Altitude Illness: Prevention and Treatment, How to Stay Healthy at Altitude  •  Stephen Bezruchka REFERENCE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES A pocket reference to both preventing and the treatment of altitude sickness. Bezruchka, a mountaineer, M.D. and wit, includes case studies, a section of frequently asked questions, and simple methods of diagnosis and treatment when things go wrong. Travelers to high altitudes will devour this little book, dedicated "To all those who have died of altitude sickness." (REF02, $8.95)
Among Flowers, A Walk in the Himalaya  •  Jamaica Kincaid TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES An atmospheric account of celebrated writer and gardener Jamaica Kincaid's journey to Nepal and the Himalayas with a small team of botanists. A volume in the National Geographic Directions series. (HML62, $10.95)
Among the Mountains, Travels through Asia  •  Wilfred Thesiger EXPLORATION •  2001 •  PAPER  • 174 PAGES A classic account of intrepid British explorer Wilfred Thesiger's travels through the mountain ranges of Iraqi Kurdistan, the Karakorams, the Hindu Kush, and Ladakh. Half of the book is devoted to Thesiger's journeys through Hazarajat and Nuristan in Afghanistan. Drawn from the author's diaries, 1952-1956. With 80 photographs by Thesiger. Each chapter opens with a useful relief map of his route. (ASA28, $17.99)
Among Warriors, A Woman Martial Artist in Tibet  •  Pamela Logan TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES The account of an aerospace scientist turned adventurer and her quest to reach Kham, a remote region of Eastern Tibet largely closed to outsiders. Logan mixes Buddhism, martial arts, philosophy and history into her traveler's tales. (TBT51, $13.00)
Annapurna, The Epic Account of a Himalayan Conquest and its Harrowing Aftermath  •  Maurice Herzog EXPLORATION •  1997 •  PAPER  • 314 PAGES • FAVORITE This classic account of the first ascent of an 8,000-meter peak was dictated by expedition leader Herzog from his hospital bed in Paris. Herzog and his companions originated the now well established practice of using Sherpas and acclimatizing to higher and higher altitudes at a series of base camps. The extraordinary rescue and agonizing return to civilization is all the more powerful for its matter-of-fact tone. The book also includes a glimpse of Ghurka society in Nepal, circa 1950. (HML07, $16.95)
Khumbu Trekking Map  •  Trails Illustrated 2002 •  MAP A map of the Everest trekking region at a scale of 1:125,000 with contours at 100 meter intervals, printed on waterproof, tear-resistant paper. It covers the route from Jiri to Kala Pattar, Sagarmatha National Park and Everest Base Camp, including the Gokyo and Imja Khola Valleys. With a map of Nepal, trekking information and detailed inset maps of Kathmandu and Thamel on reverse. Produced in cooperation with The Himalayan Maphouse in Kathmandu. (NPL47, $16.99)
The Ascent of Rum Doodle  •  W. E. Bowman  •  Bill Bryson LITERATURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES Firmly in the school of offhand, bumbling British exploration, this book is hardly handicapped by the fact that its author had never been near the Himalayas. It's a spoof, a hoot -- and called the funniest book he's ever read by Bill Bryson (which may give you some idea of Bowman's brand of scathing humor). Originally published in 1956. The publisher says Bowman was inspired by Tilman's escapades on Nandi Devi. Regardless, you'll be rolling with his send up of the oh-so-British, isn't-suffering-grand, stiff-upper-lip. A comic masterpiece, deliciously deadpan. (HML55, $13.99)
Below Another Sky, A Mountain Adventure in Search of a Lost Father  •  Rick Ridgeway BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 321 PAGES A touching account of a return after 20 years to the site where Ridgeway had lost his friend, National Geographic photographer Jonathan Wright, the 28-year-old victim of an avalanche. Accompanied by Asia Wright, a young woman in search of the father she never knew. Ridgeway, a celebrated climber, has written memorably of his adventures in the Himalayas. (TBT55, $25.00)
The Big Open, On Foot Across Tibet's Chang Tang  •  Rick Ridgeway  •  Conrad Anker EXPLORATION •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 304 PAGES The prolific adventure writer Rick Ridgeway recounts his trek across Tibet's inhospitable northern region in search of the chiru, an endangered species of antelope indigenous to Tibet. Ridgeway combines history, travel narrative and adventure story in this captivating account. (TBT80, $26.00)
