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megelizabeth's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
"Trimalchio’s funeral and monument are, like his life, a gaudy exaggeration of what normal people might have wanted. But the principle is the same: like everyone else in the ancient and modern worlds alike, he wants to be remembered."
This is an interesting book, but I wouldn't say that it's an ancient guide to modern life. It reads like an ancient history account with the odd sprinkling of application to the modern world, which is fine in itself, but it does feel like it was mis-marketed and that always irritates me.
I did learn quite a lot, and I found the writing style engaging. I also appreciated the arguments around the importance of learning classical and wider history and the acknowledgment of the lack of female presence in much of written ancient history.
However, I didn't like the author's seemingly pretty blasé attitudes towards ancient atrocities (there are a LOT discussions of these; I would strongly advise checking trigger warnings) and defence of these without - to me - sufficient nuance, and there were a few of the author's own problematic comments sprinkled throughout too.
I also would've liked to learn more about 'regular', rather than well-known, ancient people, though I do appreciate the difficulties that this kind of research and exploration would come with.
Ultimately, this was fine and gave a good rounded account of many facets of the ancient world, and I appreciated what I learnt from it, but there are probably better books on the subject out there.
This is an interesting book, but I wouldn't say that it's an ancient guide to modern life. It reads like an ancient history account with the odd sprinkling of application to the modern world, which is fine in itself, but it does feel like it was mis-marketed and that always irritates me.
I did learn quite a lot, and I found the writing style engaging. I also appreciated the arguments around the importance of learning classical and wider history and the acknowledgment of the lack of female presence in much of written ancient history.
However, I didn't like the author's seemingly pretty blasé attitudes towards ancient atrocities (there are a LOT discussions of these; I would strongly advise checking trigger warnings) and defence of these without - to me - sufficient nuance, and there were a few of the author's own problematic comments sprinkled throughout too.
I also would've liked to learn more about 'regular', rather than well-known, ancient people, though I do appreciate the difficulties that this kind of research and exploration would come with.
Ultimately, this was fine and gave a good rounded account of many facets of the ancient world, and I appreciated what I learnt from it, but there are probably better books on the subject out there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Animal cruelty, Murder, Xenophobia, Animal death, Antisemitism, Racism, Death, Misogyny, and Slavery
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
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