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Pericles Of Athens And The Birth Of Democracy

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A Companion to the Peloponnesian War Series & A History of Athens
The First Citizen
Getting to know Pericles
The Churchill of the Ancient World
A worthy book

Pericles Of Athens And The Birth Of Democracy
Donald Kagan
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684863952

Book Description

"Kagan, faithful to his lifelong fascination with Pericles . . . gives us an accessible and invaluable account of his life and deeds".--Allan Bloom, author of "The Closing of the American Mind".

Customer Reviews:

A Companion to the Peloponnesian War Series & A History of Athens.......2006-11-14

Donald Kagan's knowledge of the subject is likely unequaled. Having essentially written the premier history of the war Pericles hoped to avoid, The Peloponnesian War, Kagan was in the unique position to write a similarly authoritative biography of this classic statesman. And that he has.

The book is well-written, thoroughly readable, and tells the story of Pericles better than its predecessors. That said, those who've read Kagan's four volume series on the Peloponnesian War will find that most of the text in this book has already been covered. This is not to say that new insights and clever evaluations are not to be found, for they are, but only that the author is, unfortunately, a victim of his own superb and exhaustive account of Pericles' life in prior works.

Also note: this is an excellent history of the political framework of early Athens. If you require an introduction to Athens' early democratic structure, including a wonderful description of the Assembly (a fusion of legislative and judicial branches into an open forum), this is the book.

Those who are new to the author and/or the subject will not encounter an issue with the text and, indeed, could not ask for a better biography.

The First Citizen.......2006-07-19

Kagan's Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy is an extremely well-written book on a remarkable statesman who lived nearly twenty-five hundred years ago. The historian Thucydides called him Athens's `first citizen'. During his thirty years of near dominance as that city-state's leader, Athens enjoyed great wealth, a democratic form of government, and gloried in the arts and building projects that reflected that city's heightened status. Kagan's defense of Pericles (though not without criticisms) and the form of government he helped implement are admirably and ably argued.

Kagan's sources are fairly limited, which is to be expected. He relies mostly on the famed account of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, the later writings of Plutarch, and the works of some of the famed literary figures of the day. Perhaps the greatest surviving symbol of Pericles's influence in Athens is the Parthenon. Democracy in Athens began under Cleisthenes, as Kagan mentions, but Pericles advanced this system by opening political participation and voting to more of that city's citizens. He also promoted a paying system for public service. It is tempting to try to compare our political system with the system in Athens (though quite different) and say that ours is more inclusive, which though true technically doesn't mean that the political system in Athens is any less deserving of a certain amount of admiration.

Athens was also an empire, though Pericles could persuasively argue its merits despite the seeming contradictions. Athens's wealth and prestige did not come without costs. Sparta and various other Greek people were suspicious and resentful of the growing influence of Athens. The Spartans, as Kagan claimed later in the book as the Peloponnesian War began, would claim the mantle of liberators of the Greeks. Pericles's policies were seemingly always guided by an intelligent, rational way of thinking. He tried to pursue the moderate course between the extremes, as Kagan states. This seems to become most evident in the opening scenes in the war against Sparta.

I find that moderation to be very admirable, even if his policies could be wrong on occasion, as the Peloponnesian War would prove. He was perhaps too stubborn in adhering to certain strategies, but he did what he believed was right for Athens. His ability to influence his fellow citizens was indeed quite remarkable. But even Pericles had enemies and for a while even he was cast out of office when things weren't going well for Athens in the early stages of the conflict. Pericles died in 429 BC, only two and a half years into the war that would last twenty-seven years. His military strategy had not worked, though very clearly thought out and believed by its architect. But one thing was sure, after his death, Athens would sorely lack that high-minded and able leadership that he represented so well.

This is the second book by Kagan I've read and he doesn't disappoint. He makes a strong case for Pericles and Athenian Democracy, though he can be critical, especially of Pericles's strategy for fighting and winning the war with Sparta. Then again, what if Pericles had lived longer? Makes for a great what if, but then again maybe it wouldn't have changed the ultimate outcome of the war. A fascinating period, but a tragic one.

Getting to know Pericles.......2005-05-11

Donald Kagan of Yale university is perhaps the foremost authority on Periclean Athens in the world today. As such, it is only natural that he should write a treatise on the life of the great man known as Pericles.

All of the major facets of Pericles' life are brought together in this edition, from his rise to prominence to his scandalous affair with Aspasia to his strategy of fighting the Peloponnesian war against Sparta and her allies. The latter topic, of course, will gather the most interest to modern readers.

