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There are many controversial opinions on Genghis Khan. He was a world leader who did a lot for his subjects. He reigned for a long time, and spent 20 years building an army. He was great at controlling his subject, conquering different countries, and leading an army. He was kind at times and wanted the best for his army, but was also barbaric in his methods. He killed many people during the war.
What are the Best Genghis Khan Books to read?
For a long time, historians called him a blood-thirsty, horrific leader. He hurt so many people, but he was a very nuanced man. The Mongol army was not all good or bad. It had many layers that people often overlook. However, more and more books are being written about Genghis Khan and the many aspects of his life, and how his childhood shaped him into the man he was.
Best Genghis Khan Books: Our Top 20 Picks
Here are 20 books with varying opinions on Genghis Khan. Some like him, some don’t, but what’s important is that they all discuss who he was.
1. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
Gengis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford is all about Genghis Khan and the Mongol army he led. This book details the impact Genghis Khan made on the world. It explores the good in Genghis Khan and the common misconceptions that are associated with him.
This book says Genghis Khan was an advocate for human rights that abolished torture and granted religious freedom across Europe and Asia. Genghis was an ally to women, as well. He put his daughters in power over conquered nations, he put laws out against kidnapping, selling, and trading women. This book is factual, but it is also fairly opinionated. It aims to shed light on the good Genghis Khan did.
- Authors: Jack Weatherford (Author)
- Publisher: Crown; First Edition, First Printing (March 16, 2004)
- Pages: 352 pages
2. Genghis: Birth of an Empire (Conqueror series Book 1)
Genghis: Birth of an Empire by Conn Iggulden teaches readers about Genghis Khan’s childhood. He was born the son of a Khan. This book recounts the struggles that Genghis Khan dealt through his childhood and his upbringing.
This book is historical, but it also reads like an interesting story. It is captivating. The beginning of the book is slow, but it picks up halfway through. This is the first book in Iggluden’s Conqueror series. After his father passed, Genghis Khan was abandoned and left for dead. He raised through the Mongols and became emperor. This book is intriguing and well-informed. Iggulden went to Mongolia to do his own research about the people and the history, which helps round out the book. This is only the first book in a five book series.
- Authors: Conn Iggulden (Author)
- Publisher: Delacorte Press (May 1, 2007)
- Pages: 403 pages
3. Genghis: Lords of the Bow: A Novel (Conqueror series Book 2)
Genghis: Lords of the Bow by Conn Iggulden is the second book in the Conqueror series. This book is less about Genghis Khan, and more about the uniting of the Mongol tribes. The book begins eight years after the first one. Genghis Khan is now 26 years old.
This book focuses on him forming his army, and conquering Beijing. Because this series is separated into different books, readers can get a more in-depth look at every step Genghis Khan made. He is a heavily criticized man, so these books help readers understand the reasoning behind every decision Genghis Khan made. Even if readers don’t agree with Genghis Khan, these books help him to be understood.
- Authors: Conn Iggulden (Author)
- Publisher: Delacorte Press (March 25, 2008)
- Pages: 547 pages
4. Genghis: Bones of the Hills: A Novel (Conqueror series Book 3)
Genghis: Bones of the Hill by Conn Iggulden is the the third novel in Iggulden’s conqueror series. This book is the middle book in the five book series, so it is full of the most important information on Genghis Khan.
This book is all about when he hit his peak. This book covers the Mongol’s conflict with the Muslims in the east. This book discusses Genghis Khan’s accomplishments but also his mistakes. This book also shares a lot of insight and Genghis Khan’s family. Iggulden introduces Genghis Khan’s son Jochi, who struggles for his father’s approval. This book has so much juice on Genghis Khan. He was so many things: an emperor, a war leader, a father, a husband, and so much more. These five books cover all sides of him.
- Authors: Conn Iggulden (Author)
- Publisher: Delacorte Press (February 17, 2009)
- Pages: 434 pages
5. On the Trail of Genghis Khan
On the Trail of Genghis Khan: An Epic Journey Through the Land of the Nomads by Tim Cope is not really about Genghis Khan. Instead, this is a book about a man and his horse traveling the same trail Genghis Khan did. Cope talks about his trip and how he learned how to ride saddle like an expert, fight off wolves, and survive in nature all on his own.
