Genghis Khan

His Conquests, His Empire, His Legacy

By: Frank McLynn

Narrated by: Tim Andres Pabon

Mongol leader Genghis Khan was by far the greatest conqueror the world has ever known. His empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean to Central Europe, including all of China, the Middle East, and Russia.

So how did an illiterate nomad rise to such colossal power and subdue most of the known world, eclipsing Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Napoleon? Credited by some with paving the way for the Renaissance, condemned by others for being the most heinous murderer in history, who was Genghis Khan?

His actual name was Temujin, and the story of his success is that of the Mongol people: a loose collection of fractious tribes who tended livestock, considered bathing taboo, and possessed an unparalleled genius for horseback warfare. United under Genghis, a strategist of astonishing cunning and versatility, they could dominate any sedentary society they chose.

Combining fast-paced accounts of battles with rich cultural background and the latest scholarship, Frank McLynn brings vividly to life the strange world of the Mongols, describes Temujin's rise from boyhood outcast to becoming Genghis Khan, and provides the most accurate and absorbing account yet of one of the most powerful men ever to have lived.

©2015 Frank McLynn (P)2015 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

"Sweepingly ambitious and persistently intriguing." ( Publishers Weekly)

Excellent

Book super detailed. Shows his rise to peer all he had to overcome. Like how the book just deliver the facts without praise or condemnation.

Great history lesson

As someone who only knew a little about the history of the Mongol empire, this book was fantastic. It was a balanced account of the remarkable achievements of Genghis and his empire while not sugarcoating the massive death directly caused by his conquest.

I agree with the author that he is the greatest conqueror in history - truly original.

Excellent book about this period of history

What made the experience of listening to Genghis Khan the most enjoyable?

Very much enjoyed the book. The one thing that I found that I didn't like was that the narrator would drop the "K" from khan, pronouncing it han. He did this at times with Kubla Khan's name. I'm not sure if that is how it is pronounced in Mongolian, but made it hard to follow at first, since I've always heard the "k" pronounced.

Which character – as performed by Tim Andres Pabon – was your favorite?

see above

A Bit Dry

The coverage was very thorough.

I found it a bit dry and academic.

It's the second most entertaining audiobook on the topic.

I liked Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford a little more.

historical narrative Ghengis Khan

I love this book, I am constantly returning to it and learning more and more each time I listen.

details of everything

really well dated facts are well laid out and it's a great read on a long drive home. would recommend

Gengis answer mongol order

Detailed explanation of the most dominate army excursion the world has ever known. Names dates and places.

the greatest conqueror

once again I'm just amazed how these books of high achievers conqueror of worlds. I find a lot of insight and wisdom and lessons of how to conquer my own no matter how miniscule it is compared to theirs

Excellent detail of the text; weird pronunciation of the reader

There were numerous words (not proper nouns) that reader pronounced in a way that no other native English speaker would. Other than that, good book for the lover of history.

Not in my top list

Lacks engaging narrative, difficult to keep track of the chronology.
The listing of characters at the start is very disengaging.