Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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Defiance against Chinese oppression has been a defining characteristic of Tibetan life for more than four decades, symbolized most visibly by the much revered Dalai Lama. But the story of Tibetan resistance weaves a far richer tapestry than anyone might have imagined.

Kenneth Conboy and James Morrison reveal how America's Central Intelligence Agency encouraged Tibet's revolt against China--and eventually came to control its fledgling resistance movement. They provide the first comprehensive, as well as most compelling account of this little known agency enterprise.

The CIA's Secret War in Tibet takes readers from training camps in the Colorado Rockies to the scene of clandestine operations in the Himalayas, chronicling the agency's help in securing the Dalai Lama's safe passage to India and subsequent initiation of one of the most remote covert campaigns of the Cold War. Conboy and Morrison provide previously unreported details about secret missions undertaken in extraordinarily harsh conditions. Their book greatly expands on previous memoirs by CIA officials by putting virtually every major agency participant on record with details of clandestine operations. It also calls as witnesses the people who managed and fought in the program--including Tibetan and Nepalese agents, Indian intelligence officers, and even mission aircrews.

Conboy and Morrison take pains to tell the story from all perspectives, particularly that of the former Tibetan guerrillas, many of whom have gone on record here for the first time. The authors also tell how Tibet led America and India to become secret partners over the course of several presidential administrations and cite dozens of Indian and Tibetan intelligence documents directly related to these covert operations.

As the movement for Tibetan liberation continues to attract international support, Tibet's status remains a contentious issue in both Washington and Beijing. This book takes readers inside a covert war fought with Tibetan blood and U.S. sponsorship and allows us to better understand the true nature of that controversy.

This book is part of the Modern War Studies series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

"Secret" is the word
This is another work I thought I had already reviewed. Having a special interest in airlift, particularly C-130s, I found this book to be very interesting and informative about a mission the United States carried out in secret in the 1950s-60s. The authors truly did their homework. I highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in America's world-wide secret wars.

Tibet, the Dali Lama & the CIA
Good news & bad news.
The good:
This book is FULL of information...I mean like dense-pack.
Every other page I was using either Google or Google Earth to check details.

The bad:
It's NOT a page-turner like a good novel if you really want the information. Quite the opposite.

For this fascinating side-bar of American history, it's well worthwhile.
Then one realizes this was happening all over the world with more commitment.

CIA secret operations
This is an excellent primer on how the CIA and other "intelligence" agencies function inside foreign countries.This book can be used as a guideline for understanding how secret wars and destabilizations are done.In itself, the Tibet story is very interesting and relates to 2009 protests held there by Buddhist monks as well as alerting readers to the destruction of Tibet by China. ... Read more

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The Shelf2Life Mountaineering Collection provides a unique glimpse into the history and evolution of mountaineering through the late 19th and early 20th centuries.From historical maps, first-hand accounts of early summits, descriptions of peaks and wilderness areas to detailed mountaineering proofs, enthusiasts can now experience the thrill of the greatest peaks as they were in the early part of the century.Further, in-depth discussions of traditional equipment, technique and routes are a fascinating study in the evolution of the sport.Given the recent explosion of interest in mountaineering, these books are an excellent opportunity to revisit the roots and origins of the sport: they offer a valuable historical perspective as well as important information about the landscape and geography of the past. ... Read more

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Product Description
International attention was once again drawn to the Tibet issue during the 2008 Olympic torch relay with an eruption of worldwide demonstrations against China's rule in Tibet, bringing this long-lasting controversy to the forefront yet again. The Dalai Lama's 'Mid Way' policy and his effort to seek a mutually acceptable solution through meaningful dialogs with Beijing as well as Beijing's handling of this issue, especially its approach towards the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan exile community, will have a substantial impact not only on China's long-term development, but also on the world community's acceptance of China's 'peaceful rise' as a constructive political process rather than as a threat to international peace and stability.Given the complexity of the issue, this volume does not pretend to provide any 'fix' to the Tibet issue, nor is its intention to enforce judgments. In a multifaceted approach, this volume aims to provide a scholarly and objective examination of the Tibet issue, with a focus on China's Tibet policy and its internal and external implications. ... Read more

