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)

Wow I was mesmerized.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I can't stop talking about this book and Genghis Khan. This is a must read for lovers of history and politics. For people who love a come from behind story this is it. I was particularly enthralled by the work it took to formulate an accurate history of this man and the efforts that were taken to destroy this history.

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

Yes it left me in stunning awe of Khan.

Great story, a little biased.

Very well written story, An interesting point of view of a specific time in world history.
The story feels a little biased and some conclusions hard to believe, but it is a believable alternative to the traditional history we have learned.
I love reading books about history, especially biographies, and after reading this book I felt the need to read more about that particular period in history (1150 AD-1450 AD).

Amazing recount of the most slandered 'Great'

Historians are fantastic when they write about the past, not so when the present comes into play.
This book thoroughly captivated me I usually take a week to "chew" through books of this length but I blew through it in two days. There is a clear bias towards the Mongols and I expect no less in a person writing about... well the Mongols, anyone who prefers a different form a historical writing that takes a more neutral and unbiased view of events, I respect you but I'd rather watch paint dry as it takes out the emotion and narrative.
My one gripe (and please don't let this dissuade you from buying I highly recommend it especially as a pallette wetter for Mongol history as I am a novice in most Eastern history outside of the 20th+ century.) is that like many historians, when causes and effects come to more modern times, things that don't end in "and X continues to Y up to this very day" you're going to see some gaps jumped to bring the cause of 13th century Empires to 20th century nation-states. That however is just a personal pet peeve of mine.

How one man and his civilization shaped the world

From warfare, trade, shared knowledge, and even to the concept of secularism, so many of our modern progressive ideas originated with Genghis Khan and the Mongols. An excellent summery of the history and repercussions of the Mongol empire.

GREATest ever BOOK. Stay with it for ever more. Lo

GREATest ever BOOK. Stay with it for ever more. it was really good too.

I had no idea... (rethinking what I was taught)

Of course, how history goes, there are many tales and some are left out. I am appreciative of the work and research behind this piece. I enjoyed learning about the bringing together of cultures and how it influenced our current society as it is today. The author took great time and effort to bring this story forward.

Very interesting and well narrated

Reads like the fascinating story it is and is well-narrated to hold your attention.

Excellent, very informative!

I felt as though the book was very informative and well researched. The writing and narration were excellent too.

Long and informative

The book was long, but I learned a lot. At some points it kind of repeated itself, but still provided me with new insight into Genghis Khan. Some really interesting stuff in there.

A whole new take on Genghis Khan

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

Mongols kick ass!!!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Genghis Khan, OF COURSE. Here is a guy who begins with *nothing*, absolutely nothing, and goes on to conquer more territory than any other human being in history. Along the way he bans slavery, implements freedom of religion, abolishes aristocracy and implements meritocracy, rescues his wife from abduction, adopts her son, and tries to give him the whole empire. He does kill his brother, though. And a lot of other guys. Hey, if you're going to make an omelette...

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene where Temujin (Genghis) rescues his wife and kills her abductors.

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

Yes!

Any additional comments?

The Mongol Empire was a whole different world with a whole different history. Start here to get lost in it.