For many, the Dalai Lama is synonymous with Tibet. Throughout his nearly 90 years of life, he has significantly shaped the country in the tension between change and tradition. What does the future hold for Tibetan culture? Will the chances for more freedom continue to shrink, after being curtailed since the country's incorporation into the People's Republic of China in the 1950s? And why has the Dalai Lama's strategy towards Beijing failed? Tibetologist Oliver Schulz provides a deep insight into the political history, traditions, current challenges, and future perspectives of Tibet in his new book. He also reveals why our Western image of Tibet is largely based on clichés.