Book Description
The Mongol army led by Genghis Khan subjugated more lands and people in twenty-?ve years than the Romans did in four hundred. 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.
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“Reads like the Iliad. . . Part travelogue, part epic narrative.” —Washington Post
“It’s hard to think of anyone else who rose from such inauspicious beginnings to something so awesome, except maybe Jesus.” —Harper’s
“Weatherford’s lively analysis restores the Mongol’s reputation, and it takes wonderful learned detours. . . . Well written and full of suprises.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Weatherford is a fantastic storyteller. . . . [His] portrait of Khan is drawn with sufficiently self-complicating depth. . . . Weatherford’s account gives a generous view of the Mongol conqueror at his best and worst.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Genghis Khan.......2007-09-20
I read quite a few books, and few really alter my world view. This book changed my perception of Genghis Khan and the times in which he lived in a fundamental way. I had always thought of Genghis Khan as the ultimate military campaigner gone wild. Yes he was that but so much else in addition. His use of diplomacy, propaganda, his establishment of the concept of diplomatic immunity, his open-minded acceptance of all religions, his utter lack of personal greed and his vision of unifying the world mark him as an historical character worthy of much more attention and respect.
Genghis Khan.......2007-09-05
Excellent book. Very informative and eye opening. It dispels the myths about the mongols and clearly shows how the modern world's existence is in large part a consequence of the Mongol Expansion.
Amazing!.......2007-09-04
What an unlightening experience! Genghis Khan's story has too long been left untold and this work of historical fiction sheds light on this extraordinary man. It should be required reading for all World Civilization students.
Well Told Story: Mongol influences behind European Renaissance.......2007-08-25
Writing with rare lyrical sensitivity, this ambitious book attempts to re-invent our world. While Weatherford may be over-reaching here and there in his zeal, it is the passion behind the writing that makes it one of the best and most informative re-tellings of the Genghis Khan story.
The first part deals with GK consolidating power in Mongolia (Chapters 2-3). The middle part (Chapters 4-8) deals with world conquest and empire. The last and most interesting part (Chapters 9-10) deal with the legacy of his empire ("the making of the modern world").
Genghis Khan started on world conquest when he was nearly 50, and within fifteen years (1212 to his death in 1227), he had conquered four times the territory of the Roman or Macedonian empires at their peak. Part of his military strategy was psychological; cities that resisted were slaughtered to a man.
But the most novel aspect of the book (for me) is the impact of this large trade-friendly empire that spanned Eurasia for over 200 years (Chapter 9).
Perhaps he over-dramatizes a little: "Under influences from paper and printing, gunpowder and firearms, and the spread of the navigational compass... Europeans experienced a Renaissance, literally a rebirth, but it was not the ancient world of Greece or Rome being reborn. It was the Mongol Empire, picked up, transferred, and adapted by the Europeans" The claim seems almost unbelievable, so I went to several online sources simply to verify the specifics; I found most of it well-corroborated.
Furthermore, processes such as codification of laws, lightning mobility in war (the inspiration for Nazi "blitzkrieg"), religious freedom, and participative government, all taken for granted today, were practiced in the Mongol Empire and may have influenced European thinking.
The final chapter (10) deals with the historiographical process - how come Genghis' only image today is that of a brutal barbarian? Weatherford shows how initial European views (Marco Polo / Chaucer) were extremely positive, but there was a complete volte face during the Age of Enlightenment. Later, the scientitists came in, positing human sub-species such as the "mongoloid" and the "caucasian", with the Mongoloid being viewed as a primitive evolutionary stage, with a close relationship to the orangutan (p. 257).
Fired up after reading this, I also got a copy of Paul Ratchnevsky's widely acclaimed Genghis Khan: His Life and Legacy - in addition to Mongol and Persian sources consulted by Weatherford, Ratchnevsky also considers Chinese histories, but the basic story does not appear to change that much.
For a scholarly history text, this is an extremely easy read.