Buddha  •  Karen Armstrong RELIGION •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 240 PAGES A concise, thought-provoking biography of the Buddha in the Penguin Lives series, written by one of the foremost experts on world religions. A member of the Association of Muslim Social Services in Jerusalem, Karen Armstrong is a former Roman Catholic nun who teaches Judaism. Her many books include: A History of God; Islam, a Short History; and Jerusalem: One City Three Faiths. She has also written a biography of Mohammed. (REL09, $14.00)
Buddhism, A Very Short Introduction  •  Damien Keown RELIGION •  2000 •  PAPER  • 152 PAGES One of a series of very brief, authoritative introductions by Oxford University Press with chapters on The Buddha, Karma, the Mahayana, Buddhism in Asia, Buddhist practices and ethics. (ASA53, $11.95)
Spectrum Guide to Nepal  •  Camerapix GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 364 PAGES A comprehensive guide to the country, its people, history and geography, featuring excellent maps and 200 color photographs. (NPL27, $22.95)
The Buddhist Handbook  •  John Snelling RELIGION •  1992 •  PAPER  • 345 PAGES Subtitled, "The Complete Guide to Buddhist Schools, Teaching, Practice and History, " this even-handed book is a concise primer covering the history, philosophical foundation and practice of Buddhism. It gives a basic overview of the teachings and practice of Buddhism, including a who's who of contemporary teachers and list of useful addresses around the world. (ASA08, $16.95)
Cave in the Snow, A Western Woman's Quest for Enlightenment  •  Vicki MacKenzie TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 210 PAGES The absorbing tale of a young English Buddhist and her experience as a hermit in Lahoul, a Tibetan stronghold in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh. It's a fascinating overview of the allure and practice of Tibetan Buddhism. The book is divided into three sections: the life of Diane Perry until she became a Buddhist nun; her time in seclusion in the 1970s, first in at the Tayul monastery and then on a mountain ledge; and her life back in the England. She was not lonely. (HML61, $15.95)
The Central Philosophy of Tibet, A Study and Translation of Jey Tsong Khapa's Essence of True Eloquence  •  Robert A. F. Thurman RELIGION •  1991 •  PAPER  • 476 PAGES An authoritative translation of a key text by the great Tibetan philosopher Jey Tsong Khapa (1357-1419). Robert Thurman provides a long, useful introduction to Tibetan philosophy and its modern relevance. With an appreciative forward by foreword by the Dalai Lama, notes and commentary. (TBT85, $45.00)
Circling the Sacred Mountain  •  Tad Wise  •  Robert Thurman TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman's account of his journey, both physical and spiritual, to the sacred graveyards, monasteries, and meditation caves around Mount Kailas with Tad Wise and students. (TBT54, $18.00)
The Climb, Tragic Ambitions on Everest  •  Anatoli Boukreev EXPLORATION •  1998 •  PAPER  • 297 PAGES An eyewitness account of the 1996 tragedy on Everest by the Russian mountaineer Boukreev, in part a response to criticism by John Krakauer in the best-selling Into Thin Air regarding climbing safety and ambition. Boukreev, an experienced guide, defends his actions on that day. (HML29, $7.99)
The Crystal Horizon  •  Reinhold Messner  •  Jill Neate  •  Audrey Salkeld EXPLORATION •  1998 •  PAPER  • 322 PAGES Messner's account of the first successful solo ascent of Everest, which he accomplished without the aid of supplemental oxygen in 1980. (HML69, $24.95)
The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs  •  Robert Beer RELIGION •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 400 PAGES An encyclopedic reference exploring the symbols found in the sacred Tibetan art of the thangka. 169 illustrated plates feature several thousand pieces intricate line art by the author. Entries are arranged thematically. Beer, while British, has devoted decades to the study of thangkas, a meditation device used by monks. (TBT66, $65.00)
Eric Shipton, The Six Mountain Travel Books  •  Eric Shipton EXPLORATION •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 800 PAGES A wide-ranging collection of six great books on mountain exploration by Eric Shipton, featuring his pioneering expeditions in the Himalayas, East Africa, Central Asia and Patagonia. This 800-page book includes Nandi Devi, Blank on the Map, Upon that Mountain, Mt. Everest Reconnaissance Expedition of 1951, Mountains of Tartary, and Land of Tempest. (EXP12, $38.00)
Everest, A Mountaineering History  •  Walter Unsworth EXPLORATION •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 736 PAGES A classic history of mountaineering, updated through 1998 for this third edition. Unsworth depicts the people, personalities and challenges of Everest expeditions, including an excellent account of the much-ballyhooed expedition by Mallory and Irvine. He covers every major expedition. (NPL38, $45.00)
