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Genghis Khan: Life, Death, and Resurrection
Genghis Khan is one of history's immortals, alive in memory as a scourge, hero, military genius and demi-god. To Muslims, Russians and westerners, he is a murderer of millions, a brutal oppressor. Yet in his homeland of Mongolia he is the revered father of the nation, and the Chinese honor him as the founder of a dynasty. In his so-called Mausoleum in Inner Mongolia, worshippers seek the blessing of his spirit. In a supreme paradox, the world's most ruthless conqueror has become a force for peace and reconciliation.
As a teenager, Genghis was a fugitive, hiding from enemies on a remote mountainside. Yet he went on to found the world's greatest land empire and change the course of world history. Brilliant and original as well as ruthless, he ruled an empire twice the size of Rome's until his death in 1227 placed all at risk. To secure his conquests and then extend them, his heirs kept his death a secret, and secrecy has surrounded him ever since. His undiscovered grave, with its imagined treasures, remains the subject of intrigue and speculation.
This is more than just a gripping account of Genghis' rise and conquests. John Man uses first-hand experiences in China and Mongolia to reveal the khan's enduring influence. He has traveled the length of the empire. He spotlights the tension between Mongols and Chinese, who both claim Genghis' spirit. He is the first writer to explore the hidden valley where Genghis is believed to have died, and one of the few westerners to climb the mountain where he was likely buried.
This stunning narrative paints a vivid picture of the man himself, the places where he lived and fought, and the passions that surround him still. For in legend, ritual and intense controversy, Genghis lives on.
As a teenager, Genghis was a fugitive, hiding from enemies on a remote mountainside. Yet he went on to found the world's greatest land empire and change the course of world history. Brilliant and original as well as ruthless, he ruled an empire twice the size of Rome's until his death in 1227 placed all at risk. To secure his conquests and then extend them, his heirs kept his death a secret, and secrecy has surrounded him ever since. His undiscovered grave, with its imagined treasures, remains the subject of intrigue and speculation.
This is more than just a gripping account of Genghis' rise and conquests. John Man uses first-hand experiences in China and Mongolia to reveal the khan's enduring influence. He has traveled the length of the empire. He spotlights the tension between Mongols and Chinese, who both claim Genghis' spirit. He is the first writer to explore the hidden valley where Genghis is believed to have died, and one of the few westerners to climb the mountain where he was likely buried.
This stunning narrative paints a vivid picture of the man himself, the places where he lived and fought, and the passions that surround him still. For in legend, ritual and intense controversy, Genghis lives on.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
159 people are currently reading
2198 people want to read
About the author
John Man
73 books261 followersJohn Anthony Garnet Man is a British historian and travel writer. His special interests are China, Mongolia and the history of written communication. He takes particular pleasure in combining historical narrative with personal experience.
He studied German and French at Keble College, Oxford, before doing two postgraduate courses, a diploma in the History and Philosophy of Science at Oxford and Mongolian at the School of Oriental and African Studies, completing the latter in 1968. After working in journalism with Reuters and in publishing with Time-Life Books, he turned to writing, with occasional forays into film, TV and radio.
In the 1990s, he began a trilogy on the three major revolutions in writing: writing itself, the alphabet and printing with movable type. This has so far resulted in two books, Alpha Beta and The Gutenberg Revolution, both republished in 2009. The third, on the origin of writing, is on hold, because it depends on access to Iraq.
He returned to the subject of Mongolia with Gobi: Tracking the Desert, the first book on the region since the 1920s. Work in Mongolia led to Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection, which has so far appeared in 18 languages. Attila the Hun and Kublai Khan: The Mongol King Who Remade China completed a trilogy on Asian leaders. A revised edition of his book on Genghis Khan, with the results of an expedition up the mountain on which he is supposed to be buried, was upcoming in autumn 2010.
The Terracotta Army coincided with the British Museum exhibition (September 2007- April 2008). This was followed by The Great Wall. The Leadership Secrets of Genghis Khan combines history and leadership theory. Xanadu: Marco Polo and the Discovery of the East was published in autumn 2009, and Samurai: The Last Warrior, the story of Saigō Takamori's doomed 1877 rebellion against the Japanese emperor, was published in February 2011.
In 2007 John Man was awarded Mongolia's Friendship Medal for his contributions to UK-Mongolian relations.
He studied German and French at Keble College, Oxford, before doing two postgraduate courses, a diploma in the History and Philosophy of Science at Oxford and Mongolian at the School of Oriental and African Studies, completing the latter in 1968. After working in journalism with Reuters and in publishing with Time-Life Books, he turned to writing, with occasional forays into film, TV and radio.
In the 1990s, he began a trilogy on the three major revolutions in writing: writing itself, the alphabet and printing with movable type. This has so far resulted in two books, Alpha Beta and The Gutenberg Revolution, both republished in 2009. The third, on the origin of writing, is on hold, because it depends on access to Iraq.
He returned to the subject of Mongolia with Gobi: Tracking the Desert, the first book on the region since the 1920s. Work in Mongolia led to Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection, which has so far appeared in 18 languages. Attila the Hun and Kublai Khan: The Mongol King Who Remade China completed a trilogy on Asian leaders. A revised edition of his book on Genghis Khan, with the results of an expedition up the mountain on which he is supposed to be buried, was upcoming in autumn 2010.
The Terracotta Army coincided with the British Museum exhibition (September 2007- April 2008). This was followed by The Great Wall. The Leadership Secrets of Genghis Khan combines history and leadership theory. Xanadu: Marco Polo and the Discovery of the East was published in autumn 2009, and Samurai: The Last Warrior, the story of Saigō Takamori's doomed 1877 rebellion against the Japanese emperor, was published in February 2011.
In 2007 John Man was awarded Mongolia's Friendship Medal for his contributions to UK-Mongolian relations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
November 18, 2016
Hi All.
This book was written in two different perspectives/styles. One was like a typical history book, explaining an amazing and important historic era surrounding an infamous warrior and an amazingly colourful supporting cast chronologically. The other was the writer John Man conversing and traveling with experts of the era and the characters portrayed in visiting certain sights in modern day where things 'might have happened' during the medieval conquests.
The history chronologic part of the book is easy to review and enjoy. I am sure the author points out in some section that this is almost a simple digestion of the period he is describing and it is mostly about his travels which focus around pre-birth/ youth of Genghis also following his death. It is a shame that these two sections which are probably the focus of the book in the eyes of the author did not really appeal to me. They were okay - and he did create the imagery of the current day area and how he raised an opinion to why he believe it represented such things- was a great skill. Especially a section where he describes why Genghis may have had one of his last battle preparation villages in a now Barren area of China is so picturesque and enlightening that John Man makes his presumptions essentially very believable.
