Get a free audiobook
-
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Jack Weatherford
- Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Historical
People who bought this also bought...
-
The History of Ancient Egypt
- Written by: Bob Brier, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Bob Brier
- Length: 24 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ancient Egyptian civilization is so grand our minds sometimes have difficulty adjusting to it. It lasted 3,000 years, longer than any other on the planet. Its Great Pyramid of Cheops was the tallest building in the world until well into the 19th century and remains the only Ancient Wonder still standing. And it was the most technologically advanced of the ancient civilizations, with the medical knowledge that made Egyptian physicians the most famous in the world.
-
-
A Moderately Entertaining Dive
- By 101 on 2018-10-03
-
The Story of Human Language
- Written by: John McWhorter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.
-
-
Fascinating!
- By Jesslovescoffee on 2018-11-23
-
The Selfish Gene
- Written by: Richard Dawkins
- Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
- Length: 16 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Richard Dawkins' brilliant reformulation of the theory of natural selection has the rare distinction of having provoked as much excitement and interest outside the scientific community as within it. His theories have helped change the whole nature of the study of social biology, and have forced thousands to rethink their beliefs about life.
-
-
Life changing book
- By Amazon Customer on 2018-07-25
-
The Storm Before the Storm
- The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic
- Written by: Mike Duncan
- Narrated by: Mike Duncan
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Roman Republic was one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of civilization. After its founding in 509 BCE, the Romans refused to allow a single leader to seize control of the state and grab absolute power. The Roman commitment to cooperative government and peaceful transfers of power was unmatched in the history of the ancient world. But by the year 133 BCE, the republican system was unable to cope with the vast empire Rome now ruled.
-
-
Brilliant, especially for beginners like myself
- By Stefan J. Knibbe on 2018-02-13
-
The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality
- Written by: Don Lincoln, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Don Lincoln
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the end of his career, Albert Einstein was pursuing a dream far more ambitious than the theory of relativity. He was trying to find an equation that explained all physical reality - a theory of everything. Experimental physicist and award-winning educator Dr. Don Lincoln takes you on this exciting journey in The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality. Suitable for the intellectually curious at all levels and assuming no background beyond basic high-school math, these 24 half-hour lectures cover recent developments at the forefront of particle physics and cosmology.
-
-
Needs to be re-recorded
- By WTL on 2019-09-17
-
History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach
- Written by: The Great Courses, Gregory S. Aldrete
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Military history often highlights successes and suggests a sense of inevitability about victory, but there is so much that can be gleaned from considering failures. Study these crucibles of history to gain a better understanding of why a civilization took - or didn't take - a particular path.
-
-
Fantastic book, great narration
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-12-20
-
The History of Ancient Egypt
- Written by: Bob Brier, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Bob Brier
- Length: 24 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ancient Egyptian civilization is so grand our minds sometimes have difficulty adjusting to it. It lasted 3,000 years, longer than any other on the planet. Its Great Pyramid of Cheops was the tallest building in the world until well into the 19th century and remains the only Ancient Wonder still standing. And it was the most technologically advanced of the ancient civilizations, with the medical knowledge that made Egyptian physicians the most famous in the world.
-
-
A Moderately Entertaining Dive
- By 101 on 2018-10-03
-
The Story of Human Language
- Written by: John McWhorter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.
-
-
Fascinating!
- By Jesslovescoffee on 2018-11-23
-
The Selfish Gene
- Written by: Richard Dawkins
- Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
- Length: 16 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Richard Dawkins' brilliant reformulation of the theory of natural selection has the rare distinction of having provoked as much excitement and interest outside the scientific community as within it. His theories have helped change the whole nature of the study of social biology, and have forced thousands to rethink their beliefs about life.
-
-
Life changing book
- By Amazon Customer on 2018-07-25
-
The Storm Before the Storm
- The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic
- Written by: Mike Duncan
- Narrated by: Mike Duncan
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Roman Republic was one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of civilization. After its founding in 509 BCE, the Romans refused to allow a single leader to seize control of the state and grab absolute power. The Roman commitment to cooperative government and peaceful transfers of power was unmatched in the history of the ancient world. But by the year 133 BCE, the republican system was unable to cope with the vast empire Rome now ruled.
-
-
Brilliant, especially for beginners like myself
- By Stefan J. Knibbe on 2018-02-13
-
The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality
- Written by: Don Lincoln, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Don Lincoln
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the end of his career, Albert Einstein was pursuing a dream far more ambitious than the theory of relativity. He was trying to find an equation that explained all physical reality - a theory of everything. Experimental physicist and award-winning educator Dr. Don Lincoln takes you on this exciting journey in The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality. Suitable for the intellectually curious at all levels and assuming no background beyond basic high-school math, these 24 half-hour lectures cover recent developments at the forefront of particle physics and cosmology.
