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INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

In this deeply personal and insightful book, His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares a profound narrative that blends historical context, spiritual reflection, and intimate stories—many previously untold—as he chronicles Tibet’s prolonged struggle against Chinese oppression over the past seventy-five years.

The Dalai Lama’s engagement with the People’s Republic of China spans nearly his entire life. He was only sixteen years old when Communist China invaded Tibet in 1950. At nineteen, he came face-to-face with Chairman Mao in Beijing, and by the age of twenty-five, he was forced to flee his homeland, seeking refuge in India where he became a revered leader in exile. In the decades since, the Dalai Lama has faced successive generations of Chinese leaders—including Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping—in a tireless effort to safeguard the distinct culture, unique language, religious practices, historical heritage, and environment of Tibet amidst extraordinary challenges.

Now, nearly seventy-five years since China’s invasion, the Dalai Lama offers a stirring reminder of Tibet’s unresolved pursuit of freedom, highlighting the continuous struggle and ongoing hardships faced by Tibetans in their own homeland. Providing insightful perspectives into the geopolitics of the region, he also reflects thoughtfully on how, despite profound personal losses and existential threats to Tibet’s culture and people, he has managed to preserve his humanity, compassion, and vision for a better future.

Voice for the Voiceless is an illuminating narrative capturing the remarkable journey of one of the world’s most respected spiritual and political leaders. It explores the realities of losing one’s homeland to oppression, the pain and resilience of life in exile, the continuing struggle to maintain cultural identity, and ultimately, His Holiness’s unwavering commitment and hope for the dignity and liberty of the Tibetan people.