I have been reading a few books by historians such as Alison Weir and Ian Mortimer and although this book was enjoyable - I found it didn't seem as well researched and fleshed out as the aforementioned authors. It seemed like fewer references were reviewed prior to publication - with the majority of all statements being from the secret history (of the Mongols) - apparently this is an epic which is the Mongol's equivalent of the Iliad (TROY), Aeneid (ROME), Elig' Saga (ICELAND), The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (CHINA) - this point interested me so I my check out this text. The other texts he analysed seems unreliable-ish which the author comments is due to @ Genghis's death - truth and history were not known in aiding the empires continued prominence.
I do not regret I read this. In fact, I can almost recommend the way I have done things if people wish to get into Genghis and the surrounding historical awesomeness.
I watched the film Mongol first (which features a great Japanese actor - who also played in the Audition, Visitor Q, and Thor - as the general - Genghis himself) then I read this - and the way thing happened during his life - Which seems more human and honourable than you may be destined to think.. the Mongol's only obliterated races/ areas when they had been dishonoured and revenge was due - which makes it more human in the middle age... ps. the author explains middle age views and happenings well as if we are there. I would say this is a good way to approach the subject. I have to admit John Man is an Eastern Asia history expert and I have already expressed I wish to read more of his work.
I am interested to read other authors regarding this period - about Genghis, the empire, his Grandson Kublai Khan - especially to see if they view Genghis in the same legendary, god-like way of this book and the film (which I think I will watch again later) or if they seem him in the same light as Hitler and Edward I for his destruction of certain races. He didn't pull any punches - over 2,000,000 people were annihilated and whole towns and places - look at the city Merv on Google. He is presented as honourable - never tortured anyone and any royals that they crossed who had to die - blood was not allowed to be shed. Parts of it seem more human that the same age in England or in the fictional Game of Thrones. Imagine Genghis with dragons. In fact, I can imagine him like Anomander Rake (Malazan) turning into an awesome dragon before annihilation whoever! I apologise if I am waffling on in this review.....
To close - good book. Maybe 3.5 is fairer. I will spend a lot of time this year researching this age. I have lots of fantasy book readers on my list. Read this - a lot of what happens fits right in GOT, Stormlight Archive etc....
One scene from this stood out to me and although short was written amazing to hence the brutal atmosphere of the world at that era..... After Genghis was dead, one of his affiliates tortured someone who they thought was a witch. After starvation - she admitted she was so they sewed up all her orifices, put her in a rag and put her into a river. Obviously, if she was a witch she would have got away... She didn't.
Peace all. Hope you are well - James x
www.youandibooks.wordpress.com
This book was written in two different perspectives/styles. One was like a typical history book, explaining an amazing and important historic era surrounding an infamous warrior and an amazingly colourful supporting cast chronologically. The other was the writer John Man conversing and traveling with experts of the era and the characters portrayed in visiting certain sights in modern day where things 'might have happened' during the medieval conquests.
The history chronologic part of the book is easy to review and enjoy. I am sure the author points out in some section that this is almost a simple digestion of the period he is describing and it is mostly about his travels which focus around pre-birth/ youth of Genghis also following his death. It is a shame that these two sections which are probably the focus of the book in the eyes of the author did not really appeal to me. They were okay - and he did create the imagery of the current day area and how he raised an opinion to why he believe it represented such things- was a great skill. Especially a section where he describes why Genghis may have had one of his last battle preparation villages in a now Barren area of China is so picturesque and enlightening that John Man makes his presumptions essentially very believable.
I have been reading a few books by historians such as Alison Weir and Ian Mortimer and although this book was enjoyable - I found it didn't seem as well researched and fleshed out as the aforementioned authors. It seemed like fewer references were reviewed prior to publication - with the majority of all statements being from the secret history (of the Mongols) - apparently this is an epic which is the Mongol's equivalent of the Iliad (TROY), Aeneid (ROME), Elig' Saga (ICELAND), The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (CHINA) - this point interested me so I my check out this text. The other texts he analysed seems unreliable-ish which the author comments is due to @ Genghis's death - truth and history were not known in aiding the empires continued prominence.
I do not regret I read this. In fact, I can almost recommend the way I have done things if people wish to get into Genghis and the surrounding historical awesomeness.
I watched the film Mongol first (which features a great Japanese actor - who also played in the Audition, Visitor Q, and Thor - as the general - Genghis himself) then I read this - and the way thing happened during his life - Which seems more human and honourable than you may be destined to think.. the Mongol's only obliterated races/ areas when they had been dishonoured and revenge was due - which makes it more human in the middle age... ps. the author explains middle age views and happenings well as if we are there. I would say this is a good way to approach the subject. I have to admit John Man is an Eastern Asia history expert and I have already expressed I wish to read more of his work.
I am interested to read other authors regarding this period - about Genghis, the empire, his Grandson Kublai Khan - especially to see if they view Genghis in the same legendary, god-like way of this book and the film (which I think I will watch again later) or if they seem him in the same light as Hitler and Edward I for his destruction of certain races. He didn't pull any punches - over 2,000,000 people were annihilated and whole towns and places - look at the city Merv on Google. He is presented as honourable - never tortured anyone and any royals that they crossed who had to die - blood was not allowed to be shed. Parts of it seem more human that the same age in England or in the fictional Game of Thrones. Imagine Genghis with dragons. In fact, I can imagine him like Anomander Rake (Malazan) turning into an awesome dragon before annihilation whoever! I apologise if I am waffling on in this review.....
To close - good book. Maybe 3.5 is fairer. I will spend a lot of time this year researching this age. I have lots of fantasy book readers on my list. Read this - a lot of what happens fits right in GOT, Stormlight Archive etc....
One scene from this stood out to me and although short was written amazing to hence the brutal atmosphere of the world at that era..... After Genghis was dead, one of his affiliates tortured someone who they thought was a witch. After starvation - she admitted she was so they sewed up all her orifices, put her in a rag and put her into a river. Obviously, if she was a witch she would have got away... She didn't.
Peace all. Hope you are well - James x
www.youandibooks.wordpress.com
August 22, 2025
In Search of Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan by John Man is both a history and a travel book. The author explains as a young man he wanted to get as far away from home and civilisation so chose Mongolia. In doing so he developed an obsession with Genghis, one the most famous and influential people in history.
Genghis is one of those exceptional humans, someone who we can genuinely say changed the course of history. Caesar, Napoleon or Stalin also fall into this category. These individuals who everything seems to fall back to. Of course chance and circumstance have an influence in this. One must always ask, if these individuals were alive today would they have an status or influence?