-
-
Needs to be re-recorded
- By WTL on 2019-09-17
-
History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach
- Written by: The Great Courses, Gregory S. Aldrete
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Military history often highlights successes and suggests a sense of inevitability about victory, but there is so much that can be gleaned from considering failures. Study these crucibles of history to gain a better understanding of why a civilization took - or didn't take - a particular path.
-
-
Fantastic book, great narration
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-12-20
-
History of the Ancient World: A Global Perspective
- Written by: Gregory S. Aldrete, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 24 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ancient world has cast a long shadow, influencing our customs and religious beliefs, our laws, and the form of our governments. It has taught us when and how we make war or pursue peace. It has shaped the buildings we live and work in and the art we hang on our walls. It has given us the calendar that organizes our year and has left its mark on the games we play.
-
-
More of a European perspective.
- By Han on 2018-07-31
-
Cosmos
- A Personal Voyage
- Written by: Carl Sagan
- Narrated by: LeVar Burton, Seth MacFarlane, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Cosmos is one of the bestselling science books of all time. In clear-eyed prose, Sagan reveals a jewel-like blue world inhabited by a life form that is just beginning to discover its own identity and to venture into the vast ocean of space.
-
-
LeVar is like listening to a breathy James T. Kirk
- By Robert on 2018-04-04
-
Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills
- Written by: Steven Novella, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Novella
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No skill is more important in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in an effective and responsible way. What's more, at no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. But because misinformation out there has increased as well, critical thinking is more important than ever. These 24 rewarding lectures equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life.
-
-
Great book worth a listen but maybe I'm bias.
- By Martin on 2018-01-15
-
1066: The Year That Changed Everything
- Written by: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 3 hrs
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With this exciting and historically rich six-lecture course, experience for yourself the drama of this dynamic year in medieval history, centered on the landmark Norman Conquest. Taking you from the shores of Scandinavia and France to the battlefields of the English countryside, these lectures will plunge you into a world of fierce Viking warriors, powerful noble families, politically charged marriages, tense succession crises, epic military invasions, and much more.
-
-
history learned
- By PaladinPhil on 2018-07-25
-
The Story of Medieval England: From King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest
- Written by: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
These 36 lectures tell the remarkable story of a tumultuous thousand-year period in the history of England. Dominated by war, conquest, and the struggle to balance the stability brought by royal power with the rights of the governed, it was a period that put into place the foundation of much of the world we know today. As you journey through this largely chronological narrative you'll see key themes emerge, including the assimilation of successive waves of invaders, the tense relationship between kings and the nobility, and the constant battles over money and taxation.
-
-
Professor has a great speaking voice and style.
- By Amazon Customer on 2017-10-05
-
The Brothers Karamazov [Naxos AudioBooks Edition]
- Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Constance Garnett - translator
- Narrated by: Constantine Gregory
- Length: 37 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a titanic figure among the world's great authors, and The Brothers Karamazov is often hailed as his finest novel. A masterpiece on many levels, it transcends the boundaries of a gripping murder mystery to become a moving account of the battle between love and hate, faith and despair, compassion and cruelty, good and evil.
-
-
Best narrator for the best author
- By Tade on 2019-03-07
-
Forces of Nature
- Written by: Professor Brian Cox, Andrew Cohen
- Narrated by: Samuel West
- Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Professor Brian Cox uncovers some of the most extraordinary natural events on Earth and in the universe and beyond. From the immensity of the universe and the roundness of Earth to the form of every single snowflake, the forces of nature shape everything we see. Pushed to extremes, the results are astonishing. In seeking to understand the everyday world, the colours, structure, behaviour and history of our home, we develop the knowledge and techniques necessary to step beyond the everyday.
-
-
The audiobook equivalent of a page turner
- By Trevor on 2018-07-09
-
Heroes
- The Greek Myths Reimagined
- Written by: Stephen Fry
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 15 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the newest installment of the best-selling series Mythos, legendary author and actor Stephen Fry moves from the exploits of the Olympian gods to the deeds of mortal heroes. Perseus. Jason. Atalanta. Theseus. Heracles. Rediscover the thrills, grandeur, and unabashed fun of the Greek myths. Whether recounting a tender love affair or a heroic triumph, Fry deftly finds resonance with our own modern minds and hearts.