This book helps people remember the tragedies that resulted in Genghis Khan’s reign in a modern way. Readers can experience what has come of this trail through horseback. Through his journey, Cope rode thirteen horses and one camel. This book is about the journey. Readers will be inspired by what Cope did. It took him three years to complete this, and every bit of it is interesting and thought-provoking.
- Authors: Tim Cope (Author)
- Publisher: Bloomsbury USA; 1st Edition (September 24, 2013)
- Pages: 528 pages
6. Genghis Khan: His Conquests, His Empire, His Legacy
Who is Genghis Khan and what is the impact of his legacy? What was his childhood like, and how did it affect his ruling? Genghis Khan: His Conquests, His Empire, His Legacy by Frank McLynn recounts Genghis Khan’s history.
This book is well-written and factual. It’s long, but it has plenty of information on every bit of what Ghenghis Khan did. This book, though informative, is still simple to read and fun to read. This book really does explain every step Ghengis Khan and the Mongols took to make an army and conquer parts of Asia and Europe. The book also includes a geography section that helps readers understand the areas that were overtaken. McLynn covers all of his bases in this book.
- Authors: Frank McLynn (Author)
- Publisher: Da Capo Press; Reprint Edition (September 6, 2016)
- Pages: 704 pages
7. Genghis Khan’s Greatest General
Genghis Khan is a well-known name all over the world. He was one of the greatest emperors in the world. He had a long reign that is partially due to him, but also to the help he had. Genghis Khan’s Greatest General: Subotai the Valiant by Richard A. Gabriel is about one of Genghis Khan’s best warriors. Subotai the Vailiant destroyed many muslim empires.
This book follows the campaigns of Subotai and how he led his army. This book discusses his tactics and how he succeeded so well. This book is interesting and engaging. It tackles the Mongol reign and approaches it from a different perspective. There is little known about Subotai. This book does a great job of sharing his legacy with the world.
- Authors: Richard A. Gabriel (Author)
- Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press; Illustrated Edition (March 27, 2006)
- Pages: 176 pages
8. The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History
The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History: How Genghis Khan’s Mongols Almost Conquered in the World by Thomas J. Craughwell recounts the history of Genghis Khan and the Mongols. It takes about the rise of Genghis Khan’s reign, but also its fall.Khan’s empire reigned for over 200 years and well past his death, but it did have to end. Craughwell does a very good job of explaining exactly how Genghis Khan got his start, and kept his empire strong.
This book contains biographical information on Genghis Khan, but also history on the Mongol empire as a whole. The book is concise, easy to read, and gets straight to the point. This book is engaging and fun for readers.
- Authors: Thomas J. Craughwell (Author)
- Publisher: Fair Winds Press (February 1, 2010)
- Pages: 272 pages
9. Who Was Genghis Khan?
Who was Genghis Khan? By Nico Medina is a biography about Genghis Khan. This book has all kinds of details on different aspects of Genghis Khan’s life. After reading this book, readers will be shocked at how little they actually knew about Genghis Khan.
This book explores Genghis Khan’s ethical code. He was barbaric, but he had his limits. Media talks about Genghis Khan’s fearlessness, and his power over his people. He shared his wealth, he let his subjects have religious freedom, and he was constantly learning from his mistakes. But, he was a murderer. He killed many people. He is nuanced. This book dives deep into just how Genghis Khan was.
- Authors: Nico Medina (Author), Who HQ (Author), Andrew Thomson (Illustrator)
- Publisher: Penguin Workshop; Illustrated Edition (December 4, 2014)
- Pages: 112 pages
10. Genghis Khan and the Quest for God
Many books on Genghis Khan are about the bloodshed he spread. The book discusses how he is misrepresented and how he has actually done good. What is often left out of books is the impact religion had on Genghis Khan.
