Editorial Review

It is the dawn of the 21st century, and the United States has appropriated the entire Earth. So journalist Robert Kaplan writes in his paean to the American fighting man and woman, Read more

Reviews (57)

The Roman Road Revisited
The first of what Kaplan states will be a series of books, "Imperial Grunts" tours seven military operations with a variety of Special Forces, and also spends some time with the Marines.Each theater is utterly different and fascinating: Yemen, Colombia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and Iraq.Rather than open with the easy headliner, Iraq, Robert Kaplan starts in "injun country" and stays there, gradually working his way across to the big story.As he progresses, Kaplan shows the effectiveness of small army, groups of highly trained individuals with the freedom and initiative to act who combine features of statesmen, ambassador, doctor, economist and mediator.Once big army becomes involved as in Afghanistan and Iraq, less is done with far more expenditure in terms of both lives and money.Whether we like to be told it or not, the US is an empire, and it seeks to maintain security by placing bases in strategic locations that can be lightly manned and maintained, but remain capable of receiving large numbers of aircraft and troops at any time, the principle of the Roman road, where Rome's army was not so much large as highly mobile.Kaplan's view of the military is frankly startling and optimistic next to the avalanche of negativity that is justifiably being written about Iraq; he bemoans lingusitic capabilities that are adequate only in South America, and frequently points out that the US military is still configured to fight the Cold War, and not the decentralized threats of the twenty-first century.Having written ten books, Kaplan also reveals that he attended the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and served in the Israeli Army.

Academy Award for Best Book in 2005
Most people reading this book are already familiar with Kaplan's work in the Atlantic Monthly.So, this book will be no surprise about the quality of his journalism and his dedication to his craft.What other 50-year-old is bunking down with Special Forces in Columbia fighting the FARC?
Fascinating look at the American military's deployment in countries throughout the world today
_Imperial Grunts_ by Robert D. Kaplan is a brilliant and fascinating look at the American military's deployment in countries throughout the world today. Given how wide that deployment is (particularly thanks to the war on terror), the increasingly decentralized nature of command, and the impact individual units and even soldiers can have worldwide thanks to the global media, Kaplan felt it important to tell the stories of soldiers "from the ground up, at the point of contact." He was fascinated by just how important the actions of the "lowliest corporals and privates" could be even at the strategic level. Also, he was interested in how the U.S. was able to regulate and monitor an often chaotic world without large-scale wars and with only a minimal number of troops on the ground. Part military and political analysis and part travelogue, Kaplan visited American forces in Yemen, Colombia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Afghanistan, eastern Africa, and Iraq, embedding with American Special Forces and U.S. Marines.
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Subjects:  1. History - Military / War    2. Military    3. Military - United States    4. Military Policy    5. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    6. Political Science    7. U.S. Foreign Relations    8. Political Science / International Security   

Subjects:  1. Antiques & Collectibles    2. Antiques/Collectibles    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Asian    5. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - Museum    6. Folk Arts    7. History - Modern (Late 19th Century to 1945)    8. Jewelry    9. Jewelry Arts And Crafts    10. Antiques & Collectibles / Jewelry    11. China    12. Jewellery & jewellery-making   

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. General    3. History - General History    4. Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines    6. Linguistics    7. Mongolian languages    8. Grammar, syntax, linguistic structure    9. Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics    10. Language family studies    11. Mongolian    12. Phonetics, phonology, prosody (speech)    13. Ural-Altaic & Hyperborean Languages   

Reviews (1)

A modern fascinating account
This book follows the history of 'inner asia' from the time of the Islamic conquests to modern day independence.The area covered is the steppe lands from Mongolia to the former soviet republics(Kazakhstan, Uzbek, Tajik, Turkmen and Kyrgiz) as well as the Sinkiang(Xinxiang/Uiguer) province of China.It covers with wonderful fluid writing the history from the original linguistic families of Turkic speaking tribesmen to the arrival of Islam.We see how the people were once Buddhist and how Arabic script colonized them only to be repalced by Cyrillic in modern times.We are told of the the story of the Kok Turks, and CHinese expansion into Inner and outer mongolia.Various dynasties are covered, including Persian influence and the lands of Bokhara and Khiva.The arrival of the Mongols is explained and the decline through to Soviet expansion
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Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Asia, Central    3. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Mongolia    8. World - General    9. Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu (China)    10. Asia, Central--History    11. Asian / Middle Eastern history    12. Central Asia    13. History / Russia (pre- & post-Soviet Union)   

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Description And Travel    3. History - General History    4. History: World   

Reviews (1)

