Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

By: Jack Weatherford

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Jack Weatherford

Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

The Mongol army led by Genghis Khan subjugated more lands and people in 25 years than the Romans did in 400. In nearly every country the Mongols conquered, they brought an unprecedented rise in cultural communication, expanded trade, and a blossoming of civilization.

Vastly more progressive than his European or Asian counterparts, Genghis Khan abolished torture, granted universal religious freedom, and smashed feudal systems of aristocratic privilege. From the story of his rise through the tribal culture to the explosion of civilization that the Mongol Empire unleashed, this brilliant work of revisionist history is nothing less than the epic story of how the modern world was made.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Listen to An Interview with Author Jack Weatherford.

©2005 Jack Weatherford (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"With appreciative descriptions of the sometimes tender tyrant, this chronicle supplies just enough personal and world history to satisfy any reader." ( Publishers Weekly)

"There is very little time for reading in my new job. But of the few books I've read, my favourite is Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford. It's a fascinating book portraying Genghis Khan in a totally new light. It shows that he was a great secular leader, among other things." (Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India)

"Weatherford's admiration for Genghis and his firsthand knowledge of many of the sites important in Mongol history give this text an immediacy and a visual quality that are enhanced by Davis’s presentation. When the narrative begins to lag in its final hour or two as it moves farther from the twelfth century, Davis's crisp pace maintains the listener’s interest to the end. An informative and provocative work of popular history." ( AudioFile)

interesting stuff

good book and very interesting. I was expecting it to be more about Genghis Khan, but seems like more than half of the book was about the leaders after him. I still learned a lot, though!

Great stuff

Ghenghis was left out of my education. History had ignored him and painted him a barbarian. This book is a historical masterpiece saving history from its blinders of Europeanism. Great stuff.

Absolutely brilliant! I was enthralled!

I'm so grateful for the knowledge I've gained here. It was inspiring and spiritual to me. Thank you for taking the time to do this research. I want to experience Mongolia now and connect with the eternal blue sky. I wish a secret history about my people, the Xhosa tribe of South Africa could be discovered. But after this book, I'll be a Xhosa on Mongolian soil one day!

I didn't want it to end.

What made the experience of listening to Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World the most enjoyable?

The detail descriptions and multiple perspectives added emotional depth to this audible book. You can tell someone's life work was put into it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Genghis Kahn, Kublai Kahn.

Any additional comments?

This is first audible that makes me want to buy the actual book.

Great book!

This book was very enjoyable to read. It was also very interesting. It is even important. If you think you might want to read this, then I assure you that you DO WANT TO READ IT! Enjoy!

Simply Spectacular

Made me feel so many emotions of a young poor boy who becomes of the best leaders of the human experience. Very detailed and riveting account of the politics of his time. The book shows how he managed everything and changed the world in doing so.

Great Listen

Would you listen to Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World again? Why?

Yes, but not the last part, it just keeps going and loses its focus.

What other book might you compare Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World to and why?

Why do I need to answer this in order to post a review?

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Davis and Jack Weatherford ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

1

Any additional comments?

Why do I need to answer this in order to post a review?

Very informative

It’s a long book, I didn’t have the time to sit and read so I listened to the audio book. I recommend you don’t take huge breaks between sessions. A lot to take in but over all a great educational read. Includes a lot of strategy.

Very interesting

Good to hear something positive about the Mongols. It was well laid out from the times of Genghis all the way through the plague. I liked the work and found it very interesting, I didn't know a lot about the empire. I recommend it

Everyone in my life has more Khan facts

It is a really enjoyable read. I played it on my commute home and would immediately tell everyone the Golden Hoarde update.