This is a wonderful description of a trip the author takes from Moscow to Beijing, through southern Russia, the "Stans" and western China. The author's amazing language skills allow him to interact with the people he meets along the way, giving the reader a remarkable window into what is going on in a region that is largely off our radar screens. I was fascinated, torn between the book, Google Earth, and my trusty atlas. Highly recommended for those armchair travelers who like to go off the beaten path.