Buddhism in Mongolian History, Culture, and Society Illustrated Edition

The small but elite club of Mongolia-philes owe a debt of gratitude to Vesna Wallace for editing this introduction about the influence of Buddhsim on Mongolian life. This is a collection of essays written by experts in the field, with topics ranging from Mongolian Buddhist literature to wind horses, sacred mountains, Zanabazar's artwork, Stalinist purges and the conversion of Tibetan deities into Mongolian protectors.. As Johan Elverskog has written, Mongolia has been something of an orphaned-step child when compared to the commercial and academic juggarnaut of Tibetan studies. Professor Wallace's book is the prime mover on this topic, and one can only hope that she will soon publish a general overview of Mongolian Buddhism. It would be fantastic to see something like a Sources of Mongolian Tradition to join the ranks of other source materials on Asia. Hats off to Professor Wallace for helping to remedy a glaring hole in the academic literature of Central Asia.

This is definitely an academic book (technical language, uncommon words used), so it's not for the casual reader. I appreciate the take on how Mongolia has shaped Buddhism and how Buddhism has shaped Mongolia. I've learned a lot about Mongolia, her history, her people groups, and religions. I am learning a lot as I read and am finding the book very interesting and informative.