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" This book sucked. I think it was the non-fiction aspect of it. It failed to bring me into the story. It would give random facts such as Marco Polo tried to find Noah's Arc, but did not elaborate on the search. The author then would move onto another random fact about Marco Polo. Gary Jennings book was much more engaging and intresting. "
- Amber, 2/20/2014
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" Fascinating. Does not read like the dry, convoluted, academic drudgery of say an Antonia Fraser book. This is written with some verve and creativity, yet is crammed with accurate historical information that I feel I am properly absorbing. "
- Tim, 2/18/2014
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" What a life! This one ties in nicely with the Mongol history of the previously read book on Gengis Khan, centering more on Kubla Khan,his grandson, but much more entertainingly told. There are little lessons on silk production, boat builging, even the early use of 'black logs' - coal. I would never had the nerve for such an adventure myself, but thankfully there are people like Marco Polo, his father, and uncle, and best of all they wrote it down for the rest of us. This author includes useful commentary as well, translating some of the unfamiliar terms and currently used names for lands, towns, and such (which would have helped the Gengis account I just finished). "
- Kim, 2/8/2014
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" i decided to put this book on hold. I guess I enjoyed the medieval travel log aspect of the book, but something about the author's commentary on Marco Polo and his encounters with foreign cultures rubs me the wrong way. Maybe I will come back to this one after a bit of a break. "
- Matt, 2/6/2014
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" Packed full of interesting facts about the Mogul Khans and the empires they controlled. Fascinating! "
- Lilly-Anne, 1/29/2014
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" I found this book to be very interesting and informative. Having background knowledge of this time period and specifically of Marco Polo and his family helped tremendously in grasping the story. I recommend this book to anyone interested in history or Marco Polo. "
- Ron, 1/19/2014
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" So informative about a part of the world I know little about. Highly recommend. "
- Elizabeth, 12/10/2013
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" new category of book is : waiting in line book -- this is falling asleep book tho "
- Catherine, 10/7/2013
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" I knew almost nothing about this subject matter and Asia prior to reading this book. "
- Scott, 5/16/2013
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" My Mongol fascination continues...This book is slightly less exciting than Weatherford's Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, but still a great read. "
- BlueNile, 11/26/2012
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" Best book about Marco Polo I've read so far. Bergreen adores Polo but he doesn't idolize him, and this is as much about the man as he can find, birth to death, not just his journeys. "
- Dana, 10/14/2012
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" So far doesn't meet expectations conjured from a radio interview with Bergreen, but it does fill in some knowledge gaps. "
- Jen, 8/27/2012
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" This book summarized the life of Marco Polo and his explorations. It introduces the reader to many different cultures. If you really like to learn alot about the outside world this is a really good book for you. "
- Kaity, 5/31/2012
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" Laurence Bergreen's book about Marco Polo was quite a good read. It has so far been the best one I have read thus far, not that I have read many biographies about Marco Polo. "
- Jbondandrews, 5/8/2012
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" Holy mackerel! You've gotta read this book (so much for my career as a literary critic for the NY Times). It's just fascinating. Read this book! "
- Chuck, 9/18/2011
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" Certainly interesting; full of historical information.
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- Ellen, 3/23/2011
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" I'd like to know if after reading this if there is much additional value to reading a translation of the Marco Polo book.
The other recurring thought is to write a modern interstellar science fiction version of this.
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- Lucas, 2/20/2011
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" It was ok - interesting but very repetitive. I checked it out of the SB library, and took it to Tanzania - it was due while I was there, so I just renewed it online at a hotel's internet room. What a world.
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- Sally, 1/24/2011
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" I found this book to be very interesting and informative. Having background knowledge of this time period and specifically of Marco Polo and his family helped tremendously in grasping the story. I recommend this book to anyone interested in history or Marco Polo.
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- Ron, 12/28/2010
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" The adult version. Nice work - and now I can understand how Marco Polo actually carried out these travels and returned alive to tell the stories. Well worth the time to read as it enlightened me to Asian cultures and their ancient ways.
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- MikeFromQueens, 12/19/2010
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" It was a long and sometimes dry read, but in the end, I'm glad that I trucked through it. I enjoy watching people's reactions when I share some of the experiences and stories related in this book, like suffocating a man by means of filling his mouth with feces.
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- Widad, 11/5/2010
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" Packed full of interesting facts about the Mogul Khans and the empires they controlled. Fascinating!
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- Lilly-Anne, 10/21/2010
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" So informative about a part of the world I know little about. Highly recommend.
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- Elizabeth, 10/16/2010
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" new category of book is : waiting in line book -- this is falling asleep book tho
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- Catherine, 10/5/2010
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" I've known who Marco Polo was ever since I was an elementary school student, but I really couldn't say I knew anything specific about him or his travels. This book remedied my ignorance, but warning: some explicit descriptions of Mongol and Chinese traditions.
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- Shelli, 9/2/2010
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" Marco Polo is my favorite Venician.
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- Quinn, 5/2/2010
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