History Of The Peloponnesian War by Thucydides - Paperback

Low print quality and thin paper killed off any excitement I had upon recieving the package. I feel this price could have been used better elsewhere.

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!

Thucydides' "History of the Peloponnesian War" is an absolute triumph. From the very first page, I was captivated by the detailed and dramatic account of the conflict between Athens and Sparta. This isn't just a dry recounting of facts; it's a gripping narrative filled with political intrigue, military strategy, and profound human insights. Thucydides' writing style is remarkably modern and his analysis of power, alliances, and the nature of war is as relevant today as it was over two millennia ago. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history, political science, or simply a great story. It's a foundational text that has shaped our understanding of conflict and human nature.

Surprisingly readable for a record from the ancient era. Every page leaves you eager to learn more and if you are interested in learning this period of Greek history then it will absolutely keeped you hooked from beginning to end. Honestly one of the best books I have ever read but that is because I already have a great interest in Ancient Greek history and especially the Persian and Peloponnesian War eras. In short, an essential read for anybody desiring to learn more about classical history. This book briefly describes the rise of (arguably) the most influential metropolis in European history and spares no detail in it's eventual downfall. And that's just Athens. The fate of all other participants in Greece's greatest war, including Sparta, are given just as much respect in regards to why they chose to declare war and how they faired in the conflict. This is not really a review in all honesty. I just typed this up because I was looking at my bookshelf and remembered just how great this book is. Just looking at it reminded me of all I had learned from the book. Possibly my favourite historical book of all time from my favourite historical era of all time. Worth every penny.

Great choice.

The poorly formatted/presented text in this book makes it a chore to read. At 600+ pages, I'm tempted to just throw it in the paper recycling bin.