In Exile from the Land of Snows: The Definitive Account of the Dalai Lama and Tibet Since the Chinese Conquest

by John F. Avedon

Tibet, “the roof of the world,” had been aloof and at peace for most of its 2,100 years. But in 1932, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, in his final testament, “It may happen that here, in the center of Tibet, religion and government will be attacked both from without and from within.” By the time his successor was enthroned in 1950, the Chinese occupation had begun.          In this gripping account, John F. Avedon draws on his work and travels with the Fourteenth Dalai Lama to bring us the riveting story of Tibet and its temporal and spiritual leader. Included is an extensive interview with the Dalai Lama, who speaks about the conditions in Tibet, the mind of a Buddha, and the events of his life. Rigorously researched, passionately written, the original edition of In Exile from the Land of Snows was instrumental in launching the modern Tibet movement when it was published in 1984. Now, some three decades later, Avedon’s testimony is more wrenching and relevant than ever.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, China, Religion, Buddhism, India, Travel

706 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Preethi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will forever be one of the saddest books I'll read, forever!
Reading the plights of the Tibetans under Chinese rules ever since the Occupation is traumatic, and puts life in a perspective - both for a refugee and for the ones left behind!
There is so much to learn from this book - the history and the background of the Occupation, the lives of the refugees under the rule, prisoners and their lives under the Communist wardens - all, though, related very well and objectively aren't the only learnings. Some of them are - The spirit worship in the Tibetan culture reminded me of the Bhootaradhane performed by the Tulu people. The immense depth of Tibetan medicine and how hard it is to be a doctor in this field was new to me. The story of how Tibetan government rebuilt itself in India, with no land to call their own and no constituency to govern shows a story of how refugees would still be the same even after living in a supportive land for decades. The stories the CCP would tell about the Dalai Lama, their ploys to keep the Tibetans under control, sometimes in vain; Cultural Revolution and it's repercussions; those torture sessions to turn citizens against themselves - all these horrible facts are laid out in this book.

Everytime I thought of all the monasteries with their books burned , the riches ravaged, the walls torn down and the monks tortured, I felt a pain in my stomach - I had to put down the book aside to not think of what the refugees would be going through knowing that their families were going through living hell under the Chinese rule.
This book indeed brought everything related to 'Free Tibet' to perspective - yes, nothing can be done now, but Tibet and the atrocities by the Chinese Communist Party in that land should never be forgotten.

[Hank Stuever · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this because I wanted to get up to speed on the Dalai Lama before his week-long tour of New Mexico, which I was assigned to cover in March 1991. Fascinating primer on all of it, especially the Tibetan exile. Brought all those "Free Tibet" bumperstickers into sharp relief.

[Anirudh Sharma C A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book details a comprehensive review of Tibetan culture, the Tibetan fight for the existence of Tibet, the atrocities (Thamzing) they faced from 1930-1984 and how the Cultural Revolution hampered their way to freedom.
It also gives a brief overview of Tibetan medicine (Mendzekhang), Buddhist monasteries in and around the Tibetan landscape and the refuge camps in India. A must read for someone to understand about the fight for freedom by Tibet and the Dalai Lama.

[Marsha Altman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply terrific. A very comprehensive study of the history of Tibet from the 1930's to 1979, whic special emphasis on the building of the exile community in India and the experiences of several important people who escaped both before and after the Cultural Revolution. A lot of information here that's simply not in other books. Be warned: Reading about Tibet after 1959 is akin to reading a WWII Holocaust book.

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever thought of what happened between the night His Holiness Dalai Lama had to leave his residence in Lhasa, Tibet to make his escape to India?
Thousands of Tibetans did likewise, that it what we generally know.

But this book opens wildly the eyes; through the personal testimonies it depicts the first achievements among all the difficulties, changes and deprivations that went along with the incomprehensible and obscure destiny of this people.

[Zayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely well written and researched book on modern Tibetan History that I would suggest to anyone interested in Tibet. Avedon mixes first hand accounts with the larger historical context in a way that is both compelling and informative. Essential read for young Tibetans and those who are/want to be Tibet supporters!

[Songlin He · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned lots of facts in this book: that Central Tibet (Ganden Phodrang) is part of TAR, Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu today; that Tibetan is not a single ethnic group but many more; Tibetan speak many dialects and they are not necessarily mutually intelligible to each other; that mass immigration of Han to Tibet between 1950-1980 was to force sincization among ethnic minorities, which is very similar to what Russians do to their neighbours.

Having said that, I was lucky enough that I was not taught any fake/twisted history when I was in school, although many tragedies were downplayed and major events not mentioned. As a result I wasn't brainwashed in any way, and did not need be adjusted to the "new facts" after I left the country and started to learn more about the brutal truths.