-
-
Great stories wonderfully told
- By Valerie on 2020-11-22
-
The Art of War
- Written by: Sun Tzu
- Narrated by: Aidan Gillen
- Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 13 chapters of The Art of War, each devoted to one aspect of warfare, were compiled by the high-ranking Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun-Tzu. In spite of its battlefield specificity, The Art of War has found new life in the modern age, with leaders in fields as wide and far-reaching as world politics, human psychology, and corporate strategy finding valuable insight in its timeworn words.
-
-
interesting
- By Anonymous User on 2018-09-20
-
Einstein's Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists, 2nd Edition
- Written by: Richard Wolfson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Richard Wolfson
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"It doesn't take an Einstein to understand modern physics," says Professor Wolfson at the outset of these 24 lectures on what may be the most important subjects in the universe: relativity and quantum physics. Both have reputations for complexity. But the basic ideas behind them are, in fact, simple and comprehensible by anyone. These dynamic and illuminating lectures begin with a brief overview of theories of physical reality starting with Aristotle and culminating in Newtonian or "classical" physics.
-
-
I enjoyed it. Educational.
- By ron on 2019-03-16
-
The Madness of Crowds
- Gender, Race and Identity
- Written by: Douglas Murray
- Narrated by: Douglas Murray
- Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Madness of Crowds Douglas Murray investigates the dangers of ‘woke’ culture and the rise of identity politics. In lively, razor-sharp prose he examines the most controversial issues of our moment: sexuality, gender, technology and race, with interludes on the Marxist foundations of ‘wokeness’, the impact of tech and how, in an increasingly online culture, we must relearn the ability to forgive.
-
-
Preaching to the choir and little else.
- By Gerry Corcoran on 2019-09-29
-
Black Holes, Tides, and Curved Spacetime
- Written by: Benjamin Schumacher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Benjamin Schumacher
- Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gravity controls everything from the falling of an apple to the rising of ocean’s tides to the motions of the heavens above. If you’ve ever wondered how this most puzzling force works across our entire universe, you will be delighted by this 24-part course that is accessible to any curious person, regardless of your science education. No other product on the market presents the subject of gravity in as much detail as this course, which will follow the past 400 years of research and experimentation in the field.
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 reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
What the critics say
What listeners say about Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- William H.
- 2019-11-02
Terrible start.
The book starts in the middle of Ghengis Khans reign. No origin story, doesn't explain his early life or rise to power, I stopped listening before the end of the first chapter because this book is clearly written for people who already know alot about him. Starting this book is like joining a class halfway through the semester.
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rob Smith
- 2020-07-18
Great story, annoying music
Great story and performance, but the music can be quite annoying as the performer quietly talks over the loud music.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- EddieB
- 2018-09-19
Quite a Journey
#Audible1 I have always had an interest in learning more about the life of Genghis Khan and this book really delivered. It takes you on a long journey, from the beginning of Genghis Khan’s empire to how it has influenced our world in more modern times. An important story to know for all of us who want to learn about history, military tactics and what happens when success and wealth are acquired so fast that nobody knows exactly how to handle it.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Audible Customer
- 2020-10-19
Wow
Great insight to the the world of Genghis Kahn and Mongolian history. definitely worth another listen
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- joseph arsenault ruel
- 2020-12-12
amazing
really really really good audiobook. i consume a lot of audiobook, like one every two days, and this one stand above everything else. as good as "the immortality key"
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2020-11-30
very intriguing history
excellent book and amazing the history of the world thru Mongol history and their footprint on the world.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2020-11-24
Gets better as you go
At first I thought the author was struggling to make an obscure and small history sound big and interesting. But as the story unfolds I realized that it was all groundwork to establish patterns and facts that would become important in one of the biggest and most fascinating histories I've ever seen.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Patricia G.
- 2019-10-16
Fascinating!
If you've had any curiosity about the Mongols and Genghis Khan, this is a fabulous introduction into the little known, previosly falsely maligned people and their history.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Josee Le Bouthillier
- 2019-09-16
Entertaining and informative
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook on Genghis Khan. The author does get a bit carried away with claims that the Renaissance mouvement derived from Mongols. However, most of the facts are correct.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- jonathan macneill
- 2019-08-30
Awesome
This was an extremely interesting book and a great narrator I would highly recommend anyone to give this book a listen
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mike Reiter
- 2016-06-29
I guess the Mongols needed a cheerleader?
While I guess it is a decent account of the Mongol empire, and and excellent account of 18th and 19th century European prejudice, the book felt like a cheering section for the Mongol empire. All of their motivations were just for the betterment of mankind and they were forced into all conflicts through no fault of their own. It does accurately recognize contributions made by the empire as well as those innovations which are still felt in the modern day. But it would be as if saying the Roman empire only did good things and for the betterment of civilization. While the Roman empire did do lots of good things and some of their legacy is still being felt to this day, it wasn't all good. I feel the presentation of the Mongol empire as completely egalitarian
and mostly altruistic is unbalanced.
