I've read a few books about the sufferings of Tibetans by now, but still, this book managed to affect me and make me stop and think. Again and again. First of all, how has nothing changed since this book confirmed that China is continuing to do all it can to wipe out the culture, religion and spirit of Tibet? I know I have responsibility to speak up about this (and I will) but I still can't believe that higher powers up there did not stop China by now.

Anyway, back to the book- Palden Gyatso is the image of courage, compassion and inner strength. I read passages of how he was tortured and bullied and then would flip to the inner photo of this tiny, frail man-astonishing! I see now that the determined and strong look on his face at the UK Independence rally co-exists with the gentle, loving portrait on the cover and it's a wonderful combination. This book reminded me that it takes deep courage to stand up for who you are and what you believe in but there is no greater purpose for each of us than to aim for that goal with all that we have.

Read this book to better understand why Tibet needs our support but also to re-instill your own will to be a decent,kind and courageous human being.

i couldn't put this book down. palden gyatso's story of human suffering and strength affected me like so few stories have. someday i hope to be in the audience when this courageous men speaks. i feel as if i know him after reading this book. i recently visited a beastie boys site (perhaps a milarepa fund site) and found a statement by palden gyatso there. it gave me great happiness to know that he is educating the public on the plight of the tibetans.also, i recently read in the new york times of the communist movement to enforce the practice of athiesm amongst the tibetan people (a privelage once reserved for the members of the communist party alone) in hopes that the tibetans will completely abandon their beliefs in the "old ways". it is such a relief to know that by telling their stories, people like palden gyatso are fighting to keep the level of awareness of the suffering of the tibetans high and that their people will never forget their "old ways" and will someday enjoy the freedom they once had.

I had the honor of meeting Venerable Palden Gyatso after having read his story. The most amazing thing to me about him was his compassion. Given the horrific experience he had in Chinese prisons over 33 years it was amazing to me how warm, honest and loving he is. Even more amazing is that his compassion is not limited to Tibetans, in fact he has no ill will against the Chinese. This book is a story about the triumph of the human spirit. Palden Gyatso's story must be heard.

This book is priceless. It is written by an 8 year old girl, Ying Ying Fry, who is adopted from China. It is her story of going back to her orphanage in ChangSha, China to see and talk to kids in the orphange and learn about their life. My daughter is also adopted from ChangSha so this story held even more meaning. The words are Ying Ying's and they are powerful in her observations. The pictures of the children and of life in general in China also fill in gaps of what her life may have been like. This is a perfect gift for your child from China. We will treasure it for its glimpse it gave us of life in China. Thank you Ying Ying!

Kids Like Me In China is absolutely fabulous, beautifully presented, very basic story of one child's visit to her land of birth and the orphanage where she was cared for as an infant, complete with photos that will touch the hearts of all who have travelled to China to make their family complete. It is all at once enchanting, realistic, touching, and upbeat. Personally, I got the added delight of discovering that author Ying Ying Fry is from the same part of China as my own daughter!! I recommend this book to every parent who is contemplating talking to their child about origins and adoption. It will serve as a valuable keepsake and aide in assisting our children to learn/understand/appreciate their very special story!! Congratulations to Ying Ying, who has a wonderful future in whatever she chooses to do!!

I've already read "Kids" with my daughter nearly a dozen times and we'll no doubt read (and talk about it) it again and again and again. It's touching, enlightening, and really fun to see China through Ying Ying's eyes. It's also wonderful that the book is not just her story, but clearly one that could belong to any kid from China. Having read only parents' accounts so far, I'm also really, really pleased to get the perspectives of a child, For me, it's all about the kids, and it's clear that they can be every bit as eloquent in telling their own stories in their own words. This book should dispel all doubts that kids are capable of making sense of their complex stories. "Kids" doesn't gloss over the hard stuff, but has it all just right in just the right amount of detail. I love it for the hard stuff and I love it for the fun stuff. We get the fun stuff through Ying Ying's ability to converse in Mandarin, which simply gives her (and us) access to the ordinary in China: other kids' lives, schools, and homes. My daughter is just drinking this in and I can't get enough of it. Great story, great pictures, great book!

This is an absolute page-turner for the eager young-adult reader, deftly written in a graceful, uncomplicated style sure to attract teenagers. Berry accomplishes so much; she incorporates New Age folklore and fact into a slowly unravelling plot, saturated with drama and feeling, leaving the reader satisfied on all levels.

