"This provocative history challenges the view of the West as heir to a pure Greco-Roman culture. Frankopan marshals diverse examples to demonstrate the interconnectedness of cultures, showing in vivid detail the economic and social impact of the silk and the slave trades, the Black Death, and the Buddhist influence on Christianity." -- The New Yorker " The past need not be seen as linear or chronological, Frankopan conveys, but rather as an intersection of ever-evolving human experiences." - Publishers Weekly "In his new book, The Silk Roads , Frankopan has created something that forces us to sit up and reconsider the world and the way we've always thought about it. The book takes us by surprise right from the start." -- NPR "One of Mr. Frankopan's gifts as a storyteller is his ability to draw unusual connections across his vast canvas . Frankopan has written a rare book that makes you question your assumptions about the world.

" -- Wall Street Journal.