John Man’s study is to look on Genghis as he grows from a boy from a good family but in relative poverty to meeting his wealthy wife, gaining influence, untiring the mongols and then conquering the world. He was able to do this through he unique outlook. For example, if someone was useful to him, captured enemy or otherwise he would employ them. He was able to adapt, going beyond the traditional Mongolian nomadic lifestyle to use technology and tactics of his conquered foes. He unapologetically smashed his enemies and slaughtered their citizens (millions are likely to have died on his orders) however he also allowed the freedom of worship in his lands, something unheard of for the time.
Genghis overall is a fascinating character and it is regret that I have not read about him before. However, this book is not the ultimate study for me. As I said at the beginning of this review this is part history, part travel. I really appreciate the author has traveled to the location of the events mentioned, for me this is essential when writing about a subject. But, he becomes too bogged down in his experience of modern Mongolia and this becomes frustrating and unnecessary when trying to provide a narrative on historical events. In the final third of the book ‘Resurrection’ I did find this useful as Man discussed the social and cultural importance of Genghis today. Especially with conflicting uses and memories from the countries he is most associated. China and Mongolia most interestingly use him in different ways. By then however, I’d grown tired of the style.
I did enjoy reading Genghis Khan, I learnt a lot about the subject matter, from his life, his death through to what he has meant over the last 800 years. But there was simply a lack of the history and of the man and a lot more about Mongolia and the geography. In some ways 3 stars feels harsh, yet again this is not what I came to read.
Genghis Khan by John Man is both a history and a travel book. The author explains as a young man he wanted to get as far away from home and civilisation so chose Mongolia. In doing so he developed an obsession with Genghis, one the most famous and influential people in history.
Genghis is one of those exceptional humans, someone who we can genuinely say changed the course of history. Caesar, Napoleon or Stalin also fall into this category. These individuals who everything seems to fall back to. Of course chance and circumstance have an influence in this. One must always ask, if these individuals were alive today would they have an status or influence?
John Man’s study is to look on Genghis as he grows from a boy from a good family but in relative poverty to meeting his wealthy wife, gaining influence, untiring the mongols and then conquering the world. He was able to do this through he unique outlook. For example, if someone was useful to him, captured enemy or otherwise he would employ them. He was able to adapt, going beyond the traditional Mongolian nomadic lifestyle to use technology and tactics of his conquered foes. He unapologetically smashed his enemies and slaughtered their citizens (millions are likely to have died on his orders) however he also allowed the freedom of worship in his lands, something unheard of for the time.
Genghis overall is a fascinating character and it is regret that I have not read about him before. However, this book is not the ultimate study for me. As I said at the beginning of this review this is part history, part travel. I really appreciate the author has traveled to the location of the events mentioned, for me this is essential when writing about a subject. But, he becomes too bogged down in his experience of modern Mongolia and this becomes frustrating and unnecessary when trying to provide a narrative on historical events. In the final third of the book ‘Resurrection’ I did find this useful as Man discussed the social and cultural importance of Genghis today. Especially with conflicting uses and memories from the countries he is most associated. China and Mongolia most interestingly use him in different ways. By then however, I’d grown tired of the style.
I did enjoy reading Genghis Khan, I learnt a lot about the subject matter, from his life, his death through to what he has meant over the last 800 years. But there was simply a lack of the history and of the man and a lot more about Mongolia and the geography. In some ways 3 stars feels harsh, yet again this is not what I came to read.
May 31, 2017
If the focus had solely been on the life and rule of Genfhis then this book would have been extremely entertaining. 2 stars for the author writing about everything and anything that he experienced while researching the book
February 9, 2021
Cut the first 70 pages and the last 100 pages out of this and it’s a semi decent book on Genghis Khan. The rest is about some man we do not care about telling us about his trip through Mongolia
May 21, 2017
Di buku ini diulas biografi kehidupan dan leluhur Jenghis Khan beserta sedikit tambahan kisah-kisah penaklukan oleh keturunan-keturunannya di Eurasia. Jenghis Khan adalah sosok pemimpin militer sekaligus manusia yg mendapat mandat dari Langit utk menguasai hampir separuh dunia.
Dari gambaran Jenghis Khan di buku ini, teknik perangnya yg sangat cepat dan terorganisir dan kadang kejam dgn menaruh para tawanan di garis depan sbg pihak pertama utk dikorbankan. Tapi bagi saya setelah membaca buku ini, telah menarik kesimpulan, kekejaman dgn membunuh nyaris semua populasi daerah yg dia tundukkan adalah cara efisiensi paling efektif pada masa tsb utk mengurangi langsung permasalahan2 yg kelak akan timbul. Jenghis melakukan holocaust bukan atas dasar kebencian terhadap agama atau etnis tertentu, melainkan karena Jenghis yg memandang sangat tinggi kesetiaan, tidak bisa menolerir pembangkangan ataupun pengkhianatan pd daerah yg telah atau akan dikuasainya.
Tidak bisa dipungkiri, sbg sosok legendaris, terlepas dari kekuatan dan kekejamannya, Jenghis sangat cakap memilih orang-orang yg mengabdi utk dirinya spt Jendral besar Boorchu, Subedei, Jebe, bahkan Yeh Lu Tsu Tsai yg menyelamatkan negeri China dari genocide para Mongol yg tidak berpikir jangka panjang. Uniknya, setelah berabad-abad kematiannya, sosok Jenghis tetap dipuja baik bangsanya sendiri, bangsa Mongolia sbg imperator maupun oleh bangsa China sendiri sbg bapak pendiri Dinasti Yuan.
Dari gambaran Jenghis Khan di buku ini, teknik perangnya yg sangat cepat dan terorganisir dan kadang kejam dgn menaruh para tawanan di garis depan sbg pihak pertama utk dikorbankan. Tapi bagi saya setelah membaca buku ini, telah menarik kesimpulan, kekejaman dgn membunuh nyaris semua populasi daerah yg dia tundukkan adalah cara efisiensi paling efektif pada masa tsb utk mengurangi langsung permasalahan2 yg kelak akan timbul. Jenghis melakukan holocaust bukan atas dasar kebencian terhadap agama atau etnis tertentu, melainkan karena Jenghis yg memandang sangat tinggi kesetiaan, tidak bisa menolerir pembangkangan ataupun pengkhianatan pd daerah yg telah atau akan dikuasainya.
Tidak bisa dipungkiri, sbg sosok legendaris, terlepas dari kekuatan dan kekejamannya, Jenghis sangat cakap memilih orang-orang yg mengabdi utk dirinya spt Jendral besar Boorchu, Subedei, Jebe, bahkan Yeh Lu Tsu Tsai yg menyelamatkan negeri China dari genocide para Mongol yg tidak berpikir jangka panjang. Uniknya, setelah berabad-abad kematiannya, sosok Jenghis tetap dipuja baik bangsanya sendiri, bangsa Mongolia sbg imperator maupun oleh bangsa China sendiri sbg bapak pendiri Dinasti Yuan.
