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)

Fills In a Less-Understood, But Important Period

This is a good account of an amazing and misunderstood leader, I had a very weak understanding of this man and period. I believe the author carries Genghis Khan's influence on the later history of the world a tiny bit too far, but his impact was no doubt very great. The story skips over significant periods with large conquests. I'm not sure if this is due to a lack of information or an effort to keep the story from dragging. The maps (downloadable from the Audible site) help a little, but they lack essential details that would give a greater appreciation for the feats of this great leader.

AWESOME, GREAT INSIGHT INTO THE REAL GENGHIS KHAN

If you could sum up Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World in three words, what would they be?

Great for historians!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Genghis Khan, the man inside and his contribution to our world today. Our politicians should read/listen and take a lesson from a great man who was not motivated by power, greed and lust like most of them! Didn't realize I was so misinformed about him and I came out with a great admiration for how he performed the task he was obviously born to do, his respect for other religions, his brilliance, his fairness, ethics, could go on and on.

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

No. This is a great author/narrator combination!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book is so absorbing, all-consuming, wonderful!

Any additional comments?

Thanks, Jack Weatherford, for painstakingly doing this for us. I want more of your books!

Solid and well written

I found the book to be well written, and useful for filling in gaps in my knowledge of world history, but I discovered that the topic and the man are generally not my favorite areas of study. The reader is pleasant, and I guess I have nothing negative to say about it. If you are interested in Genghis Khan, you'll like this book (I think!).

Amazing Leadership Skills

This is not your Vince Flynn thriller, but equally engaging for those with a love for world history and business. I recommend this for any MBA who wants a glimpse into a side of leadership not found in HBS cases. He fathered concepts from postal services to hunting preserves and broke the bonds of nobility in favor of performance-based rewards. Loved it. Great job to the researchers and author. Now off to my CIA thrillers...

Surprisingly good!

Any additional comments?

As a modern day environmental resources specialist I found it fascinating (and exceptionally quote worthy) that he had instituted breeding season restrictions on the hunting of certain animals, recognizing the need was impressive!

Very enjoyable history lesson!

Any additional comments?

A dated, enjoyable story, with excellent reading.
While the "making of the Modern World" section is limited at the end, for those of us who are new to this area of history, the story is very engaging and informative.

The narrator made very good work of this. In the wrong hands, the performance could have ruined the story.

Eye opening history

A fascinating narrative of the roots of many of our modern civilizing laws, tactics and mores. Slowly and methodically disabusing the reader ( listener) of the misinformation and stereotypes surrounding ginghis Kahn and his people. Thoroughly engaging and profoundly thought provoking. I learned so much about a subject I never thought I was interested in.

Genghis Kahn--A great story

If you could sum up Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World in three words, what would they be?

Captivating, surprising, entertaining!

Any additional comments?

I have to say this was one of the best audiobooks I have

Don't Miss the Afterword!

Within my filtered and stilted education for matters historical, the Mongols were painted as a genuine barbarian horde. This retelling of the empire as the first great multinational trans-denominational corporation is fascinating! Even better, the story of the research itself is like a detective novella. This really helps me understand the torch that lit the bonfire of the Renaissance.

Challenges long-held perceptions of the Khans

A well written book with excellent naration that challenges the long-held belief that the Monguls were barbarians. I learned a lot though I think Weatherford pushes the case a bit too far that the Khans set the stage for the modern world.