The Dance of 17 Lives is a 2004 book by UK journalist and author Mick Brown. It is the extraordinary story of an exiled Tibetan teenager, the Karmapa, who has been hailed as one of the greatest spiritual leaders of modern times. While this book may not appeal to scholars of Tibetan Buddhism or Tibetan culture, its value lies in demystifying this culture for a general readership. Brown demonstrates how spiritual and secular power are intimately related in the world of Tibetan Buddhism, with many monks and lamas jostling for the power that comes with spiritual authority.