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In Tibet: The Road Ahead, a gifted Tibetan of humble origins tells the untold story of ordinary Tibetans in the 20th century, before and during the Chinese invasion. As he talks about the possible extinction of a culture, Professor Norbu refutes China's claim that Tibet has been a part of China since the 7th century. He shows that the relationship between the two countries was symbolic and ceremonial, rather than characterized by political domination, and that pre-1950 Tibet enjoyed complete and genuine freedom. In addition, he analyzes recent events in the region, covering nearly half a century of Tibetan history in the process. A book written with scholarship and grace, offering a fresh and informed look at what lies ahead. Professor Dawa Norbu received his doctorate from the University of California; he now teaches at Nehru University in New Delhi. Among his books are Culture and Politics of Third World Nationalism. ... Read more

Product Description
An accurate presentation of the history of Tibet which, in itself proves the country's independent nationhood from the ealiest records. Its relationship with neighbouring China, Nepal, India, Mongolia and Russia are outlined explicity. The book tell us how Tibet has- since the beginning of the history-relentlessly fought and negotiated with foreign powers in different eras and under varying circumstances to always emerge as a nation uncompromising on the question of its freedom.The symboitic political and religious influence between Tibet and its neighbouring during the course of Central Asia's rich and troubled history also makes an interesting study.The book narrates the aftermath of China's occupation of Tibet, since 1959, and the continuing resistance of Tibetans to regain freedom and justice. ... Read more

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This is the first investigation into the little-known Bolshevik foreign ministry’s strenuous efforts to win Lhasa over to the Soviet cause in the 1920s. Examining the history of relations between Russia (tsarist, Soviet and post-Soviet) and Tibet from the 17th century to the 1990s, the author puts at the core of his narrative the previously unknown story of clandestine negotiations between the Soviet government and the 13th Dalai Lama, forming part of Moscow’s bitter struggle against British imperialism in Asia.

The book provides insight into Soviet secret diplomacy and draws important conclusions relating to the history of Anglo-Russian competition for Tibet and Tibet’s status prior to 1951. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Title: Lhasa; an Account of the Country and People of Central Tibet and of the Progress of the Mission Sent There by the English Government in the Year 1903-4; Written, With the Help of All the Principal Persons of the Mission; Volume: 1; Original Publisher: London Hurst and Blackett; Publication date: 1905; Subjects: Tibet (China); ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A clear, well-researched history of Tibet
A very clear, well-documented presentation of Tibet and its history. It is especially helpful in explaining the events that led up to the Chinese invasion. This is a very helpful text for people seeking to understand the Hows and Whys of the way Tibetan society is organized today.

Well written but one-sided
While this book is well written (the writing style and information make for a good read), and the author seems to have performed a good deal of research, this is far from an impartial history of Tibet as the author claims. After the author makes this claim in the opening pages he commences with a look at the nature of Tibetan society prior to 1959. While uncomfortable for those sympathetic to the Tibetan nation, this opening expose is quite interesting. The author points out, with some decent source citations, that far from being the "Shangri-la" that many imagine, pre-1959 Tibet was a nation where the majority of people lived a very destitute, hard existence, where political and legal rights for many were almost unknown, where a type of feudal system existed that was on the one hand supportive of the Buddhist religion but on the other permitted very harsh punishment meted out by the ruling elite. This is believeable as far as it goes. However, when one reads the balance of the book one wonders whether one is really getting the whole story even in this opening chapter.

