"Timothy May offers an excellent work on Chinggis Khan, one of the most intriguing figures in world history. Based on the latest scholarship, his book is reliable and well written. It presents colorful vignettes but does not fall into the trap of bizarre interpretations that has recently impeded study of the Khan." — Morris Rossabi, author of ”Khubilai Khan: His Life and Times”

"In this book written for a popular audience, Timothy May, a recognized expert on the Mongols, does much more than chronicle the well-known facts about the great conqueror. He brings vividly to life the world in which Chinggis Khan was born and rose to power. Unlike earlier biographers, he gives a full analysis of the family dynamics which helped to shape Mongol rule for centuries. This is an excellent introduction to the world of the steppe and the life of one of the world’s greatest conquerors." — Beatrice Forbes Manz, Professor of History of the Middle East and Central Asia, Tufts University

"Chinggis (“Ocean”) Khan not only created by sheer force of personality the largest contiguous land empire in history, but at the same time laid down foundations for the intensive exchanges of things and ideas that were to follow. In so doing, he became very much the founder of our modern global age. Without him, history would have been very different. Timothy May has not only produced the best biography to date, but also provides much more than a simple biography, making his book an introduction to the other sides of what made Chinggis Khan Chinggis Khan." — Paul Buell, lecturer in the department of Independent Learning, Western Washington University

"There are few people who can claim to have had a greater impact on world history than Chinggis Khan, which makes sketching his biography simultaneously very desirable and daunting for scholars. ‘Simply Chinggis’ renders this complex topic into an easily understandable and highly engaging introduction to the Mongol ruler’s life and achievements. This witty and thought-provoking work is imminently readable, as Timothy May’s keen eye for detail and colourful descriptions help to reconstruct some of the major events in the Mongol khan’s military and political career, whilst also providing insights into his decision-making and strategy. Throughout the book May sacrifices nothing in the way of rigorous analysis or historical methodology. Rather, ‘Simply Chinggis’ sees one of the foremost scholars of the early Mongol Empire at the top of his game, drawing on an extensive list of primary sources and the latest research to tackle some of the most perplexing aspects of Chinggis Khan’s life. Readers of this biography will be rewarded with a rich insight into the story behind one of the world’s foremost political and military leaders." — Michael Hope, Associate Professor of Asian History, Yonsei University, Underwood International College