Everest, Expedition to the Ultimate  •  Reinhold Messner  •  Audrey Salkeld EXPLORATION •  1999 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES In 1978, Messner and Peter Habler climbed Everest without using supplemental oxygen. This is Messner's frank account of their very difficult -- but ultimately successful -- climb. (HML49, $24.95)
Everest, The Mountaineers Anthology IV  •  Peter Potterfield EXPLORATION •  2003 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES A collection of eyewitness accounts by Greg Mallory and Sandy Irvine, Edmund Hillary, Tom Hornbein, Jim Whittaker, Frank Smythe, Eric Simonson, Reinhold Messner, and many other climbers over the decades. Published in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first ascent. Pottersfield is publisher of mountainzone.com (NPL49, $16.95)
A Field Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent  •  Krys Kazmierczak  •  Ber Van Perlo FIELD GUIDE •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 352 PAGES A compact field guide to 1,300 species with 96 color plates by bird artist Ber van Perlo, covering Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. With distribution maps and concise information on identification, voice and habitat by the author of "A Birdwatcher's Guide to India." (FG40, $50.00)
Field Guide to the Mammals of the Indian Subcontinent  •  K. K. Gurung  •  Raj Singh FIELD GUIDE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 140 PAGES • COMING IN Subtitled "Where to Watch Mammals in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan," this compact guide to 106 species features color illustrations, tracks, range maps and information about habitats and conservation. With an overview of 23 parks and reserves, including location maps and species lists. (FG33, $41.00)
Freedom in Exile, The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama  •  Dalai Lama BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1991 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES A frank self-portrait of the Dalai Lama told with optimism, great determination, humor and insight. (TBT25, $15.95)
From Heaven Lake, Travels Through Sinkiang and Tibet  •  Vikram Seth TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1987 •  PAPER  • 178 PAGES An unconventional, award-winning travelogue of a 1981 trip to India from China via the Himalayas by the marvelous Indian novelist Vikram Seth. (HML19, $13.00)
Geography of Religion: Where God Lives, Where Pilgrims Walk  •  Susan T. Hitchcock  •  John Esposito  •  Desmond Tutu  •  Mpho Tutu RELIGION •  2006 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES A handsomely produced tour of the five major world religions and the places that each holds sacred. This oversize book by National Geographic features 210 photographs, illustrations and maps, along with essays by contributing scholars. (REL05, $24.00)
Ghosts of Everest, The Search for Mallory & Irvine  •  Jochen Hemmleb  •  Eric Simonson  •  Larry Johnson EXPLORATION •  2001 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES You may have seen the pictures. This is one of several accounts of the 1999 expedition to determine the fate of George Mallory, who disappeared on Mt. Everest in 1924 (and who may or may not have been the first on Everest 29 years before Norgay and Hillary). Hemmleb, Johnson and Simonson, respected climbers all three and participants in the expedition, contribute to this book as told to hired-hand William Nothdurft. Conrad Anker wrote his own book, "The Lost Explorer (Item no. NPL35)," (HML39, $24.95)
God Lives in St. Petersburg, and Other Stories  •  Tom Bissell LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 212 PAGES Bissell (Chasing the Sea) returns to his years in Central Asia as a Peace Corps volunteer in these sharp, witty fictionalized accounts. His six fast-paced tales are set in Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and the Aral Sea. (CAS117, $13.95)
The Heart of the World, A Journey to Tibet's Lost Paradise  •  Ian Baker  •  The Dalai Lama EXPLORATION •  2006 •  PAPER  • 544 PAGES Climber and Buddhist scholar Ian Baker's account of discovery, with a National Geographic-sponsored team, to the upper reaches of the Tsangpo Gorge in the heart of the Tibetan Himalayas. Before Baker's expedition, the gorge, a mystical sanctuary of Tibetan Buddhism, had not been explored since 1925, when the legendary plant collector Frank Kingdon-Ward pronounced the celebrated waterfall at the head of the gorge a myth. Baker found it! With an introduction by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Baker has writen widely on Buddhism. (TBT78, $16.00)
Himalaya  •  Eric Valli  •  Anne de Sales CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 432 PAGES A handsome collection of breathtaking photographs of the landscape and people of the Himalayas. (HML64, $50.00)