Interesting Mix of Mongolian Travel and History
In this book Tim Severin is not really searching for Genghis Khan himself, as the title states, but for traces of the lifestyle and traditions in the modern world that have been inspired by the great leader. Severin traveled throughout the vast and sparse nation of Mongolia, mostly by horse and in the company of herdsmen who still lived the semi-nomadic lifestyle that had endured for centuries. Severin includes fascinating descriptions of the harsh Mongolian landscapes and good character sketches of his companions. An added bonus is coverage of the semi-autonomous Kazakh people of the western part of the country, along with interesting ruminations on the death throes of Communism that were developing at the time. Interspersed with the travelogue are an engaging history of the Mongolian people and a compendium of knowledge of Genghis Khan and his conquering exploits. On the bad side, Severin is not a very strong writer (or needs a better editor), and he is often unnecessarily judgmental. This is evident in cruel conclusions about a member of the expedition named Ariunbold, a bureaucrat whose poor leadership deserved criticism, but Severin gets personal. The final chapter should probably be ignored as Severin passes judgment on the character and intelligence of the Mongolian people and the effects of their vast history, giving rather condescending pontifications of another people's culture and history. Fortunately, interesting tales of the Mongolian people and their intriguing landscape and history keep this book mostly enjoyable. [~doomsdayer520~] ... Read more

Subjects:  1. China    2. Description And Travel    3. Genghis Khan,    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Medieval World History (Circa 450 - Circa 1450)    8. Mongolia    9. Mongols    10. Genghis Khan   

Reviews (8)

interesting but not informative
I enjoy books like this one.Probably it's a bad case of nosiness, but I like to find out about other peoples' lives.When such stories are combined with attractive black and white photos, well, that's all the better.Martha Avery conducted interviews with a wide variety of Mongolian women, from street sweepers to ambassadors.This book is the result.You can find recipes for marmot, learn how to put up a ger, or yurt, or learn about the difficulties of doing paleo-anthropological studies in a poor country or what it was like to be the first female student sent to do higher studies in Russia.Mongolia's economic struggles since the end of Soviet dominance are highlighted.WOMEN OF MONGOLIA is clearly and simply written.Perhaps therein lies my reluctance to award this book more than 3 stars.Readers with little knowledge of Mongolia's past or present will not finish the book much the wiser, though the vignettes may arouse their curiosity.The book might be described as "Mongolia Lite", pleasant but not highly-informative.You get vivid impressions, but the interviews are not particularly complex, hard-hitting or deep.Some respondents did open their personal lives to the author, however, she did not speak Mongolian, making the authenticity of the results somewhat murkier in the cases where the women did not speak English.The reader finds nothing out about why Avery did these interviews or what her purpose in Mongolia was.I believe she was there to help the Mongolian media begin to develop a life of its own and was employed by the Soros Foundation.The book lacks a defined aim and reference to other works on the country."I am in Mongolia for other reasons." is the very oblique single sentence about herself.This statement resembles the only map---which is basically illegible---though she interviewed people all around the country and mentioned many provinces or geographical features.This would be an attractive present for somebody interested in Mongolia, or just back from the country.While stressing that this is a very attractive book for curious people like me, it is also rather superficial.

Snapshots
This book is a series of short interviews with Mongolian women about their wives.The author was apparently in Mongolia in the early 1990s to conduct archeological research.While she was there, she talked to women of all walks of life about their jobs, their families, and their dreams.Included in this collection are talks with diplomats and doctors, camel herders and street sweepers.Avery presents these interviews as short first person monologues.Many of the stories are accompanied by photographs.I found the book quite fascinating, and wished that the photographs could have been printed in color. This book will be of interest to anyone who wants to learn about the conditions of Mongolian women shortly after the fall of communism.

Unique women , unique culture
Martha Avery has, in this fascinating collection of autobiographical accounts from Mongolian women, presented a unique and varied perspective on the dramatic changes affecting this country in transition toward democracy and a capitalist economy.She draws her portraits from women of all walks of life, rural and urban, educated and uneducated.And, while Avery does not draw any sociopolitical conclusions from these brief biographies or claim any unique vision of Mongolia through these women, an overall pattern does emerge of women intensely involved with their own destinies and with the destiny of the Mongolian People's Republic, its land and people.Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Case studies    3. History - General History    4. History Of Women (General)    5. Mongolia    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Sociology Of Women    9. Women    10. Women's Studies - General    11. Women's studies   

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Asia - General    3. China    4. East Asia - History    5. General    6. History    7. History & Theory - General    8. History - General History    9. Inner Mongolia (China)    10. Interior Design - General    11. Political History    12. Political Science    13. Politics and government    14. Politics/International Relations    15. Republic, 1912-1949   

Reviews (1)