110 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cynthia
- 2013-12-11
Golden Horde/Platinum Listen
Universal free education. Widespread literacy. Secular government. Freedom of religion. Ambassadors from other countries. Translators and interpreters. Diplomatic immunity. A consumer-driven economy. Free trade agreements. Huge technological advances in communications. Paper money based on precious metals and gem reserves. Pensions for military veterans, and lifelong benefits for survivors of those killed in action. Support for scholars. Doctors and lawyers. Laws that applied equally to the rulers as well as the ruled. A Supreme Court. Meticulous record keeping, using complex mathematics and calculators. Multiculturalism. An empire bigger than North and Central America, combined.
The Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan and his grandson, Kubla Khan - and lesser known Great Khans - was astonishingly advanced, especially in contrast to Europe, which at the time, was mired in futile attempts - The Crusades - to 'free' the Holy Lands from Muslims.
I knew that Genghis Khan was an innovative military leader who both invented and eschewed conventional warfare. Genghis Khan created the "decimal" system of soldiers of 10 soldiers to a 'squad', which is still used in modern military. A 'company' was 10 squads; a battalion was 10 'companies' . . . and so on. The term "decimal" is author Jack Weatherford's term; the other terms are mine, analogizing to modern military organizational structure. At the same time, Genghis Khan used innovative military weapons - including gun powder - and improved on existing weapons. His tactics - like waging war on multiple fronts, feinting defeat, and skilled infiltrators - are common today, but unique 900 years ago. Psychological warfare was a key part of Genghis Khan's military success - he encouraged stories of Mongol brutality and ruthlessness to encourage surrender.
Until I listened to Weatherford's "Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World" (2004), I had no idea who Genghis Khan was, beyond his military skill. I spent a good part of the book wondering why, with advanced courses in European, Chinese and Russian history, I had essentially missed a crucial empire. In the Afterward, I found out: I am too old.
During China's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) a Chinese/Mongolian version of "The Secret History of the Mongols" (~1240, author unknown) was used to teach Chinese scholars the Mongolian language. It gradually stopped being used, and by the 19th century, there were very few copies. The first definitive English translation was Harvard-Yenching Institute's translation (Francis Woodman Cleaves, 1982). Urgunge Onon's 2001 translation is much more readable. Both are scholarly, often cited works. From 1924 to 1990, the Soviet Union controlled Mongolia and did its best to eradicate evidence of other civilizations, and kept the rest of the world from the country. Exactly who Genghis Khan was, how the Mongol Empire started, and how it thrived was hidden for almost 700 years.
Weatherford's "Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World" opened a new civilization and a new perspective for me. Definitely worth the listen.
[If this review helped please press YES. Thanks!]
593 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Peter
- 2010-03-05
Brilliant, insightful, intriguing.
What a comprehensive and fascinating detailed history of the great Khans. Weatherford's mastery as a researcher is on full display and is truly up to the task of investigating and sharing the incredible evidence he witnessed being uncovered. The performance is also brilliant. Just to hear the reader pronounce so many names which are difficult to pronounce and read in English with so much confidence, clarity, precision and consistency is worth the price of admission alone. To me this book is a high water mark for its combination of content, performance and new information. Its an instant classic highly recommended. Flawless.
198 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Michael
- 2010-03-21
Fantastic
Western histories tend to avoid this bit - this book fixes that big time. It is a history, but with about as much characterization as is possible. It is filled with details and I learned a lot and enjoyed every minute. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in history. The story is filled with action and intrigue, technology and religion, war and even a little peace. It is more than just the novelty that makes this a wonderful listen, it is the story and the characters.
201 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Andrew
- 2010-05-10
Chills
I listen to audiobooks commuting to and from work and until Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World never had listened to one that actually kept me in the car for longer than necessary. I'd be idling for extended time while it got later and later listening to this incredible work.
The narration is great and the story is spellbinding. I bought the book on a whim and have no regrets.
The first half is much better than the second half, but I enjoyed the story immensely from start to finish and highly recommend.
123 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Bryant C. Flick
- 2015-04-26
Nobel Savage
This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?
The author of this book cannot be called a scholar of repute. This book is littered with the attitude that the Mongols did nothing wrong and were out to save the world but those dastardly white people ruined it for us all. The book is sourced from the Mongol Secret History which is a dubious at best source with a clear cultural and political bias. This book read's like a love letter from a fan not a honest piece of scholarly work. Yes Genghis Khan is one of the greats in human history but no he was not the almost angelic being of providence the author makes him out to be. If you are interested in a more fair and balanced approach to the Mongols I recommend Dan Carlin's podcast Hardcore History: Wrath of the Kahns.