While I have read Thucydides, I felt that Kagan did a wonderful job of elaborating on a lot of details of the Peloponnesian war that were a bit unclear in primary sources. The problem with historical primary sources is that they many times take as a given the reader knows all the background information behind specific events. Kagan makes no assumptions and walks the reader through the various political and social aspects that underlie sundry events of 5th century Greece.

One of the more surprising elements of this book is that Kagan is not reticent in his criticisms of many Periclean policies and war strategies. While moderation is typically seen as a positive thing (just ask Aristotle!), Kagan points out how Pericles could over-rely on human reason and be moderate to a fault. In short, this book is NOT an encomium on the Greek leader. Rather, it is an open an honest examination of his life & times. Kagan disinters both the best and the worst in Pericles' character and foresight.

This book is highly recommended to all persons who are interested in Greek history. For those who wish to become more acquainted with Athens in the turmoil of war, this book is a can't miss.

The Churchill of the Ancient World.......2004-07-21

When I was just a youngster I remembered reading about the "Golden Age of Pericles". What was this "golden age"? Who was Pericles? What impact did he have on the world today?

To begin with, the "golden age" marked the beginnings of the Athenian Empire. Athens became the Mecca for the world, attracting the greatest minds. It became an important trade center. With this, Athens became one of the greatest cities in the mid-Fifth Century BC world. At the center was Pericles.

Pericles rose to prominence under less than favorable circumstances. He came from an old family that was involved in a sacrilege to the gods about one hundred years earlier. His family was cursed and expelled from Athens. When Pericles came of age he neglected politics, as the Athenian aristocracy was firmly entrenched. When his opportunity finally came Pericles was able to win over the citizens to his way of thinking by the power of his oratory.

Pericles didn?t invent democracy but under his leadership democracy flourished. He firmly believed that when the opportunity for power belonged to all the citizens, instead of only a few, that the best people would rise to leadership roles. This was democracy?s strength. The critics?and there were many?feared mob rule. For that reason it would be a long time before democracy rose to prominence in the world again. Even our own founding fathers feared mob rule, but representative democracy would prevent that while preserving democracy?s strength.

The legacy of Pericles was that he was a true statesman. He understood the ramifications of the peace with Sparta and what would happen to Athens if she caved into the demands of Sparta. The result was a great Peloponnesian war that would eventually cost Athens her empire. It was faulty strategy, wrong assumptions, and a lack of strong leadership after Pericles died that did Athens in. Donald Kagan mentions the connection with Winston Churchill, who found his country facing a great danger from Germany because its prime minister backed down. Like Pericles, he knew Great Britain would have to stand and fight. One can only wonder what the world would be like if Pericles? Athens had won as Churchill?s Britain had?

A worthy book.......2003-12-10

This is a good biography of a great man. Kagan not only distills a great deal of information into a very accessable book, he also manages to impart understanding and insight about Pericles and his Athens. This book is valuable to anyone interested in classical Greece. With particular emphasis - anyone contemplating an attack on "The Peloponnesian War" by Thucydides would do well to get "Pericles" as a companion. Even if you already have Thucydides under your belt, you will probably gain fresh insight into that famously difficult work through Kagan's lucid exposition.

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Good Fun Overview of Alexander and Modern Business
Light reading at best...
Gives you a good picture and some lessons
Like ancient history & business?
Good book if you like fiction

Alexander the Great's Art of Strategy
Partha Bose
Manufacturer: Gotham
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Wisdom of Alexander The Great: Enduring Leadership Lessons From The Man Who Created An Empire
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ASIN: 1592400531
Release Date: 2004-04-12

Book Description

A rousing biography that shows how to put the tactics and insights of history's greatest conqueror to work for you.

Throughout the ages, Alexander the Great has been celebrated for building an empire that spanned from Greece to India by the time he was thirty-three. Today he continues to inspire business, government, and military magnates—and leaders from Ted Turner to Norman Schwarzkopf have brought his techniques and vision to boardrooms and battlefields in achieving their success. In Alexander the Great's Art of Strategy, Partha Bose follows Alexander's life and military campaigns and shows how you can employ his leadership lessons to conquer today's challenges in commerce, politics, and life. Bose combines his preeminent knowledge of the business world with his passionate study of Alexander to bring to life case studies of winning corporations—such as Dell, General Electric, and Wal-Mart—that have followed the example of one of history's greatest leaders.