Himalayan Enchantment, An Anthology  •  Frank Kingdon-Ward EXPLORATION •  1990 •  HARD COVER  • 288 PAGES An anthology of writings by the great Himalayan explorer and plant-collector Frank Kingdon-Ward, who undertook 25 expeditions to the region from 1909 to 1953. The selections balance his interest in plants with his interest in geography, birds, beasts, insects and its variegated inhabitants, not only Tibetan and Chinese, but also the hill tribes -- Abors, Darus, Dulengs, Kachins, Lisus, Lutzus, Marus, Mishimis, Nungs and others -- in whose life he took such an affectionate interest. (HML03, $19.95)
Himalayan Quest, Ed Viesturs on the 8,000-Meter Giants  •  Ed Viesturs EXPLORATION •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 176 PAGES In 1986, Austrian Reinhold Messner became the first man to scale all 14 peaks which stand above 8,000 meters, all of which are located in the Himalayas. Seventeen years later, Ed Viesturs became the first American to accomplish this daunting feat. This appealing photographic guide chronicles Viestur's journey, complete with breathtaking images of the Himalayan landscape (made more impressive when one imagines how difficult it must have been to take them while climbing!) as well as informative maps of the region. (HML63, $32.00)
Himalayan Voices, An Introduction to Modern Nepali Literature  •  Michael Hutt ANTHOLOGY •  1991 •  PAPER  • 280 PAGES A collection of 20th-century Nepali poetry and short fiction, much of it translated into English for the first time. This anthology offers insight into Nepal's literary traditions, society and culture. (HML35, $26.95)
A History of Modern Tibet, 1913-1951: The Demise of the Lamaist State  •  Melvyn C. Goldstein HISTORY •  1991 •  PAPER  • 936 PAGES An even-handed survey of the history of Tibet from 1913 to 1951, when the country was taken over by communist China. Goldstein draws on diplomatic records, as well as historical accounts and interviews with monastic leaders, soldiers and Tibetan officials to unravel the complex history of the Buddhist kingdom during this critical period. (TBT56, $45.00)
In the Shadow of the Himalayas, A Photographic Record by John Claude White 1883-1908  •  Kurt Meyer  •  Pamela Deuel Meyer CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2005 •  HARD COVER A collection of 144 remarkable documentary photographs of Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sikkim at the turn of the 20th century. John Claude White (1853-1918), the first British Political Officer to Sikkim, among his many adventures in the Himalyas, was the official photographer of the Younghusband Expedition. (HML71, $65.00)
Inner Revolution: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Real Happiness  •  Robert Thurman  •  Dalai Lama RELIGION •  1999 •  PAPER  • 356 PAGES In this popular book, partly a memoir, Thurman brings his range of experience, scholarship and wit to the task of living as a Buddhist in contemporary America. Founder of Tibet House in New York, Thurman is a Buddhist monk, scholar and translator of Tibetan texts. (TBT73, $15.00)
Into Thin Air, A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster  •  Jon Krakauer EXPLORATION •  1999 •  PAPER  • 360 PAGES In this bestseller, climber and journalist Krakauer reconstructs a minute-by-minute account of what went wrong on the great mountain in 1996. He captures the immediacy of those few hours on Everest when disaster struck -- and the psychological complexity of surviving a tragedy. (HML13, $14.95)
It's Easier Than You Think, The Buddhist Way to Happiness  •  Sylvia Boorstein RELIGION •  1997 •  PAPER  • 145 PAGES Boorstein -- a practitioner of Buddhist meditation, psychotherapist and Jewish grandmother to boot -- here relates the basic tenets of Buddhism in her warmly engaging, anecdotal style. It's a good introduction to Buddhist teachings by a self-deprecating master. (GEN264, $13.00)
Kailash Trekking Map  •  Gecko Maps 1999 •  MAP A detailed topographic map (1:50,000) of the trekking route circling Mount Kailas. (TBT64, $16.95)
Khumbu Himal (Everest) Map  •  Nelles 1999 •  MAP An excellent topographic map of the Mt. Everest hiking region at a scale of 1:50,000 with contour lines, color shading, popular routes and features. (NPL33, $13.95)
The Last River, The Tragic Race for Shangri-La  •  Todd Balf TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 293 PAGES A thrilling account of a first-ever descent of the Tsangpo Gorge in the heart of Tibet by four expert kayakers in 1998. (TBT44, $14.00)
Lonely Planet Tibet  •  Bradley Mayhew  •  John Vincent Bellezza  •  Tony Wheeler  •  Chris Taylor GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES A practical guide to Tibet with new and revised maps, features on Tibetan and Mandarin language, notes on Buddhism, Tibetan culture and its rich history. Included also are the process of acquiring visas and documents when traveling from Nepal to Tibet, as well as the political situation in the region. (TBT50, $26.99)
