Genghis Khan

Book: Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

Author: Jack Weatherford

Think about the images that come to your head when you hear the word "Mongol." For me it was the bad guys in the Mulan Disney movie. Ruthless warriors who drank the blood from their own horses s0 they wouldn't have to stop riding. I also heard that Genghis Khan had tons of living descendants because he raped every woman in every city that he destroyed. I knew the mongols invaded China and Europe and they were around a long time ago.

I was wrong about a lot. The Mongols did create the largest Empire in world history, but the flavor of their reign was of a much different tone than that of ruthless warriors. Under Genghis Khan, his followers had religious freedom. He abolished torture as punishment. He expanded global trade and communication, eventually spurring on the renaissance. Way ahead of his time in military tactics, human rights, and politics.

This book is a must read for lovers of history and those interested in hearing the real story.

The Fall of a Sparrow by Robert Hellenga

I really loved this book, even the second time I read it. It's beautifully written and has something for everyone ... tragedy, foreign travel, terrorism, religion, love, sex, forgiveness, eating, humor, music. It's a work of fiction about an English professor at a small college in northern Illinois whose oldest daughter is killed in an event that is actually historical -- the bombing of the Bologna train station. It goes on to show how the different members of the family ... father, mother, and two younger sisters ... adjust to this tragic event. If you've never read anything by Robert Hellenga, you might be surprised at what he's accomplished here.

Reviewed by Cal