Part biography and part management guide, Alexander the Great's Art of Strategy is a compelling and insightful book that should be read by leaders everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

Good Fun Overview of Alexander and Modern Business.......2007-04-03

I agree with some reviewers that this book isn't a serious scholarly work and the connections between Alexander's strategies and military/political conquests and the strategies used in the modern corporate world tend to be disjointed here and there, but still, it's good reading and it forces the reader to think about the similarities or simply discard what the author sees as such. It takes imagination on the part of the reader to analyze what Alexander had achieved and apply it to our daily modern lives, but Alexander certainly does have many things to teach us in the areas of strategy and the application of tactics and execution.

Some of the examples that Bose bring up make sense and show some connection to what Alexander did while others make you roll your eyes somewhat and go, "Yeah, okay, if you say so." Nonetheless, the book is fun to read and much faster to go through than most Alexander biographies as Alexander's achievements and strategies implemented are applied to things that we can relate to more readily. We are not constantly bombarded with names and places that we can't remember or put our fingers on as so many Alexander biographies tend to do. I finished this book in little over a day and had good time reading it and I'm sure I'll refer back to it more for enjoyment than anything else.

There is certainly much to be learned through the study of Alexander's remarkable life and his near-mythical achievements in such a short period of time. This is a good primer in that area although I would certainly not recommend it to anyone as the definitive book about what Alexander was all about and this book doesn't purport to be as such. That's what makes it good fun reading. Alexander was certainly a strategist of the highest order although he seems to have been guided as much by keen natural instincts as by highly-developed intellect. Obviously, some of these things simply cannot be taught. Still, the conjectures are interesting and fun to ponder and I recommend this book to the Alexander buff who already has a good well-rounded collection and wants to add a "fun" book for easy reading.

Light reading at best..........2007-01-07

That's what it is.

Not to be taken too seriously for historical accuracy or as a serious Harvard Business School management session.

But nice book juggling two supposedly disparate topics.

Gives you a good picture and some lessons.......2006-04-19

The problem with this book is that it simplifies and doesnt crasp some of the true lessons we could learn from Alexander.
However, the book gives a excellent account about his life and battles. I think that you should buy this book if you are intrested in alexander from a learning standpoint. I learned a few things from this book! But if you want to learn alexanders leadership style, then try find another book.

Like ancient history & business?.......2006-02-21

Then this is for you. While working on the WEF competitive reports with Besife Tonwe, we got into a discussion about how despite all the technology advances human nature has changed little in 3000 years. I thought not. Besife's claim was that read Niall Ferguson's House of Rothschild and you pretty much have the narratives of the 1929 crash and the 2000 tech wreck - except they take place between 1798 and 1848. Bose's book was the test and confirms his theory. Rats.

Good book if you like fiction.......2005-02-25

The people rating this high must be paid to do so. It's just riddled with historical inaccuracy ... Fuller's book on this topic is SO much better that I'm still kicking myself for buying this.

Just because I made the mistake doesn't mean you have to.

Diplomacy and Displacement: Reconsidering the Turco-Greek Exchange of Populations, 1922-1934

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Diplomacy and Displacement: Reconsidering the Turco-Greek Exchange of Populations, 1922-1934
Onur Yildirim
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 041597982X

Book Description

This study presents a comprehensive, balanced, and factually grounded narrative of the Turco-Greek Exchange of Populations as a historic event that has been the subject of much distortion in the historiographical traditions of nationalist lore in Greece and Turkey, as well as in scholarly publications of various sorts elsewhere over the span of the past eighty years. Diplomacy and Displacement intend to contribute to the general literature on the Exchange by incorporating into the broader picture the Turkish dimension of the event, particularly the Turkish side of the decision-making process, and the episode of the Muslim refugees that have been left outside the scope of the research agenda, thereby, breaking up the established notion of the Exchange skewed towards the Greek side. It thus sheds doubt on the success paradigm attributed to this event. By adopting a people-centered approach to the Lausanne Treaty and its consequences, the book offers a critique of official versions of the story and encourages people to consider policy decisions together with their huge and often devastating implications for the lives of ordinary people.

The Journey of Theophanes: Travel, Business, and Daily Life in the Roman East

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The Journey of Theophanes: Travel, Business, and Daily Life in the Roman East
John Matthews
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0300108982

Book Description

In the early fourth century, a lawyer and public figure from the Nile valley city of Hermopolis made a six-month business related journey to Antioch. The day to day details are preserved on papyrus documents and offer a remarkable record of this journey, covering everything from distances traveled to daily food purchases, from medicinal supplies to fees paid for services.

