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Tibet

READING AND TRAVEL GUIDE

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Order an essential package, and we'll ship any additional items for free. We offer a mix of guidebooks, maps, field guides, novels and books on art, architecture, history, nature and culture.

Essential Reading

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To a Mountain in Tibet

To a Mountain in Tibet

by Colin Thubron

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2011
  • HARD COVER
  • 288 PAGES

The intrepid, soulful Thubron journeys from Nepal to Kailas, the revered mountain, "source of the universe, created from cosmic waters and the mind of Brahma." (TBT134, $25.99)

Essential Tibetan Buddhism

Essential Tibetan Buddhism

by Robert Thurman

  • RELIGION
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 317 PAGES

The foremost Western scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, Thurman has chosen well from that tradition's sacred literature and helpfully includes suggested further reading, explanatory notes and a directory of sacred sites. (TBT15, $14.99)

Lonely Planet Tibetan Phrasebook

Lonely Planet Tibetan Phrasebook

by Sandup Tsering

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 254 PAGES

A brief guide with place names, pronunciation and common phrases. (TBT52, $8.99)

Lonely Planet Tibet

Lonely Planet Tibet

by Lonely Planet

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 394 PAGES

A practical guide to Tibet with maps, features on Tibetan and Mandarin language, notes on Buddhism, Tibetan culture and its rich history. (TBT50, $28.99)

Tibet Map

Tibet Map

by Gizi Map

  • 2011
  • MAP

A colorful map of Tibet at a scale of 1:2,000,000. (TBT17, $16.95)

 
The Lhasa Map

The Lhasa Map


by Gecko Maps

  • 2003
  • MAP

This fantastically detailed walking map (1:4,000) includes architecture and points of interest. (TBT126, $23.99)

Altitude Illness: Prevention and Treatment, How to Stay Healthy at Altitude

Altitude Illness: Prevention and Treatment, How to Stay Healthy at Altitude


by Stephen Bezruchka

  • REFERENCE
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 128 PAGES

Bezruchka, a mountaineer and M.D., includes case studies, frequently asked questions and simple methods of diagnosis and treatment in this indispensable pocket guide. (REF02, $8.95)

Bradt Guide Tibet

Bradt Guide Tibet


by Michael Buckley

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 304 PAGES

A practical, detailed overview of Tibetan history, culture, attractions and natural life. Includes color photographs, local maps and excellent travel information. (TBT74, $22.95)

Footprint Tibet Handbook

Footprint Tibet Handbook


by Gyurme Dorje

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • HARD COVER
  • 984 PAGES

An outstanding guide by a leading Buddhist scholar, including the central plateau, eastern provinces of Kham and Amdo, as well as Bhutan and the Kathmandu Valley. Almost 1,000 pages but surprisingly compact, with maps, color photographs, and a brief overview of culture and history. (TBT37, $29.95)

The Mount Kailash Trek

The Mount Kailash Trek


by Constance Roos | Sian Pritchard-Jones

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER

A compact, practical trekker's guide to Tibet's sacred mountain and western Tibet. (TBT115, $22.95)

Trekking Tibet

Trekking Tibet


by Gary McCue | George Schaller

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 416 PAGES

An indispensable guide, featuring pre-trip planning, discussions of the most scenic routes and an overview of Tibetan culture and history. (TBT10, $29.95)

Buddhism, A Very Short Introduction

Buddhism, A Very Short Introduction


by 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)

Happiness, A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill

Happiness, A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill


by Matthieu Ricard

  • RELIGION
  • 2007
  • PAPER

The scientist-turned-monk's primer on Buddhism as a journey to fulfillment and transformation. (GEN381, $14.99)

Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism

Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism


by John Powers

  • RELIGION
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 591 PAGES

A comprehensive study of the history and philosophy behind Tibetan Buddhism, suitable for the general reader. (TBT40, $22.95)