The chapter dealing with the early history of Tibet seems innocuous and fairly balanced, although even here one begins to see that the author is focused on proving one of his central tenets - that Tibet was never really an independent nation and for most of its history maintained some filial relationship with China. This becomes noticeable when one reaches the great majority of the book, which deals with the Twentieth Century. Here the author's bias comes forth. With each succeeding chapter, telling Tibet's story chronologically (the first edition stopped in 1985 when it was published, but this revised edition runs to 1995), the author's pro-China sympathies become ever clearer. This becomes very annoying after awhile. I am an avid footnote reader so I checked his footnotes throughout. There are many citations to secondary sources which in themselves are suspect (Chinese popular publications and official newspapers for instance). In some cases, particularly dealing with the 1959 revolt and subsequent events, some of the author's most anti-Tibetan statements do not contain citations to sources at all. He even reverts in his writing (accidentally?) to using terms for the Dalai Lama and the exile government that are used in official Chinese government communiques (i.e. "The Dali Clique" and "the oligarchs"). He becomes free with his opinions questioning Tibetan sources and trying to discredit them but he quotes from official Chinese sources without comment or criticism. I gather that he felt that he had written an "impartial" history by merely citing to sources from both sides, but this is not the case if he takes the Tibetans (and their allies in the US, India and elsewhere) to task but says nothing of the intentions of the Chinese official writings from which he freely quotes and cites. Amazingly, while he details in several chapters the alleged wrongs perpetrated on many Tibetans by their ruling elite, monks, aristocracy, western governments, etc. he glosses over the effects of the Cultural Revolution on Tibet. He only ackowledges that many monasteries were destroyed, but makes no effort to try to calculate the number of Tibetans killed, jailed and tortured during this time. On the other hand he makes a tremendous effort to discredit the data from the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan exiles concerning the number of refugees who have fled Tibet since 1959.

Oddly, in the very last chapter of "conclusions" the author makes his most critical statements concerning China's rule in Tibet and the issue of Tibet's autonomy. This comes across as too little and too late to make up for a very stilted narrative overall.

If you want a general overview of Tibet, particularly its post-1950 history, from a Chinese point of view this book is pretty good. But for the pleasant writing style and a biased but thorough job of research and citation I would have given this book a 2 or 1. Take this work as an academically researched polemic but there is much more information to obtain to get "the whole picture".

A. Tom Grunfeld, The Making of Modern Tibet
I am disappointed that whilst a dust jacket is shown on this product, it arrives without one! Can you advise me if it can be replaced?

Gripping and unbiased
This is a great book! It is very balanced and favors no particular view of Tibet, instead it constantly looks at every aspect of Tibetan culture, history, and international relations to describe the situation of Modern Tibet. Although it is full of facts, quotes, and various academic tools, the writing style is quite gripping, and it is not too cluttered with information - you won't need to put it down, and you won't want to either!

Propaganda Exercise


If such a book appeared today about Blacks or Jews there would, without doubt, be tremendous public outcry. Tom Grunfeld writes that Tibetan mothers licked their babies as they emerged from the womb - like animals. He goes on to specify that Tibetan were cruel, dirty, ignorant, syphilitic (90% of the population suffering from venereal diseases according to TG) sexual degenerates who were observed making love on rooftops in full public view. Clearly this is intended to portray Tibetans as barbaric, subhuman, even bestial, thereby justifying Communist Chinese rule in Tibet as necessary and civilizing. Grunfeld's description of Chinese rule in Tibet completely omits to mention the million odd people executed, starved, or beaten and tortured to death in the numerous Maoist campaigns, nor does he mention the"Famine", the greatest famine in human history, that in China and Tibet wiped out from 30 to 60 million people, and which was man-made.

Grunfeld lacks the minimal qualifications to write a history of Tibet. He is unable to speak or read basic Tibetan or even Chinese, and his book is full of rudimentary mistakes, schoolboy "howlers", that would be hilarious if the fundamental premise of the work was not so deeply troubling. Grunfeld provides no primary Tibetan or Chinese sources. He further does not even utilize the significant body of scientific and scholarly articles and monographs on Tibetan history that have appeared (in English and other European languages) over the last twenty-five years or so. In fact this "history" relies on Chinese propaganda material (in English) and on often outdated secondary literature, derived largely from negative colonial and missionary writings on Tibet.

This book is a propaganda piece to justify the Chinese occupation and genocide in Tibet. ... Read more

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The first serious analysis of the Tibetan independence movement, this book is also the first to view the struggle from a comparative perspective, making an overt comparison with the Indian independence movement. ... Read more