Mongols Rule!.......2007-08-12
This is the tale of Temujin (1162 - 1227 AD), later known as Chinggis or Genghis Khan, a poverty-stricken outcast who became the leader of one of the greatest empires in history. At its height, under Temujin's grandson Khubilai Khan, the Mongol empire ranged from Baghdad to Peking and included all of modern China, most of modern Russia, Turkey and northern India. The conquest and command of such a vast amount of territory by a nomadic, largely illiterate people is a remarkable feat in itself; that the Mongols governed well and introduced numerous innovations across their huge empire is extraordinary.
The first half of the book is a biography of Genghis Khan; after that it's the history of the empire he established and its ultimate dissolution in the plague years of the14th century. It's also the story of the many innovations pioneered by the Mongols: paper currency, a unified monetary system, trade on a grand scale across thousands of miles, a universal language, religious freedom, and a consistent and humane legal code, to name only a few. It's true the empire eventually disintegrated in the aftermath of the plague, which effectively halted commerce across Eurasia, but not before East and West had exchanged numerous goods and knowledge.
The book also clarifies how the Mongols acquired the outrageous reputation they have had as barbarians up to the present day. This portion of the story is an excellent lesson in the misuse of history and the role of prejudice in the absence of facts.
I found the book readable and enlightening; for me, it was an antidote to ignorance, illuminating a shadowy corner of world history often missed in both Western (Europe and the new world) and Eastern (India, China, Japan) civilization courses.
Book Description
The Dramatic History of Iraq in One Concise Volume
The destinies of Iraq and America will be tightly intertwined into the foreseeable future due to the U.S. incursion into this complex, perplexing desert nation -- the latest in a long history of violent outside interventions. A country sitting atop the world's largest supply of crude oil, Iraq will continue to play an essential role in global economics and in Middle Eastern politics for many decades to come. Therefore, it is more important than ever for Westerners to have a clear understanding of the volatile, enigmatic "Land of Two Rivers" -- its turbulent past and its looming possibilities. In this acutely penetrating and endlessly fascinating study, acknowledged Middle East authority William R. Polk presents a comprehensive history of the tumultuous events that shaped modern Iraq, while offering well-reasoned judgments on what we can expect there in the years to come.
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"
Iraq will continue to be a major issue and involvement for the United States into the foreseeable future says
William R. Polk, former member of the State Department's Policy Planning Council and professor of Middle Eastern history at the University of Chicago. Iraq sits on the world's largest supply of oil, and with the world's energy requirements continuously rising, Iraq will play an ongoing role in the global economy and the political environment throughout the Gulf region and the Middle East.
Polk's concise, authoritative overview of Iraq's history shows how the pattern of outside intervention was established first by the Ottoman Turks and the Persian Safavids and later by England, Russia, and Germany. After World War I came British rule, followed by a brief and uneasy period of independence that sparked Iraqi nationalism, leading Saddam Husain to power with American military and financial aid and covert CIA involvement. The Iraq-Iran War and the invasion of Kuwait was followed by the Gulf War, the sanctions period, and the Bush administration's decision to invade. Finally, there is the American occupation and the challenges, opportunities, and options that Iraqis and Americans face now and in the future.
"
Customer Reviews:
A Short, Concise, and Comprehensive Overview.......2007-08-19
This book is a good read for the average person wishing to brush up on the history of Iraq, and to understand why it is the U.S. occupying force has faced such difficulty (we should have learned from the British colonial occupation!). Written by an expert on Middle-Eastern affairs and a scholar of Arabic, it is both a concise history of Iraq from ancient times and a compelling criticism of the current U.S. occupation. Although Polk belittles the post-invasion presence of Al-Qaeda, and comes up short in terms of a comprehensive "solution" to the problem there (who currently doesn't?), this book is a recommended read for the introductory reader, written by a man of distinguished credentials. The primary weakness of the book is a lack of comprehensive footnoting and referencing, which would fully make transparent the author's sources. (Those supportive of the war will look in vain for any supporting reasons for the war in Iraq.)
Book of reality.......2007-08-08
This book is a must-to-read for all American policy makers who are dealing with Iraq issue. As an Iraqi who lived in the "Revolutionary Iraq" period, as the author names it, I agree with most of what he said. However, I disagree with the idea mentioned in the book that Americans did not know that Iraq will invade Kuwait. Being less arrogant & reading a bit about the history of Iraq will definitely spare the Americans many lives. Till now, it is not too late to do so.
