It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't as compelling as the preceding volume.
My overall take was that discussing this topic in 2024/25 without mentioning It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't as compelling as the preceding volume.
My overall take was that discussing this topic in 2024/25 without mentioning aDNA studies is complete professional malpractice. Ancient DNA and genetic studies are just as important as archeology and written history in solving some of the unknowns that aren't answerable through traditional methods. Maybe Cline isn't confident enough in his understanding of aDNA to spend significant time on it (reasonable) or perhaps he feels that the studies and results thus far aren't conclusive enough to change our ideas so its not worth mentioning (less reasonable).
aDNA can conclusively answer questions about "Dorian invasions" or whether Israelites were nomads from the Arabian peninsula and when they actually first settled in Canaan, or whether Philistines were proto-indo-europeans from the Aegean region who replaced the existing Canaanite population or hybridized with them. These are all unknowns that Cline leaves completely open and unknowable, but in fact emerging science has, or will soon have, very clear answers to all of this. And Cline doesn't touch the topic. This would have been acceptable in 1995, but not in 2025....more
Perhaps the most read book of Roman literature with, perhaps, the exceptions of Caesar's *Commentaries* and Cicero's letters. And deservedly so, this Perhaps the most read book of Roman literature with, perhaps, the exceptions of Caesar's *Commentaries* and Cicero's letters. And deservedly so, this translation preserves everything good about Suetonius' original prose while still able to be read for entertainment by a modern audience. ...more
As a work of literature, it's not the absolute most gripping read. The thorough description of rather repetitive race recaps could easily overwhelm a As a work of literature, it's not the absolute most gripping read. The thorough description of rather repetitive race recaps could easily overwhelm a less interested reader. That said, there are some rather excellent individual lines that can stir the spirit.
"I was a pioneer, so I had to blaze my own trail."
I only wish Major had written more about his family; we hear little of his parents who were evidently quite influential on him, nor do we hear of his siblings. He neglects to give the details of meeting and marrying his wife that would be expected of a modern memoir.
From a historical perspective, this book is amazing. Major Taylor was not just the first black world champion in any sport, he was the first super-star of American and International sport. He was, in a sense, the first modern professional athlete. And he did it while facing all the adversity you can imagine from an era where vicious racism was the everyday norm....more
I can't say I totally disliked it, but giving it 2 stars ("It was OK") would definitely be giving it more than its due.
Simply put, the scope (historyI can't say I totally disliked it, but giving it 2 stars ("It was OK") would definitely be giving it more than its due.
Simply put, the scope (history of all science, art, and philosophy) and the range (pre-history to the 21st century) far exceeds the author's competence to cover. That isn't to suggest that anyone else could do better, it's probably too big an ask for anyone. There were several topics (mostly translating advanced math concepts to a popular level) where van Doren appeared very comfortable and was able to offer insightful and nuanced commentary. Unfortunately there were just as many where I would label his analysis as some sort of unintentional performance art comedy. Allow me to share the following passage to give an example of the level of analysis the author provides modern Iranian political history:
"Democracy is anathema to theocracy. It is not surprising, therefore, that the United States, the leading exemplar of democracy in the world, was considered an evil nation by Khomeini and the Iranian imams."
I don't even know where to begin to dissect such a child-like view of Iranian politics. Ignoring the fact that the United States *actively destroyed the Iranian democracy to install a puppet dictator* when approaching this topic is either unimaginable ignorance, shocking maleficence, total incompetence, or worst of all, ideological blindness. This is unfortunately the level you can expect from the author whenever he steps away from the history of science and moves toward the history of political philosophy.
