Genghis Khan

Emperor of All Men

By: Harold Lamb

Narrated by: Charlton Griffin

Length: 7 hrs

Publisher's summary

In the early 13th century, a simple nomad chieftain managed to cobble together a powerful kingdom in the highlands of northern Asia, which was subsequently to challenge the greatest powers of the day. He was triumphant in all directions. This leader was Timujin, whose name meant "Iron Man". He became Genghis Khan, "Universal Ruler", the greatest conqueror ever known - a warrior feared from the British Isles to the tip of the Korean peninsula.

Known by many names, including "The Scourge of God", Genghis Khan sent his Mongol armies ranging over most of the Eurasian land mass. He first sent his hordes of cavalry crashing into China, then turned on the ancient Persian Shah before smashing the Muslim Caliphate. He left smoldering ruins and depopulated nations in his tracks. Instead of measuring his progress in miles, we measure it today by degrees of latitude and longitude.

The tough, barbaric Mongolians were welded into the finest, most highly disciplined force of mobile fighting men assembled up to that period. Mongol leadership, unlike those of other armies, was based strictly on merit. Incompetence was not tolerated among the Khan's generals. The lightning quick movements and encircling tactics of Mongol horsemen baffled their opponents time after time. In fact, under Genghis Khan, they were never defeated. At the Great Khan's death in 1227, there were hardly any worthy opponents left to fight anywhere in the world.

©2007 Audio Connoisseur (P)2007 Audio Connoisseur

A bit of hero worship here

This is a decent listen. The narrator is a bit difficult to pay attention to and the quotes from historical records are in King James English.

The Greatest man of the last millenium

This audio title is both concise and elaborate in explaining the "apocalypse" of which we call Tartar aka Mongol.

Good general overview

Pretty good general overview, although I do believe some of the info is outdated at this point. Excellent narrator.

horrible narrator

The narrator is horrible. pompous and overly dramatic. Impossible to listen to. I was looking forward to an interesting historical narrative, but couldn't get past the first 10 minutes. Very disappointed.

Fabulous!

This is a fabulous biography. The author beautifully evokes life among the nomads of the Gobi in the 12th and 13th centuries. I felt I had truly come to know this contradictory and elusory person and came to have even greater respect for the sweep and magnificence of his achievements.

I think the book would fire the imagination of any teenage boy with its tales of derring-do and violent heroic clashes, particularly since the Khan was only 13 when he became the ruler of his clan. As for me, I listened as long as I could each time, and was sad when the saga finished.

The reader immediately summons up the glory of days gone by, and even though I though he was a bit too much at the beginning, I quickly came to appreciate that he was telling a tale set in heroic times, and his voice gave a depth to the book that simply reading it might have lacked. Also, I admire his tireless pronounciation of all of the names of the heros and the tribes.

thorough and interesting

this is a really good autobiography of Genghis Khan. In a concise manner, the author is able to give you a clear perspective of GK and how he developed his great empire.
The reader is particularly good and makes listening to the book quite agreeable.

This is a great read if you like to learn about history.

Dear Diary

If you want a moderately interesting but unreflective diary of Genghis Khan's life, you will enjoy this book. If you are looking for an interpretation of the historical setting in which Genghis Khan lived or the impact of his life on future events, keep looking.

Awsome

Its like the real life story of Conan, if you like bios and war-type strategy, or if you love a great story, this is for you

A Reread for Me

I read this originally in the 9th grade in a world history class. It never left me. I reread it now with great pleasure. We in the West remember little of the Mongols and sometimes it is well to be reminded of history..

Lamb does a wonderful job retelling the story of a great, if ruthless, man.

Ugh...

So wanted to listen to this as I am interested in the subject, but just couldn't get into it....very boring....