It's Easier Than You Think, The Buddhist Way to Happiness

It's Easier Than You Think, The Buddhist Way to Happiness


by Sylvia Boorstein

  • RELIGION
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 145 PAGES

A down-to-earth, warm-hearted introduction to the basic teaching of Buddhism. (GEN264, $13.00)

Kundun


by Martin Scorcese

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2003
  • DVD

Scorsese's tribute to Tibet and the resilience of its people. (TBT111, $9.99)

Mustang: Lives and Landscapes of the Lost Tibetan Kingdom

Mustang: Lives and Landscapes of the Lost Tibetan Kingdom


by Nina Wegner | Taylor Weidman

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2012
  • HARD COVER
  • 120 PAGES

This remarkable chronicle of life in Mustang, the former Kingdom of Lo, includes full-color photographs and essays on traditional life and culture in one of the most remote corners of Nepal. All proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the nonprofit Vanishing Cultures Project. (TBT144, $50.00)

My Tibet

My Tibet


by Galen Rowell

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 162 PAGES

Rowell captures the spirit and powerful allure of Tibet in these striking color photographs of the people and landscapes. (TBT58, $49.95)

The Dragon in the Land of Snows

The Dragon in the Land of Snows


by Tsering Shakya

  • HISTORY
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 606 PAGES

A comprehensive account of the history and political development of Tibet since 1947, which includes eye-opening details of the American, British and Indian players involved in Tibet's struggle for sovereignty. (TBT32, $18.00)

The Open Road, The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

The Open Road, The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama


by Pico Iyer

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

Travel writer Pico Iyer, who has known the Dalai Lama since his days as a graduate student in Britain, draws on his long association with the man and his ideas for this remarkable portrait of the Tibetan people and the aspirations of their leader. He includes chapters on daily life in Dharamsala, travels with the Dalai Lama and incisive commentary on the history and future of Tibet. (TBT118, $14.95)

The Search for the Panchen Lama

The Search for the Panchen Lama


by Isabel Hilton

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

A skillful and subtle story of the selection -- and kidnapping -- of the 11th incarnation of the Pachen Lama, revealing much of the current state of affairs between Tibet and China. (TBT43, $14.95)

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying


by Patrick Gaffney | Andrew Harvey | Sogyal Rinpoche

  • RELIGION
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 441 PAGES

This classic, modern interpretation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead is both a lucid introduction to Tibetan Buddhism and a guide to meditation and spiritual growth in an ancient esoteric tradition. (TBT137, $18.99)

The Tibetan Book of the Dead

The Tibetan Book of the Dead


by Graham Coleman | Gyurme Dorje

  • RELIGION
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 496 PAGES

The first complete English translation of an indispensable work on Tibetan religious beliefs. (TBT88, $21.00)

The Tibetan Book of the Dead, A Biography


by Donald S., Jr. Lopez

  • RELIGION
  • 2011
  • HARD COVER
  • 192 PAGES

A scholar of Buddhism and Tibetan studies ,Lopez unravels the strange history of this emblematic text -- not really Tibetan, not really a book -- and not even really about death. (TBT135, $19.95)

The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Liberation from Understanding the In Between

The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Liberation from Understanding the In Between


by Robert Thurman

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 275 PAGES

A key text as presented by Robert Thurman for a western audience. This is the Tibetan guidebook to dying or "the between," written in the 8th or 9th century by Padma Sambhava. (TBT06, $18.00)

The Tibetans


by Matthew T. Kapstein

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2006
  • HARD COVER
  • 360 PAGES

Kapstein offers a clear, comprehensive overview of Tibetan history and culture from Prehistory to society, religion and today. (TBT127, $35.95)

Tibet, An Inner Journey

Tibet, An Inner Journey


by Matthieu Ricard

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2012
  • PAPER
  • 232 PAGES
  • COMING IN OCTOBER

Ricard draws on his long association with the region and Buddhism for this collection of 191 vivid color photographs of the people and landscapes of Kham, or Eastern Tibet. (TBT113, $19.95)

