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)

Long but worth it

A truly amazing account of Genghis Khan and the Mongolian empire. It is long but thorough and makes it clear that this information is too the best of the authors knowledge based on different accounts. This book will make you think of the Mongolian empire, and in turn the modern world, differently.

Good book

This is a solid book not spectacular but with a listen. As a westerner sometimes the history of the east is glossed over. I learned much from this book.

great book

this is an awesome story! very well done!
will listen again.
will recommend to my friends.

My new historical boyfriend

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's amazing to meet up with a character as compelling as Genghis Khan as described in this work. I wavered between wanting to go back in time and meet him, and being thankful that I couldn't.

Riveting and Thorough

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

Complete, breath-taking and unexpected.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. Simply too long and too much to take in. It was a perfect listen, however, for my morning and evening commute.

Any additional comments?

There were tons of things about the Mongols I never knew until I listened to this book. Very fascinating. And I loved how they explained the perception of the Mongols from other ethnic points-of-view.

Very insightful. An eye opener.

What did you love best about Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World?

It continuously put the accomplishment of Genghis Kahn in perspective by comparing with numerous other nations and leaders.

Any additional comments?

A definite read for everyone interested in world history.

WOW. Transformative history.

What did you love best about Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World?

Excellent writing & narration of a remarkable history. I must have skipped this class in school because I had zero knowledge of Genghis Khan and the Mongols. What a fascinating and impactful and inpsiring chapter in world history impacting our current day. I looked for documentary films and other books on this topic - nothing comes close.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Genghis Khan, of course :)

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

what I learned about Genghis Khan's innovative vision for a new civilization with global currency, freedom of religion, valuing of science and knowledge, women's power, and innovative war tactics.

Any additional comments?

READ IT!

Eye Opening and very interesting

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

The details....I felt that I was listening to a real professor but a professor who was interesting. The book seems to have all the interesting parts of Genghis Khan.

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

I wouldn't

What three words best describe Jonathan Davis and Jack Weatherford ’s performance?

Expressive, Easy, Clear

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

thoroughly researched and told in a lively prose

great story, thorough research, well told and wonderfully performed this book is among the best of it's genre and changes the world view is whoever reads it.

Fabulous job of setting the record straight!

Very well done. Easy to follow and strong combination of story telling with historicla facts and figures.

Unfortunate that it took so long for the truth of genghis and the impact he had on the world to come out and that much of it was destroyed or altered over the years.

If you like history, especially how we west and east came to be. This is a must read. I read that 0.5% of the world is related to genghis. Now it makes sense!