Lonely Planet Tibetan Phrasebook  •  Sandup Tsering LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2008 •  PAPER  • 254 PAGES A brief guide to Tibetan with transliterations of place names, pronunciation guide and common phrases. (TBT52, $8.99)
Magic and Mystery in Tibet  •  Alexandra David-Neel TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1971 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES An unabridged reprint of David-Neel's influential 1932 account of pioneering travels in Tibet. With 32 photographs by the author. An accomplished scholar and keen observer, David-Neel was the first western woman (albeit in disguise) to see Lhasa. (TBT90, $12.95)
Monk Dancers of Tibet  •  Mattieu Ricard CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 124 PAGES Matthieu Ricard (Buddhist Himalayas) has lived and photographed in the Himalayas for the past 30 years. In this book he documents the sacred dance of the monks at the Shechen Tennyi Dargye Ling Monastery in the Kathmandu Valley. Ricard, a Buddhist monk, focuses on the dances, their signficance and tradition. The Shechen Monastery in Nepal keeps alive Tibetan Buddhist traditions. (TBT77, $29.95)
Mountaineering, The Freedom of the Hills  •  The Mountaineers GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 528 PAGES The essential handbook for mountaineers, in a seventh revised edition. With chapters on outdoor fundamentals, rock, snow, ice, and alpine climbing, emergency prevention and response, the mountain environment, and gear. (GEN267, $29.95)
Nepal Map  •  Nelles MAP A convenient double-sided map of Nepal at a scale of 1:500,000, with insets of Kathmandu City and Kathmandu Valley. (NPL01, $10.95)
On Top of the World, Five Women Explorers in Tibet  •  Luree Miller EXPLORATION •  1985 •  PAPER  • 222 PAGES A profile of Victorian women in Tibet, three British, an American and a French woman. Miller includes the well known adventures of Alexandra David-Neel and Isabella Bird Bishop in addition to the less-known exploits of Nina Mazuchelli, Ann Taylor and Fanny Bullock Workman. (TBT28, $12.95)
Peaks and Lamas  •  Marco Pallis CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2005 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES A classic account of mountaineering and Buddhist Tibet, first published in 1949. A British World War I veteran and mountain climber, Pallis writes with great insight about Buddhism and the traditional culture that sustains it in the Himalayas. (TBT83, $18.00)
Pilgrimage, Past and Present in the World Religions  •  Simon Coleman  •  John Elsner RELIGION •  1997 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES An illustrated survey, organized thematically, of Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Indian and Buddhist pilgrimages and sacred travel. With hundreds of color and black-and-white photographs of people, art and places. (REL07, $28.00)
Pilgrimage, Twenty Journeys to Inspire the Soul  •  David Souden CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 192 PAGES An illustrated account of journeys to sacred places around the world, including Santiago de Campostela, Lourdes, Jerusalem, Kyoto, Mecca, Rome, Mount Kailas, Salt Lake City and the battlefields of WWI. (GEN247, $29.95)
Prisoners of Shangri-La, Tibetan Buddhism and the West  •  Donald S. Lopez Jr. HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 284 PAGES A scholarly history of western myth-making and romance over the question of Tibet. It's a thought-provoking corrective to much of the hogwash about Buddhism perpetrated by both western interpreters and Tibetans themselves. Lopez, a leading scholar of Tibetan Buddhism reveals a complex country and its spiritual history in this scholarly analysis. (TBT42, $18.00)
Red Dust, A Path Through China  •  Ma Jian  •  Flora Drew TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 324 PAGES An astounding, thoughtful memoir of an urban poet, painter and writer on the road to Tibet in the mid-1980s. At low ebb personally, and censured by his propaganda work unit, 30-year-old Ma Jian abandons his disintegrating life in Beijing for a remarkable three-year trek south and west to Guizhou province, Burma and Tibet. This first-rate account offers a vibrant portrait of Deng's People's Republic of China, and an extremely useful testimonial to the plight of Chinese artists therein. With kudos by Barbara Crossette, Jonathan Spence and others, this first book by Jian, who now lives in London, is drawing a lot of attention. (CHN150, $15.00)
Red Poppies  •  Alai  •  Howard Goldblatt  •  Sylvia Li-Chun Lin LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 433 PAGES This family saga unfolds among the warlords of eastern Tibet in the 1930s before the Chinese occupation. (TBT61, $14.00)
