The Classics: All You Need to Know, from Zeus's Throne to the Fall of Rome...Review

About the book:
The thought of ancient civilizations is enough to make anyone groan. Between long hours of tedious mathematics and years of droning Latin classes, it's no wonder that the Greek and Roman societies are most often thought of as dull subjects from school.  The Classics, however, flips this long-standing opinion on its head, revealing the clever humor and impressive technological and scientific advancements made by these societies. 

Between the ninth century B.C. and the seventh century A.D., these great civilizations thrived, leaving behind a legacy felt in every part of the world-from language to medicine, from art to architecture.

The Classics lets you understand the importance of...
  • The Greek alphabet, from alpha to omega
  • The history and characteristics that define Greek and Roman architecture and its influence on modern building
  • Greek and Latin words, which make up more than 30 percent of the words in the English language, and how you can build your vocabulary by learning the roots
  • The Greek and Roman gods, the mythology surrounding them, and the part these figures play in our culture
  • Almost 1,000 years of Greek and Roman history, from the birth of democracy to Caesar's empire
  • The philosophies taught by Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and what their ideas have contributed to the world we live in today
  • How the modern cultural staples such as the Olympics were formed by classical literature, written by authors such as Homer and Cicero--what happened, what does it mean, and why is it still being read and taught today
  • And much more!
This concise and witty text makes both a fascinating introduction to the world that became the foundation for Western Civilization and the perfect refresher course for the individual looking to brush up on years of schooling. The Classics puts the same information available in volumes of stuffy textbooks at your fingertips in one entertaining read, guaranteed to inform and delight.

This is just a fun book.  Whether you want to brush up on all that classical Greek and Roman history you learned in school and promptly forgot, or are simply interested in mythology, this is the perfect book to use.  Think of it as the condensed cliff notes type version.  Except it has hysterical, sometimes a bit irreverent, commentary.

With 10 chapters and a great index in the back, you can read the book through in one sitting or simply look up your favorite gods and goddesses or ancient historical figures and places and have a quick, funny read.

Thanks to Julie Harabedian of FSB Associates for the opportunity to review this book.  You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 9/10

* * * *
4/5 Stars


Comments

  1. I remember very little from those classes, so this book would probably feel new to me.

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