Kazakhstan (Modern World Nations) [Hardcover]

Zoran Pavlovic (Author), Charles F. Gritzner (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-9-While the geography and history sections of this book provide decent overviews, the one on people and culture has a serious error. A chart indicates that between 1989 and 1999, the Uzbek population increased to 39.6 million and another minority population, the Uighurs, to 28.8 million, when in fact the figures should have been 39,600 and 28,800 respectively. Also, when discussing lifestyles, the author emphasizes the nomadic Kazakhs and their unique customs while ignoring the urban residents. A map in the geography section doesn't include all of the cities and regions or the important oil and natural gas reserves. In the final chapter on the future of Kazakhstan, the author suggests that there is a need for the formation of a bilingual society in which the majority of people speak both the Kazakh and Russian languages. In fact, many urban Kazakhs speak only Russian as do the ethnic Slavs. Finally, the last half of the book contains a number of annoying typos. The color photos are good; one only wishes that there were more of them, as in Pang Guek-Cheng's Kazakhstan (Marshall Cavendish, 2001).
Elizabeth Talbot, University of Illinois, Champaign
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Chelsea House Publications (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791072312
• ISBN-13: 978-0791072318
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,705,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good intro to Kaz, November 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Kazakhstan (Modern World Nations) (Hardcover)

I am a middle school librarian AND a soon-to-be adoptive mother of a Kaz baby. I happened to have this book in my middle school library and found it good basic info on Kaz. It covers history, people, food, traditions; all the basics. It's fairly up-to-date too which is nice. The author must be Kaz as he (she?) talks about Kaz in glowing terms that don't always seem warrented (I remember something like --Kazakhstan has some of the most beautiful landscape in the world-- which clearly contradicts other information about the steppes.) That said, a good intro to Kaz, especially for the younger reader.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as a similar book: "Kazakhstan" by Cheng, May 5, 2009

By 

Cissy (San Diego CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kazakhstan (Modern World Nations) (Hardcover)

I am blessed to be the great-aunt of two boys adopted from Kazakhstan nearly eight years ago. The boys are now in 2nd and 3rd grade and our family encourages interest in their country of birth, so I have purchased this book along with others listed below to have in our "family" library.


This book: "Kazakhstan", by Zoran Pavlovic, 2003, ISBN 0-7910-7231-2 is nearly identical to two others. The Cheng book: ISBN 0-7614-1193-3 is the best of the three, as well as the cheapest. "Kazakhstan In Pictures", ISBN 0-8225-6588-9, a third nearly identical book was the most expensive and has a link to [...] (which anyone can use for free) This free link can be used to supplement for more current information.

Two more books of Kazakh traditional folktales which will be of much more interest to the kids have been ordered (used), but not yet received:
"Stories of the Steppes" Kazakh folktales, by Mary Lou Masey, 1968, Publisher: McKay. (try [...] if you cannot find it)
"Tales Told In Tents" (Hardcover, 2005) ISBN-10 : 1845070666. Neither book has been received yet, but reviews indicate they are both very good.

It is difficult to find quality information on Kazakhstan, but hopefully this will help out others! I hope the two boys and their little sister enjoy them as much as I have.