Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama tells his own story, from his birth in a farming family in Amdo in 1935 to his recognition as the reincarnation of the thirteenth Dalai Lama, his education in Lhasa, and his early role as a head of state. He describes the Chinese invasion of Tibet, his negotiations with Mao Zedong, the failed 1959 uprising in Lhasa and his escape over the Himalayas to India, followed by the building of the exile community at Dharamsala and his commitment to nonviolence.

It suits readers who want a first-person account of modern Tibetan history and a picture of how a spiritual leader came to be a political figure. The tone is plain and measured.

Clear-cut; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?