Mongolia: Nomad Empire of the Eternal Blue Sky

by Carl Robinson

Mongolia is a land of constant surprises. Renowned for its classic rolling steppe land - from where, in times past, nomadic Mongol clans and confederations swept out to conquer much of the known world - it also boasts snow-capped peaks towering over wide, grassy valleys, meandering rivers and great lakes, as well as badlands, dramatic gorges and mighty sand dunes rising from flat desert floors. Within these enormous vistas much of the old Mongolia can still be found, with herdsmen, horses and heart-warming hospitality wherever you go. But in its growing cities a new Mongolia is emerging, shaking loose from its Sovietera shackles and making the most of a liberating free-market economy. This beautifully illustrated book provides a comprehensive and insightful guide to the diverse natural history and rich culture of 'The Land of the Eternal Blue Sky'. This title presents in-depth historical focus, from prehistory to post-Soviet freedom. It discusses Mongolia's incredible natural diversity. It includes special topic essays by experts on important aspects of Mongolian culture and history. It features wide range of literary excerpts, from Natsagdorj to Roy Chapman Andrews.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel

536 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2010

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reader who picks up this book and flicks through the photographs with out reading a word would come away almost fully satisfied, of such good quality they capture the amazing scenery, people and animals fantastically. I have read plenty of books about Mongolia, and visited for just over two weeks, and these are the best collection I have seen. They cover the whole spectrum of peoples and places, and the vast variance in landscape with seasonal effects.

The reader who reads even the 'special topics' boxed texts will learn detailed information about interesting or key features of Mongolian life and culture. These are written not just by the author but other specialists with deeper knowledge to share, and are well curated. Running from a page to 3 or 4 pages, topics such as the Reindeer People, the Nadaam festival, the eagle hunting festival, cultural taboos, the roads of Mongolia, the Mongolian Yeti (the Almas) and fishing (for Taiman) are covered. As well, there are 'literary excerpts' throughout from some well known authors (Ben Kozel, Roy Chapman Andrews, Ewan McGregor) telling of their experiences in Mongolia.

A typical guidebook this is not, but it does have a dozen pages at the end which conform a bit more to the where to stay, facts for the visitor, practical information data. Beyond that is a narrative split up into the administrative divisions of Mongolia (it is as good any any geographical split up I suppose) providing plenty of detail.

It is probably not the guidebook I would use to plan travel, but it certainly provides plenty of inspiration to chose your own 'must see's' should you be lucky enough to be heading to Mongolia. You could do worse than take it with you (or at least the relevant parts of it) for use there too. That said it is not at all troublesome for the arm-chair traveller to spend a good few hours reading through it. I certainly brushed up on a lot of knowledge, and picked up things I had never known, and I consider myself fairly well researched on the places I visit (usually!).

4 stars, which could have been 5 if it was 'just' a photography book!

[Bryn Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

A travel guide that isn't. A picture book - fantastic pictures - with description, and far more than the cultural snippets and superficial history-boxes you get in the average guide. I read from cover to cover. Stand-outs for me: an essay on the Mongol sasquatch, known as the Almas, a species who certainly ain't extinct in Mongolia; a piece on traditional Mongolian medicine (with items other than airag, although airag does cure scurvy, tuberculosis, anaemia, digestive disorders and exhaustion); a piece on winter travel - now that's rare - with eye-popping particularities about a Mongolian winter (this piece is called 'The Other Eight Months').

[C K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully photographed- Robinson is a great travel writer for a western audience. I’m sold on his itineraries. Devastated my copy of the book got soaked while camping: I’d take this with me as a reference.

[May]

Getting myself excited for my trip to Mongolia in October!

[Dorly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this probably 3-4 times, the last one during our travels in Mongolia. If you have to chose one book on the country, this is it!