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Apples Are from Kazakhstan: The Land That Disappeared
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Closed to foreigners under Tsar and Soviet rule, Kazakhstan has remained largely hidden from the world, a remarkable feat for a country the size of Western Europe. Few would guess that Kazakhstan—a blank in Westerners' collective geography—turns out to be diverse, tolerant, and surprisingly modern, the country that gave the world apples, trousers, and even, perhaps, King A
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Start your review of Apples Are from Kazakhstan: The Land That Disappeared
Part travel diary, story book, and history text--an engaging look at a country that unfortunately is only known in the west because of the idiotic Borat of recent years. The author spent considerable time in Kazakhstan interviewing the president, traveling to all major regions, and researching its history in depth. I particularly enjoyed learning the history of certain regions through the stories of Dostoevsky, Trotsky, and Solzhenitsyn, who all spent considerable time there against their will.
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Apr 22, 2008
Sara
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
anyone with a degree of wanderlust or just wide-ranging curiosity
Now I want to visit Kazakhstan.
This book is a lovingly-written, extensively researched ode to a little-known and much-mocked nation. The author, aside from traveling to the remotest parts of this already remote country, also makes a thorough study of the Kazakh president and political history since the country's recent independence.
As a result, this book is crazy educational. "Crazy educational?" you say, doubtful and with slight scorn. Yes - it is educational, but the history, the natural reso ...more
This book is a lovingly-written, extensively researched ode to a little-known and much-mocked nation. The author, aside from traveling to the remotest parts of this already remote country, also makes a thorough study of the Kazakh president and political history since the country's recent independence.
As a result, this book is crazy educational. "Crazy educational?" you say, doubtful and with slight scorn. Yes - it is educational, but the history, the natural reso ...more
This was an absolutely scrumptious travelogue/history book, chock-full of interesting tidbits and trivia. The author not only traveled basically all over Kazakhstan, but he also wrote about its history, particularly under Soviet rule, and interviewed loads of Kazakhs, including the president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. (And, from Mr. Robbins's description, Nazarbayev sounds like a nice enough guy who genuinely cares about his country's welfare.)
Although there are a lot of ethnic, linguistic and relig ...more
Although there are a lot of ethnic, linguistic and relig ...more
On a flight from London to Moscow, Christopher Robbins sat next to a man traveling from Georgia to Kazakhstan to start a new life with a woman he met over the Internet. As they left the plane, the man commented "apples are from Kazakhstan."
That sentence hooked Robbins. It hooked me, too. When I read that story in the prologue, I decided that I would have to read the rest.
Apples are from Kazakhstan. The man who established Kazakhstan as the birthplace of the apple, Valivov, was sentenced to death ...more
That sentence hooked Robbins. It hooked me, too. When I read that story in the prologue, I decided that I would have to read the rest.
Apples are from Kazakhstan. The man who established Kazakhstan as the birthplace of the apple, Valivov, was sentenced to death ...more
I knew nothing about Kazakhstan before picking up this book and now I feel like a mini-expert. This book is about Robbins' personal travels and experiences in Kazakhstan, along with some history and politics and background on the people and culture. A fun read with great sketches throughout the book that really enhanced the read for me.
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I liked Robbins' bits of history and racial/ethnic analysis best (especially about the Kargul and Russian nationalism/anti-Kazakh racism); it was refreshing to read about my country of origin through the eyes of someone who was genuine and curious, especially because most westerners that I've encountered either know nothing about Kazakhstan or are want to say something xenophobic. This book is effective in its goal to introduce Kazakhstan to the western imagination.
That said, I found Robbins' re ...more
That said, I found Robbins' re ...more
Now feel I have to get my passport sorted out and take a trip to Kazakhstan, lots of things to see and people to meet.
This is a good travel book in that it makes you want to go and visit Kazakhstan. However, it's not your usual tourist book. There is a lot of history - both older (dating back to the Mongols from whom the Kazakhs are descended) and more recent (lots of info, both good and bad, about the Soviet era - many of the worst gulag prison camps were in Kazakhstan and this was where Solzhenitsyn spent his gulag days). There is also a much more nuanced picture of the current president of Kazakhstan than is
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A very interesting book about Kazakhstan, who definitely is a very interesting country! I liked that it wasn't a history book, but that it spun the country's story and culture around anecdotes from the author's time there.
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The disturbing aspect of this book is its unapologetic hagiography of Kazakhstan's dictatorship and one party state. Even more disturbing is that virtually none of the Goodreads or wider media reviewers seem to have noticed, or seem be in the least bit concerned.
In the fourth chapter Robbins spends a mere two paragraphs dismissing the "muddled and contradictory" Western criticisms of the Kazakh government. He entirely ignores the legitimate concerns of Kazakhstan human rights and democracy campa ...more
In the fourth chapter Robbins spends a mere two paragraphs dismissing the "muddled and contradictory" Western criticisms of the Kazakh government. He entirely ignores the legitimate concerns of Kazakhstan human rights and democracy campa ...more
Top class travel/modern history book about Kazakhstan. This book far exceeded my expectations. I loved every page.
