The Dalai Lama is one of the world' s most beloved religious leaders, a man whose devotees include millions of ordinary people as well as celebrities such as Richard Gere, Goldie Hawn, and Patti Smith. Drawing on more than 50 interviews with the Dalai Lama' s family, associates, and followers as well as with politicians, religious leaders, and critics, this revealing oral history explores the Dalai Lama' s public career as well as his personal life from his childhood in Tibet and his exile in 1959 to his role as a worldwide spiritual leader and human rights activist and reveals the secrets behind his enduring popular appeal.

Tenzin Gyamtso, the 14th Dalai Lama, was born on July 6, 1935 in a small village called Takster in northeastern Tibet. At the age of two, His Holiness was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalaia Lama. He was enthroned at the age of five and assumed full political power in 1950. In 1959, His Holiness was forced into exile and has striven ever since for a peaceful solution to the the Sino-Tibetan crisis. He continually promotes his compassionate approach to life struggles, whether personal or global, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

DEBORAH HART STROBER and GERALD S. STROBER are the authors of four previous oral histories, including one on the Kennedy presidency, "Let Us Begin Anew"; Nixon: An Oral History of His Presidency; The Reagan Presidency: An Oral History of the Era; and Monarchy: An Oral Biography of Elizabeth II. They live in New York City.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

Chronology.

The Interviewees.

PART I: SIMPLE MONK, WORLD LEADER.

Chapter 1: The Public Dalai Lama: His Appeal to the Masses.

Chapter 2: Glimpses of the Private Dalai Lama: His Character and Personality.

Chapter 3: Toronto, April 2004.

PART II: BEGINNINGS.

Chapter 4: From Taktser to Lhasa.

Chapter 5: Coming of Age in Occupied Tibet: Uprising and Exile.

Chapter 6: Dharamsala: The Early Years in �Little Lhasa�.

PART III: SPIRITUAL SAINT OR POLITICAL TROUBLEMAKER?

Chapter 7: Taking the Dalai Lama�s Political Message Regarding China Abroad.

Chapter 8: Promoting the Dalai Lama�s Spiritual Message Abroad.

PART IV: CONFRONTING CHALLENGES AND UNCERTAINTIES.

Chapter 9: The Dalai Lama and the Exile Community Today.

Chapter 10: Chinese Calculations and Miscalculations.

PART V: LOOKING AHEAD.

Chapter 11: Dialogues.

Chapter 12: The Future of the Institution of the Dalai Lama.

Index.

Illustrations.