Religions of Tibet in Practice  •  Donald S. Lopez, Jr. RELIGION •  1997 •  PAPER  • 560 PAGES A collection of 36 essays and translated texts by scholars of Tibetan Buddhism, including selections on prayers, pilgrimages, death and ritual. It is a scholarly overview of the culture and religion of Tibet, organized thematically and accessible to the general reader. (TBT16, $37.95)
The Sailfish and the Sacred Mountain, Passages in the Lives of a Father and Son  •  Will Johnson TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES The spiritual tale of a journey by the author (founder and director of the Institute for Embodiment Training) with his son to Tibet's Mount Kailas. (TBT79, $16.95)
The Search for Shangri-La, A Journey into Tibetan History  •  Charles Allen TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES Both travelogue and straight-ahead religious history. With a set of color photo plates. (TBT67, $14.95)
Seeing Lhasa, British Depictions of the Tibetan Capital, 1936-1947  •  Clare Harris  •  Tsering Shakya CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2003 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES Published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, this book presents a trove of photographs, albums and film by Harry Staunton, Evan Nepean, Hugh Richardson and other British visitors to Tibet. With excellent accompanying essays that place the visual record (including portraits of Tibetan notables) in context. It's an extraordinary document of the country prior to the Chinese takeover, its people, palaces and monasteries. (TBT71, $39.95)
Sherpas, Reflections on Change in Himalayan Nepal  •  James Fisher CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1990 •  PAPER  • 205 PAGES A study of Sherpa society and the change that mountaineering and trekking have brought, which combines the qualities of a memoir and anthropological study. Fisher, who participated in a 1964 expedition to build schools in the region, quotes extensively from interviews, letting the Sherpas speak for themselves. well chosen photographs document change in the region. Fisher concludes it was the airstrip that the team constructed which has had the greatest impact on tourism and, by extension, Sherpa society. (NPL13, $26.95)
The Snow Leopard  •  Peter Matthiessen EXPLORATION •  2008 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES • FAVORITE A vivid memoir of a five-week journey through Nepal with George Schaller in search of the magnificent leopard. As perceptive, wonderful and acutely descriptive as any of Matthiessen's writing. (NPL03, $15.00)
So Close to Heaven, The Vanishing Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas  •  Barbara Crossette TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 297 PAGES • FAVORITE A "New York Times" Asia correspondent writes of Bhutan and neighboring kingdoms of Ladakh and Sikkim in the Himalayas, strongholds of Tantric Buddhism in an increasingly homogenized world. It's part travelogue and part history -- a personal portrait of the region. (NPL04, $16.00)
The Spirit of Tibet, Portrait of a Culture in Exile  •  Alison Wright CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1998 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES A handsome pictorial essay on Tibetan culture and people in exile in the monasteries, nunneries and towns of Dharamsala and surroundings in the Dhauladhar mountain range of the Indian Himalayas. (IDA159, $34.95)
The Story of Buddhism, A Concise Guide to Its History & Teachings  •  Donald S. Lopez RELIGION •  2002 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES An overview of Buddhism by a well-known scholar. (ASA42, $15.95)
Story of Tibet, Conversations With the Dalai Lama  •  Thomas Laird CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2007 •  PAPER  • 496 PAGES An oral history of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism as drawn from more than 60 hours of interviews with the Dalai Lama. (TBT92, $17.00)
The Struggle for Modern Tibet, The Autobiography of Tashi Tsering  •  Melvyn C. Goldstein  •  William Siebenschuh  •  Tashi Tsering BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  PAPER  • 220 PAGES A frank account of the complex life of a man inducted as a young boy into the Tibetan religious elite, later imprisoned in China during the Cultural revolution, who now teaches English the university in Lhasa. It's an excellent portrait of society and challenges in modern Tibet. (TBT53, $26.95)
Surviving Everest (DVD)  •  National Geographic 2003 •  DVD A celebration of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay by National Geographic. The documentary details the many triumphs and disasters that have occurred on Mt. Everest, including original 1953 footage and a 1984 tribute. A VHS version is also available (HML57). (HML58, $24.95)