The range and scope of this book was monumentally ambitious, so its disappointing but not surprising that its execution was a failure....more
A difficult book. In various places you wish Diogenes had written more about the particular philosopher's views and teachings, but in others you wish A difficult book. In various places you wish Diogenes had written more about the particular philosopher's views and teachings, but in others you wish he had offered more of the intriguing details of their lives and quips. In any event, the book is a masterpiece and the fact it's survived mostly intact since antiquity is a miracle and we're all better for it....more
Hopefully the Herculaneum scrolls get deciphered, translated, and edited in my lifetime, because the actual amount of practical every day advice in thHopefully the Herculaneum scrolls get deciphered, translated, and edited in my lifetime, because the actual amount of practical every day advice in this book is rather slim. It's an unfortunate quirk of history that most of what has survived of Epicurean writing is stuff about cosmology and celestial bodies that is interesting but not useful. A lot of the practical philosophy has been lost, but at least in 2024 with the Herculaneum scrolls we can hope for more someday....more
As a textbook for a university student, this book is excellent and is a great overview of the topic. For the interested layperson, it's written far toAs a textbook for a university student, this book is excellent and is a great overview of the topic. For the interested layperson, it's written far too academically and the reader's entertainment isn't even a secondary consideration.
For either category of reader, I think the book badly needed a strong editor. There are a lot of superfluous thoughts and ideas introduced and then dropped never to be fleshed out.
This review sounds pretty negative, and I can't say I "enjoyed" reading the book, but I do want to stress its the best scholarly overview on the topic and essential reading for the student....more
Fast paced with plenty of actions and some good relationship building between the protagonists, with enough hard science and history mixed in to satisFast paced with plenty of actions and some good relationship building between the protagonists, with enough hard science and history mixed in to satisfy the sci-fi fans out there. ...more
This is by far the most comprehensible- without framing things through a contemporary lense- narrative of the French Revolution that I've read. HighlyThis is by far the most comprehensible- without framing things through a contemporary lense- narrative of the French Revolution that I've read. Highly recommend to the interest layperson....more
A hugely important primary source, with an interesting mix of myth, make-believe, and actual history. I was surprised by how much space in a rather shA hugely important primary source, with an interesting mix of myth, make-believe, and actual history. I was surprised by how much space in a rather short book was devoted to Attila, but I guess it makes sense that the crowing achievement of the Gothic race was the battle of chalons, and unless you build up Attila's legend the battle isn't as significant....more
I appreciate the reliance on the account of Priscus to establish the "real" Attila, or at least the closest we'll ever get to knowing the real man, buI appreciate the reliance on the account of Priscus to establish the "real" Attila, or at least the closest we'll ever get to knowing the real man, but some of the narrative has not aged well. Multiple times the author references the canard that "Romans refused to do military service so they came to rely on barbarians." This is, to say the least, not a current thought in the field and hasn't been for a hundred years. The fact of the matter is the tax base of the western empire couldn't support the military establishment necessary to provide defense. Roman citizen soldiers, or even barbarians soldiers serving under Roman officers in official units were very costly, not the least of which was they required drill and training and uniformed equipment, which barbarian mercenaries serving under their own commanders did not. Howarth repeats this statement *after* the loss of Africa, where the western empire's finances became impossible, which means he didn't consider the fact that the government at Ravenna simply couldn't afford native soldiers, not that they didn't exist. The Eastern Empire, in contrast, had no problem recruiting and attracting native soldiers during the same period precisely because it could afford to continue paying them. Howarth should have asked himself why Eastern Romans were more willing to serve in the army than the Western, and why that vexes his statements.
It's not hard to see, however, in the unnecessary backhanded critique of "british marxist historians" that he rejects material historical analysis and instead prefers convenient narratives, which makes some sense in a character study, but if one rejects materialist historical analysis, one should probably avoid discussing systems which are not understandable outside a materialist context.
I'm being a bit overly critical of a book I actually enjoyed, but had the author mentioned the "Romans didn't want to serve in the military" trope once I wouldn't have mentioned it at all and chalked it up to old fashioned view, but the fact he repeated it means its a core feature of his analysis and thus should be called out....more
A fun, easy read that will have some trivia that even the most hardcore Roman history fan will find out for the first time. Ryan does a wonderful job A fun, easy read that will have some trivia that even the most hardcore Roman history fan will find out for the first time. Ryan does a wonderful job of hitting just the right tone with his prose, his humorous topics come off lighthearted and fun, and his serious topics come off somber and touching. ...more