The China Garden moves slowly and seductively in telling the story of Clare, a seventeen-year old brainy beauty with dreams of going on to university. Her future seems bright until plans go askew, when her mother announces that she is moving to Stoke Raven (an enchanting, hidden English village) to be a sickly man's caretaker. Clare, feeling an intrinsic urge to tag along (one of many pyschic feelings she will have throughout the novel), joins her widowed mother for the summer, and possibly for the rest of her life. It is the beginning of a splendid, mysterious journey into the unknown for Clare and her soon-to-be-lover, the dark and handsome Mark.

Take this paperback and a blanket under a tree, crack the spine, and prepare for an exciting book that beats anything on your Summer Reading List.

This was an AWSOME book. It had the mixture of things I like in a book. Romance, Supernatural, Mystery, and just a bit of tragety, you can't have a good book without just a little tragety, right?
This book is about a college student named Clare, who goes with her mother to a town called Ravensmere, which she knows nothing about. Then, she finds out her mother, who she thought was from London was born there. She spends her time finding out just how much more of a mystery this secluded town is to her. There is a secret that no one will tell her. Not even her mother.
Then, she meets this guy, named Mark, who in my opinion, would be totally hot, if he were actually real. Anyways, she meets him and finds that she is falling in love with Mark. In short, this book is really awsome! It's one of those books you can read over and over and always find out something new. I've read it about 3 times myself. BUY IT!

Clare Meredith and her mother move to a historical estate named Ravensmere, for the summer. Her mother will work as a private nurse for the Ravensmere's owner, Mr. Aylward. As Clare explores the town, Stoke Raven Village, she finds that everyone knows more than she sees. She soon meets Mark, the classic bad boy biker who enchants our heroine. Clare is determined to find out Ravensmere's true meaning and intention and what happened with her mother who reveals her tragic past linked with Ravensmere. She takes midnight walks to the abandoned China Garden and must figure out a way to unravel the mysteries of Ravensmere.

Liz Berry has amazing imagery in this book, the garden and the whole region of Ravensmere is beautifully depicated. She described a good 'Picture postcard England'. The mystery puzzle was always amusing to guess. The suspense was packed for the next piece of the puzzle. I loved trying to find the true meaning of the Bension, the true purpose of Ravensmere. The foreshadowing is laughable when you finish the book, making you wonder why you did not see it. Mark and Clare have a modern day romance. Mark's bad boy affect and his characterization makes almost any teenage girl lust for him. The simple incorporation of every and modern day fantasy is a wonderful touch to the alluring mystery. The pieces are woven brilliantly and this is what a Young Adult mystery should be.

A great Young Adult mystery, suspense, romance and fantasy novel. It captures you.

I wish I could give this book ten stars.

I'm not even a big Jackie Chan fan. I've seen a few of his new movies and enjoy them. I've been into reading biographies and since my husband is a big fan of Jackie Chan, I thought I'd give it a try. Well, it is one of the best books I've read.

My favorite aspect of the book is Jackie's relationship with Samo Hung. In the beginning, they have a bully/victim relationship. Then slowly, they gain mutual respect for each other...which eventually leads to friendship and a great working relationship. I think it's very inspiring because it shows how the people we "hate" today might be our best friends one day.

I was really surprised how their relationship turned out. I didn't expect them to become friends, I thought Jackie Chan was just venting about this annoying guy from his childhood and that the character would be dropped as soon as he left the opera school. Then when it seemed like the bully was actually staying in the book and getting a career of his own, I asked my husband if he had ever head of him. My husband said "Yeah, that's the guy from Martial Law." I was shocked!

If you're a Jackie Chan fan, you must read this book. It is an excellent account of his life, from his pre-opera days through the present. His early days in Hong Kong cinema are as fascinating as his childhood years in the opera school. And Jackie doesn't paint a perfect picture of himself - his accounts of his early success are thought-provoking. If you're not a Jackie Chan fan, go rent and watch "Supercop" and "Rumble in the Bronx" (and "Drunken Master II" if you can find it) and then read this book. You'll be a fan for life!