Exquisite - the definitive work on Mongol tantric art
A stunning compilation in words and pictures, focussing on the arts and culture of the Mongols. Filled with sumptuous full-color plates of thankas and artifacts in museums and collections worldwide, this book traces therise of Tantric Buddhism within Mongolia and the tremendous transformationin Mongol culture as a result. Featuring some of the finest sculptures tobe found within the Buddhist artistic tradition, those created by the firstBogdo Gegen Zanabazar, among a multitude of other examples of the heightsto which the Mongolians raised tantric art. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient Oriental Art    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Art, Buddhist    5. Art, Mongolian    6. Civilization    7. Exhibitions    8. History - Asian    9. Mongolia    10. ASIA    11. China    12. Cultural studies    13. History of art & design styles: c 1400 to c 1600    14. History of art & design styles: c 1800 to c 1900    15. Oriental art   

Editorial Review

It's better to travel to Mongolia in summer than in winter. In summer the temperatures can hit 115 degrees Fahrenheit, but that's easier to survive than the -40 of January. Both are preferable to spring, though, when, John Man writes in this vivid story of wilderness adventure, "brutal cold gives way to sand-blasting gales that can flay exposed skin and strip the paint from a car."Read more

Reviews (1)

Window to a surprising corner of the world
The author's somewhat standard travelogue visit to Mongolia is escalated to excellence through two key things: the detail he provides about a little-documented country, and the insight that bridges Western concepts ofsociety and natural beauty with those of Mongolia.Read more

Subjects:  1. Description And Travel    2. East Asia - History    3. Essays    4. General    5. Gobi Desert (Mongolia and Chin    6. Gobi Desert (Mongolia and China)    7. Man, John    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Travel    11. Nature / Essays   

Reviews (5)

Good Biographies.
Good details, and some fine history made this scarcely studied topic a worthy read. The book focuses on the Mongols finest commanders and their campaigns. Ghenghis, Kublai, Hulegu, and Tamerlane. I liked the latter chapter the best. For a book of less than 200 pages, you get a wealth of information. There are also fine full page illustrations, photographs, drawings and maps.

A Very Versatile History of Mongol Conquest
The Mongol Warlords, by David Nicolle, is a very broad and complete coverage of the Mongolian culture and its military campaigns. The book focuses on the four great Mongol leaders: Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan, Hulego and Tamerlane. However, this book goes far beyond simple biographies of these four men. Tons of great pictures and drawings
There is a lot of information about Mongolian culture, politics, and conquests as well as other aspects of their history, in particularly the Mongolian rulers (obviously). This book has a great deal of information about the way that they waged war and what they used to do it. There are details of what happened in particular campaigns as well as the battle tactics that were used.Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia    2. Conquerors    3. Far East    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History, Military    7. History: World    8. Kings and rulers    9. Military History - Medieval    10. Mongols    11. Asian / Middle Eastern history    12. Biography: historical    13. Mongolia    14. Warfare & Defence   

Subjects:  1. Books    2. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    3. History    4. History: World    5. Mongolia    6. Mongolian languages    7. Reference    8. Writing   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Asia - China    3. East Asia - History    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: American    7. Mongolia   

Reviews (1)

Mongolian Buddhist Prespectives on History
The Jewel Translucent Sutra: Altan Khan and the Mongols in the Sixteenth Century by Johan Elverskog (Brill's Inner Asian Library, 8: Brill Academic) The first full-fledged critical edition and historical study of the Erdeni Tunumal Sudur, the Mongolian history of Altan Khan and his descendants, offering a full-range English-written historical and literary evaluation of this unique and fairly reliable, but long neglected discovery in Mongolian studies.
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Subjects:  1. 1507-1581    2. 16th century    3. Anda,    4. Asia - China    5. Asia - General    6. Erdeni tunumal neretu sudur    7. Erdeni tunumal neretèu sudur    8. General    9. History    10. History - General History    11. History: World    12. Interior Design - General    13. Mongols    14. Asian / Middle Eastern history: c 1500 to c 1900    15. Mongolia    16. c 1500 to c 1600   

Reviews (2)

a must HAVE
this is a MUST HAVE book .... great to refer to as you plow through Mongolian Travel and Adventure Books.....I'm thrilled to own it! Glad it was 'finally' published!

