Customer Reviews
Awesome, but very very sad - By: Crazy Foo, 02 Aug 2008 
This is definately one of the most increadible autobiographies ever written. This is like the tibettan equivalent of the Anne Frank Diary, but spanning a whole lifetime. Everything you wanted to know about the situationin tibet, & many many things you'd probably rather you diddn't. Very relevent given that the olympics are comming upin china.
wonderful book by a wonderful man - By: Arthur Dooley, 11 Jul 2008 For anyone who would like to get under the media surface of one of the planet's most iconic figures then 'Freedomin Exile' is the perfect place to start.Charting his life from his humble beginnings to his current exhalted position as the spiritual figurehead of one of our most enlightend religious traditions, his holiness never loses sight of where he came from,who he is & what he represents.
However,for me,what really made this such a revealing book is not the personal details of his fascinating life but his wider political insights.
Here is the Tibetan tragedy writ large.
The appalling brutal subversion of a tiny free Tibetan state of six million people by the corrupt,immoral authoritarian communist regimein Beijing. A nation of one billion people who used its power & military might to crush an ancient culture & grind its people into poverty. Wiping out over one million Tibetansin the process.
Despite the horrendous crimes against the Tibetan people, like that other great man of peace Nelson Mandela, His Holiness the Dalhi Lama does not wish ill upon his oppressors. Instead he seeks dialogue & a solution through peacein keeping with the peaceful Buddhist traditions he represents.
Inspiring !
Devastating, inspiring and heartbreaking - a book everyone should read - By: Samadhi, 07 Nov 2007 I have always felt a pull toward Tibetan Buddhism & have already read several books by the Dalai Lama. I don't know why I put off reading this one for so long (like another reviewer, it sat on my shelf for nearly a year before I read it). I'm glad I did. I was effortlessly drawn into a world so different to our cynical consumer-driven culture. the Dalai Lama is an engaging & talented writer,in spite of his protestations that his English is lacking.
His story is incredible & even more so is the depth of compassion & wisdom he displays - he is truly an inspirational soul, & a leader such as the world needs many more of. But this book isn't really about the Dalai Lama - it's about the horrific situationin Tibet. I had NO idea as to the extent of that nation's suffering. I cried as I read descriptions of how Tibetans have been tortured & slaughteredin the most horrific ways imaginable...truly, at times it makes you despair at the unspeakable cruelty of which human beings are capable of perpetrating against their fellow man. And yet juxtaposed with this is an immense ray of hope,in the form of the author himself & the extraordinary courage of his people. I am now committed to doing whatever I can to support & promote the Tibetan cause.
Read this book. It may just change your life.
Freedom In Exile The Auto-Biography of the Dalai Lama - By: Mr. Clayton L. Hill, 02 Mar 2007 Interesting, Amazing, Uplifting are just a few words I would use to describe this book. I couldn't put it down as it was just so very easy to read & that's coming from a bigginer at reading books over 200 pages long. If your interestedin the life of the Dalai Lama its a must read.
Truly motivating - By: Mrs. D. Stevens, 12 Nov 2005 What an amazing life! The quiet dignity of this man & his passion for his people truly moved me throughout this book. At a time filled with so many other crusades to "liberate" nations from opression, how can Tibet be forgotten?
This is a MUST read for everyone & anyone. You will not be disappointed on any level. It is particularly comforting to know that His Holiness was just as capable of childish mischief as any other child!!!