Surviving Everest (VHS)  •  National Geographic 2003 •  NTSC VIDEO A celebration of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay by National Geographic. The documentary details the many triumphs and disasters that have occurred on Mt. Everest, including original 1953 footage and a 1984 tribute. A DVD version is also available (HML58). (HML57, $19.95)
Tears of Blood, A Cry for Tibet  •  Mary Craig HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 341 PAGES A hard-hitting history of Tibet from the 1950s to the 1990s. Craig (who has also written a biography of the family of the Dalai Lama) is a journalist and braodcaster with great sympathy for the plight of the Tibetens (and Tibetan culture) under China. (TBT82, $17.50)
Tibet's Sacred Mountain, The Extraordinary Pilgrimage to Mount Kailas  •  Russell Johnson  •  Kerry Moran TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 126 PAGES In this handsome illustrated journal, two Americans record their trek around 22,000-foot Mt. Kailas. With 100 color photographs, map and accompanying text, the book documents the landscapes, rituals and traditions of the sacred mountain. The photographs of pilgrims are particularly affecting. (TBT41, $25.00)
Tibet, The Roof of the World between Past and Present  •  Maria Antonia Sironi Diemberger ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 224 PAGES A captivating photographic portrait of Tibet, its monasteries, people and landscapes. (TBT49, $45.00)
The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Liberation from Understanding the In Between  •  Robert Thurman CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1994 •  PAPER  • 275 PAGES A key text as presented by Robert Thurman for a western audience. This edition of the Tibetan guidebooks to dying or "the between" -- written in the 8th or 9th century by Padma Sambhava -- is introduced and translated by Thurman. It's is a spiritual guide to the afterlife, helpfully augmented by Thurman's commentary as well as an overview of Tibetan history and beliefs. With a chapter on Tibet, its history, Buddhist traditions and present plight. Part Two of the book is a translation of prayers. (TBT06, $18.00)
Tibetan Buddhism from the Ground Up, A Practical Approach for Modern Life  •  B. Alan Wallace RELIGION •  1993 •  PAPER  • 214 PAGES A straightforward primer on the essentials of Buddhism as practiced in Tibet. The book is the result of a lecture series introducing the practice of Buddhism to the general public. (TBT19, $15.95)
Tibetan Buddhist Life  •  Don Farber RELIGION •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 192 PAGES A beautiful and informative celebration of Tibetan Buddhist culture. An in-depth text complements over 200 photographs, many by Don Farber. Farber has been photographing Buddhist life for two decades and is the special photographer for the Dalai Lama. (TBT70, $30.00)
Tibetan Folk Tales  •  Fredrick Hyde-Chambers  •  Audrey Hyde-Chambers LITERATURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 186 PAGES A collection of two dozen folk tales and legends, handed down by generations of Tibetan storytellers. The anthology, first published in 1981, includes the Tibetan myth of creation, some tales from Buddhist mythology, and the famous epic of King Gesar of Ling, a national hero. (TBT59, $21.00)
Tibetan Pilgrimage, Architecture of the Sacred Land  •  Michel Peissel ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2005 •  HARD COVER  • 134 PAGES A great visual guide through the centuries of architecture in Tibet, all the more appealing for Peissel's own gorgeous watercolors depicting Tibetan villages. Organized chronologically into four chapters, the book serves as a brief survey of architectural history. Peissel's writing is clear and accessible, and the watercolors on nearly every page give the handsome book a unique character. (TBT89, $35.00)
Travelers' Tales Nepal  •  Rajendra Khadka ANTHOLOGY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES This anthology of travel writing on Nepal features mostly modern stories by Peter Matthiessen, Jan Morris and other great writers, local and foreign. Covering festivals, art, mountain climbing and other diverse topics, it's an excellent introduction to the country. A chapter on travel in Nepal complements the collection. (NPL16, $17.95)
Trekking in Nepal, A Traveler's Guide  •  Sir Edmund Hillary  •  Stephen Bezruchka GUIDEBOOK •  1999 •  PAPER  • 383 PAGES A respected guide covering, in detail, route planning for trekkers, national parks, health, where to go and what to do in Nepal. With an overview of the geography, history, religion and culture of the region. Regularly revised, the guide has been around since 1976. Invaluable for its route descriptions, the book also includes good information on cross-cultural understanding. With 16 so-so maps, elevation profiles of major treks and 76 black-and-white photographs. (NPL10, $16.95)
