" Not as wonderful as Theroux's later book, Dark Star Safari, but still an entertaining read by a skillful and observant author. It chronicles a train trip Theroux took that started and ended in London and encompased the Balkans, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and the entire width of Russia along the way. It's wonderful to ride along with Theroux as he makes this epic journey "
— M.D., 1/1/2014