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Review
Not only readable and well informed but timely to an almost painful degree ... This book is a rattling good yarn (Geoffrey Wheatcroft, NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW )
Deserves to be read in the White House ... Scholarly and eloquently told, the stories of empire in the Asian heartland have an edge of urgency ... With a sense of easy mastery, [Meyer] gazes broadly at the longest view (LOS ANGELES BOOK REVIEW )
[A] poweful introduction to this poorly understood region...Meyer combines scholarly expertise with journalistic detail in a rich account relaying formative events through extensive research and poignant personal anecdotes. (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY )
Both a scholar and a journalist, Meyer's understanding of the region's intricate geotopical history is matched by his ability to tell a good story. THE DUST OF EMPIRE is as gripping as any thriller, a deftly written overview by an expert in the field. (GEOGRAPHICAL MAGAZINE )
Deserves to be read in the White House ... Scholarly and eloquently told, the stories of empire in the Asian heartland have an edge of urgency ... With a sense of easy mastery, [Meyer] gazes broadly at the longest view (LOS ANGELES BOOK REVIEW )
[A] poweful introduction to this poorly understood region...Meyer combines scholarly expertise with journalistic detail in a rich account relaying formative events through extensive research and poignant personal anecdotes. (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY )
Both a scholar and a journalist, Meyer's understanding of the region's intricate geotopical history is matched by his ability to tell a good story. THE DUST OF EMPIRE is as gripping as any thriller, a deftly written overview by an expert in the field. (GEOGRAPHICAL MAGAZINE )
Publishers Weekly
'[A] powerful introduction to this poorly understood region ... a rich account [combining] extensive research and poignant personal anecdotes.'
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IS THERE AN American empire? Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
IS THERE AN American empire? Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Part of the back-cover blurb to this examination of Western Intervention in the history of Central Asia is the above quote from the Los Angeles Times - however, I would go further and suggest that it is absolutely paramount that this book is not only read and digested in the White House but in Downing Street, The Kremlin and every official residence of governments worldwide.
It won't be of course, as Meyer clearly shows here how successive Presidents and Prime-Ministers over 200 years have used the excuse of "making their lives better" to repeatedly interfere in the affairs of "lesser" countries, exploit their natural resources, or simply attempt to absorb them into their Empire/Union/Sphere of Influence, however they wish to phrase it.
He examines in enthralling detail how the foreign policies of America, Russia and Britain have blighted the lives and fortunes of every country east of Turkey and west of China over centuries, thus explaining their mistrust and aversion in present times.
In parts it makes for disturbing reading if you happen to be British, as the partitioning of India in 1947 has to be the low-point in our history, while the creation of Iraq in the 20's would have been one of the most farcical if it hadn't been for the subsequent decades of tragedy.
You can begin to understand why the people of Chechnya are so desperate to rid themselves of Russian rule, after Meyer details the atrocities they've had to endure, not only under Communism, but even under the Imperial Tsars of the Nineteenth Century.
The most worrying trend that the author highlights is the apparent blindness of America in regards to their current foreign policies, and the seeming inability to learn from the mistakes of other countries - Russia in Afghanistan especially. Current events in Iraq clearly parallel the almost impossible task the Russians faced in trying to extricate a way out once they were committed to the Invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 on the flimsiest of excuses.
There is a wonderful quote attributed to President John F. Kennedy in 1961 that rounds out the book, suggesting that "America hasn't the moral right to impose it's ideals on the rest of the World" and that some problems need "Time and Allies" in order to be resolved, that present and future incumbents of the White House would do well to consider.
Full marks to Karl Meyer for so entertainingly and informatively showing how historic events have a way of resonating down through the years before blowing up in our faces, and distorting how entire regions see the world and their role in it.
It won't be of course, as Meyer clearly shows here how successive Presidents and Prime-Ministers over 200 years have used the excuse of "making their lives better" to repeatedly interfere in the affairs of "lesser" countries, exploit their natural resources, or simply attempt to absorb them into their Empire/Union/Sphere of Influence, however they wish to phrase it.