September 17, 2013
-Del protagonista y de su concepto ayer y hoy.-
Género. Ensayo.
Lo que nos cuenta. Bajo el subtítulo “Vida, muerte y resurrección”, ensayo sobre Genghis Khan que nos aproxima a su biografía desde fuentes historiográficas y otras de la tradición oral pero que mezcla la Historia con la guía de viajes, algo de novela e incluso análisis sociopolítico (y hasta religioso) del presente y del pasado para, simultáneamente, hablarnos de la idea de “lo mongol” como concepto e identidad.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite: http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Ensayo.
Lo que nos cuenta. Bajo el subtítulo “Vida, muerte y resurrección”, ensayo sobre Genghis Khan que nos aproxima a su biografía desde fuentes historiográficas y otras de la tradición oral pero que mezcla la Historia con la guía de viajes, algo de novela e incluso análisis sociopolítico (y hasta religioso) del presente y del pasado para, simultáneamente, hablarnos de la idea de “lo mongol” como concepto e identidad.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite: http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
April 8, 2010
If you’re from anywhere in Asia or Eastern Europe, Genghis makes a prominent (and most like a scary) appearance in your history text books. I thought it would be good to forget what my school books told me about Genghis and read an unbiased biography of him by an Englishman who is not burdened with what Genghis did to England. This book is well-researched and educational. There are parts at the end about the author’s travels in Mongolia that did not interest me and I skipped.
The book basically confirmed the image that I had from Genghis as a ruthless, bloodthirsty barbarian with no regard for anything other than his quest for power and domination and revenge. His career started with killing his own brother when he was a teenager, then moved to killing and dominating the nomadic clans in Mongolia, then sacking of China (now China considers Genghis a Chinese and glorifies him), then Central Asia, Persia, Russia, and Eastern and Central Europe. Everywhere he went he destroyed and burned and killed and raped on apocalyptic scales. It made me sick.
What’s more sickening is the fact that Mongolia and China consider him a legend, a demigod. He is revered and worshipped, in spite of the overwhelming evidence that he was nothing but a mass-murderer. Mongolia now is an empty, piss-poor country with a largely illiterate population. Genghis is their only claim to pride and historical significance. Nonetheless, I still find it revolting that any nation can venerate someone like Genghis. This is no different than Germans someday lionizing Hitler and boasting about The Final Solution as the crown of their historical achievements. I used to think that Mongolia would be really cool to visit – remote and rugged and exotic. No fucking way.
Genghis’s military “genius” often was nothing but deceitfulness and extreme ruthlessness. More laughable are claims about his “spirituality.” Towards the end of his life, he became “spiritual” and summoned Master Ch’ang-ch’un from China, mainly because he thought this guy had the secret to immortality. This “master” was a typical clergyman/guru: a charlatan who was only interested in promoting himself and his sect. He ignored the burned cities and the piles of bodies in this path and instead gave Genghis vacuous lectures about vegetarianism and The Way.
It was interesting that at the beginning of the book Man used the word barbarian inside quotation marks when talking about the Mongolian tribes – presumably not to offend the present-day Mongolians. I noticed that he stopped using the quotation marks after a while. He must have seen the absurdity of it. Somebody should coin a term that means barbarian-times-thousand and apply it to the 13th-Century Mongolians. If there is a hell, I’m sure Genghis and his people are rotting in it.
The book basically confirmed the image that I had from Genghis as a ruthless, bloodthirsty barbarian with no regard for anything other than his quest for power and domination and revenge. His career started with killing his own brother when he was a teenager, then moved to killing and dominating the nomadic clans in Mongolia, then sacking of China (now China considers Genghis a Chinese and glorifies him), then Central Asia, Persia, Russia, and Eastern and Central Europe. Everywhere he went he destroyed and burned and killed and raped on apocalyptic scales. It made me sick.
What’s more sickening is the fact that Mongolia and China consider him a legend, a demigod. He is revered and worshipped, in spite of the overwhelming evidence that he was nothing but a mass-murderer. Mongolia now is an empty, piss-poor country with a largely illiterate population. Genghis is their only claim to pride and historical significance. Nonetheless, I still find it revolting that any nation can venerate someone like Genghis. This is no different than Germans someday lionizing Hitler and boasting about The Final Solution as the crown of their historical achievements. I used to think that Mongolia would be really cool to visit – remote and rugged and exotic. No fucking way.
Genghis’s military “genius” often was nothing but deceitfulness and extreme ruthlessness. More laughable are claims about his “spirituality.” Towards the end of his life, he became “spiritual” and summoned Master Ch’ang-ch’un from China, mainly because he thought this guy had the secret to immortality. This “master” was a typical clergyman/guru: a charlatan who was only interested in promoting himself and his sect. He ignored the burned cities and the piles of bodies in this path and instead gave Genghis vacuous lectures about vegetarianism and The Way.
It was interesting that at the beginning of the book Man used the word barbarian inside quotation marks when talking about the Mongolian tribes – presumably not to offend the present-day Mongolians. I noticed that he stopped using the quotation marks after a while. He must have seen the absurdity of it. Somebody should coin a term that means barbarian-times-thousand and apply it to the 13th-Century Mongolians. If there is a hell, I’m sure Genghis and his people are rotting in it.
November 19, 2010
‘Genghis Khan is one of history’s immortals.’
By the time of his death in 1227, Genghis Khan ruled an empire that stretched from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific Ocean. His empire was larger than either that of Rome, or Alexander the Great. To many Muslims, Russians, and Europeans, Genghis Khan is remembered as a murderer of millions. He is honoured in China as the founder of the Yuan dynasty, and in Mongolia he is revered as the father of the nation.
In this book John Man presents an overview of the history, and the mystery, surrounding Genghis Khan. This is accompanied by a personal travelogue from John Man’s travel to Mongolia to find and visit Genghis-related sites. Searching for physical signs of Genghis Khan in Mongolia proved challenging, but provides an interesting view into life in this remote country.
I have mixed views about this book. John Man’s enthusiasm for his subject is clear, and the book is easy to read but I wanted to read more about Genghis Khan’s life, times and influences and less about John Man’s travels and theories. The contemporary detail did add to the overall portrait of Genghis Khan by giving some sense of how he is viewed in Mongolia, and this will be important to some readers.
I wonder what sense Genghis Khan himself would make of his legacy: both fact and legend?
