6 Recommended Books about Mongolia

The best books about Mongolia combine the epic history of Chinggis Khaan's empire with honest portraits of nomadic life and the country's modern transformation. These six titles, from a 13th-century chronicle to classic travel writing, will deepen any trip and are widely available in English.

1. The Secret History of the Mongols

The oldest surviving literary work in the Mongolian language, written by an unknown author in the 13th century, tells the story of Temüjin's ancestors, his hard youth and his rise to become Chinggis Khaan. It mixes genealogy, poetry and vivid storytelling, and many Mongolians know passages by heart. Igor de Rachewiltz's annotated English translation is the scholarly standard, while shorter, more readable versions are also available. Reading even a few chapters makes sites such as Deluun Boldog and the Onon and Kherlen valleys come alive.

2. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World — Jack Weatherford

Published in 2004, this bestseller by the American anthropologist Jack Weatherford argues that the Mongol Empire shaped the modern world through trade, communication networks and religious tolerance. Weatherford drew on the Secret History and on travels in Mongolia, including the Khentii homeland of Chinggis Khaan. Some historians find it too admiring, but it is the most accessible introduction to the empire and remains very popular in Mongolia itself.

3. In Search of Genghis Khan — Tim Severin

The British explorer Tim Severin rode across Mongolia in 1990 with Mongolian companions, just as the country was opening up after decades of socialism. His book follows the trail of the Mongol conquests while describing herders, horse culture and a society on the brink of change. It is a fascinating snapshot of Mongolia at a turning point.

4. In the Empire of Genghis Khan — Stanley Stewart

Subtitled "A Journey Among Nomads" and published in 2000, this travel book follows Stanley Stewart from Istanbul across Central Asia to Mongolia, ending with a long horseback journey across the Mongolian steppe. It is warm, funny and observant about hospitality, airag, Naadam and life in the countryside, making it an ideal read for anyone planning a riding trip.

5. Hearing Birds Fly — Louisa Waugh

Louisa Waugh spent a year living in a remote village in Bayan-Ölgii in the far west of Mongolia, and "Hearing Birds Fly: A Nomadic Year in Mongolia" (2003) records the harsh winter, the isolation and the friendships she formed there. It is one of the most intimate accounts of rural Mongolian life written in English.

6. Modern Mongolia — Morris Rossabi

For context on today's Mongolia, "Modern Mongolia: From Khans to Commissars to Capitalists" (2005) by the historian Morris Rossabi examines the 1990 democratic revolution and the difficult move to a market economy. It helps explain the growth of Ulaanbaatar, the role of mining and the challenges facing herders.

Tips for finding and reading these books

• Most titles are available as e-books, which saves luggage space.
• Bookshops in Ulaanbaatar stock some English titles and many Mongolian editions, but stock varies.
• Mongolian readers often know the Secret History through Ts. Damdinsüren's celebrated modern Mongolian rendering.
• Read the history before you go and the travel writing on long drives across the steppe.