In this book, the classicist and historian John Matthews translates these important documents and places them in the wider context of the social history of the Graeco-Roman world. The memoranda relating to Theophanes’ journey are presented within a historical narrative that offers an array of revelations on diet, travel, social relations, and other fascinating topics. This book creates an unprecedented account of daily life in the years preceding Emperor Constantine’s rise to power in the eastern provinces of the Roman empire.

The Wisdom of Alexander The Great: Enduring Leadership Lessons From The Man Who Created An Empire

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Leadership Wisdom
The Commericalization of Alexander for American Business
Great Lessons from the Great One
Contrived.
A Good Read !

The Wisdom of Alexander The Great: Enduring Leadership Lessons From The Man Who Created An Empire
Lance B. Kurke
Manufacturer: AMACOM/American Management Association
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Alexander the Great

ASIN: 0814408206

Book Description

Exceptional leaders are the ones who are able to analyze problems, optimize resources, inspire loyalty, and execute strategy. There is no more stunning example in history than Alexander the Great, whose leadership skills were so immense that they still resonate some 2,000 years later. The Wisdom of Alexander the Great reveals four leadership processes distilled from the life and extraordinary accomplishments of Alexander, King of Macedonia. Readers will learn how he:* reframed problems in order to meet seemingly insurmountable challenges* built alliances by using his strength to generate trust and respect, not just fear* established identity and "branded" himself a unifier, thus keeping the home base secure while continuing to expand his empire* recognized and assimilated the cultures and symbols of different peoples, becoming a powerful and trusted figure everywhere he wentThe Wisdom of Alexander the Great relates 34 riveting episodes from Alexander's expansion through India and the Persian Empire, includingincluding Asia Minor, Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Middle East, and more. Each example, tied to a modern-day counterpart, imparts valuable lessons from the timeless legend of one of the greatest leaders in history.

Customer Reviews:

Leadership Wisdom.......2006-10-15

This book teaches readers about four strategic topics to practice to enable them to be great business leaders. The author is of the view that by studying Alexander the Great, one can derive important lessons which they can use in today's fiercely competitive operating environment.

It is easy to dismiss the author's premise in that the environment during Alexander's time is very different from the present one. However, if one employs the lessons with care, bearing in mind the historical context, I think the author did a commendable job of coming up with an interesting and insightful book. Those that are open minded will find the book a useful addition to the collection of other management books by the likes of John Adair and Peter Drucker.

I have always been fascinated by Alexander since I first learnt about him at secondary school. This is a man that by age 33 had conquered most of the then known world. It is a wonder how he managed the logistics of moving a huge army, feed it, provide water and other combat supplies, cater for the injured and effectively maintain a string of cities that he had captured. It was, therefore, little wonder that I welcomed Lance Kurke's addition to the voluminous literature on Alexander the Great by enabling me to see how I can use some of the lessons learnt from his brilliant campaigns.

I particularly enjoyed reading about Alexander the Great's approach towards challengers and people and how I can use this knowledge in refining my leadership and management expertise. This is an insightful book that is highly recommended.

The Commericalization of Alexander for American Business.......2006-04-16

American business books are money-makers so this is an inevitable publication. The one thing I must ask is: if everyone created an empire we would run out of consumers. So, the reason there is only one or two Alexanders in a century, is that the economy couldn't handle too many moguls running around. Needless to say, there is NO one template for success except maybe for certain personality traits but even then Alexander was a prince, a warrior, and went into battle in such a way that today he would be tried for war crimes in The Hague by the International World Court. Leaders create results but often the methods themselves are good or bad. Besides, so much debate surrounds Alexander himself that to minimize who he was in a short-form of 10 chapters or so dilutes his historical impact.

Great Lessons from the Great One.......2005-10-23

As soon as the book was delivered at my house, I swallowed it in a few hours and I must say that it was extremely tasty and satisfying.

Kurke successfully manages to create the four strategic topics to practise for great leadership - Reframing Problems, Building Alliances, Establishing Identity and Directing Symbols. Towards the end of the book I realised that I was about to start complaining about the lack of information with regards to Alexander's general background, but I felt relieved with the final 6 pages.

I am sure that I will read this book many other times, and I will recommend it highly to anyone with an interest in history or in individual success.

On a critical point, I was disappointed by the Crossing the Gedrosian Dessert chapter. It is true that there is no clear evidence of what were Alexander's reasons for enduring this tough journey but Kurke takes it for granted that Alexander was misinformed by the local guides. Probably Kurke chose this version to create the need for his reasoning. Though many other history books and biographies of Alexander support the fact that Alexander did it on purpose to punish his men after their mutiny.

Maybe this is an aspect of Alexander's character that should be studied in depth.