Genghis Khan and the Quest for God by Jack Weatherford. He let his subjects speak out on their religion and be their own person. He knew he needed some to help his reign move forward. He wanted his empire to last, so he used religion. Genghis Khan was ruthless in many aspects of his leadership, but in other ways he sought freedom for his subjects. The issue in this situation is that, if any priests forbade the practice of any religion, he would violently hurt or kill them. He kept the peace through violence. This book has a lot of great insight into the many facets of Genghis Khan.
- Authors: Jack Weatherford (Author)
- Publisher: Penguin Books; Reprint Edition (October 3, 2017)
- Pages: 432 pages
11. Genghis Khan: A Life From Beginning to End
Every part of Genghis Khan’s life made a big impact on his life. From childhood to his time as an emperor, every part of Genghis Khan’s life had eventful moments every step of the way. Genghis Khan: A Life from Beginning to End by Hourly History is all about Genghis Khan’s 65 years on Earth.
This book is culturally appropriate because it includes all opinions and facts on Genghis Khan’s life. This book has a great storyline and is easy to read. It’s a nonfiction book, but it’s still interesting and engaging. Everything readers need to know about Genghis Khan can be found in this book.
- Authors: Hourly History (Author)
- Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (December 20, 2017)
- Pages: 39 pages
12. The Tomb of Genghis Khan (James Acton Thrillers Book 25)
Apparently, Genghis Khan ordered that his final resting place not be shared with anyone. He wanted his home after life to stay a secret. The Tomb of Genghis Khan by J. Robert Kennedy is a thriller that incorporates history with fiction.
In this book, there is history, archaeology and action. There is so much fun and excitement in this book. This book takes readers on a journey to find Khan’s final resting place. This has yet to be done in real life, but it’s fun to wonder, which is something this book, too. The characters are intelligent, cool, and adventurous. This is a fun book that comes with a history lesson.
- Authors: J. Robert Kennedy (Author)
- Publisher: Independently published (August 1, 2019)
- Pages: 322 pages
13. Essential Histories 57
Essential Histories 57: Genghis Khan and the Mongol Conquests 1190-1400 by Stephen Turbell talks about all of the Mongol conquests over 200 years in Asia and Europe.
This book is thorough. It accounts for the period in which Genghis Khan rose to power, and how the Mongols reigned without him. The big critique on this book, however, is how short it is. It is only 96 pages. That is at least two years of conquests per page. This book is detailed, interesting, and informative, but it’s not very thorough. There should be more. Turbell barely scratches the surface. Very little of this is about Genghis Khan, and more of it is about what happened after his death.
- Authors: Stephen Turnbull (Author)
- Publisher: Osprey Publishing; Illustrated Edition (July 1, 2003)
- Pages: 95 pages
14. Genghis Monster
Many books about Genghis Khan try to explain all sides of Genghis Khan and the good within him. Genghis Monster: The Shocking Story of Genghis Khan and the Mass-Murdering Mongols by M.S. King is not one of those books.
This book aims to revert to the initial views on Genghis Khan. King talks about other perspectives and people are now in awe of a mass murderer. It seems that this book is a short, quick perspective on a nuanced situation. King uses terms like “self-hating white and anti-western.” He is bold in his thoughts, which is an admirable trait. Read this book knowing that you won’t see all sides, but you will certainly get to know how Genghis Khan and his army conquered many partes of the world in a violent way.
- Authors: M. S. King (Author)
- Publisher: Independently published (June 7, 2019)
- Pages: 49 pages
15. Genghis Khan The Emperor Of All Men
Genghis Khan: Emperor of All Men by Harold Lamb helps readers gain a better understanding of Genghis Khan and what he did. Lamb has done his research on Asia and Genghis Khan. Many of his short stories are inspired by the culture in Asia, so it makes sense that his nonfiction stories would be too. Lamb uses his creative writing skills to give this biography an exciting edge.
This book has a lot of interesting ideas. It is creative, easy to read, and super informative. This book is nearly 300 pages, so it’s not too long, but it’s long enough to cover all the historical bases.
- Authors: Harold Lamb (Author)
- Publisher: Andesite Press (August 8, 2015)
- Pages: 300 pages
16. In the Empire of Genghis Khan
In the Empire of Genghis Khan: An Amazing Odyssey Through the Land of the Most Feared Conquerors in History by Stanley Stewart is not exactly about Genghis Khan– it’s about the land he covered.