This book was written in 1986 and unfortunately things aren't getting any better today. And I remain quite pessimistic about Tibetan's fate. Today's CCP regime has become quite different from what I grew up with - it has become more paradoxical, powerful, radical, and politically polarised. It has become even less possible to have a free Tibet in today's world, at least not in the foreseeable future.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a dense and hard read. Had to chip away at it because the level of detail the author goes into is a lot to take in, but the amount I learnt about Tibetan culture and Buddhist beliefs are very interesting. The things Tibetans were subjected to under Chinese rule are some of the most vile and sadistic things I could imagine. It’s very disheartening to see that after all this, Tibet is still not free.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

DNF - Too depressing. Worse than reading about the horrors of Mao's famine and the Cultural Revolution. Tibet has always interested me, since the day I saw the Dalai Lama in 1959 at our school in India. The cruelty of the CCP in it's effort to wipe out a people and a culture both in Tibet, and Xinjiang is beyond belief.

[R.J. Gilmour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avedon's book details the history of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso & his eventual exile from Tibet after the invasion by China in 1959. The book is filled with details not about the life of the Dalai Lama but also about Tibetan religion & culture.

[Penny May Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF - I got gifted this book by a colleague after discussing the Dalai Lama. I found what I read incredibly interesting, however very very dense. This is a very intense read about a very interesting time in history. I just found it a bit difficult to read due to its size and subject matter.

[Strivetoengage · Rating 5 out of 5]

I posted my review of this important book on my blog: https://strivetoengage.wordpress.com/...

[Kristyn]

Very informative... But it was so long I found myself dreading opening it up. Took me forever.

[Gary W. Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book Great research

This is very detailed. I have read many books on Tibet, and it is one of the best. Anyone interested in Tibets's struggle needs to read thisvone.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review is for audio by Tantor - edition not posted here. Bob Souer expertly narrates In Exile From the Land of Snows, John Avedon’s definitive account of the trek of the Dalai Lama since Chinese conquest. This is a clearly told tale of Tibet, “The roof of the world”, and the trek of the Dalai Lama and exiled Tibetans and those left behind. The decimation of Tibet rivals the Holocaust in genocide by starvation and cultural eradication that is gut-wrenching. The narrator faultlessly gives the audience an easy to listen to delivery of hard to read Tibetan and Chinese names that makes the audiobook a winner in understanding the plight of Tibet. Highly recommended, a must read for all public and academic libraries.This is the gut-wrenching tale of Tibet, their exile and the trek of the Dalai Lama, and the starvation and cultural obliteration of those left behind.

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mother highly recommended this book, and I did want to know more about Tibet in light of the Olympics and all. However, I could not get into this book. It was far to detailed for me, practically telling the history of Tibet on a day-to-day basis. I need a much bigger picture.

Aside from being too detailed for me, the writing was lovely and the story was compassionately told. I think if I had been able to sit down to read for larger blocks of time I would have enjoyed it more. Perhaps I'll try again when I retire.

[Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

i finished this book last night before i went to bed and i dreamt about it it was so haunting. photos of monasteries before and after the chinese invasion are incredibly depressing and i feel a chill from all the horrors that occurred during high maoist years. to tibetans and chinese alike. i don't know how likely free tibet is but i developed a deep impression of the compassion, kindness, and wisdom of the tibetan people.

[Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This telling of Tibet's sorrows starts with the story of the Fourteenth Dahlai Lama and unveils the awful story of the collision with China in the last fifty years.
My paperback from 1986 had small print, which only affected the usefulness of the maps on four key pages in front of the book.
I recommend this to all interested in Tibet.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had too much detail for me and I bogged down like I was post-holing through the snows of the Himalyas. Even so, I was impressed by how hard the Dalai Lama worked to make a deal with the Chinese before he fled into exile. And also how forsightful he was in attempting to create a sort of cultural web that would sustain Tibetan culture even as refugees settled around the world.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Very well written and informative

[dead letter office · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good background on the chinese invasion and occupation of tibet.

[Jeff Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

comprehensive and accessible story of the Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet--also provides a great overview of Tibetan Buddhist History

[Maureen Flatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A definitive read on the persecution and repression of Tibet by China.

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

highly recommended to anyone interested in Tibet, China, or buddhism. SHOCKING, to say the least.

[Nick Mather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking, informative and inspirational.

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complete history of Tibet's struggle. It was detailed and very historical. I really enjoyed this book.

[A.a.mckenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent coverage and context for the current situation in Tibet.

[A Ter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an easy read by any means, but certainly a "definitive" and thorough account. Outstanding detail. I especially enjoyed the chapter on Tibetan medicine.

[KayG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tibet.

Read as part of my attempt to read around the world. I knew virtually nothing of Tibet. This book was informative, although a bit dry and dense. It is an audiobook from Hoopla.

[Michael Canham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good history of Tibet, it’s conquest by the Peoples Republic of China, and the strategy to “re-educate” or “thamzing” the survivors. A road map it appears for the Uighers.