In this richly observed portrait, the British journalist Christopher Robbins mixes tales of the Scythians and Sarmatians, of Eurasian steppe wolves and long-faced Saiga, his quest for apples and tulips, with travel, anecdote, impressions and a very evident appreciation for the diversity, beauty and future of Kazakhstan. And, yes, apples do come from Kazakhstan. Tulips too. It's a country the size of Western Europe, closed by the Tsars to foreigners in the 19th century and sealed off by the Soviets for 70 years.  (CAS160, $24.00)

Best of 2008
Kazakhstan