History of the Peloponnesian War

arrived in perfect condition & quickly.

In my experience, there are three kinds of history books: those which are total BS, those which are half BS, and those which are no BS. The only one I have yet read which I would place in the no BS category is Thucydides. If you want an English translation, this Rex Warner one, which is pretty standard, is a good one to get. If I were asked what three books I would recommend that any President should read, I would say, "Read Thucydides three times."

First of all, I find it close to impossible to rate such a book as this, as it is truly great as an insight into events that happened thousands of years ago, while the writing and accessibility of the work clearly could have been better. Nevertheless, in my opinion this is a 5-star book, as the detail and insight into a war that took place ~400bc is such a great read.Thucydides shows a himself as a great analyst of the conficts he relates, and instead of just relating the facts, he guides us through the actors motivations and the reasons for what takes place. THAT is the value of this book as far as I'm concerned, the strategic approach to conflict, and the massive amount of strategy in regards to alliances and battles that we get to share through this book.Being a student of political philosophy I read this book because of my fascination with Thomas Hobbes (Allthough not the Hobbes-translation). It will be hard for anyone to understand Hobbes through this though, and I must question the usefulness for most of such a linkage on the whole. There is also a lot of history in this book that will interest a lot of you (Those that are like me), rather little, but one gets through it, and when one is done with the book I truly feel I have gotten a great lecture in strategy and conflict!

Haven't read much of it yet. First couple books and skimmed others. I had to educate myself further on the background and culture but neat reading accounts from ancient times other than the Bible. Having this much survive is somewhat of a wonder. Who cares anymore? Yet much of the social conditions offer food for thought and the details in battle are engrossing. Agreed, the print isn't the best. Many characters are faded or missing parts but not enough to slow me down.

Thucydides is usually accounted the first "real" historian; because of his use of written material, interviews with participants, and scientific objectivity, he set a precedent that would be held as the ideal for all who followed. Thucydides remarks at the beginning of his book that:"...if these words of mine are judged useful by those who want to understand clearly the events which happened in the past and which (human nature being what it is) will, at some time or other in much the same ways, be repeated in the future." No historian today would claim that the past repeats its self, but, sadly, human nature does. Like some of my fellow reviewers you can see the correlation of the Peloponnesian and Delian leagues with the United Nations and NATO of today. The numerous peace treaties and ambassadorial delegations seem so closely to mirror our present time. This book is at the bedrock of Western Civilization, and must be read to understand the great European conflicts which followed.

Through the use of numerous interviews, tirelessly researching records, and gathering a great deal of evidence, Thucydides "History of the Peloponnesian War" stands as perhaps the first great work of nonfiction in Western history. After generations of epic poems and stories, which included every bit as much exaggeration and mythology as they did truth, Thucydides used the tools of evidence and objectivity to create a reliable historical record of the great war between Athens and Sparta to stand the test of time. This is vital reading if you have even a passing interest in military history, Ancient Greek history, or, really, any history at all.

More than a simple historical treatise, it is a character study in human nature and its affects on the human actions that make history. A classic of historical works in its detail and insight on human action we know as history. Thucydides is unmatched in his insights, clarity of language and thought, and in his informative description of the history of his time. A must read for anyone wanting to plumb the depths of western civilization and ethos. An enjoyable read for any historiphile.It could use more maps but be sure to check the back of the book for the few it does have.

"My book was not meant to meet the tastes of an immediate public, but was done to last forever." At 2,430 years, it's on its way. Thucydides has been called the greatest historian of all time, with reason; certainly his work set the conditions for historic chronicles ever since, and the Rex Warner translation is itself a fine work. Grant Hildebrand Seattle