In 1950, China claimed sovereignty over Tibet, leading to decades of unrest and resistance, defining the country today. Adding perspective to this struggle, Barbara Demick visits Ngaba, a defiant town on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau where dozens of locals have shocked the world since 2009 by immolating themselves. Following the stories of the last princess of the region, of Tibetans who experienced Mao's Cultural Revolution, and of monks and townsfolk experiencing renewed repression, Demick paints a riveting portrait of the challenges Tibetans face against one of the most powerful countries in the world.