A polemic.......2007-07-23
With this title on a 213 page book you can't legitimately expect something on the order of Gibbon's Rise and Fall, but this book is stunningly superficial and a bad polemic.
A good polemic shares the virtue of other scholarly works and avoids first person commentary. This author just can't resist citing himself as a source and refering the reader to his website. A good polemic at least attempts to engage or acknowledge the best of other points of view or weak points in its argument. This is the kind of book that sternly notes the refusal of French and Chinese governments to support the sanctions regime -- without mentioning that the objectivity of both governments' assessment of sanctions was deeply undercut by the fact that they both had sweetheart deals with Saddam to develop Iraq's oil as soon as sanctions were lifted. It casts the US and British as boogeymen without adequately acknowledging Saddam's responsibility for miserable and unstable leadership of a wealthy country with energetic people. I tired of plowing through Polk's opinionated, often self-congratulatory prose for the occasional nugget of useful information.
Finally, I don't agree that this book is respectful of the sweep of Iraqi history. Iraq occupies the Tigris and Euphrates basin, the "cradle of civilization". By giving an ethnic frame to the presentation of ancient wonders like the hanging gardens of Babylon, the culture that produced the Gilgamesh epic, the world's first written writing (a recipe for beer), and the period of the first 4 Islamic caliphs the author can mislead the Western reader into thinking that Iraqi's share his understanding of their past. Based on my own experience of Iraqis and in Islamic countries Iraqis would not recognize or appreciate an ethnic slant on their ancient past and Muslims universally respect the 4 caliphs who immediately followed the Prophet Mohammed. We can't get that from this book and that's basic to respect for the Iraqi past.
If you want a book that recites the arguments against US and British policy from the 1980s onward this book does a good job of presenting them--without offering any sense of a viable alternative that would have worked with Saddam. If you're looking for a book that will overcome the limitations of both the neo-conservative and Arabist worldviews and give a balanced presentation of Iraq's rich history and resources and how its people can go forward to enjoy them in peace, skip this book.
A Primer For Understanding History of Iraq.......2007-05-12
This book provides the reader with valuable information on the history & development of Iraq as well as the region surrounding Iraq.
A required a "read' for all.
Well-written introduction to Iraqi history.......2007-03-03
A sympathetically written book about a region surprisingly rich in history. Having been familiar with Iraq during a pivotal period in its history, the author also brings his perspective to recent events there.
Average customer rating:
- The Book's Title is Self Explanatory
- One to remember
- For those who can't get the video...
- An excellent introduction to the Mongols
- A riveting read
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Storm from the East: From Genghis Khan to Khubilai Khan
Robert Marshall
Manufacturer: University of California Press
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0520083008 |
Customer Reviews:
The Book's Title is Self Explanatory.......2002-08-23
This is a great history book on the great Mongol Empire. It clears up a lot misunderstandings and superstitions about the supposedly horrible Mongol barbarians and gives a reliable account of their rule in this time period. It covers Temujin's (aka Genghis Khan) beginnings to the end of his forebears rule. It has pictures from the past and of re-enactments of Mongol cavalry - you will rarely find this elsewhere. The Mongol Empire was a militaristic nation, so this book lacks on the military strategy and warfare of the Mongols. Only the basics are covered.
One to remember.......2002-04-25
I love the occasional suprises in life; you know the very unexpected which enriches you forever.
When I bought this book I really wasn't interested in Ghengis Khan but I thought maybe I could find out more about the group. Well, the book ws written beautifully which madefollowing the sory and timeline very easy.
I found the author had a scholastic approach to the subject which is what I sought and had the ability to incorporate mady other aspects tpo the Khans which gave me the unusual perspective that I always desire. You know the knowledge that lets you lord over others who happen to feel they are experts and expect that noone else knows. Thats my kind of fun.
Anyway, the book incorporates the necessary maps and some beautiful artwork that really enhances the book. Unfortunately, I mark up all of my good book with underlines, exclamation points and many many stars for futile future reference
The only criticism I can offer is that beside his references to many of the major cities that he invaded and then re-constructed there was no mention of the modern names of these places which requers me to search them out on the internet.