Tragedy in Crimson

Tragedy in Crimson


by Tim Johnson

  • HISTORY
  • 2011
  • HARD COVER
  • 333 PAGES

Based on extensive on-the-ground reporting in China, Nepal, India, and the United States, this hard-hitting account of the status of Tibet travels from isolated Tibetan villages and monasteries to the heart of the exile movement in Dharamshala, on tour with the Dalai Lama, and to Hollywood and Washington, where the Tibet issue gets the most public exposure. (TBT138, $26.99)

Trespassers on the Roof of the World

Trespassers on the Roof of the World


by Peter Hopkirk

  • HISTORY
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

Hopkirk's spellbinding history of the uninvited exploration of Tibet from the 19th century to the present, including a fantastic array of Victorian adventurers. His wild tale has as its centerpiece the 1949-1951 invasion by China. (TBT08, $16.00)

A Shrine for Tibet, The Alice S. Kandell Collection

A Shrine for Tibet, The Alice S. Kandell Collection


by Robert Thurman | Marylin M. Rhie

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2010
  • HARD COVER
  • 299 PAGES

Rhie and Thurman present Tibetan art in the context of a stunning Buddhist shrine room, focusing on Manchu and Mongolian masterpieces from the 15th-18th-centuries. (TBT133, $60.00)

Freedom in Exile, The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama

Freedom in Exile, The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama


by Dalai Lama

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1991
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

A vivid self-portrait, told with optimism, great determination, humor and insight. (TBT25, $15.99)

In the Shadow of the Buddha, One Man's Journey of Discovery in Tibet


by Matteo Pistono

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2012
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

An American Buddhist recounts his time spent searching for both spiritual enlightenment and political justice in modern-day Tibet. Includes maps, photos and illustrations. (TBT145, $16.00)

My Journey to Lhasa

My Journey to Lhasa


by Alexandra David-Neel

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 317 PAGES

Dressed as a humble pilgrim and traveling under the cover of night, the indomitable 55-year-old David-Neel and her young companion climbed mountains and tricked soldiers to ultimately reach Tibet's forbidden capital. Originally published in 1923, her account stands as a riveting portrait of early 20th-century Tibet. (TBT26, $14.99)

Red Dust, A Path Through China

Red Dust, A Path Through China


by Ma Jian | Flora Drew

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 324 PAGES

An astounding memoir by an urban poet, painter and writer on the road to Tibet. A vagabond, rebel and Buddhist, Jian abandons his Beijing life for a 3-year southwestern journey through Tibet, Burma and Guizhou Province. (CHN150, $16.00)

Seven Years in Tibet

Seven Years in Tibet


by Heinrich Harrer

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

First published in 1953, this is the riveting account of a young Austrian adventurer and mountaineer who became tutor to the Dalai Lama. (TBT02, $14.95)

Sky Train, Tibetan Women on the Edge of History

Sky Train, Tibetan Women on the Edge of History


by Sam Canyon

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 278 PAGES

Winner of the 2010 Pen American Center Open Book Award. The Dalai Lama provides the forward for this affecting odyssey, which artfully mixes stories of four remarkable Tibetan women with the author's first visit to Tibet as a youth and return thirty years later for the inauguration of the Beijing-Lhasa high speed train. (TBT140, $24.95)

The Autobiography of a Tibetan Monk

The Autobiography of a Tibetan Monk


by Palden Gyatso

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1998
  • PAPER

Palden Gyatso writes with simple eloquence of the takeover of his country, destruction of monasteries and his own determination to hold onto his beliefs in a Chinese labor camp. (TBT94, $14.00)

The Heart of the World, A Journey to Tibet's Lost Paradise

The Heart of the World, A Journey to Tibet's Lost Paradise


by Ian Baker | The Dalai Lama

  • EXPLORATION
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 544 PAGES

Climber and Buddhist scholar Ian Baker's account of discovery in 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. (TBT78, $17.00)