Encyclopedia of Mongolian and the Mongol Empire
This is a gem of historical history of the all of the Mongols, when I mean all, I mean all - Western, Eastern, Southern, and Northern tribes from early times to the present. The book is organized alphabetically and references are made so the reader can obtain further information after each topic.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Asia - General    3. Encyclopedias    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Mongolia    8. World - General    9. Asian / Middle Eastern history: c 500 to c 1500    10. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    11. Mongol Empire    12. Reference works   

Subjects:  1. Antiques & Collectibles    2. Antiques/Collectibles    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. China    5. Ethnic jewelry    6. History - Asian    7. Inner Mongolia    8. Jewelry    9. Jewelry Arts And Crafts    10. Mongolia    11. Mongols    12. Fashion design    13. Gold & silversmithing    14. Jewellery & jewellery-making   

Subjects:  1. 1991-    2. Anthropology - Cultural    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Development - Economic Development    5. Economic Conditions    6. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    7. Mongolia    8. Political Ideologies - Communism & Socialism    9. Post-Communism    10. Russia (Federation)    11. Social Science    12. Social conditions    13. Sociology    14. Former Soviet Union, USSR (Europe)    15. Social & cultural anthropology    16. Social history    17. Transitional economies   

Reviews (5)

Before the end of caravan days
Owen Lattimore, the successively famous Chinese and Mongolian scholar and much debated presumptive "comunist agent" of the McCartney period, wrote this book in 1927 after his incredible caravan voyage along the then unmapped "Winding Road" in Inner Mongolia of 1926. The reason for this ethnological feat was the Author's convinction that caravan days were going to disappear with the progress beeing made in China by railways and roads and as he puts it: "I wanted to feel the strange and actual life of the past which we usually accept without thought as the dead background of our present". The choice of the Winding Road instead of the more common and mapped Silk Road routes was determined by the then dangerous traveling conditions due to war going on in China. Lattimore's intention must be kept in mind while reading this exquisite work. Many of the apparent drawbacks of the book such as the excessive detail in the use of foreign toponyms, the frequent digressions into prices of wares, habits of people, legends and stories related to places are in reality a treasure of knwoledge that has been preserved for ever. However, the "winding" of Lattimore's prose and thoughts does not hinder the enjoyability of this adventure, because the Desert Road is an adventure book of the best tradition. The adventure of a smart and curious and brave young man that is completely engrossed in his dream but at the same times does notrecoil from living and learning from the men he travels with. Thecharacters such as Moses, the Villainous Camel Puller and Wa-wa, the Eldest Son of the House of Chou are etched with great care and deep understanding and even if there are no "strong episodes", the interactions among them is interesting to follow and works like the backbone of the story. But the real magic of the book is the description of the days, the atmospheres and the landscapes, the animals (camels and others), the physical excertion and the the inconveniences and the moments of joy and peace.The Black Gobi is looming in the back of the whole story with its camel skeletons and buried water wells. The book also offers many photographs shot by the Author that illustrate significant episodes and people.
Book is as dry as the desert road to Turketsan
I only read about 100 pages, and I'm not sure how I even got that far.It's not that the book is poorly written, for lack of a better phrase, nor is it that Lattimore's trip was boring.Maybe it was, can't really put my finger on it.
What a great book!
I finished reading Owen Lattimore's The Desert Road to Turkestan yesterday, and rarely have I been so completely, thoroughly and delightedly sandbagged by a book.I spent all day in bed absorbed in Lattimore's travels with a Chinese camel caravan through Western China and the Gobi desert in 1926-7.This definitely qualifies as a first-rate example of the "Are You Out of Your Mind!" travel book genre.It's even better than The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.On top of that, Lattimore was one of the 20th centuries finest Asian Scholars.Buy, Read, Enjoy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th Century Description And Travel    2. Asia - Central    3. Asia - General    4. Asia, Central    5. Description and travel    6. General    7. History    8. History: World    9. Mongolia    10. Travel - General    11. ASIA    12. China    13. Travel writing   

Reviews (2)

Fresh Treatment of a Little Known Time
The Asian steppes from Turkey to China from about 800 BC to the mid 1700's produced a series of peoples that developed a culture that was dramatically different from that in the rest of the world. While the rest of the world was settling down into farming and building cities, these nomadic tribes flowed over the steppes living a life of slaughter and plunder before moving on.
Skillfully surveys the two thousand year military history
Nomadic Empires: From Mongolia To The Danube by French academician Gerard Chaliand (Director, The European Center for the Study of Conflicts - Paris) skillfully surveys the two thousand year military history and geopolitical phenomena that was the reality and legacy of the Mongol Empire of Genghis-Khan and his heirs (5th Century BCE to 15th Century CE) which spread out over Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. A wealth of carefully researched dates, descriptive interplay of sweeping forces, and close dissection of the organizational, strategic, and psychological military techniques employed in conquest that changed history are combined in an informed and informative text. Nomadic Empires is a strongly commended addition to academic library reference collections and inherently fascinating reading for any non-specialist general reader with an interest in world history. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. History    3. International Relations - General    4. Military    5. Military - Strategy    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Asian / Middle Eastern history: c 500 to c 1500    8. History / General    9. Mongol Empire   

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Asia - General    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Asian / Middle Eastern history: from c 1900 -    7. Mongolia