Based entirely on unpublished primary sources; Tsering Shakya's groundbreaking history of modern Tibet shatters the popular conception of the country as an isolated Shangri-la unaffected by broader international developments. Shakya gives a balanced; blow-by-blow account of Tibet's ongoing struggle to maintain its independence and safeguard its cultural identity while being sandwiched between the heavyweights of Asian geopolitics: Britain; India; China; and the United States. With thorough documentation; Shakya details the Chinese depredations of Tibet; and reveals the failures of the Tibetan leadership's divided strategies. Rising above the simplistic dualism so often found in accounts of Tibet's contested recent history; The Dragon in the Land of Snows lucidly depicts the tragedy that has befallen Tibet and identifies the conflicting forces that continue to shape the aspirations of the Tibetan people today.
#12365 in Books Penguin (Non-Classics) 1993-01-01 1993-06-01Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.40 x 1.02 x 5.40l; 1.05 #File Name: 0140178244608 pageshistory of the water wars in the western US
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Very relevant to today's continuing water issuesBy Thomas R. BodenlosThere was a time when installing dams was thought to be the solution to bringing water security to areas of the U.S.; but it came with unintended consequences: destruction of natural fisheries; increased salt content in water; build ups of silt reducing the storage capacity of dams and the ridiculously low rates which water has been sold by our government prompting farmers and ranch owners to waste massive amounts of water on crops and livestock that should have had no economic reason to have occurred. In addition these dams creating reasons for large landowners to pump underground waters out of the earth at such a level that is in no way sustainable into the near future.Currently California is in a historic drought and states whose water supply come from the Colorado River are under stress as well due to lower water levels.This book should be read to understand the unintended effects of public policy and hopefully to see some ways public policy might be altered to correct some drawbacks that had been created in earlier times now that we though this book and other sources know changes need to be made.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Water crisis; a continuing story everyone should knowBy Bayard C. HillwayThe late Marc Reisner spells it out; how various interests; public and private; fell into a pattern of getting the American taxpayer to foot the bill for decades of water development projects; many unnecessary; that justified the continuing existence and expansion of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The financial books were virtually always cooked; showing that farmers in the San Joaquin Valley; for example; received a continuous flow of water; virtually free; somehow avoiding paying the fees indicated in the original development contract. The projects were often tied to members of Congress who could point to their bringing in federal money for jobs; and water for irrigation and development. Reisner tracks the inside deals; the blatant disregard for contractual promises; and the destruction of natural treasures and prime farm land under the philosophy that no river is a good river until every possible dam has been built. Reading Cadillac Desert informs and allows the reader to be able to understand the machinations still in play that largely benefit the few; who often become incredibly wealthy; at the expense of everyone else.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Everyone should readBy anonymousI understand it has a certain subjective slant; but the details in the book make the case how broken public works can be in the hands of Congress or government in general. It does give credit for some of the water development projects; and is generally fair in the pros and cons. The excess and the corruption shown in this book however is undeniable; along with the ability of those with power to ignore; deny; or make up facts as necessary to have a water project (no matter the cost) which both the bureaucracy and politicians need for their lifeblood. It will probably make you angry or sick; but the stupidity will ring true as you understand the motivations involved. Good book; but understand that it is long and detailed.
