Customer Rating:  
Summary: Ultimately Disappointing. For me anyway.
Comment: If there is still anyone out there that still thinks of Tibet as a mythical land then the publishers claim that Mr French will overturn the myth. But I'm not sure there is still anyone that thinks of Tibet in that way. Surely anyone that has even the slightest interest in Tibet knows what has happened there for the last 50 years and that Lhasa now looks like any other Chinese Town. French certainly has some good stories in here and it is worth reading for anyone that is in danger of being simplistic over Tibet. But again, anyone interested in Tibet must surely understand how complex it is. What saddened me most is that Mr French has written a whole book examining the nature of the problem and does not see it as his place to use his expertise to help anyone in the West who wants to support Tibet. He has 'been there, done that and got his Free Tibet T shirt' and now he knows better. He even says that anything we do here makes things worse. So should we all give up? That is what the Chinese Government wants. He tells us what he thinks does not work but offers no alternatives - well, he gives us one line he suggests 'supporting education projects inside the country, backing the development of indigenous businesses and promoting the free flow of information.' That's it. And this is no exaggeration - I've read it carefully. With all Patrick French's talent and experience I would have been glad of more than that and despite all the good stories in his book I still think that it's a shameful wasted opportunity. There is enough despair in this issue already without talented writers adding to it. This is just my personal view of course.
Customer Rating:
Summary: My Choice for the 2004 Thomas Cook Award
Comment: The fine writing, manifest integrity and compassion of this informed, properly researched and committed book should have given it this year's Thomas Cook Travel Book Award. Patrick French stood head and shoulders above the rest. A superb achievement. This encomium from a writer also on the short list.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully written; very informative. Recommended
Comment: Patrick French has a long fascination with Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism, indeed he worked for the Free Tibet campaign.The focus for this book was an extended trip to Tibet but this is more than just a travel book. French takes us through the history of this much contested country and examines the dilemmas posed by the real politick of living in a Chinese autonomous country. French's journey changed had a profound effect on French and his political views changed as he spent more and more time with those whose live in Tibet as opposed to those based in exile. Will there be a political solution and, if so, what will be the role of Tibet's spiritual leaders? This is a fascinating book. You will learn a lot about the history of Tibet, what actually happened rather than myth and legend, Above all the stars of this book are the amazing people of Tibet. This is an excellent book, informed, intelligent, compassionate and thought-provoking. Well recommended,
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