Rarely is a biography able to authentically capture the experiences of a man's life as well as I Am Jackie Chan is able too. From start to finish, it accurately describes Jackie's beginnings, from his youth, to his education, to his rise to fame. From his Relationships, to his gambling problems, to his fame-filled life in the end, the book is an amazing read. Along with giving the reader an insight into Jackie Chan's personality and life, it also gives an amazing look at Sammo Hung, fellow famous martial artist and director. Along with overviews of all his films, his best fights and his best stunts, this is the must-have book for Jackie Chan fans.

This book gives you a spirutal, personal and intimate understanding of death and dying. More than that, it compels you to stop and take a deep and serious look at your own life and your own death. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying helps to alievate your own fear of dying and helps you take the responsibility to prepare for your death. At the same time, it gently helps you prepare yourself for the death and dying of a loved one. The teachings and personal experiences of Sogyal are simple to understand and intrepret and incorporate into your personal life. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for every introspective person as well as for those facing the death of a loved one.

My bookshelves are filled with books on many topics, including death and dying and spirituality -- this book might be the only book I really need.

For years I have thought I must read the Tibetan Book of the Dead -- but whenever I tried, it was much too complicated for me to understand.

Sogyal Rinpoche has written this book so that it is easily understood by anyone, even us Westerners, without compromising any of the Buddhist teachings it offers.

In essence, we begin to die the moment we are born. We spend this life preparing to die well. Nothing is permanent, but we spend much of our lives filling our time with activities and pursuits that help us elude ourselves into thinking that what we see and touch is all that matters.

Sogyal Rinpoche says, "To follow the path of wisdom has never been more urgent or more difficult. Our society is dedicated almost entirely to the celebration of ego, with all its sad fantasies about success and power, and it celebrates those very forces of greed and ignorance that are destroying the planet. It has never been more difficult to hear the unflattering voice of the truth, and never more difficult, once having heard it, to follow it: because there is nothing in the world around us that supports our choice, and the entire society in which we live seems to negate every idea of sacredness or eternal meaning. So at the time of our most acute danger, when our very future is in doubt, we as human beings find ourselves at our most bewildered, and trapped in a nightmare of our own creation."

He writes about the importance of realizing the interconnectedness of all living beings (including nature), of meditation (and gives instructions and advice), of finding and being devoted to a good master (something very difficult for Westerners to accept -- he acknowledges that there are fraudulent ones about), of learning to live and learning to die, of letting go of egos and becoming egolessness. Throughout the book, he tells of female masters as well as males, something female readers may greatly appreciate.

Sogyal Rinpoche is from Tibet, and speaks of the cruelty of the Chinese to the Tibetan Buddhists (very similar to the persecution of the early christians, and later the Jews by the Nazis -- when will we ever learn, but then that's the point of this book!)

In the last section of the book, he speaks of "The Universal Process" which is about spirituality, living and dying of all humans, regardless of race, spiritual beliefs, gender or national origin. There are in the back two mantras with explanations and he shares photographs of his beloved masters. Throughout the book are inspiring poems from such poets as Rumi and St. Francis of Assisi, as well as Buddhists. In the very back he gives suggested readings, and offers phone numbers and addresses of Rigpa National Office, where those who are interested can find referrals to cources and study groups in the US, Canada and around the world.

This book is a very good place for the seeker to begin. For those curious about Buddhism, or seriously interested in becoming a Buddha or a Buddhist, or just looking for more thoughts and information on death and dying, this book is excellent, easy to understand, thought-provoking.

After reading other reviews, I feel it might help to say this:

Yes, there is quite a substantial amount of Tibetan ritual encased in this book. But that shouldn't be a surprise, or a hindrance - it IS the "TIBETAN Book of Living and Dying", and not the "Generically Believable For Everyone, Book of Living And Dying".

With that in mind, I loved reading this book. From the first page, I was drawn into a world where compassion and mindfulness reign, and it's these tools that will help us face the inevitable truth that we *are* all going to die, at some point.

Rinpoche skillfully shares his own wisdom, that of many other masters, and anecdotal evidence of what may happen when we physically die, and the stages we may go through during the process.
Topics discussed include the Bardo states, reincarnation, the concept of karma, and fear of the unknown. The book is very readable, and covers the material therein with sensitivity and warmth. At times, it may be difficult to the average Western mind to grasp the concepts of such things are reincarnation - but as Buddha himself did advise, the goal is to read, absorb and take what YOU find important from the lesson...not to read blindly and accept everything blindly.