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
By the time of his death in 1227, Genghis Khan ruled an empire that stretched from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific Ocean. His empire was larger than either that of Rome, or Alexander the Great. To many Muslims, Russians, and Europeans, Genghis Khan is remembered as a murderer of millions. He is honoured in China as the founder of the Yuan dynasty, and in Mongolia he is revered as the father of the nation.
In this book John Man presents an overview of the history, and the mystery, surrounding Genghis Khan. This is accompanied by a personal travelogue from John Man’s travel to Mongolia to find and visit Genghis-related sites. Searching for physical signs of Genghis Khan in Mongolia proved challenging, but provides an interesting view into life in this remote country.
I have mixed views about this book. John Man’s enthusiasm for his subject is clear, and the book is easy to read but I wanted to read more about Genghis Khan’s life, times and influences and less about John Man’s travels and theories. The contemporary detail did add to the overall portrait of Genghis Khan by giving some sense of how he is viewed in Mongolia, and this will be important to some readers.
I wonder what sense Genghis Khan himself would make of his legacy: both fact and legend?
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
July 16, 2021
The history is fascinating, shedding light on a character and an empire that had so much consequence on the world... and yet, of which I knew so little. The travelogue (Man travels through areas that may or may not have been key places related to Genghis's life) is less gripping. But it's a book that pique's curiosity - about the man, his extraordinary life and the qualities that took him from being a nobody to the master of an empire that was one of the largest the world has ever seen. A subject that needs to be explored further.
June 6, 2013
Genghis has been one of my favourite historical characters for a while now, though I haven't read any actual biographies of the man before now. I happened to pick up a copy of “Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World” by Jack Weatherford from a friend and added it to my list, however, upon looking the book up on Goodreads, one of the first reviews proceeded to extol Genghis for all his virtues (banning torture, linking east and west, meritocracy, freedom of religion...) while downplaying his massacres (no worse than anyone else at the time, Muslim historians greatly exaggerated, it's mathematically impossible to have killed that many people...)[1]. Even the Wikipedia article on it calls it “revisionist” and has a section on its misrepresentations.
Therefore, best not to make Weatherford's book my first actual biography on the man.
Here, John Man has written an excellent biography of Genghis (where he incidentally analyzes the claims that Muslim historians exaggerate the atrocities). Man has a very unique style amongst biographers I've read; a good portion of the book serves as a sort of the journal of his travels through Mongolia and northern China. For this, he's criticized because he spends a good chunk of the book not directly dealing with Genghis, and I can appreciate those criticisms, but I also am not about to fault Man for this. I have such an interest in the Mongols, and have just the right base of starting information (Man pitches to a selective audience that knows a little about the Mongols to begin with, but still recounts Genghis' entire biography, so one can assume it's not aimed towards Genghis experts; I happened to fall into that narrow cleave between too little and too learned, and the novel was perfect for me). For instance, in Chapter 1, Man describes the journey he went on through Mongolia to view these historic sights first hand, where he recounts some of the aimlessness of the new market economy in the wake of Soviet-style communism, the sulphur spring whose bacteria eats away burn tissue to reduce scarring, the marmot fleas that were the likely cause of the Black Death, how to cook a marmot using a disgusting process that apparently produces a decent tasting meat casserole (including how marmots become mesmerized by the colour white like a moth to a flame and are easy prey, and the Japanese vegetarian outrage at this once a documentary aired), and on how both the Mongolian language and the Mongolian script came to be, how it was haphazardly transliterated (or, as Man says, trans-syllabarized; phonetically copied over by each syllable) into Chinese, which leaves us with no real understanding of how anything in medieval Mongolian was pronounced[2]. Moreover, Man explains how most Mongols, even in modern day, have only one name, and patronymics (paternal last names) are added only amongst “professional Mongolians”. All of this I found rather fascinating, though I'm strangely fascinated by Mongol history and probably would find this interesting where others might not[3].
Genghis' life threads through various episodes: his childhood, the war with Jamukha, the Xi Xia (1), the Chin, Khwarezm, the Xi Xia (2), and the elaborate mysteries surrounding his death and burial. Here, Man recounts them all, in vivid detail, but doesn't get into so much detail that we're left with a thousand page Encyclopedia Mongolica. His children, for example, get only the briefest of mentions. It would have been nice to perhaps have a chapter devoted to them, to their lives while Genghis was still alive. I do thank Man for including Chapter 14: The Outer Reaches of Empire, where he briefly summarizes the expansion of the empire following Genghis' death, including the conquest of Russia, the invasions of Poland and Hungary and the conquering of the Song under Kublai.
Finally, we return to the travel guide format in Part 4 where Man explores Chinese, Inner Mongolian and Mongolian views on Genghis and Genghis spirituality that is cropping up – a bizarre mix of nationalism (strangely both Mongolian and Chinese), Tengriism and Buddhism – as Man recounts his fateful travels to the Burkhan Khaldun holy mountain where Genghis is rumoured to be buried.
This is an excellent biography of history's greatest conqueror, superbly written with Man's fluid, somewhat wandering style. Man has written two other books on the subject, one on Attila and one of Kublai, and I have plans to read them both.
[1] Review here - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
[2] This probably explains the ongoing debate as to the spelling and pronunciation of Jinghiz/Genghis/Genghiz/Jenghis/Jenghiz/Chinggis Khan
[3] To put it in perspective, I'd like to visit Mongolia one day, see that giant statue of Genghis on horseback, see the Buddhist monastery overlooking the national park not far from Ulaanbaatar, and have a taste of airag.
Therefore, best not to make Weatherford's book my first actual biography on the man.
Here, John Man has written an excellent biography of Genghis (where he incidentally analyzes the claims that Muslim historians exaggerate the atrocities). Man has a very unique style amongst biographers I've read; a good portion of the book serves as a sort of the journal of his travels through Mongolia and northern China. For this, he's criticized because he spends a good chunk of the book not directly dealing with Genghis, and I can appreciate those criticisms, but I also am not about to fault Man for this. I have such an interest in the Mongols, and have just the right base of starting information (Man pitches to a selective audience that knows a little about the Mongols to begin with, but still recounts Genghis' entire biography, so one can assume it's not aimed towards Genghis experts; I happened to fall into that narrow cleave between too little and too learned, and the novel was perfect for me). For instance, in Chapter 1, Man describes the journey he went on through Mongolia to view these historic sights first hand, where he recounts some of the aimlessness of the new market economy in the wake of Soviet-style communism, the sulphur spring whose bacteria eats away burn tissue to reduce scarring, the marmot fleas that were the likely cause of the Black Death, how to cook a marmot using a disgusting process that apparently produces a decent tasting meat casserole (including how marmots become mesmerized by the colour white like a moth to a flame and are easy prey, and the Japanese vegetarian outrage at this once a documentary aired), and on how both the Mongolian language and the Mongolian script came to be, how it was haphazardly transliterated (or, as Man says, trans-syllabarized; phonetically copied over by each syllable) into Chinese, which leaves us with no real understanding of how anything in medieval Mongolian was pronounced[2]. Moreover, Man explains how most Mongols, even in modern day, have only one name, and patronymics (paternal last names) are added only amongst “professional Mongolians”. All of this I found rather fascinating, though I'm strangely fascinated by Mongol history and probably would find this interesting where others might not[3].