If you are a history lover and want a dry but fascinating look at this period, BUY THIS BOOK!
I fmr: Marshall reads this- well thank you for writing this book you have given me the power of knowledge.
For those who can't get the video..........2002-04-12
This is a great overview of the part of Mongolian history that most intrigues westerners, the years of the great Khans. It is a very accessible book that doesn't require any prior knowledge on the part of the reader, and hopefully inspires them to look deeper into the people and the nation of Mongolia.
In the west we've all heard of Ghengis Khan, and we have our preconceptions of "barbarian" cultures or the terrible hordes of Mongol warriors; the reality behind the myths and legends is well worth knowing. I first encountered the "Storm from the East" video series on TLC and it has since re-played {but rarely} on THC. The film or video is only on offer to educational institutions at a very high price, so the most a layman can hope for is a quality tape from TV -or- this book.
The book follows the video script almost verbatum, with many of the same maps, diagrams and stills from the live footage shot in Mongolia. It's a wonderful substitute, and an easy to digest history lesson.
The relationship of the medieval Mongolian nation to China and the western European nations is fascinating, and thanks to "Storm from the East" it is easily understood. The book is written with a gentle sense of humor, but does not belittle nor aggrandize the Mongolian people or the historical Khans.
An excellent introduction to the Mongols.......1999-05-21
This book is based on a BBC documentary of the same name. The book is written so that any history freak can read and enjoy it. Many, Many pictures and maps make it more understandable. Some of the pictures are even re-enactments and are very interesting to look at.
A riveting read.......1998-12-28
An excellent book for all interested in the rise and fall of the Mongol Empire. Written in an exciting and lively way, the reader is left thirsty for more, even though the book itself is factually complete without inundating the interested layman with boring, left-alone facts and dates.
Book Description
This adaptation of what is recognized today as the oldest Mongolian text (written two decades after Chingis Khan`s death) tells the Mongols` own version of the origin of their nation, the life of Chingis Khan, and the creation of an empire that stretched across Eurasia in the 13th century. Adapted from Francis Woodman Cleaves` erudite translation, it is presented here as a narrative poem in colloquial English. An overview of medieval Asia, maps, lineage charts, a glossary of proper names, and a bibliography are included. This expanded edition includes a 17th-century account of Chingis Khan`s death and a new essay by the author.
Customer Reviews:
Mongolia bound...you MUST read...........2005-10-25
Fabulous! If you are bound for Mongolia you MUST read this.... or bring it along as a gift for your guide. Easy to follow and a wonderful look into the past! I LOVED this book.
A keeper.
Lao's review.......2001-02-27
The Secret History is a record of the Mongolian Royal families, which is thought to have been written during the thirteenth century. Paul Kahn has kept the original prose format in his translation, which I feel makes this the only version to own. It begins with the creation myth of the wolf and deer from which the Mongolian people (in legend) are descended from; throught he birth of Temujin, and ending with the ascention to the throne of Ogedai Khan. I highly recommend this to those who are looking for primary sources to add to their Asian history collections.