In this book, Stewart journeys across the old empire to experience the horrific memories from these places and see what they have to offer. He rides horses through this journey to travel from place to place. He doesn’t question his journey, and instead embraces all it has to offer, like sheep parts and fermented milk. Stanley has a way of making each scene he sees seem breath-taking and beautiful through his words. This is a journey worth reading about.
- Authors: Stanley Stewart (Author)
- Publisher: Lyons Press; 1st Edition (March 1, 2004)
- Pages: 288 pages
17. Genghis Khan: A Captivating Guide to the Founder of the Mongol Empire and His Conquests Which Resulted in the Largest Contiguous Empire in History
The history of Genghis Khan is varied. Some applaud him and say he made a great impact on the world. Others call him a blood-thirsty barbarian. What cannot be argued is that he was one of the greatest leaders of all time. Genghis Khan: A Captivating Guide to the Founder of the Mongol Empire by captivating history is a guide that helps readers understand exactly who Genghis Khan was and make their own opinions about him. This guide is dubbed “a story about stories.”
This book includes history, opinions and the myths about Genghis Khan. This book explains the huge impact Khan had through his leadership, but also through the deaths he caused. Genghis Khan caused more deaths than World War I and World War II combined, a fact many overlook. This book is informative and has all the information that people need to know about Genghis Khan.
- Authors: Captivating History (Author)
- Publisher: Ch Publications (December 2, 2019)
- Pages: 102 pages
18. Genghis Khan (A Wicked History)
Genghis Khan (A Wicked History) by Enid A. Goldberg and Norman Itzkowitz and is nothing short of interesting. This book shares information on Goldberg that was previously unknown. Khan was married at nine years old. He killed his own half brother. He was a tyrant. He rarely lost a fight. But he was also intelligent.
This book is very easy to read and has lots of great information. Teachers who are educating their students on Genghis Khan should consider using this book. It attacks the perspective of Genghis Khan from a different angle. This book is super intriguing, well- researched, and informative.
- Authors: Enid A. Goldberg (Author), Norman Itzkowitz (Author)
- Publisher: Franklin Watts; Illustrated Edition (March 1, 2008)
- Pages: 128 pages
19. The Mongol Conquests
The Mongol Conquests: A Captivating Guide to the Invasions and Conquests Initiated by Genghis Khan by Captivating History draws in readers through the exploration of the Mongol conquests.
This book explains what exactly the Mongols did, and how they’ve been misinterpreted. Captivating History does not call the Mongols good or bad; they were neither. This book describes Genghis Khan and the Mongols as water, “capable of causing floods and carving mountains while at the same time creating fertile soil and giving life.” This book is all about deciphering the perspectives of Genghis Khan and the Mongols and all that they did. At the center of everything, the Mongols were first and foremost who were capable of making, and did make, mistakes.
- Authors: Captivating History (Author)
- Publisher: Ch Publications (December 2, 2019)
- Pages: 138 pages
20. The Leadership Secrets of Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan built the world’s biggest army in 20 years. He was an incredible emperor, and was very successful in war. The Leadership Secrets of Genghis Khan by John Man spills all of the intel on how Genghis Khan reached that success. Man researches all aspects of Genghis Khan’s success to share with readers how he did what he did.
This book has lessons on how to be a great leader based on a great, yet barbaric, emperor. This book is interesting, but can be a bit repetitive and boring. However, this book does have engaging moments, which says a lot considering it’s a history book.
- Authors: John Man (Author)
- Publisher: Transworld Digital; UK ed. Edition (October 31, 2010)
- Pages: 192 pages
Choosing the Best Genghis Khan Books
These books all have informative thoughts on Genghis Khan and what his reign meant for the world. Some of them experienced the path he took firsthand. Others heavily criticized his reign without getting to know his history. All in all, every author has their own take on Genghis Khan. It’s up to the readers to decide what they read, and base their opinions on Genghis Khan on that. Genghis Khan was a nuanced man that is worth reading and learning about.
