DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

The Ancient Guide to Modern Life

Lessons from the Greeks and Romans for Today's World

Natalie Haynes author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Profile Books Ltd

Published:3rd May '12

Should be back in stock very soon

The Ancient Guide to Modern Life cover

This insightful book explores how ancient civilizations shape our modern lives, revealing striking similarities between past and present experiences.

In The Ancient Guide to Modern Life, the author invites readers to explore the rich contributions of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations to our contemporary existence. By examining politics, law, religion, philosophy, and education, the book reveals how much our lives mirror those of people who lived thousands of years ago in cities like Athens, Rome, Sparta, and Alexandria. This reflection not only highlights the enduring nature of human experience but also encourages us to appreciate the wisdom of the past.

The author, who is both a classicist and a comedian, brings a unique perspective to the discussion. With a background in creating documentaries about humor and culture, they effectively blend serious insights with a light-hearted tone. This approach makes the exploration of ancient life engaging and accessible, allowing readers to draw connections between historical events and modern societal issues. From the assassination of Julius Caesar to contemporary political dynamics, The Ancient Guide to Modern Life illustrates the timelessness of human behavior.

Ultimately, the book challenges us to reconsider our understanding of modernity. Are we truly living in a new age, or are we simply repeating the patterns established by our ancestors? By delving into the parallels between ancient and modern worlds, The Ancient Guide to Modern Life prompts readers to reflect on their own lives and the lessons that history can teach us.

Reminds us (or tells us) about people, events and practices in the Greek and Roman world, and at the same time explores their contemporary echoes and parallels. A classic double-whammy, in fact - and delivered with wonderful energy, wit, zeal and expertise. Irresistible -- Andrew Motion
As wise as Socrates, as witty as Aristophanes, as modern as tomorrow - a classic for our times -- Gyles Brandreth
An entertaining romp through the politics and society of the ancient Romans and Greeks ... overflowing with lively, pertinent little nuggets -- Claire Allfree * Metro *
A passionate authority on the classics * The List *
Witty ... for a curious-minded someone who likes to get their teeth into some intelligent non-fiction and 'mmmm' appreciatively -- Bea Hodgkin * Easy Living *
A romp through some of the best-known, and some of the most obscure, writers, thoughts and stories of Greece and Rome. Haynes does a good job in debunking myths perpetuated by popular culture ... and also manages to give intelligent overviews of some of the knottier problems that academic scholarship has grappled with ... a passionate defence of Classics -- Jerry Toner * TLS *
Haynes debunks plenty of myths about the ancient world and delivers her history lessons in a light-hearted tone -- Christopher Silvester * Daily Express *
Brilliant -- Charlotte Higgins * Guardian *

ISBN: 9781846683244

Dimensions: 196mm x 128mm x 20mm

Weight: 234g

288 pages

Main