Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World is a narrative of the rise and influence of Genghis Khan and his successors, and their influence on European civilization. Weatherford provides a different slant on Genghis Khan than has been typical in most Western accounts, attributing positive cultural effects to his rule. The book suggests that the western depiction of the Mongols as savages who destroyed civilization was due to the Mongols' approach to dealing with the competing leadership classes.
I enjoy studying about war and what it takes to win them. So, I decided to read this book.
Most of what Genghis Khan did isn’t possible today. We are more civilized, organized, and respectful in most regions of the planet. Nonetheless, the book contains exciting insights — a helpful read in the world of entrepreneurship and venture capital. The best founders and investors I know are ruthless.
The book itself is a bit boring, and I skipped a few sections. More productive this way. One doesn’t have to finish a book to call it concluded. If it starts to get boring, skip parts of it. Life is too short otherwise.
If you want to check some of the lessons learned, read "Genghis Khan for Startup Founders".
"The first key to leadership was self-control, particularly the mastery of pride, which was something more difficult, he explained, to subdue than a wild lion and anger, which was more difficult to defeat than the greatest wrestler. He warned them: 'If you can't swallow your pride, you can't lead.Even the highest mountain had animals that step on it.'"
"Without the vision of a goal, a man cannot manage his own life, much less the lives of others."
"A leader should demonstrate his thoughts and opinions through his actions, not through his words."
