Snow Lion Pubns Pub. Date: February, 1995 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: A History of Modern Tibet, 1913-1951: The Demise of the Lamaist State by Melvyn C. Goldstein ISBN: 0520075900 Publisher: University of California Press Pub. Date: September, 1991 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
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Title: In Exile from the Land of Snows RI by John Avedon ISBN: 0060977418 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 31 December, 1997 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: The Struggle for Modern Tibet: The Autobiography of Tashi Tsering by William Siebenschuh, Tashi Tsering, Melvyn C. Goldstein ISBN: 0765605090 Publisher: M.E.Sharpe Pub. Date: January, 2000 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
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