Genghis' life threads through various episodes: his childhood, the war with Jamukha, the Xi Xia (1), the Chin, Khwarezm, the Xi Xia (2), and the elaborate mysteries surrounding his death and burial. Here, Man recounts them all, in vivid detail, but doesn't get into so much detail that we're left with a thousand page Encyclopedia Mongolica. His children, for example, get only the briefest of mentions. It would have been nice to perhaps have a chapter devoted to them, to their lives while Genghis was still alive. I do thank Man for including Chapter 14: The Outer Reaches of Empire, where he briefly summarizes the expansion of the empire following Genghis' death, including the conquest of Russia, the invasions of Poland and Hungary and the conquering of the Song under Kublai.
Finally, we return to the travel guide format in Part 4 where Man explores Chinese, Inner Mongolian and Mongolian views on Genghis and Genghis spirituality that is cropping up – a bizarre mix of nationalism (strangely both Mongolian and Chinese), Tengriism and Buddhism – as Man recounts his fateful travels to the Burkhan Khaldun holy mountain where Genghis is rumoured to be buried.
This is an excellent biography of history's greatest conqueror, superbly written with Man's fluid, somewhat wandering style. Man has written two other books on the subject, one on Attila and one of Kublai, and I have plans to read them both.
[1] Review here - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
[2] This probably explains the ongoing debate as to the spelling and pronunciation of Jinghiz/Genghis/Genghiz/Jenghis/Jenghiz/Chinggis Khan
[3] To put it in perspective, I'd like to visit Mongolia one day, see that giant statue of Genghis on horseback, see the Buddhist monastery overlooking the national park not far from Ulaanbaatar, and have a taste of airag.
June 12, 2023
A 3-star rating for this, however it has perked my interest on Mongol history, the empire lasted much longer than Genghis and I will hopefully pick up on it this year. The author rather necessarily includes anecdotes from his time spent travelling around Mongolia and Northern China, I feel that this is needed to guide the reader through the geographical setting of the region, I noticed some other reviewers complaining about this. I really enjoyed the tales of travelling from site to site and looking for various points where Genghis is supposed to have camped. The hunt for his burial site is also very interesting and reveals much about Mongolian culture at that time.
The end of book was very revealing on how the Soviet’s buried the legend of Genghis in order to extinguish any nationalist feelings in the region, while the Chinese are carefully resurrecting his legacy with more of a Chinese nationalist makeover.
I’d recommend this book as an introduction to Genghis and the Mongolian empire, but I am certain a better account must exist. One thing missing is a family tree tracing the Khan’s genealogy, this would have supported the reader in following his lineage throughout the years.
The end of book was very revealing on how the Soviet’s buried the legend of Genghis in order to extinguish any nationalist feelings in the region, while the Chinese are carefully resurrecting his legacy with more of a Chinese nationalist makeover.
I’d recommend this book as an introduction to Genghis and the Mongolian empire, but I am certain a better account must exist. One thing missing is a family tree tracing the Khan’s genealogy, this would have supported the reader in following his lineage throughout the years.
December 13, 2007
This is an interesting history of the rise and spread of the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan. Although there are maps and photos in the book, I found it even more interesting to use Google Earth at several points whilst reading the book - the terrain across which his armies travelled, the position of the various dynasties that he conquered and some of the archaeological sites were all more impressive when linked to the geography of the regions. In addition, there is a link on Google Earth that bookmarks the empire of Khan - I found this late on in my reading and it was at the right time to make it meaningful. Much of the book is based on the mostly contemporary written accounts of Genghis but Man has added insights from contmeporary scholars of the period ,and his own scholarship and travels. I found it fascinating.
December 18, 2024
For me, this sort of book is the most engaging means of reading about history. It is well-written and includes both accounts of events and insight into their lasting consequences.
January 5, 2019
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
John Man writes good, light, easy to read pop history. I have no illusions that I’m reading about the latest cutting edge discoveries, or that I’m getting a deep critical look at all the possible sources… but a story is woven together that illuminates a bit of history, with a touch of the travelogue as well. I know that it annoys other readers that Man also writes about his experiences while writing a book — where he went for research, the almost-calamities experienced, etc, etc. Still, for a bit of light reading I don’t mind, and it’s certainly easier to digest than something more academic.
Genghis Khan himself is a fascinating subject: the name is so evocative, yet really all it conjured up for me was tent villages and conquest. I didn’t really have a good idea of the Mongol peoples and their context, except dimly refracted through fiction. And well, okay, John Man gives us little snippets of “faction” (as is his wont), but it is based on research and an understanding of what was likely.
So yeah, enjoyable and accessible. I wouldn’t use it as a source for something that needs scrupulous accuracy, but if you’re curious, it should be a good read.
John Man writes good, light, easy to read pop history. I have no illusions that I’m reading about the latest cutting edge discoveries, or that I’m getting a deep critical look at all the possible sources… but a story is woven together that illuminates a bit of history, with a touch of the travelogue as well. I know that it annoys other readers that Man also writes about his experiences while writing a book — where he went for research, the almost-calamities experienced, etc, etc. Still, for a bit of light reading I don’t mind, and it’s certainly easier to digest than something more academic.
Genghis Khan himself is a fascinating subject: the name is so evocative, yet really all it conjured up for me was tent villages and conquest. I didn’t really have a good idea of the Mongol peoples and their context, except dimly refracted through fiction. And well, okay, John Man gives us little snippets of “faction” (as is his wont), but it is based on research and an understanding of what was likely.
So yeah, enjoyable and accessible. I wouldn’t use it as a source for something that needs scrupulous accuracy, but if you’re curious, it should be a good read.
May 1, 2022
An interesting change from the usual. There are parts it meets expectations, parts it doesn't.
After a museum tour like 85 pgs, it gets good when starts on story of Genghis khan's brutal rise. Unfortunately, however it loses its way again when focuses on everything else following his death.
Quite detailed and well researched on the incidents that occurred but does have many sections which felt unnecessary and skimmed past. Things such as extensive info on geography, the food and cattle of the time, the authors own travels and conversations/musings etc. when would instead have liked to have know more on the personality and battles instead.