Read! And feel Mongol history and Chingis Khan........2000-04-04
The Secret History of the Mongols is one of the most important primary source for study of Mongol history and Chingis Khan. Also, this book is very impressive poet like Homor's great works. I know Francis Woodman Cleaves has already translated it into English. He is great master of Mongol history, however, his "King James English" is terrible, especially foreigners like me. Paul Khan's work overcomes this big problem. The easy and spoken English let everyone enjoy it. Now, read it, enjoy it, and feel the "World Conqueror"
Book Description
Part travelogue and part historical recreation of the legendary journey of the barbaric Mongol warrior Genghis Khan, the author employs his trademark wit and insight to offer a rare glimpse of a region seldom seen by Westerners and attempts to retrace the great Khan's westward sweep of conquest.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting Mix of Mongolian Travel and History.......2004-01-17
In this book Tim Severin is not really searching for Genghis Khan himself, as the title states, but for traces of the lifestyle and traditions in the modern world that have been inspired by the great leader. Severin traveled throughout the vast and sparse nation of Mongolia, mostly by horse and in the company of herdsmen who still lived the semi-nomadic lifestyle that had endured for centuries. Severin includes fascinating descriptions of the harsh Mongolian landscapes and good character sketches of his companions. An added bonus is coverage of the semi-autonomous Kazakh people of the western part of the country, along with interesting ruminations on the death throes of Communism that were developing at the time. Interspersed with the travelogue are an engaging history of the Mongolian people and a compendium of knowledge of Genghis Khan and his conquering exploits. On the bad side, Severin is not a very strong writer (or needs a better editor), and he is often unnecessarily judgmental. This is evident in cruel conclusions about a member of the expedition named Ariunbold, a bureaucrat whose poor leadership deserved criticism, but Severin gets personal. The final chapter should probably be ignored as Severin passes judgment on the character and intelligence of the Mongolian people and the effects of their vast history, giving rather condescending pontifications of another people's culture and history. Fortunately, interesting tales of the Mongolian people and their intriguing landscape and history keep this book mostly enjoyable. [~doomsdayer520~]
Book Description
Vivid, hilarious, and compelling, this eagerly awaited book takes its place among the travel classics. It is a thrilling tale of adventure, a comic masterpiece, and an evocative portrait of a medieval land marooned in the modern world. Eight and a half centuries ago, under Genghis Khan, the Mongols burst forth from Central Asia in a series of spectacular conquests that took them from the Danube to the Yellow Sea. Their empire was seen as the final triumph of the nomadic "barbarians." In this remarkable book Stanley Stewart sets off on a pilgrimage across the old empire, from Istanbul to the distant homeland of the Mongol hordes. The heart of his odyssey is a thousand-mile ride, traveling by horse, through trackless land.
On a journey full of bizarre characters and unexpected encounters, he crosses the desert and mountains of central Asia to arrive at the windswept grasslands of the steppes, the birthplace of Genghis Khan.
Customer Reviews:
An Excellent Read.......2007-02-24
I've always been intrigued by the Mongols, as they are at the edge between settled and nomadic people. And I've also always like travel writing. Stanely Stewart's book therefore made me very happy. It is beautifully written and the research is thorough. I learned about the Secret History of the Mongols in one section and in another found one of my favorite senteces in any book. I do not have my copy with me, but the sentece included truck repair, camels, and Uzbeks.
Mr. Stewarts book is too good to be called a travel memoir and to lively to be called a history book. It is one of the most entertaining and informative books I have read.
a great vicarious voyage.......2006-04-05
I picked this book up browsing in my hospital bookshop while on call on a lazy saturday. On the back cover I discovered it had been recently translated into Italian (2004)from English and decided to buy it. From the moment I opened it, I couldn't put it down, I read it on work, at home, and also while driving the car (!). I laughed by myself on more than one occasion and looked around for someone to laugh with me. Naturally, I will probably never go to Mongolia, or have the guts to take the trip the author went through, but, somehow I felt that I was there. That I met the people he describes.
One interesting point of the book is its inspiration from the trip of William of Rubruc eight centuries ago. This short miliary description of the mongol world of those times has the same off hand descriptions of the mongol people and customs we find in Mr. Stewart's book. However, no one accused William of beeing "politically not correct" or "sarcastic". Often it is not necessary to have an empathic vision of a different culture to describe it to people that share our cultural standards.
Mr. Stewart's book is instructive and definitely fun to read, but above all it "takes you along" the whole time, which is really what readers that don't have the opportunities to travel as much as they would like, really want.
Good travel story.......2005-06-03
I am amazed by Mr. Stewarts ability to write. He can convey the emotions and feeling of a place with amazing clarity and I found myself really feeling like I was there.
The trip itself is quite an epic, a thousand miles by mostly horseback through a culture completely different than anything we are used to. it also comes at a really interesting time in the countries history when they have thrown off Communism and are deep in the throws of trying to make something else work.
At its best the book is full of delightful descriptions of faraway places and unique locations, the people are described so well that you can picture them sitting next to you and their conversations relate items of real significance. Learning from the people what the fall of Communism has done to their economy makes for fascinating reading. Also learning about the history of the Monks and the world of Genghis Khan was fascinating.
At its worst, the book doesn't cut the Mongolian people very much slack. They have decided not to live in cities but rather to live in tents (gers), rather than celebrate a thousand-year-old tradition and show what good it brings and how it enriches the lives of the people who live it, mostly you get the feeling that it is inferior and the people who live it ought to switch to something better.
