"This book is the autobiography of a Mongolian herdsman who became a hero in his own country. Born in 1948, Namkhainyambuu has experienced collectivisation, the period of 'high socialism', and then the demise of the negdels (collectives) in 1991-92. Written in direct, unaffected style, the autobiography reveals the values and respect for knowledge and hard work of an 'individualist' in a collective economy. The book is not just a reflection on the Mongolian pastoral life over the past half-century: it also describes kinship ties, the rigours of a herding life, the relationship between the Communist Party and the Mongol shepherd, and the unique skills of a successful herder. This is a unique account of a vanished era. The Introduction provides a valuable contextualisation of the Autobiography in relation to Mongolian historical and economic changes. Namkhainyambuu's Manual for Herders, which is translated in the Appendix, offers insight into the knowledge and sophistication required in the herding economy."--BOOK JACKET.