Vanished Kingdoms: A Woman Explorer in Tibet, China, and Mongolia 1921-1925  •  Mabel H. Cabot TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 190 PAGES An illustrated account of a 1920s expedition to Western China, Inner Mongolia, and northwestern Tibet, featuring 140 documentary photographs of (many hand tinted). Wulsin's daughter Mabel Cabot draws on photographs, journals and original accounts as well as her own travels in recreating the expedition. It's an important record of a lost time. (TBT91, $35.00)
The Violet Shyness of Their Eyes, Notes from Nepal  •  Barbara J. Scot CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2005 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES A heartfelt portrait of the Nepalese people and culture, resulting from the author's year teaching in Nepal. An excellent memoirist, Scot combines personal observation, thoughtful commentary and warmth in this deceptively simple book. With black-and-white photographs, orientation maps and glossary. This revised edition includes an April 2004 epilogue by the author. (HML14, $16.95)
War at the Top of the World, The Struggle for Afghanistan, Kashmir, and Tibet  •  Eric Margolis HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES Margolis, a veteran correspondent in the region, presents a detailed overview of the ongoing struggle over the high Himalayas, showing their strategic importance to Pakistan, India and China. Updated throughout for this second edition, including a new chapter on the Taliban. He sorts out confusing religious differences, complex geographies and politics with clarity, explaining -- for example -- the strategic value of the 16,000-foot Siachen Glacier where oxygen-starved Indian and Pakistani soldiers have been fighting for years. (PKN09, $25.95)
The Wheel of Life, The Autobiography of a Western Buddhist  •  John Blofeld TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1988 •  PAPER  • 316 PAGES Blofeld's (1913-1987) enchanting account of Buddhist worlds now largely vanished, including his life and travels in China, Tibet, Mongolia, India and Burma. He describes the worlds of remote mountain monasteries, sacred chambers of lamas and yogis, and the everyday lives of ordinary people. Originally published in 1959. (HML76, $30.00)
Wildlife of the Tibetan Steppe  •  George Schaller NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 373 PAGES Ecology and conservation in the highlands of Tibet, China and Mongolia. Schaller, who has also written books about the Serengeti and Himalayas, provides a comprehensive account of the flora and fauna of the region. His focus is on the Tibetan gazelle, chiru, blue sheep and other little-known ungulates, his special interest. A detailed account of the Change Tang reserve, it's also a good introduction to the steppes of the adjoining regions of China and Inner Mongolia. (TBT31, $24.00)
The Wisdom of the Buddha  •  Jean Boisselier RELIGION •  1994 •  PAPER  • 191 PAGES A pocket-size primer of Buddhism, this book is an illustrated history of the sixth-century Indian prince and his quest for enlightenment. With 207 illustrations, 160 in full color. (IDA55, $12.95)
A Woman's Asia  •  Marybeth Bond ANTHOLOGY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 310 PAGES These thirty-five personal, often hilarious accounts of women's adventures from China to Sri Lanka to Turkey to Bhutan, not only illuminating the everyday, oft-overlooked cultural practices of Asia, but also giving a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of the female traveller. Featuring selections from Jan Morris, Pamela Logan and Alison Wright. (ASA49, $17.95)
A Woman's Asia  •  Marybeth Bond ANTHOLOGY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 310 PAGES These thirty-five personal, often hilarious accounts of women's adventures from China to Sri Lanka to Turkey to Bhutan, not only illuminating the everyday, oft-overlooked cultural practices of Asia, but also giving a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of the female traveller. Featuring selections from Jan Morris, Pamela Logan and Alison Wright. (ASA49, $17.95)
Younghusband, The Last Great Imperial Adventurer  •  Patrick French BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1995 •  PAPER  • 440 PAGES In 1903, the adventurer (and imperialist) Sir Francis Younghusband invaded Tibet, then went on to become a mystic, attack Mt. Everest, and discover the source of the Indus River. French traveled through the Himalayas, Kashmir and Tibet to unearth the extraordinary story of this key figure in the Great Game, Britain's scramble for Central Asia. The book won the Somerset Maugham Award and the Royal Society of Literature Heinemann Prize in Britain. French is a director of the Free Tibet campaign, and a former editor of Tibet News. (TBT75, $16.00)