Overall, the good parts which focus on his story, make it a decent read. From fratricide to murdering 1.2 million people in a few days it does have some truly ridiculous tales. The rest which doesn't have his journey in focus is skippable. Following this though, am interested to read more of such historical bios.
After a museum tour like 85 pgs, it gets good when starts on story of Genghis khan's brutal rise. Unfortunately, however it loses its way again when focuses on everything else following his death.
Quite detailed and well researched on the incidents that occurred but does have many sections which felt unnecessary and skimmed past. Things such as extensive info on geography, the food and cattle of the time, the authors own travels and conversations/musings etc. when would instead have liked to have know more on the personality and battles instead.
Overall, the good parts which focus on his story, make it a decent read. From fratricide to murdering 1.2 million people in a few days it does have some truly ridiculous tales. The rest which doesn't have his journey in focus is skippable. Following this though, am interested to read more of such historical bios.
February 27, 2020
I started 2 histories of Genghis Khan & his empire & since I put down the other one, this seems to be the better of the 2. In many ways, it underscores the fact that little is really known other than the fact that his Mongolian forces conquered much of the then known world & annihilated much of the population in the process. The amount of territory Genghis conquered is completely astounding but more as a statement of the mobility of his forces given that so much of it outside the major urban areas was very empty. So the book maybe is more about the legend of Genghis & how it is interpreted in present day Mongolia (Outer Mongolia) and China (Inner Mongolia) emphasizing the great contrast between the 2 views.
February 9, 2018
Buku yang mengisahkan tentang awal kehidupan Genghis Khan dari sekadar 'kutu' di tengah gunung hingga menjadi kaisar pemersatu Cina sekaligus penakhluk Eurasia. Dikemas dengan bahasa santai, bahkan di beberapa bagian terkesan menyindir dan penuh candaan, buku ini tak hanya menggambarkan kekuatan tekad Genghis Khan yang didukung oleh Langit Abadi, tetapi juga kesederhanaan dan kesetiaan tinggi bapak bangsa Mongol itu. Terlepas dari desas-desus kebrutalan pasukannya dan sikap tak kenal ampun Genghis Khan sendiri, ia tetaplah sosok manusia setengah dewa yang disucikan oleh pendukung setianya hingga hari ini.
February 28, 2024
کتاب بیشتر به شرح سفرنامه نویسنده به مغولستان، تاریخ مغول، زندگی مغولی و حوادث بعد از مرگ چنگیز با جزییات بالا میپردازه تا تمرکز روی شخصیت خود چنگیز.. برای خواننده کنجکاو زندگی و احوال چنگیز خان، خیلی از مطالب مربوط به خاطره های ماشین سواری راننده و.. خسته کننده و اضافه هست.
البته به جنگها و ابزارآلات جنگی اشاره هایی شده ولی بازهم میشد روی این موارد بیشتر تمرکز کرد..
البته به جنگها و ابزارآلات جنگی اشاره هایی شده ولی بازهم میشد روی این موارد بیشتر تمرکز کرد..
January 6, 2026
KHAAAAAAAAAN!
Super good, as the author puts it this is a gallop through ghengis life and legacy so fun for a quick overview. He intersperses the history with his current day travels which helps break things up and provides context to the land.
Super good, as the author puts it this is a gallop through ghengis life and legacy so fun for a quick overview. He intersperses the history with his current day travels which helps break things up and provides context to the land.
January 1, 2026
That mfer Genghis Khan is the GOAT, demigod type sh**
November 27, 2024
Crazy what happens when you stop ordering avocado toast
October 26, 2021
كتاب ممتع وشيق وينصح بقراءته
June 17, 2014
Genghis Khan is a name that will pop up in any study of the last 800 years. He is one of history's most powerful ripple effects, a veritable Bad Wolf (for you DW fans) bound up in the rise and fall of countless civilizations. Everything about him is shrouded in myth, legacy, even theology.
This book is part historic investigation, part personal journey. The last few chapters detail the author's own exploration of the Khan's homeland, descendants, and possible burial sites, and are both exciting and harrowing accounts. They reinforce the most important aspect of any study of Genghis--he is still alive and relevant today for the millions of Mongolians who reverence him, sometimes in a religious way. This may seem strange to those of us in the west, but it isn't that unbelievable. Reading about Genghis's rise from minor tribal leader to world-striding demi-god is not that different from how many other religions got their start.
It touches on several controversies surrounding him too, one of which is his reputation today: was Genghis a brutal, genocidal killer, or a revolutionary whose reforms benefited his subjects in ways never before seen? It seems incongruous that a man known for driving captured civilians into moats so their dead bodies would fill the gap would also unite an empire larger than any other, allowing unprecedented trade both economic and cultural, the so-called "Pax Mongolica." Or that a man who slaughtered millions of Muslims and obliterated an entire Islamic kingdom would institute total religious freedom in his domains, centuries before supposedly more "enlightened" peoples.
I think the truth is that he was both. The author points out that Genghis's unprecedented atrocities led to unprecedented advances. You can't acknowledge one without the other. I am reminded of Ashoka, the legendary Mauryan ruler of 3rd-century BCE India. Like Genghis, he is remembered today as a dynastic founder, and one whose symbols and history continue to exert influence on a modern state. Also like Genghis, his rule was founded on conquest, battle, and a lot of dead bodies (although definitely not to the same extent).
Many historic figures end up shedding blood on their path to glory or fame. Appreciating the enormous impact Genghis had on the world of his time, and ours, is not the same as praising him however. I look forward to reading more about this impressive conqueror who ruled by the authority of "Blue Heaven."
This book is part historic investigation, part personal journey. The last few chapters detail the author's own exploration of the Khan's homeland, descendants, and possible burial sites, and are both exciting and harrowing accounts. They reinforce the most important aspect of any study of Genghis--he is still alive and relevant today for the millions of Mongolians who reverence him, sometimes in a religious way. This may seem strange to those of us in the west, but it isn't that unbelievable. Reading about Genghis's rise from minor tribal leader to world-striding demi-god is not that different from how many other religions got their start.
It touches on several controversies surrounding him too, one of which is his reputation today: was Genghis a brutal, genocidal killer, or a revolutionary whose reforms benefited his subjects in ways never before seen? It seems incongruous that a man known for driving captured civilians into moats so their dead bodies would fill the gap would also unite an empire larger than any other, allowing unprecedented trade both economic and cultural, the so-called "Pax Mongolica." Or that a man who slaughtered millions of Muslims and obliterated an entire Islamic kingdom would institute total religious freedom in his domains, centuries before supposedly more "enlightened" peoples.
