The only thing most people know about Kazakhstan is that it is homeland to Borat - and he isn't even real. Actually this vast place - the last unknown inhabited country in the world - is far more surprising and entertaining. For one thing, it is as varied as Europe, combining stupendous wealth, grinding poverty, exotic traditions and a mad dash for modernity.Crisscrossing a vanished land, Christopher Robbins finds Eminem by a shrinking Aral Sea, goes eagle-hunting, visits the scene of Dostoyevsky's doomed first love, takes up residence beside one-time neighbour Leon Trotsky and visits some of the most beautiful, unspoilt places on earth.
In Search of Kazakhstan: The Land that Disappeared
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
"'Discovers a misunderstood and changing land... a superlative addition to the literature of travel.' Observer 'Extremely entertaining and informative... hilarious.' Independent '... an entertaining and chatty guide to a country that has been shrouded in mystery.' Herald (Glasgow) 'A welcome antidote to the made up world of Borat.' The Times Magazine"
Book Description
Borat has got it all wrong. Kazakhstan is far more interesting and entertaining than he'd have us believe. In fact it's probably the most surprising country on earth, and certainly one of the most tolerant.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
The line about the apples stayed with me. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The line about the apples stayed with me. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Book Reader
Format:Paperback
It's marketed as a travel book but it's much more than that. It gives a very good insight into Kazakhstan past and present including the political/economic developments. The author spent days talking to and traveling around with President Nazarbayev. The president comes across as a very smart guy who has done really well given the appalling situation he inherited. The author obviously liked the country but the book doesn't come across as propaganda.
It contains the inside story on how the USSR really worked, what the gulag was like from people who survived it, how and why the new currency (the tenge) was secretly planned, how arab countries offered to pay them to keep their SS18 ICBMs, and how Iran and Iraq tried to buy weapons grade material.
This book is a serious bit of writing and impressed me a lot. If you want to know more about a country which is in the news because of oil then I recommend this book highly.
It contains the inside story on how the USSR really worked, what the gulag was like from people who survived it, how and why the new currency (the tenge) was secretly planned, how arab countries offered to pay them to keep their SS18 ICBMs, and how Iran and Iraq tried to buy weapons grade material.
This book is a serious bit of writing and impressed me a lot. If you want to know more about a country which is in the news because of oil then I recommend this book highly.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By R. Pelly
Format:Paperback
Having been to Kazakhstan half a dozen times on business I found this an entertaining and fascinating description of the country, its people & history. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Christopher Robbins has written an excellent travel book about his trip to Kazakhstan. It is beautifully described with interesting anecdotes. A very readable volume on a part of the world that few people know. However, be careful this is the same book as Apples are From Kazakhstan.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see both reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An in depth and well researched history and overview.
Read this book just before a brief, but very interesting visit to Almaty, a city in a country that I knew very little about before reading this book. Read more
Published 6 months ago by June Barlow
3.0 out of 5 stars
haphazard but gets a pass
Those who know nothing about Kazakhstan stand to learn quite a bit from this book. However, those familiar with the country (and I probably have a more intense interest in this... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Boris
4.0 out of 5 stars
An enjoyable read
As someone planning to visit Kazakhstan myself next year, I was looking for anything I could lay my hands on to get some background info on the country. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Andy Cunningham
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great review of a fascinating country
Of course I'd heard of Kazakhstan - I couldn't tell you much about it though despite it being the 8th largest country in the world and the size of western Europe. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Joe
4.0 out of 5 stars
Impossibly exotic - the last unknown?
The cover of this book belies the scholarship and erudition contained therein - the cover looks like it heralds a humorous, frivolous, sarcastic travelogue by a satirical,... Read more
Published 23 months ago by SAP
3.0 out of 5 stars
Far too cosy
Not a bad book, and good holiday reading for people that have never come in to contact with the country and find it somehow 'exotic'. Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2011 by Christopher Rickleton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good fun book
Enjoyable, easy read. Not done in the "look at the funny foreigners" stance. Not the most in depth book but good for a brief insight
Published on 2 Feb 2011 by Quick reviews!
3.0 out of 5 stars
a bit dissapointing
It is entertaining and really easy to read. However, I must say that many things that were described in the book (hotel, disco etc)changed long ago. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2010 by Asekesh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great supplement to a travel guide
This is a great book on Kazakhstan, its history and people. The book hillariously written and informative. Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2010 by biomax2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
We had no idea what Kazakhstan was like when we heard that our granddaughter was going there for two years. This book has told us. Read more
Published on 17 May 2010 by Jeremy Hutchinson
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