The Snow Leopard

The Snow Leopard


by Peter Matthiessen

  • EXPLORATION
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 368 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

The most perceptive, acutely observed and personal of all his books, Matthiessen's account of a five-week journey through Nepal with naturalist George Schaller combines their quest for the elusive cat with a moving introduction to Buddhism and the people and culture of the Himalayas. (NPL03, $16.00)

The Struggle for Modern Tibet, The Autobiography of Tashi Tsering

The Struggle for Modern Tibet, The Autobiography of Tashi Tsering


by Melvyn C. Goldstein | William Siebenschuh | Tashi Tsering

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 220 PAGES

The life story of an idealistic young man who juggled traditional hierarchy in traditional Tibet with the promise and poison of Mao's Cultural revolution. (TBT53, $26.95)

Tibet, Tibet: A Personal History of a Lost Land


by Patrick French

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

A powerful account of travels in Tibet, part memoir and part political analysis. (TBT76, $17.95)

In the Land of the Blue Poppies

In the Land of the Blue Poppies


by Frank Kingdon-Ward | Tom Christopher | Jamaica Kincaid

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 242 PAGES

Expert Tom Christopher presents excerpts from intrepid Kingdon-Ward's fascinating accounts of plant-hunting adventures in Tibet, Burma and the Himalayas in the early 20th century. (ASA35, $19.00)

Prayer of the Dragon

Prayer of the Dragon


by Eliot Pattison

  • MYSTERY
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 416 PAGES

In this fifth superb political thriller set in modern Tibet, former Beijing inspector Shan comes the aid of a Navajo visitor at a remote monastery. (TBT121, $14.00)

Red Poppies

Red Poppies


by Alai | Howard Goldblatt | Sylvia Li-Chun Lin

  • LITERATURE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 433 PAGES

This family saga unfolds in the 1930s among the warlords of eastern Tibet. (TBT61, $24.95)

Sky Burial, An Epic Love Story of Tibet

Sky Burial, An Epic Love Story of Tibet


by Xinran

  • LITERATURE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 206 PAGES

Xinran turns the tale of a young Chinese woman's lifelong search for her husband in Tibet, based on an 1994 interview, into a powerful, gut-wrenching tale, evoking the customs, traditions and challenges of contemporary Tibet. (CHN282, $14.95)

The Skull Mantra

The Skull Mantra


by Eliot Pattison

  • MYSTERY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 448 PAGES

The first in Pattison's series of superb political thrillers set in Tibet. When a headless corpse turns up on a Tibetan mountainside, veteran police inspector Shan Tao Yun is released from prison to investigate the crime, and he quickly uncovers a conspiracy involving American mining interests, corrupt Party officials and Tibetan sorcerers. (TBT106, $14.95)

Tibetan Folk Tales

Tibetan Folk Tales


by Fredrick Hyde-Chambers | Audrey Hyde-Chambers

  • LITERATURE
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 186 PAGES

This anthology of legends and fables, handed down by generations of storytellers, includes the Tibetan creation myth, Buddhist tales, and the famous epic of hero King Gesar of Ling. (TBT59, $21.00)

Water Touching Stone

Water Touching Stone


by Eliot Pattison

  • MYSTERY
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 480 PAGES

Second in the series. Aided by a young Kazakh woman, former Beijing police investigator Shan Tao Yun heads for a remote Tibetan plateau to investigate the murder of a venerated teacher and the subsequent disappearance of a lama, but his probe is soon complicated by the resentment of local Tibetans, a sullen resistance fighter and a dead American. (TBT107, $15.99)

Photographic Guide to Birds of the Himalayas

Photographic Guide to Birds of the Himalayas


by Bikram Grewal

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 144 PAGES

A pocket guide to 250 birds found from the foothills up to high elevations ranging from the Hindu Kush and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh in the Eastern Himalayas. With brief descriptive information, maps and 260 full-color illustrations. (HML31, $15.95)

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