New York Times bestselling author Colin Thubron’s To a Mountain in Tibet is his most personal book. An account of his journey to Kailas, the holiest mountain on earth, the book—and its attendant trek—was triggered by reflection and grief, after the death of his mother, the last remaining member of his family.

Traveling by foot along the Karnali River, the highest source of the Ganges, Thubron encounters a land little traveled, arduous, and difficult to reach. Through a spectacular evocation of the landscape, he transports readers to western Tibet and the mountain that a variety of peoples—fully one-fifth of humankind—consider sacred. On this personal pilgrimage, he ponders the sources of alien faiths, contemplating death and its aftermath as he witnesses the unparalleled beauty and mystery of this magical corner of the world.

On Tuesday, March 15, the San Francisco Jewish Community Center will host a lecture by Thubron, celebrating the publication of his memoir, To a Mountain in Tibet. You can purchase tickets on their website by clicking here.