In the Empire of Genghis Khan: An Amazing Odyssey Through the Lands of the Most Feared Conquerors in History

Loved this book.
Partially because I recognized quite a few things of the Soviet insanity, the way a newly formed republic is trying to cope with the years of occupation, russification an dpartly because I just loved to read the story about the journey, spiced with little historical sidesteps to Dzhengis Khan, to Monk Wilhelm, that put the way Mongols live more into perspective.

I'm sure (although I'm VERY interested in that part of the world) I won't make the journey Stewart made, the way he made it.
1. I don't ride horseback (quite crucial to his trip)
2. I have hay fever (that's VERY inconvenient when riding on a 'sea of waving grass'
3. I dislike the taste of sheep ( and almost all intestents, no matter what animal they originate show more from).

Nevertheless, reading this book was like going on that journey together with him and I found the companionship very pleasant! show less

I hate to use the word interesting, but this really is. A book not just about the country, but also the further reaching ends of Mongolian influence. I must admit that I had never realised how far they had reached and seemingly only stopped their expansion because of a horse race!

The author also writes of the people he meets, Mongolian herdsmen, 2 wedding parties, a librarian as well as Russian travellers. One insight that particularly liked was the observation that the writer was the real traveller, not the nomadic Mongolians.

Stewart is a very good writer and his experiences are interesting. I love the bits of history sprinkled throughout. But the way he describes the people he meets makes me uncomfortable. I think he's trying to be folksy and humorous, but he just comes across as judging (almost) everyone he meets. And I definitely don't need to know the breast size of every woman he encounters.

This book is an enjoyable collection of stories, as well as a history lesson, hung on the framework of a mutli-month journey. The author keeps the pace moving and the flowery language to a minimum (though I did have to use a dictionary a few times.) Overall I found this book fun to read.

The only real problem I had is with the author’s Western romanticized slant on the Mongolian nomadic lifestyle. A character calls him on this point at the end of the book, but the author does not explore the personal ramifications of the character’s question. If you are interested in Central Asia and Mongolia in particular, and can look past the one fault, I would recommend this book.

This is a great book and really brought out the nomad in me. After reading the first few pages Stewart captured my imagination instantly and made me wonder what it would be like to trek accross the wastelands to Bayan Olgii and Burkan Khaldun...

Ok prep for a trip to Mongolia although 1/3 of the book is just getting to Mongolia.