To anyone even vaguely interested in Buddhism, death and dying or simply becoming more aware of their own self, this book is an invaluable addition to your library.

Truly a classic.

When she hears the news of the death of yet another family member, young Chanrithy writes, "Death is a constant, and we've become numb to the shock of it. People die here and there, all around us, falling like flies that have been sprayed with poison." Such was life under the Khmer Rouge. Chanrithy Him was only four years old when war came to Cambodia, first in the form of troops fleeing from neighboring Vietnam, and then the more deadly Khmer Rouge. Educated professionals were summarily executed, entire cities were evacuated under threat of death, and children such as Chanrithy were forced to work in inhumane conditions. An entire culture was virtually destroyed, but Him still manages to maintain an amazing degree of innocence and positivity. This is a powerful book about a tragic period in world history.

Most of the previous reviews compare this book to "First They Killed My Father." This is understandable in that both books detail, in the first person account, the life of a young girl growing up under the khemer rouge and both books detail an incredible love and heartfelt loss for thier respective fathers. (Should make interesting reading for anyone who thinks that a young child doesn't need a fathers love.) The similarities really end there however. Loung's memior, "First They Killed My Father" hits you below the belt with its gut wrenching detail and emotion. "When Broken Glass Floats" takes a more literary and somewhat more forgiving tone. This is both a plus and a negative for the reader. The plus side is that we get a memior that reads a bit more like a novel in the first person account. "When Broken Glass Floats" Gives us a lot of back round historical information on the Cambodian civil war as it begins in 1969 were as Loung's Memior starts a month before the Khmer victory in 1975. Another nice plus in "When Brken Glass floats" is the little snipets from the New York Times at the beginnig of the early chapters that tell how they were covering the Cambodian story. Chanrithy Him's more forgiving Style allows us some heartwarming moments, among the horor, where we can see that not all of the Khmer Rouge were brutal monsters for instance she writes of a Khemer nurse who administered modern medicine with tender loving care, and a Khmer offical who risked his own life to secretly feed her and her sister. It is indeed a testament to Him's character that she can write about her experince with at least a small sense of forgiveness, had I lived through what she and Loung did I would likely have written a much more unforgiving book such as "First They Killed My Father." The down side to Him's style is that while the reader will undoubtably choke back tears it doesn't quite have the same knock out body blow that "First They Killed My father" does however it is every bit its equal or better in many other ways, including the bitter sweet chapters on life in the refuge camps. Like a previous reviewer however, I would like to know more about Ra and her husband, Chanrithy did kind of leave that hanging in the air. All in all an excellent book though.

When Broken Glass Floats is the true story of the tragic demise of a Cambodian family told through the eyes of an adolescent girl coming to age under the infamous Khmer Rouge regime. Immediately I was drawn into Chanrithy Him's ability to create a brief version of normalcy before the Khmer Rouge took over. How quickly the reader is transported from the stable love of a family into a place one could call hell. This is a story of a girl who's day to day struggle is to stay alive. And yet imbedded in the everyday battery that Chan writes about, are full fledged stories about discovering the sweet taste of grass, learning how to catch fish while simultaneously outsmarting slave drivers, and befriending a girl who's courage makes way for an escape. Chan endures illness and watches members of her family murdered, worked and starved to death. The narrator is both a heroine and a girl with wisdom that becomes a cornerstone in her survival. Chanrithy Him is a very fine writer. Her ability to conclude this book of unthinkable brutality with chronicles of a family run-post-war waffle stand, a personal yearning to learn English and a new found passion to live, demonstrate enormous grace we can all learn from.

I discovered Barry Hughart's work a few years ago when I took a chance and bought an omnibus of all three books (no longer available) and devoured them within 3 days. "Bridge of Birds" is written so beautifully that it is hard to describe. It meshes fantasy, romance, history (one that never was but should have been), mythology and a detective story so seamlessly that it is hard to imagine that someone, some "human", could have written such a beautiful tale. It seems to me a gift from the gods and Mr. Hughart has surely been privy to their own tales to bring us such a perfect specimen. His characters at first seem stereotypical but soon bloom into complex personalities-often using small stories within the story itself to explain them. Master Li is the quintessential wise man who almost seems a demi-god. But his flaws are so in tune with his character and the interactions of other characters (such as his faithful, innocent client/companion Number Ten Ox) that, even in adversity, the words and story flow, connect and shimmer like liquid mercury. The hope and belief that the gods and goddesses walk among us is strengthened by this gem of a book and I, for one, could not be more pleased. I highly recommend not only this book but the other two Mr. Hughart has written (with equal artistry) to anyone who needs their soul to be uplifted and their minds challenged. I'm also writing a plea to Mr. Hughart (last seen in Tucson, AZ, where I live): MORE! I beg you! MORE!