I think the truth is that he was both. The author points out that Genghis's unprecedented atrocities led to unprecedented advances. You can't acknowledge one without the other. I am reminded of Ashoka, the legendary Mauryan ruler of 3rd-century BCE India. Like Genghis, he is remembered today as a dynastic founder, and one whose symbols and history continue to exert influence on a modern state. Also like Genghis, his rule was founded on conquest, battle, and a lot of dead bodies (although definitely not to the same extent).
Many historic figures end up shedding blood on their path to glory or fame. Appreciating the enormous impact Genghis had on the world of his time, and ours, is not the same as praising him however. I look forward to reading more about this impressive conqueror who ruled by the authority of "Blue Heaven."
November 12, 2013
Fantastic. Man creates a cross between a travelogue and historical research on a subject that is as intriguing as they come. True I find Chinggis (yes,that is the best spelling which Man acknowledges) immensely intriguing myself but Man's book truly is gripping from page one. He's clear, observant, but also very funny. And time and again. He's able to put history in perspective, comparing Mongol customs with similar observances in the west or putting the sheer scale of Chinggis' operations in perspective.
Besides the retelling of an amazing tale which I was reasonably familiar with, I also learned that Chinggis' Mongols also actually conquered Poland. Then there is the scientific suggestion (not by Man himself) that half a percent of the world's (!) population is actually descended from the great Khan himself.
I suppose that the towering insight which Man delivers is not so much related to the historical facts of Chinggis' life, but is about the change in perception of his being over the centuries: The great destroyer that he was, now, slowly slowly changing into a grand unifying entity for Central Asia in general (possibly) and pan-Mongolia in particular.
Oh, and then there's this. I used to put faith in the idea that every two persons are, at most, six degrees away from each other. Although not impossible, it put strains on what the definition of being one degree away should be. Knowing someone? Possibly, but when do you know someone?
Recently. the idea got replaced in my mind, changing ''knowing" to ''hand shakes": every two persons in the world are, at most, six handshakes away. And this *must* be true. Even John Man is only two degrees away from me. Not only does he thank one particular person, he also explicitly mentions him in his narrative: Graham Taylor arranges, among other things, expeditions into the Mongolian heartland. I hashed with the man.
Besides the retelling of an amazing tale which I was reasonably familiar with, I also learned that Chinggis' Mongols also actually conquered Poland. Then there is the scientific suggestion (not by Man himself) that half a percent of the world's (!) population is actually descended from the great Khan himself.
I suppose that the towering insight which Man delivers is not so much related to the historical facts of Chinggis' life, but is about the change in perception of his being over the centuries: The great destroyer that he was, now, slowly slowly changing into a grand unifying entity for Central Asia in general (possibly) and pan-Mongolia in particular.
Oh, and then there's this. I used to put faith in the idea that every two persons are, at most, six degrees away from each other. Although not impossible, it put strains on what the definition of being one degree away should be. Knowing someone? Possibly, but when do you know someone?
Recently. the idea got replaced in my mind, changing ''knowing" to ''hand shakes": every two persons in the world are, at most, six handshakes away. And this *must* be true. Even John Man is only two degrees away from me. Not only does he thank one particular person, he also explicitly mentions him in his narrative: Graham Taylor arranges, among other things, expeditions into the Mongolian heartland. I hashed with the man.
September 18, 2022
Lengkap! Tapi sayang part runtuhnya Mongolia ga ada dijelaskan.
May 29, 2013
A decent biography of Genghis Khan, relying heavily on The Secret History of the Mongols, a document composed possibly by Genghis' half-brother in the years immediately following the Great Khan's death in 1227 AD. Man uses the History not necessarily for historical fact, but more for an insight into contemporary Mongolian psychology. Man also delves pretty deeply (perhaps a little too deeply) into the various mysteries and myths surrounding Genghis's death and secret burial, and into his legacy as a religious, historical and cultural icon claimed not just by his native Mongolia, but by China as well. Man traveled extensively through Mongolia, China and pretty much everywhere Genghis and his armies marched and it's the sections when he mixes his travelogue adventures with the history of Genghis that I enjoyed the most.
October 2, 2013
I have a 'need to know' regarding this book. But even if I didn't this is popular history at its best.
It's great that history no longer has to be as dessicated as the bones of the people it describes. Mr Man is one of the foremost popular historians writing today. No longer do you need to be bored witless to learn something about history: huzzah!
His beat is the Orient (Mongolia, China, Japan) and about it he is both knowledgeable and eminently readable.
Of the 3 of his I've read this sticks to its point best, provides the most (and most intriguing) information and saves one weeks of tracking down and trawling through primary sources. Of course, it's quite difficult to write a boring book about Genghis Khan, but this gallops along like the Khan himself. A breathless ride. Even if you didn't know you were interested in Genghis Khan.
It's great that history no longer has to be as dessicated as the bones of the people it describes. Mr Man is one of the foremost popular historians writing today. No longer do you need to be bored witless to learn something about history: huzzah!
His beat is the Orient (Mongolia, China, Japan) and about it he is both knowledgeable and eminently readable.
Of the 3 of his I've read this sticks to its point best, provides the most (and most intriguing) information and saves one weeks of tracking down and trawling through primary sources. Of course, it's quite difficult to write a boring book about Genghis Khan, but this gallops along like the Khan himself. A breathless ride. Even if you didn't know you were interested in Genghis Khan.
October 25, 2014
I really enjoyed reading this. I picked this up initially because it was assigned for a class, and was honestly dreading reading it. A whole book on Genghis Khan? But it's so much more than that, it's a look at the man, the legacy, and his lasting impact on Asia. Growing up, I heard a lot of people talk smack about Genghis Khan. It's nice to get a new perspective, and I liked that Chinese-Mongolian politics were brought into this as well. It's something that I don't readily draw connections to. Overall, I thought this was really well written and insightful. It's almost like you went with the author, the descriptions are that vivid.
July 11, 2011
John Man is an excellent historian with a affection and interest in Genghis Khan and the Mongol people (both past and present) that just comes right off the page. He is also an exemplary storyteller with regards to his own adventures whilst researching this book that makes this history an easy and enjoyable read. If you have an interest in Genghis Khan, his legacy, mythos and a people which are still, by and large, a mystery to many -- if not most -- Westerners.
July 30, 2011
Fantastic read this book holds a unique history of one of the worlds greatest generals, including how he was able to conquer/rule with purely nomadic tribes as well as the resulting god-like worship born from him and is a notable religion in modern Mongolia.
All this is brought together as John Man travels across the length and breadth of Mongolia exploring the areas in which the legend lived and travelled.
All this is brought together as John Man travels across the length and breadth of Mongolia exploring the areas in which the legend lived and travelled.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews