#readtheworld Liechtenstein

Finally read this after having heard about it and the film adaptation for years. While it's checking off my "Read the World" box for Liechtenstein, it is only out of lack of other available reading in English from this country. The author is from Austria but spent time living in Liechtenstein, where he actually wrote this book.

It is an interesting account of life in Tibet while it was still independent, prior to Chinese occupation. One has to read with the realization that this was written in 1953, and while I believe the author had the best of intentions, some of the passages do seem problematic reading in 2022. The author has a somewhat patronizing or out-of-touch perspective at times, somewhat infantilizing some of the Tibetan customs and behaviors. His perspective of women's rights and beliefs may be taken with a grain of salt, describing them as having little rights but overall "very happy" with their lot in life. This may be true, but I have a hard time believing those with less human rights are really overall content and happy.

Regardless, the descriptions of the landscape, architecture and customs are honest and enlightening. This book has encouraged me to read more about Tibet and the Dalai Lama and the struggles they have faced over the course of their history.

Would recommend.