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The steppe culture, typical of the Turkish-Mongolian world, was the one that most of all shaped the world as we know it. Here is a selection of 3 truly unmissable books to discover it up close
Small but necessary premise
This is not a ranking but a suggestion for those approaching these countries and areas of the world for the first time and is also linked to the personal taste of the author. Putting only 3 works (thus risking to leave out entire countries) was a very specific choice due to something that is often forgotten: books are not free. Our intent is to provide beginners and experts with 3 truly “indispensable” titles, which can thus allow them to enjoy a good text and / or discover something new, allowing them to only make “good” shopping.

A final clarification: even if the inhabitants of today’s Mongolia are mostly Buddhists, it would be folly not to consider this people as one of the most influential of all in the Middle East and Islamic world. Do you have different “must-sees”? We are very curious to know them, in the future we will start direct 30 minutes / 1 hour starting from these lists; stay connected to receive news. We leave you to the list, good reads.
“Secret history of the Mongols”

A fascinating book that allows you to fully immerse yourself in Mongolian culture by discovering many interesting details about the life of Genghis Khan. The text is to be understood almost on a par with a national epic poem, also given and considered the importance of its protagonist.
“Le Conquérant du monde. Vie de Gengis-Khan” by René Grousset
The scenario is one of the most contrasted and dazzling in Upper Asia, the story of Temüjin, better known as Genghis Khan. A story that René Grousset reconstructs by going back to his remote mythical sources – the coupling between the Blue-Gray Wolf and the Wild Fawn, founders of what will become the “iron race” of the

Halfway between essay and fiction, a perfect book to approach Genghis Khan. Grousset, unlike the aforementioned work, tries to give us a real story of what the life of the great leader could have been, but without neglecting historical notions. Years later it continues to be one of the best texts dealing with the mythical character.
“The Book of Dede Korkut”
The Book of Dede Korkut is a collection of twelve stories set in the heroic age of the Oghuz Turks, a nomadic tribe who had journeyed westwards through Central Asia from the ninth century onwards. The stories are peopled by characters as bizarre as they are unforgettable:

A decisive book to understand the mentality and the past of the Turks, as well as a fascinating book of fairy tales. Unfortunately the text is currently not available in Italian except with our translation from the English version, but if you like Turkey and stories it is truly an unforgettable book. Spread throughout the Turkish world, the events of “The book of Dede Korkut” will make us travel with our minds in a reality made up of nomads and brave warriors, ready to use both strength and cunning to achieve their goals. Text that has entered our hearts and that could return in the future, perhaps as an exclusive for the podcast format.
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