Tibet

Who better to take readers on a journey through Tibet than someone who has led 26 expeditions into its vast expanses and even dreams in Tibetan? Peissel is an experienced explorer with a passion for Tibet and the Himalayas, and this book is the culmination of four decades of enthrallment. A land divvied up by India, China, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan, Tibet holds the interest of many but the understanding of few; it's truly a ""world within a world,"" Peissel writes. In its text, the book shifts easily from mythology, to flora and fauna, to Peissel's own adventure tales, to regional geopolitics, without breaking stride. But it's the photos (also courtesy of the author) that truly bring the land alive, capturing its cliffside cave cities, its vibrant ceremonies and its countless unforgettable faces. The only portion of the book that isn't exhaustive is its cursory discussion of Tibet's brutal treatment under Chinese rule. For Peissel, whose love for Tibet is palpable, it's probably too depressing a subject to broach. 250 color photos.