"Bridge of Birds" is the most effective, most moving fantasy novel I have read since John Crowley's "Engine Summer." Set in (to use the publisher's blurb) "an ancient China that never was," this is at least on the surface the tale of Number Ten Ox, a young man from a rural village who sets out with Master Li, a scholar and sage with "a slight flaw in his character," on a quest for the "great root of power," the only medicine of sufficient potency to cure the village children of a case of ku poisoning. As the story unfolds and these two characters experience adventures enough to fill many novels (one can imagine Tor or some other publisher spinning out these yarns by the tens a la Conan if they got a hold of the publishing rights), their quest begins to intertwine with another one, relating to an ancient wrong done to a goddess.

More details would be superfluous, for there is simply no substitute for reading this book. The culture and characters described here are fully realized (writers of doorstop-sized fantasy novels, such as Robert Jordan, could take object lessons from Hughart in how to tell a large story succinctly), and the overall atmosphere that this novel achieves is that of the finest kind of fable, although I would not necessarily recommend it for young children. Hughart spices his narrative throughout with a liberal dose of humor; I found myself laughing aloud many times as I read along. If there is a flaw to be found here, I failed to see it. This is as good as fantasy gets--one of the few novels that merits the adjective "magical."

This is truly an extraordinary book, every bit as good as most reviewers have found it. It is something between a fairy tale, a fantasy and an epic. The story has a timeless quality that would be amazing of itself, but even more impressively it serves as an introduction to Chinese myth. Astonishingly, this is the author's first book.

The characters are beautifully drawn. Even minor characters like Doctor Death, a Chinese alchemist who makes a brief appearance, is fully developed. The main characters - Number Ten Ox and Master Li - are as memorable as any characters in fantasy. All are lively, ironic and self-consistent.

The plot is a delightful rollercoaster ride, a quest within a quest, that will keep you guessing until the marvelous conclusion. It's a nearly flawless assemblage of many Chinese myths, some developed in depth and some only mentioned in passing. And much of it is Hughart's own invention.

The narrative is quite good, and Hughart does an especially good job of explaining literally dozens of instances of Chinese culture that will be completely new to most Western readers.

Some reviewers say they were put off by the story's many anachronisms. But Hughart doesn't pretend to be writing Chinese history or Chinese literature. Most readers don't know and don't care that events are out of sequence, or that myths have been distorted; those that do need to read the brief author's note that opens the book. I direct them specifically to the definition of "prolepsis" that appears there.

This is an absolutely terrific read. You don't need to know a thing about or even like Chinese myth or Chinese culture to delight in this tale. This is a delightful story that is exceptionally well told. Like any great work of fantasy, when you finish reading it, and have bowed with Number Ten Ox to the four corners of the world, the real world you return to will seem just a little dimmer than the brilliant vision Barry Hughart has created.

This book is the greatest book I have read! It really makes you think about your life and what you take as an advantage! There were many times when I was brought to tears because of how great Li Quan's (the main character) faith was, it was incredible! I can guarantee that after you read this book, the next time you're rushing to get ready for church on Sunday, you will think about the Chinese and the way they go to church, and when you toss your Bible on the kitchen counter, you'll think of the Chinese who don't have any Bibles! Overall, it reminds you how great the Lord is, how faithful He is, and how great your reward will be when you enter into His house!
James 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

When I first started reading this book, I thought that Ben Fielding's character was rather one-dimensional. "Christian 'outgrows' his faith, then rediscovers it" can be rather formulaic and poorly-written. But Fielding's transition is gradual; there isn't one defining moment that makes him realize he's chasing after nothingness. In perhaps the strongest example of this, while Fielding's pursuit of human channels to correct problems is noble, his *reliance* on them (and not God) is vain. Li Quan knows this immediately and intimately; Fielding takes the whole book to discover this.

