Eat the Buddha: Life and Death in a Tibetan Town by Barbara Demick

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING LONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR IN FINANCIAL TIMES, ECONOMIST, NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST, SPECTATOR 'You simply cannot understand China without reading Barbara Demick on Tibet' Evan Osnos, author of Age of Ambition In 1950, China claimed sovereignty over Tibet, leading to decades of unrest and resistance. Barbara Demick chronicles the Tibetan tragedy from Ngaba, a defiant town on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. From the stories of Ngaba's last princess and those who experienced the struggle sessions of Mao's revolution to the experiences of today's monks and townsfolk suffering repression under China's rule, Demick paints a riveting portrait of Tibet past and present as it fights for its identity against one of the most powerful countries in the world.

”when the iron bird flies and horses run on wheels, the Tibetan people will be scattered like ants across the world.”

I love nonfiction books about places the average person doesn't get to see, or about stories/history people really should know about. I did a deep dive on books about North Korea after I read Barbara Demick's Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, and when I saw she wrote a book about Tibet I decided to make that my next read. It was a good choice.

In this book, Demick tells the story of Ngaba, a small Tibetan town that, through the actions of its people, becomes a center of resistance to Chinese occupation. Through the stories of ordinary Tibetans, Demick shows the devastating impact of Chinese policy on Tibetan lives, including the destruction of monasteries, the suppression of religion, and the forced assimilation of Tibetan culture. The author made three trips in total to Ngaba, and interviewed many Tibetans from there and surrounding areas to tell their stories. Their points of view vary widely, but each of their stories is handled with compassion, empathy, and a desire to make sure their stories are heard.

This book really tugged at my heartstrings in places. I loved how Demick took the varied stories from these people and turned it into a compelling narrative framework that also allowed her to talk about the history and struggles of these people. It was one of the things that made her book about North Korea such a great read, and I was delighted to see that the same was true here.

Well-written, informative, and provides valuable perspective into the Tibetan people's struggle for freedom. Highly recommend.