It also portrays Communism and the Russian government in a completely evil light, no effort is made to record areas where the life of the Mongolian has gotten better thanks to Communism, although brief mention of government bldgs, schools and acting troups is mentioned. Yet how poorly the people fared and when the system didn't work is vividly brought out into the open.
This is also about travelling over some of the most lonely isolated terrain in the world, yet little time is spent discussing the travel itself. How did they get food when they were not in a Ger, what did it feel like to spend weeks in the saddle from morning to night, How did the clothing feel, etc. Very little was spent on the actual travel itself, the book focuses primarily on the people that were met.
But these are minor points, its is a good book to learn about the culture of Mongolia and what has been happening to the common man since the fall of Communism and I found myself reading all the way through without being bored.
condescending.......2005-05-15
I couldn't put this book down, i'll give it that much.
But I didn't always like it.
While the narration was interesting and fairly well written, I felt a rather pretentious, and quite condescending air as he described the mongolians he met and the way in which they lived.
The descriptions of the landscape were beautiful, but it didn't hide the fact that I felt Stewart was narrating a 4 star resort tour of the country instead of what was supposed to be a wilderness trek.
None the less, I found it hard to put it down, maybe because the historial bits were so intruiging.
a KEEPER.....just fabulous.............2005-03-29
a joy to read... a man who captivates language .... GREAT and fun book.....
Book Description
Genghis Khan was the creator of the worlds greatest empire and he has become one of historys immortals. In China he is honored as the founder of a dynasty. In Mongolia he is the father of the nation. In Central Asia his name is still used to threaten wayward children. John Man has traveled extensively throughout China and the Gobi desert to the remote peaks of northeast Mongolia in his quest to bring the man behind these legends to life.This is a fascinating account that illuminates not just the bloody conflicts but the political machinations that formed civilization as we know it today
Customer Reviews:
Not a great book.......2007-04-01
Read both this book and Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford. John Man spends too much time describing his own travels which was not why I bought the book. Jack Weatherford's book is far more informative and covers not just the life of Genghis Khan but his lasting influence on the world.
Good Mix of History and Travelogue.......2007-03-03
It was said of the Mongol Empire under the great Kahn that a virgin with a hundred pounds of gold could travel from one end of the empire to the other with no fear of losing anything. Now I'm not so sure you could make it accross Central Park.
On the other hand if you were in a city being approached by his army and you were told surrender or we're going to kill everybody and flatten the city you might think of the Mongols in a different light, especially when you were aware of some neighboring cities having been flattened.
For so important a figure in history, as Genghis Khan, we know so little about him. And here in the west we know even less. We do not study his ways of warfare (the Mongols weapons, tactics, strategy, morale, ruthlessness were all better), or his laws that controlled a huge empire.
This book is an excellent rendition of the history of Genghis Khan and of the search for more information about him. I's easy to see why the story so captivates John Man. It makes me want to go to Mongolia, a place that hever held any interest to me before.
History's Most Lovable Bloodthirsty Tyrant.......2006-04-15
Mainstream historians may object to some of the claims in this book, but John Man has created quite a readable mix of travelogue and history. This is more a work of interpretation, rather than direct research, as Man has combined his own past learning about Genghis Khan and the Mongols with his modern-day travels to Mongolia in search of surviving relics. So do not expect newly detailed research breakthroughs, because this is one of those "living history" books. One particular problem is that Man uses a lot of conjecture and opinionating when tackling gaps or contradictions in the historical record. But in the end, we do get a very good summary of all the present knowledge on Genghis and his descendants, and Man engagingly discusses this very intriguing and complex historical personage. This especially applies to how Genghis was surely a genius in military strategy and administration, and was a remarkable leader of men, while also being responsible for the destruction of dozens of classic cities and the slaughter of probably a few million people. Man also discusses the sheer hugeness of the Mongols' empire-building practices, why these once-anarchic nomads decided to destroy every settled civilization in the known world then return to their simple pastoral lives, and how Genghis has been deified as both a god and a devil by multiple societies ever since. Add to this Man's exploration of the modern landscape and the Mongols' ongoing influence, and this conjectural but still very readable book really shows what made Genghis and his boys tick. [~doomsdayer520~]
A cocky narration, gone astray.......2006-02-23
This book is supposed to be an attempt to chronicle the life and times and onward historical march of one of the world's greatest yet most forgotten conquerors and statesmen, by a modern investigator who visits the land of his origins, and tries to trace his clues and history from there onwards. Whereas the author can be said to have succeeded in doing this somewhat, his "onspot" attempt at trying to relive Genghis Khan and his times turn into a amateurish, personal travelogue tale, narrated in the typically perky and cocky style of an ordinary, mediocre Britisher that is evoked in such people when they are confronted with something awesome... The resultant declarations and comments on G.K himself and his legacy, together with an assortment of other such comments on present day Mongolia, its culture and people fall far short of what such a book should set out to do, and tend to deviate from the real purpose of such a venture.