Li Quan's friendship is incredible. He truly loves Fielding, not with just phileo, but with agape. Although it takes him a while to realize that Fielding has abandoned his faith, when he does, nothing changes (except the emphasis of Li's prayers).

What is most striking, though, is Li's faith (and that of his friends and family) in the face of increasing adversity. The book reveals the (real) snowjob that the Chinese government is giving the rest of the world. Life for Christians in China is *not* getting better; if anything, it's getting worse. "Safely Home" gives a jarring, thought-provoking picture of what it means to be a Christian in China, and the opportunities we are squandering on a daily basis in America.

Safely Home is a must read book. As always Randy takes us places where we should go more often and think about more frequently. He takes real facts and truth and weave's them into a very thought and prayer provoking fictional story. I was unaware of the Chinese Chrisian history as well as the persecution that they are under and endure. Safely Home is a very sobering and kind message for me, a Christian in such an affluent land of the free. I love Randy's charactures and excellent perspective of heaven. Safely Home, as well as his other novels never cease to make me laugh, cry, or well up with joy over the areas of my heart he obviously (no doubt from experience) knows how to touch. Another excellent Alcorn novel.

This book is not as entertaining as the earlier volume. But it does cover a lot of history, and certainly is one way to get kids today learning some history. The reading list in the back of the book is excellent.

I have read this book twice and I can't wait to read it again. Larry's writing is funny but yet at the same time, you actually learn something. Nowadays, when high schools don't offer world history, and you don't have the time to read 1000 page books, Larry Gonick's works are a utter joy. I've been waiting for a few years for his third volume to come out. I plan on ordering his book on American History because I know it will be just as good as his books on world history.

This is one of those books that you have to tell people to buy, because if you loan it to someone, chances are you'll never see it again.

As a historian who bemoans the lack of interest shown by most kids today in the subject, I applaud Larry Gonick for giving us another tool to use in trying to spark enthusiasm. The humor is great, and in some places almost bawdy, which keeps a teenager's attention far better than a list of emperors in a textbook. Example: Julius Ceasar tries to ask an intellectual question of Cleaopatra. She responds as she leans over him seductively, "You sure talk a lot for a guy with your reputation." All the scandal and sex and violence of history (and the religions that have driven it) are here, not hidden as they are in most texts. All the excitement of pop culture, but with substance behind it, not to mention an excellent bibliography. This series is the only set of books that I have known students to actually read from cover to cover without expecting a test. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in history, or anyone with a sense of humor.

Finally! A book without guns or violence but shows the true meaning of good friendship even thousands of miles away. The book starts out as Tintin has a strange and blurry day-dream where he see's his friend Chang in a small cave crying his name. He remebers a flight crashing in the mountains. Could Chang have been on that flight as the only sole survivor after the horrible crash. Then, Tintin, Snowy, Captin Haddock and their guides set out to find Chang if it means life or death.

I am a huge fan of Tintin and grew up reading Tintin comics - as an adult - I enjoy them as much - Tintin in Tibet is one of my personal favorites for it's wonderful description of Nepal (where I visited in 1991) - it is a very touching story that reinforces the power of friendship and as in many other Tintin adventures, does try to dispel many prejudices and misconceptions about alien cultures.
If you like Tintin comics, "Tintin - the complete companion book" is an absolute must - it has helped me gain a much greater appreciation of an already favorite book.

I have been a huge Tintin fan ever since I received my first Tintin book ('The Red Sea Sharks') in 1974, while on a trip to Kashmir. I have read all of Tintin's adventures as a child, but I have never truly appreciated Herge's artistic style. Now as an adult, I am amazed by the sheer detail and complex characterization of all the Tintin books. Tintin books are truly classic graphic novels which are as interesting to read in 2000 as they were in 1974! I am 32, and I still pick up the ocassional Tintin graphic novel to read whenever the mood strikes me. As an adult, 'Tintin in Tibet' is my favorite book of the entire Tintin series. I am also really glad that the adventures of Tintin are now shown on cable television. If you only had to buy one Tintin book in the entire series (I hope you buy them all), then 'Tintin in Tibet' is the one to have. This book combines great art with amazing characters set in a truly exotic country -- Tibet!