Secret History of the Mongols: The Origin of Chingis Khan

Great book, one of the few books I have listened to more than once, more information about Ghengis Khan than I knew there was. Quite possibly one of the top 10 men in the history of the world.

If you are passionate about Mongolian history and want to read the original story, then do yourself a favor and buy this Kahn version for a fraction of the price compared to others. Some reviewers suggest this cheaper version is somehow lacking, but I couldn't disagree more. If you are engaged in some academic or literary pursuit, then this version falls far short and you are better off with Igor de Rachewiltz's translation followed by Professor Urgunge Onon's as a second choice. Most people reading this review are best served by Kahn's version, and don't think you are missing out because of price. What you will get from Kahn is a highly readable story-like version that doesn't make you stumble everytime you need to pronounce any Mongol word, which makes for a much more pleasant experience.If we compare the Kahn's translation to the scholarly IdR, the single biggest thing you will notice is the spelling of all things Mongol. Example, IdR spells Genghis Khan as Cinggis Qa'an while Kahn gives an acceptable Chingis Khan. I will offer an example in translational difference that will hopefully give you a sense of what to expect:Kahn, p160: "He sent Subetei the Brave off to war in the north where he defeated 11 kingdoms and tribes, crossing the Volga and Ural Rivers, finally going to war with Kiev."IdR, p194 #262: "Further, he sent Sube'etei Ba'atur northwards to campaign as far as the countries and peoples of these 11 tribes: Qanglin, Kibca'ut, Bajigit, Orusut, Majarat, Asut, Sasut, Serkesut, Kesimir, Bolar, and Kerel; and, making him cross the rivers Idil and Jayaq rich in waters, he sent Sube'etei Ba'atur to campaign as far as the city of Kiwa Menkermen." (Note: I was unable to add all the symbols that accompany letters in the Mongol words, and 1-3 are present in virtually all of them.)The comparison of those two passages (they are the same) should tell you everything you need to know; the Kahn version is significantly more user-friendly and I can't possibly stress this enough. You can check out my review of the IdR translation if you are still not convinced, and compare the opening sentence of both books by the title of my review. I hope this helps you make this difficult decision, and I do highly recommend this version even if it is not the densest or most scholarly of those available. Enjoy.

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"

It is a little hard to read but if this subject interest you, then this book is a must read. There are other versions out there and this book seems somewhat easier to follow. Great insight into the Mongols.

Can't read this! Waste of time and eye sight

This is a gem. A wonderful, un-self-consciously poetic translation of a major historical record. If you are interested in the history of Central Asia, the Mongols, or Genghis Khan this is a must-read book. I loved it. At its height, the Mongol Empire was the biggest the world has ever seen. Gives a real feel for the culture of these nomads who burst out of nowhere to devastate both Islam and Christian Europe. It took over two centuries before the population of Eurasia returned to the level it had reached prior to Genghis Khan's depredations. A detailed account of Genghis Khan's origins, upbringing and deeds, especially how he succeeded in uniting the always fractured Mongolian nomads into an unstoppable military tidal wave.

Tells the story of the creation of the great Mongolian empire, and the great leader Genghis Khan; even has a poem about his death at the end, great read.

If you want historical fiction, please pick up Conn Iggulden's Conqueror series-- which is outstanding. This is a translation of Chingis Khan's own story. The really cool thing about the book is that it was originally a private work commissioned by the descendants of Chingis Khan. A little rambling, old world, sort of a lengthy poem similar to Beowulf but easier reading. Loved it. It's like a behind the scenes tour of Chingis Kahn's mind and times.