10 Books to Learn About Tibet and The Dalai Lama

A brief book list to understand the basics about the man, the religious leader, and his country.

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If you want to know a man, you must first learn about his history, philosophy, and surroundings. To know Lhamo Thondu, better known worldwide as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, you have to understand the circumstances that made him live in exile while being Tibet's religious leader, Nobel Prize winner, and former head of state.

These books will give you an easy but extensive view of Tibet and its conflicts through history, as well as a basic understanding of the Dalai Lama's life, ideology, and daily rituals.

Divided into two sections, first, you will find five books about Tibet, and later, five more about the Dalai Lama. I hope you enjoy reading all or some of them.

Learning About Tibet

"The Dragon in the Land of Snows"

by Tsering Shakya.

This book illustrates the tragedy of Tibet and its people, struggling to keep its identity and religion in exile while fighting the influence of Britain, China, India, and the United States.

"The Struggle for Tibet"

By Wang Lixiong and Tsering Shakya.

A fascinating point of view, from two Chinese writers and Tibetan experts explaining how cultural and political autonomy is the only road for Tibet's future peace and development.

"Tibet, Tibet"

By Patrick French.

A fresh insight into Tibet's culture, history, and myths, from an author who became fascinated with the topic after the Dalai Lama visited his school in northern England when he was a teenager.

Weaving in a delicate narration, his travel experiences, memories, Tibet's history, as well as tales from the elders about the exile and his chats with modern Tibetan generations, French allows us to see what can be done to fix Tibet's country and culture.

"The Snow Lion and the Dragon"

By Melvyn Goldstein.

A profound analysis of China and Tibet's political problems from 1642 to the end of the '90s. Including the fifth Dalai Lama, the fall of the Qing dynasty, the death of Mao, and the rise and death of Deng Xiaoping.

"Orphans of the Cold War"

By John Kenneth Knaus.

If there is something history taught us, it is that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is behind all world conflicts. In this book, John Kenneth Knaus, one of the CIA officers responsible for the Tibet Operation, relates the Agency's involvement in the Tibetan Conflict, from teaching anti-communist political propaganda techniques, to how the CIA supported the Tibetan Resistance against China.

Learning About His Holiness Dalai Lama

"The Open Road"

By Pico Iyer.

Imagine if you could have the honor to travel with His Holiness? The author, a long friend of the Dalai Lama, lets us peek into the Tibetan leader's daily rituals, ideas, philosophy, and humanity.

"Virtual Tibet"

By Orville Schell.

From Rock concerts to Hollywood's vision of Tibet, Orville Schell, dean of UC-Berkeley's journalism school, writes a chronicle of his trips to the real Tibet and the distorted Western image.

Starting with his visit to Lhasa in 1981, his trips to Austria to interview the former SS member Heinrich Harrer, author of the book Seven Years in Tibet, and finishing in the Argentinean location for Brad Pitt's movie. Schell presents a 360º view of the country and religion through the eyes of the real Tibetans and its modernized western followers.

"The Wisdom of Forgiveness"

By the Dalai Lama and Victor Chan.

What would you ask if you had the chance to talk to His Holiness Dalai Lama? Victor Chan, a Hong-Kong-born Canadian writer, and Founder of the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education, had this opportunity. Chan, who has known HHDL since 1972, traveled with him for several years while documenting his life, teachings, humor, playfulness, and joy.

In this book, you'll find if HHDL hates the Chinese, how his life was as a young boy, and why he can't resist pulling men's beards. You should read The Wisdom of Forgiveness if you want to know The Dalai Lama.

"Freedom in Exile"

By the Dalai Lama.

In this astonishingly frank autobiography, the Dalai Lama writes about what does it mean to be the political and religious head of Tibet, as well as his childhood in Lhasa, the Chinese invasion of Tibet, his years in exile, and his role as the living reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.

"The Art of Happiness"

By the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler

“I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness.” — Dalai Lama

Everyone who meets this 5' 7" man will tell you he irradiates peace and joy, and after spending a few minutes in his presence, you'll feel happy. He is the Dalai Lama, which translates from the Mongolian and Tibetan into "Big Master."

How does he manage to laugh or smile all the time, regardless of losing his country, being attacked by the Chinese government, and being forced to live in exile?

Through stories and meditations, His Holiness teaches us how to conquer anxiety, insecurity, and anger with joy. The Art of Happiness is a book you must read to understand this holy man's life and philosophy for a happy and peaceful existence.

Take away

Lhamo Thondup, born in 1935 in a humble family in Taktser, Amdo, and who later became the 14th Dalai Lama, Is one of the most influential men in history.

With hundreds of friends among the world dignitaries, and followed by millions of people worldwide. He never loses his smile and a peaceful attitude and is always willing to help those in need and forgive even his most challenging opponents.

After reading these books, I hope that you have a more profound understanding of the man, his country, and his philosophy.

“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday and the other is called Tomorrow. Today is the right day to Love, Believe, Do, and mostly Live.” ― Dalai Lama XIV