The author covered so many interesting topics: the steppes, traditional clans, famous/infamous people, space stations, nuclear testing, gulag, the fall of USSR, new independence, voting integrity and so much more.
Travel to each fascinating place including snippets of fun trivia such as information on the historical journeys of the few others who passed by.
The author was constantly w ...more
The author covered so many interesting topics: the steppes, traditional clans, famous/infamous people, space stations, nuclear testing, gulag, the fall of USSR, new independence, voting integrity and so much more.
Travel to each fascinating place including snippets of fun trivia such as information on the historical journeys of the few others who passed by.
The author was constantly w ...more
Liked what I read so far, especially since I knew nothing about Kazakhstan. (But I did know apples are from Kazakhstan!!! Thanks, MP!) Anyway, now I know slightly more about Kazakhstan, like that the first settlers were descendants of Genghis Khan, and today if you can prove you're descended from him you get to say you're part of the White Bone. Who knew? But the book was due August 14th and the library is getting mad at me, so the rest of Kazakhstan's secrets will have to wait to be revealed.
9/ ...more
9/ ...more
This is an easy-to-read and charming book. It's distinguished from the usual travelogue writing by the author's interviews with the president of the country which make up several chapters in the second half.
My favorite part of the book is the description of how Kazakhstan got its own currency, the tenge, through a covert operation!
There is a lot of introductory information about Kazakhstan, in line with the author's contention that most people know nothing about it. The book is overwhelmingly g ...more
My favorite part of the book is the description of how Kazakhstan got its own currency, the tenge, through a covert operation!
There is a lot of introductory information about Kazakhstan, in line with the author's contention that most people know nothing about it. The book is overwhelmingly g ...more
"I stopped at an ATM at the corner of a street where a camel stood nonchalantly snacking on a small tree... The camel held my gaze for a moment, turned away, made a final tug at the indigestible tree, and moved on. In the meantime there was the familiar whirring sound of the ATM's electronic count, and out popped exotic, crisp tenge notes, a currency made unique in that it was introduced by stealth in a top-secret operation."
This was a fascinating read - at times fast-paced and light-hearted, an ...more
This was a fascinating read - at times fast-paced and light-hearted, an ...more
Apparently, apples really do come from Kazakhstan which is, according to the author, "one of the largest and least known places on earth." Very interesting book. I learned a lot about that part of the world, most of it positive. British author and publisher in quite a dense font.
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So interesting (I love taking a peek into another culture) and informative- so informative that I felt rather ignorant about much of world history in Central Asia.
I enjoyed Robbins' writing style and how he chose to introduce the range of material.
I would recommend this book to anyone. ...more
I enjoyed Robbins' writing style and how he chose to introduce the range of material.
I would recommend this book to anyone. ...more
I really enjoyed this book. While there were some parts that were not so interesting to me about the more distant history of Kazakhstan, for the most part this was an interesting glimpse into a country about which I knew absolutely nothing.
A few interesting facts:
- Kazakhstan is a mix of many different ethnic groups, a lot due to the fact that so many groups of people were exiled to Kazakhstan under Stalin. According this book, there isn't a lot of conflict between these ethnic groups.
- In 1997, ...more
A few interesting facts:
- Kazakhstan is a mix of many different ethnic groups, a lot due to the fact that so many groups of people were exiled to Kazakhstan under Stalin. According this book, there isn't a lot of conflict between these ethnic groups.
- In 1997, ...more
Absolutely brilliant. Loved it, read it in two days (which is the equivalent of 'read it in one sitting', if you're the kind of person who is constantly being interrupted).
Mixture of history and travel book written by a man who became interested in Kazakhstan when he got chatting to somebody he met on a plane. He ends up spending lots of time there, even hanging out with the president, Sultan Nazarbayev. He visits the Polygon, where the Soviet scientists tested nuclear bombs, and the Aral Sea. ...more
Mixture of history and travel book written by a man who became interested in Kazakhstan when he got chatting to somebody he met on a plane. He ends up spending lots of time there, even hanging out with the president, Sultan Nazarbayev. He visits the Polygon, where the Soviet scientists tested nuclear bombs, and the Aral Sea. ...more
Even if I weren't going to teach in Kazakhstan, I would have really enjoyed this book and given it the same rating. I feel very fortunate to have read the book before going to teach there and glad that my husband found and purchased it. The author lived and travelled in Kazakhstan for a couple of years to find out about Kazakhstan based on a chance encounter peaking his interest in the place and shares what he learned with us. We learn as we read about how Russia used and changed or abused Kazak
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The reviews for this book claimed it is hilarious and fascinating. I couldn't agree more.
