Ro's Recz

Genghis Khan is one of the most famous historical figures of all time, but since he lived in the 1100s-1200s, most people know his name but not his story.

Genghis Khan is most well-known for being the first Great Khan and the founder of the Mongol Empire, but he also has an incredible backstory. In the book Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, Jack Weatherford shares his extensive research about Khan and his journey from childhood to power.

I know that Weatherford is a professor at Dewitt University, but I am not sure what his area of expertise is; however, in the book, you can tell that Weatherford has done an incredible amount of research on Khan and the Mongol Empire. One great thing about this book is that manages to be both interesting and informative, and it doesn’t drag on like some biographies do.

The part I found the most interesting was the section describing Khan’s childhood, as I never knew before that he came from a relatively poor family, and that he had to survive bullying from his half-brother while growing up. I would have thought that coming from a wealthy background would be a prerequisite to becoming a Great Khan in the 1100s; however, after reading the book, you will learn that Genghis Khan’s rise was more about his wits and ability to navigate Mongol society.

I personally listened to this as an audiobook, and it was about 12 hours or so; I am not sure how long the paperback version is, but I think it would be an interesting read no matter the format!