He examines in enthralling detail how the foreign policies of America, Russia and Britain have blighted the lives and fortunes of every country east of Turkey and west of China over centuries, thus explaining their mistrust and aversion in present times.
In parts it makes for disturbing reading if you happen to be British, as the partitioning of India in 1947 has to be the low-point in our history, while the creation of Iraq in the 20's would have been one of the most farcical if it hadn't been for the subsequent decades of tragedy.
You can begin to understand why the people of Chechnya are so desperate to rid themselves of Russian rule, after Meyer details the atrocities they've had to endure, not only under Communism, but even under the Imperial Tsars of the Nineteenth Century.
The most worrying trend that the author highlights is the apparent blindness of America in regards to their current foreign policies, and the seeming inability to learn from the mistakes of other countries - Russia in Afghanistan especially. Current events in Iraq clearly parallel the almost impossible task the Russians faced in trying to extricate a way out once they were committed to the Invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 on the flimsiest of excuses.
There is a wonderful quote attributed to President John F. Kennedy in 1961 that rounds out the book, suggesting that "America hasn't the moral right to impose it's ideals on the rest of the World" and that some problems need "Time and Allies" in order to be resolved, that present and future incumbents of the White House would do well to consider.
Full marks to Karl Meyer for so entertainingly and informatively showing how historic events have a way of resonating down through the years before blowing up in our faces, and distorting how entire regions see the world and their role in it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In this book Mr Meyer sets out the historical circumstances and events that have lead to the current state of affairs in both the Caucasus and Central Asia.
I enjoyed the book and thought it brought great insight to the problems that currently beset the states of these regions. His writing style is easy to read and the book progresses quickly. The only thing that I would have enjoyed reading more about was the current situation facing some of these countries. The book explains the history well but the majority of the book deal with the history rather than the present. But perhaps, this is understandable for a historian!
This book is complemented well by The New Great Game - Blood and Oil in Central Asia.
I enjoyed the book and thought it brought great insight to the problems that currently beset the states of these regions. His writing style is easy to read and the book progresses quickly. The only thing that I would have enjoyed reading more about was the current situation facing some of these countries. The book explains the history well but the majority of the book deal with the history rather than the present. But perhaps, this is understandable for a historian!
This book is complemented well by The New Great Game - Blood and Oil in Central Asia.
Format:Hardcover
I was a little dubious about ordering this book as it appeared, from some research, that it might be somewhat 'heavy going' however curiosity overcame me....I purchased it and am glad I did. Yes it is a little hard going trying to follow all the names/places/detail etc in order to absorb the full impact of the book. However if, like me you have an interest in the why's and wherefor's regarding the world we now live in and why it is like it is with it's divisions relative to regions/countries/religion and politics then this is the book for you. Once I got into it I found myself drawn along wanting to read more about how the modern world (geographically, politically and religious divisions)was formed. The information it conveys is amazing regarding the seeming indifference of the 'good and great?' shown over the ages in 'carving' up the globe. Whilst imperialism and empire building obviously have/had it's merits and failings this book illustrates to the modern world how attitudes have changed over the centuries.....how the sometimes arbitrary delineation of geographic regions over the aeons, with no regard to the peoples (ethnicity/political leanings/religious followings etc) living in those areas have served to create peace in some places and sown the seeds for agression and war in others.
In essence if you have an interest in the how's or why's of the modern world relative to civil or political or religious strife then I would thoroughly recommend this book.......I guarantee it will enthrall and amaze you and cause you to question many of the modern preconceptions we harbour relative to the ways of the 'modern' world.
In essence if you have an interest in the how's or why's of the modern world relative to civil or political or religious strife then I would thoroughly recommend this book.......I guarantee it will enthrall and amaze you and cause you to question many of the modern preconceptions we harbour relative to the ways of the 'modern' world.
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