When I was arrested by the Chinese military for launching a historic Tibetan Freedom protest, I knew every trial and lesson had been worth it—even if it meant facing a life in prison.
After a childhood infused with esoteric Buddhist teachings, I was forged into a global activist through years of witnessing and collaborating in the dissent of women on the front lines of war. From villages in Nepal, to refugee camps in The Democratic Republic of Congo, to the street of Bogota, Colombia, my initiation into human rights activism was raw and transformative. The bravery of those women bolstered me in my darkest hours of interrogation and torture by the Chinese Police, and it guides me now to share my story—no matter the repercussions. This is not a tale the Chinese government wants told.
During my years working in war zones, I often wondered if I’d have the courage to stand up to tyranny, to lay my life on the line to confront undeniable persecution.
In 2007—on the slopes of Mount Everest—I found out.
Take a literary journey with me as I reveal the bumpy road I took to becoming my bravest self—learning to leverage a life of advantage, find a place for my own joy, and cultivate the courage needed to play a distinct role in history.
10% of the author’s proceeds from the sale of this book will go to financially support the ongoing human rights work of Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights, and the global efforts of Students for a Free Tibet to demand freedom for Tibetans living under Chinese occupation.
In Fortune Favors the Brave, Kiri Westby transforms from a naïve, adventurous ingénue into a mature and deeply committed human rights defender. What I loved most about this book was the real, and sometimes raw and unromantic, truth of her journey. I was fortunate to have witnessed some of Kiri’s growth first-hand and am impressed by her ability to recall and capture poignant lessons behind our work establishing UAF. Absorbing, brave, and often humorous, it is worth a slow and thoughtful read. Thank you, Kiri!
— JULIA SHAW, AKA “The Mountain Goat.”
Co-Founder, Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights (UAF)
Kiri Westby is a walking miracle of a person, and her brave and beautiful book gives a thrilling ride through a life dedicated to freedom and love, hurtling straight in the face of some of the most horrendous situations people have recklessly created for each other on our endangered planet. I couldn’t stop reading it, enjoyed every vividly written page, and relished in the whole blessed secret world she reveals of totemic action women heroes who never give up. The special delight of it comes from the sense I get that they are certain to prevail, no matter how stubborn seem the pseudo-powerful, blue meany bad guys everywhere! You all should read this book!
— ROBERT A.F. TENZIN THURMAN, Professor Emeritus, Columbia University
Author, Grandpa, Activist
In this fierce, heartbreaking, beautiful book, Kiri Westby describes her near-fatal descent into the heart of darkness, and how she came back with compassion and fury. As a boots-on-the-ground activist and born Buddhist, barely out of her teens, she set out to save the world and came to meet a group of extraordinary women who taught her what it means to be brave in the terrible face of violence and fear. I am deeply moved by her bravery and grateful for her wisdom.
— MARK MATOUSEK, Author of When You’re Falling,
Dive: Lessons in the Art of Living
