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Title: The Life of Greece (The Story of Civilization, 2) by Will Durant ISBN: 1-56731-013-3 Publisher: MJF Books Pub. Date: 01 July, 1997 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.98 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.62 (16 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Remarkably Readable
Comment: As someone who had read virtually nothing about ancient Greece, I found this book to be the perfect comprehensive introduction to the subject. Will Durant's concept of offering up an "integral" (as opposed to "shredded") view of history ("in which all the phases of human activity are presented in one complex narrative, in one developing, moving picture") is just what I wanted. It tells the story of the people, culture (art, architecture, music, literature), politics, religion/mythology, philosophy and, of course, war.
While somewhat daunting at 700 pages, Durant's user-friendly (almost conversational) writing style makes the going very pleasant. I won't go so far as to say that it reads like a novel---there are parts that drag a bit---but it's well worth sticking with it. The people, culture and philosophy sections were the most fascinating to me, but because the political and war bits were not overly drawn out, I read them as well, and am glad I did.
I was so impressed by this book that I wanted to learn more about Will Durant, so I read "Will and Ariel Durant: A Dual Autobiography" directly afterwards. They are an interesting and admirable couple and their autobiography is a good read. I look forward to furthering my education most enjoyably by reading the other books in "The Story of Civilization" series.
Rating: 5
Summary: Hardcore history for history-buffs and political junkies!
Comment: Will Durant is a prolific writer and historian. This book is a must for students or anyone studying Hellenic history. Durant's books will stand the test of time - his uniquely orthodox perspective and the keen insights offered in his books are a welcomed break from the revisionist history of today.
For students of political science and history, studying ancient Greece offers insightful lessons of history in relation to politics and government. Greek history is full of political turmoil and change. The Greco-Roman contribution that shaped the ideas of the founding fathers of the American Republic were in part based on the lessons of Greek history. History, Greek history especially, offers keen insight on why the American founders were weary of unchecked democracy and the absence of a rule of law.
Rating: 5
Summary: A Masterpiece of History and Prose
Comment: My set of Durants The Story of Civilization was purchased at a garage sale. Poor fools, they did not know what they were selling. Their loss is my gain. Volume Two, however, was missing, a situation that was remedied when I wandered into a used bookstore and there, on a shelf was Volume Two- The Life of Greece calling my name. I immediately forked out eight bucks and headed down to the local coffee house and began a fascinating and enjoyable read.
Having read through Volume 5, The Age of Faith, this has to be the best volume thus far- I could hardly put it down. To be sure there are areas that one has to plow through, that is to be expected of a work of this scope; but Durant has filled my world with the genius, history and drama of ancient Greece.
What made this book so fascinating is that, over and over again, Durant brought us into the lives of these men. We are not merely dealing with historical figures, but real people who lived, made love, made war, wrote masterpieces and who could act with courage, fall to cowardice or just make stupid mistakes. By far my favorite chapter was The Suicide of Greece. It told how a great civilization could fall. The story of Alcibiades was absolutely riveting. Both a brilliant leader and a scoundrel, he pushed Athens towards destruction by his fraternity style pranks that doomed his invasion of Sicily contributing significantly to the downfall of Athens as a power.
Consistent with all his volumes, Durant again shows us the cycle of civilization. He shows us again that the life of thought endangers every civilization that it adores. He writes:
As civilization develops, as customs, institutions, laws, and morals more and more restrict the operation of natural impulses, action gives way to thought, achievement to imagination, directness to subtlety, expression to concealment, cruelty to sympathy, belief to doubt the unity of character common to animal and primitive men passes away; behavior becomes fragmentary and hesitant, conscious and calculating; the willingness to fight subsides into a disposition to infinite argument. Few nations have been able to reach intellectual refinement and esthetic sensitivity without sacrificing so much in virility and unity that their wealth presents an irresitble temptation to impecunious barbarians. Around every Rome hover the Gauls; around ever Athens some Macedon.
I hope that Durant has not just written our epitaph as a great nation.
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Title: Our Oriental Heritage by Will Durant ISBN: 067154800X Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 01 January, 1976 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: STORY OF CIVILIZATION, VOL V: THE RENAISSANCE by Will Durant ISBN: 0671616005 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 01 December, 1953 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
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Title: The Age of Napoleon: A History of European Civilization from 1789 to 1815 (His the Story of Civilization ; Pt. 11) by Will Durant, William James Durant, Ariel Durant ISBN: 067121988X Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 01 October, 1975 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
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Title: Age of Louis XIV (Story of Civilization) by Will Durant, Ariel Durant ISBN: 0671012150 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 01 December, 1963 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
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Title: Reformation (Story of Civilization) by Will Durant ISBN: 0671610503 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 01 June, 1957 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
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