With 250 accompanying photographs, Michel Peissel re-counts the history of the early Tibetans and the subsequent golden age of Tibetan Buddhism under the monk Richen Zampo. He examines the spiritual aspects that are so impor-tant in Tibetan life and the modern international success of Laman-ism. Chronicling the paths of early explorers, Peissel relates Tibet's plunder and destruction, from its dismem-ber-ing in colonial times to the Chinese takeover. He looks at the uni-que-ness of the Himalayas, where flora and fauna have evolved to suit the high altitude and resulted in such extra-ordinary species of animals as the yak and the takin, a huge goat. Through his writing and photography, Michel Peissel brings to life the geographical, spiritual, and intellectual heart of Tibet.