238 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Joe Moore
- 2015-02-23
OK, but misleading
This is not a biography of Gengis Khan like the title implies. It spends a lot of time about his childhood (irrelevant to the flow of the book) then speeds very fast through the rest of his life. It is an attempt to give the history of the Mongolian people, however it is more like looking out the window of your car as you speed down the interstate.
Additionally, the narrator's voice works well, but he regularly mispronounces simple words. The story is so-so and the narrator's voice shines far above the quality of the book.
If you're looking for a book about Gengis Khan, look elsewhere, this isn't it.
70 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mamoun Chebib
- 2011-11-23
An interesting insight, but outrageous analysis
Initially, I enjoyed the narration of the life of Genghis Khan, which appeared factual, although not well documented, relying on just a handful of references and sources. It confirmed my preconceived opinion of Genghis Khan, and particularly of his immediate descendents as a savage horde. The author states that they massacres over 35 million people, destroyed agriculture, irrigation, and cities, burned libraries and looted all civilisations in their path, with the sole purpose of conquest and plunder. Ingenious conquerors they certailny were, but certainly nothing more.
The author's later attempts later to potray the Mongols in a favourable light appeared to me as laughable drivel. His claims that they were at the root of the renaissance stretch the limits of logic to the breaking point. He discounted all the historic accounts of academicians and scholars (Voltaire was a "revisionist" historian), giving more credence to the so-called "praise" of Genghis Khan, in The Canterbury Tales, a witty farce by all standards.
The structure of the book, particulary toward the end, left me puzzled. A full hour of epilogue and after-word that produced nothing but repetition of incidents in the main narrative, in a series of cheap clichés.
Maybe I was disappointed because I had read the book immediately after some great histories by Churchill and Roberts, and was expecting an intelligent and objective treatment of the Mongol era.That I did not get. I could not wait to finish the book, particularly the last thirty minutes or so, so I could throw it away.
135 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Renee
- 2010-03-17
A passionate, eye-opening chunk of history
The writer, Weatherford, is not what you'd call a great prose stylist, but the story he tells is stunning, and he did all the leg-work. His heart is in it. If you want to know how the modern world was born, listen to this.
Davis' narration is thrilling. Loved it all.
86 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- MidwestGeek
- 2013-02-14
MYTHS & FLIGHTS OF FANCY as REVISIONIST HISTORY!
I barely started the book before being alerted to the fact that the author makes exaggerated claims that are not facts and, in the print version, provides little by way of documentation. Then, since audible makes it impossible to search reader reviews or to bin them by ratings, I turned to some of the one- and two-star reviews on amazon and goodreads by people who already know Mongol culture and history. (I did find one good one here by Mamoun on 11/23/11.) Turns out Weatherford is not a historian but a cultural anthropologist who, as a scholar, apparently committed the sin of losing objectivity and identifying with the culture that he is "studying." Since I bought this to learn history and cannot easily separate the wheat from the chaff, I choose not to fill my head with Weatherford's imaginative notions. I do know enough to recognize that the Mongols are not responsible for the European Renaissance. I'm turning this book back in for a refund.
According to reviewers, this is a repeat of what was done earlier in his "Indian Givers: How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World." (Indian here refers to all the native peoples of South, Central, and North America.) No doubt, they are insufficiently credited in areas of agriculture (potatoes, maize,...) and herbal medicines, and, gosh knows, they have been exploited mercilessly by their conquerers. However, given its drafters and their backgrounds, I find it difficult to believe that the "writing of the United States Constitution" owes much to Indian polity or heritage.
205 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2020-11-10
Excellent book!
Very well written and documented, a book that everyone should read to learn about a man who changed world history and his accomplishments are very little known!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2017-05-30
Great insight on Genghis Khan and Pax Mongolia.
I am a fan of Genghis Khan and I learned a lot about him, but most especially what happened after him. O think it is a great book to read but unfortunately I disliked strongly the way it was narrating even though I got acquainted to it after a few hours in. I find the way he changes his voice to indicate that he is quoting absolutely irritating. My distaste towards the narrator's voice is personal though, and I recommend listening to this book if you do not have the time to read it.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Patrik
- 2017-03-03
Not just a history book
This book is so amazingly written. It isn't just about what transpired in history, it is a deep analysis narrated as a story that could well rival Game of Thrones in my eyes. If there hadn't been some audio quacks in the epilogue, it would have been absolutely perfect but that's really just a minor issue.