Chinggis Khan...??? Temujin...?? Genghis Khan...sound familiar?..read on..........2005-12-15
The book gives a general idea of the "man", his background, his conquests and the mystery that eludes and shrouds him. The Great Khan is truly mysterious...and with limited historical records, I am greatful that the author has sacrificed time and effort to personally experience, the Mongolian experience, in order to get in touch with the atmosphere and conditons that Genghis may have experienced. These personal accounts sometimes got in my way while reading, I just wanted the author to get on with it... yet at times these personal accounts were justifiable as they helped in clarifying certain points.
Overall, I'd say the book was ok... its in my personal book collection... my quest for another book on the Great Khan will not end here...
Average customer rating:
- very entertaining
- A brilliant travellogue from an exceptional writer and sinophile.
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In the Footsteps of Genghis Khan (Kolowalu Books)
John Defrancis
Manufacturer: University of Hawaii Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0824814932 |
Customer Reviews:
very entertaining.......2006-08-27
Many professors have written memoirs of their early years -- how they got into the field, early academic experiences, etc. One of my favorites in this genre is E. Ullendorff's "The Two Zions". This book is not quite that kind of memoir. Instead, it is a travel narrative of the author's 1935 trek through the Gobi desert and on the Yellow River. The narrative account of life in rural 1935 China is fascinating, and makes this well worth reading. Anyone expecting tons of information on Chinese (based on all his other books) will find little. But the book is a great adventure tale and I recommend it.
A brilliant travellogue from an exceptional writer and sinophile........2006-08-14
John DeFrancis is a name that anyone with any serious interest in things Chinese will probably recognise. He's written and researched more than one Chinese-language dictionary, and is the author of many books on things Japanese and Chinese both.
He had a wealth of experience to draw upon, to include travelling, as the title states, in the footsteps of Genghis Khan through Northern China--a journey that would be impossible today due to the despo--er, because of political problems.
Reading this book, I was priveliged to learn many things about the folkways and history of China that I never saw in other books, and I was entertained all the way through. Not many books make it to my "Keeper" list, but this one's a cinch.
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Time Warp Trio: You Can't, but Genghis Khan (Time Warp Trio)
Jon Scieszka , and
Jennifer Frantz
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 006111636X
Release Date: 2006-08-22 |
Book Description
Here comes the green mist again! Join Joe, Fred, and Sam as they travel back in time to meet a young Genghis Khan and explore the Mongolian Empire. Will the Time Warp Trio find The Book in time, or will they be stuck in the thirteenth century forever?
This 80 page chapter book is a simple retelling of the television episode. It features line art throughout.
Ages: 6–11
Book Description
Reissue to be published in June 2006.Genghis Khan was the founder of the Mongol Empire, the largest continuous land empire ever. On his death in 1227, this extended from the Near East to the Yellow Sea, and was expanded by his successors to include what is now Iran, Iraq and southern Russia. By 1206, Genghis Khan had completed the unification by conquest of all the tribes of Mongolia, and was acclaimed as universal Khan. He then launched his assault on Northern China. Peking was captured in 1215, and the Chin were finally subjugated by Genghis's successors in 1234.This is the definitive biography of Genghis Khan. Paul Ratchnevsky draws upon Mongol, Chinese, Persian, and European primary sources in order to establish a highly readable account of the life of one of the greatest conquerors in world history.A new introduction by Morris Rossabi, Professor of History at the City University of New York and Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, is available by clicking the view sample pages button above.
