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This book was freaking amazing!!! You not only get the lives of Lycurgus, Agis, and Cleomenes some of the most amazing Spartans of all times (of course you get some Leonidas as well). All of which covers some fairly epic moments in history, but it also includes a collection of Xenophons writings on Spartan society. You get a pretty good picture painted here of what life was like in Sparta. Man it was tough! No portion better embodies the lives and minds of the spartan than his sections on "Sayings" which is famous quotes from men of spartan society. I think Plutarch was inspired when he included this section. It really gives you a feel for what Spartans valued and honored.

Here are the gems of the bunch:

When somebody was praising an orator for his ability to magnify small points, he said

"In my opinion it's not a good cobbler who fits large shoes on small feet."

When a snake had coiled round the key on the inside of the gate and the seers were declaring this to be a portent, he remarked;

"It doesn't look like that to me. If instead the key had coiled round the snake, that would be a portent"

To the man who declared his admiration and affection for him;

"I have two oxen in a field; even though neither says anything. I'm fully aware of which one idles and which one works."

and the women are equally skilled and cutting

When asked by a woman from Attica: "Why are you Spartan women the only ones who can rule men?" she said; "Because we are also the only ones who give birth to men".

and this is the best burn of all time

To the wretched character who frequently kept asking him who was the best Spartiate, his response was; "The one least like you"

Oh you got told!
Of course you also get to read many of the famous lines from the Battle at Thermopylae. So pretty much this is a must read.