I like Robbins' writing style and I love the fact that a map of the country is printed in the copy I picked up. It gives some perspective about what he describes, and goes a long way in giving one a sense of where exactly specific places he's at are.
Part travel, part memoir, but fully educational! There's so much about this country that people don't know -- its history, politics, economy, etc. I, for one, w ...more
I like Robbins' writing style and I love the fact that a map of the country is printed in the copy I picked up. It gives some perspective about what he describes, and goes a long way in giving one a sense of where exactly specific places he's at are.
Part travel, part memoir, but fully educational! There's so much about this country that people don't know -- its history, politics, economy, etc. I, for one, w ...more
I picked up this book because our Church has a sister church based in Almaty. When I saw this book appear on my library's "new books" list, I was immediately intrigued.
During a flight from London to Moscow, the author of this book met a man who told him, "Apples are from Kazakhstan." Robbins was intrigued and a couple years later, journeyed to the country to learn its history and culture. Robbins interweaves Soviet/USSR history with stories about Kazakh peoples. He creates a readable experience ...more
During a flight from London to Moscow, the author of this book met a man who told him, "Apples are from Kazakhstan." Robbins was intrigued and a couple years later, journeyed to the country to learn its history and culture. Robbins interweaves Soviet/USSR history with stories about Kazakh peoples. He creates a readable experience ...more
I read the original British edition of this book published as In Search of Kazakhstan. In that edition, the author mentions that he much prefers the Apples title, which I see he finally got in the American version. It's a great read, especially for the historically minded. I agree with lots of the positive points made by other Goodreads reviewers. The ideas and viewpoints taken from the presidential interviews are unexpectedly interesting and full of surprises, though Robbins may have been a lit
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I really enjoyed this book that completely debunks the crass cultural stereotyping of Borat. It is however a lot more serious than the GR synopsis makes it out to be. As well as finding some very funny cultural stories, explaining the roots of the nation and describing some stunning scenery and animal life, the bulk of the book concerns politics and recent history. What is facinating and enlightening is the fate of Kazakhstan post the creation of the Soviet Union and its politics post independen
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As a person who lived and travelled around Kazakhstan for a year, I found this book highly familiar, educating and hillarious. Robbins has a great talent of going from small but significant details he had observed to the broad perspective on the history, economics and societal development of the country.
I particulalrly enjoyed biographical accounts of people related to Kazakhstan, such as Trotsky, Solzhenitsyn, Nazarbayev, even Gorbachev and Yeltsin. Robbins manages to bring out controversies re ...more
I particulalrly enjoyed biographical accounts of people related to Kazakhstan, such as Trotsky, Solzhenitsyn, Nazarbayev, even Gorbachev and Yeltsin. Robbins manages to bring out controversies re ...more
A worthy tribute to one of the world’s least understood countries. Kazakhstan is equal parts desolate, harsh and beautiful, yet capable of bringing out the very best in humankind. I enjoy so much about this amazing country, from the incongruity of Astana’s architecture, the endless steppe and the ancient streets of Almaty.
A fantastic blend of storytelling and facts. After visiting Kazakhstan myself I was especially interested in the historical background of this hidden gem of a country, which most people (myself included) only know from the movie Borat. I highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in USSR history or broadening their knowledge of Central Asian culture. Or just fans of good writing :)
Sep 05, 2020
Shatterlings
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction-nineteen
This is an informative and also entertaining read, it’s hard to get that balance right but it’s done well here. It had subjects that are very much in my wheelhouse with gulags, environmental issues and nuclear testing. The political aspect was surprisingly readable.
A real page turner! I love the different topics it discusses from social to history to politics to romance. I would definitely recommend it to those interested in travel and cultures.
Another entry in the travel diary-trivia-history-profile book genre. Generally well done and engaging. During his research, the author sought access to the President and may have gotten more than he bargained for in the end, when the Nazarbaev took a shine to him and invited him over all the time to talk and travel as part of his entourage. The last chapter turned into an endless and uncritical slog through Nazarbaev’s life and rule (became Kazakhstan’s first and only president to date in 1990),
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I liked the little bit of humor mixed in with this description of Kazakhstan, mostly in the earlier pages of the book. Wow, I didn’t realize all that had happened in Kazakhstan, & how it was used by the USSR. It is one travelogue that got me interested in various aspects of the country that I further researched. Hey, I think I would like to visit Kazakhstan & see what it has evolved to 10+ years after Robbins published the book.
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Christopher Robbins began his career in journalism at the age of sixteen when he started writing jazz criticism for the Daily Telegraph. Since then he has written for numerous newspapers and magazines in Britain, Europe and the USA.
The Empress of Ireland won the Saga Award for wit, along with exceptional critical acclaim. In Search of Kazakhstan was short-listed for the Authors’ Club Best Travel B ...more
The Empress of Ireland won the Saga Award for wit, along with exceptional critical acclaim. In Search of Kazakhstan was short-listed for the Authors’ Club Best Travel B ...more
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