Customer Reviews:
Fine biography.......2004-01-07
Westerners are often shocked to hear that in Mongolia today, Genghis is revered as a national hero and the father of the country. Indeed, even in China - a victim of the Mongols - Genghis is regarded as a great man. Not China's great man, of course, but a great man nevertheless. I know, speaking as an ethnic Chinese myself. By contrast, Europeans know Genghis as something like a cross between a medieval Hitler and Anti-Christ.
This book is indeed a little confusing, given all those proper names. Despite its conciseness, it is not written for the casual reader. I confess I have trouble understanding it. I advise those of us who are not experts in Asian history to read the relevant chapters in Frederick Mote's "Imperial China," which I think is very instructive on the Mongol period, and has a good deal to say about Timujin (Genghis) himself, from his ancestry and birth on.
Superb Reference.......2002-01-18
Those who want an exciting and romantically embelished account of Temujin's (Genghis Khan) life should stick with Harold Lamb. His account is certainly more fun, but also laced with poetic license that at times becomes outright misleading. Lamb is an introduction to the story of the emperor of all men.
But Ratchnevsky is the top of the line reference to Temujin and his amzing life. He weighs the evidence and directs the reader to the lesser known aspects of Temujin's life.
Nowhere else will you find mentioned that Temujin probably had disappeared for ten years to China before his comeback in the late 1190ies.
Few point out that Temujin was not the most daring of men, more of a planner than a fighter and not above saving himself first.
Rachnevskies book paints a less glorious, but much more realistic and human picture of the man who changed the world forever. Temujin's actions have been accounted for in many sources, but few allow us to understand his motives.
Instead of inventing awe inspiring moments, as Lamb does, and putting words into the mouth of the man, Rachnevsky presents the different sources and versions diligently; and strangely, this allows a better understanding who this great Mongol was than all the literary fancy of Lamb or the sycophantic impropabilities of Malik Juvayni.
Lamb and Malik Juvayni have their own merits, and are a must have for all who want to explore this amazing part of history, but without Rachnevskies scholarly integrity, true understanding would elude most.
Not for the casual reader, but Temujin deserves on less than full attention.
Disappointing..................2001-05-30
There isn't a plethora of books devoted to Genghis Khan out there and this may stem from a lack of historical information. No doubt, a large part of accepted knowledge is lore or estimation. Having an avid interest in asian history as a whole, I eagerly started this book. I was soon keenly looking forward to the kernels of interesting narrative that dot the book throughout. However, the uninspiring space between those kernels is daunting and requires determination. It may also require a tally board as one attempts to keep up with the family, allies, liaisons, enemies, followers, and friends of this Mongol warlord. Read it for the knowledge gained, but don't waste a rainy day, La-Z-Boy, fireside opportunity on the effort.
Confusing and Disappointing.......2001-05-12
I find this book extremely confusing. Many names were utilize throughout the book which makes it hard to follow. As an individual who is not familiar with the Mongolian history, the author fails to elaborate or explain the details of why a character does something. In this sense, I find the book disappointing. It is also disappointing that it does not go in depth of Gengis Kahn's warefare strategy. TWO THUMBS DOWN!
Pretty good account of Genghis Khan........2001-05-11
There are few sources available to research Genghis Khan & the author does a sound job of sifting & comparing these accounts. Despite the dearth of reliable information the nature of the Khan, his relationships, strengths & weaknesses, are conveyed to the reader adequately, albeit with certain amount of "poetic licence." The book starts slowly with general background information on the Mongols involving a huge number of uninteligible & pretty much unpronouncable names. It is a difficult read here. However, when Genghis makes his appearance & is actually the subject matter of the text, the book does take off. I enjoyed learning more about a larger than life character & I feel that few authors could have got to grips with the warrior khan better.Whilst not being a big fan of footnotes, I do think that this account would have flowed much better if the author had made his decisions & just put forward the information he was proposing, detailing his sources later. The casual reader would have benefited from a smoother read & the scholar could have verified the reasoning later.
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