Zen

Contrived........2005-09-19

I could recommend this book only to a 9th or 10th grader who needed to complete a biographical sketch of Alexander. As for the book's premise, namely that one can study Alexander and derive lessons applicable to today's business world, this is as contrived an idea as I've seen in recent years. For example, we learn that Alexander routed his opponent, Darius, at Gaugamela. The defeat was complete. Therefore, claims the author, we can draw from this incident the conclusion that sometimes "deconstruction is the only way to begin a merger." Having lived through numerous mergers and acquisitions, I can only be grateful that personnel decisions were made based on economics and productivity, and not on some irrelevant analogy to war.

A Good Read ! .......2005-02-26

This short summary extracts some of the most interesting incidents from the life of Alexander the Great and makes them accessible. It offers some great anecdotes - though the narratives about captives being raped or killed, and archers shooting out the eyes of elephants may put off some readers. Author Lance B. Kurke does a great service to anyone who likes a good yarn, but who doesn't like wading through dense books. By casting the career of the mighty Macedonian as a compendium of management lessons, Kurke even makes it possible for people to justify reading sagas about a classical hero at the office. At times, the author must reach in order to draw an appropriate management lesson out of Alexander crossing a river or killing his best friend. In fact, a few of the management lessons are rather obvious, while others seem shallow or downright puzzling. But that is a minor protest. On the whole, the author succeeds in his purpose. While this book won't displace Peter Drucker on the manager's bookshelf, we recommend it for reading on the treadmill or exercise bike, or as a pleasant diversion during a short plane ride or a solitary lunch.

Opera: Volume IV: Clitopho, Respublica, Timaeus, Critias

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Definitive Classical Text

Opera: Volume IV: Clitopho, Respublica, Timaeus, Critias
Plato
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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Clouds

ASIN: 0198145446

Book Description

BL The latest in textual scholarship--no other edition of Plato is as up to date BL The first in the 5-volume complete edition of Plato's works in the Oxford Classical Texts series This volume contains the first eight of Plato's works in the traditional order which appears in most of the manuscripts. The first four, Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, ahd Phaedo are grouped by their dramatic settings concerned with the death of Socrates. The Apology and Crito display Socrates' philosophical mission. The Euthyphro discusses piety; the Phaedo proves the immortality of the soul by appeal to Plato's Theory of Forms. The second group of dialogues represent Plato's later work and are grouped according to his own indications; The Cratylus discusses language, the Thaetetus knowledge, the Sophist being and negation, and the Politicus statesmanship. New to this edition: This new edition offers much additional information on the preservation of Plato's text. All primary manuscripts have been checked and in most cases freshly collated. Papyrus fragments recently made available that were unknown to previous editors have been in several cases re-examined and their evidence reported, whilst no less important has been the search for previously unreported quotations of Plato in later Greek writers, facilitated by new editions of Neoplatonic writers. All textual problems have been thought through afresh. The result of many years' painstaking scholarship, this new volume will replace the now nearly 100-year-old edition, and is destined to become just as long-lasting a classic.

Customer Reviews:

Definitive Classical Text.......2003-12-05

These Oxford editions are the definitive Greek texts for Plato's entire body of work. They are the culmination of a vast tradition of scholarly erudition. They include not only a fine edition of the texts, but also an extensive critical apparatus in the footnotes in which alternate readings adopted by other editors are listed. In effect, in this edition, you get the whole history of all other editions of Plato.

Book Description

Accession negotiations are underway and Turkey is preparing to become a full member of the EU. Turkey and the EU makes a scholarly contribution in the debate over Turkey's participation in the European integration process and the EU's future enlargement. It explores the recent history of ups and downs in EU-Turkish relations and looks at the prospects and challenges that Turkey's membership presents to both the EU and Turkey. The central question is how the internal economic and sociopolitical dynamics, and external orientations of Turkey, will meet the challenges of EU membership. Turkey's regional role and relations with the US are also examined.

Wisdom from the Ancients: Enduring Business Lessons from Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and the Illustrious Leaders of Ancient Greece and Rome

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Ancient Economics 101
The More Things Change . . . .!

Wisdom from the Ancients: Enduring Business Lessons from Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and the Illustrious Leaders of Ancient Greece and Rome
Thomas J. Figueira , T. Corey Brennan , and Rachel Hall Sternberg
Manufacturer: Basic Books
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Alexander the Great: The Brief Life and Towering Exploits of History's Greatest Conqueror--As Told By His Original Biographers

ASIN: 0738203734
Release Date: 2001-10-02

Amazon.com

There's a reason venerable figures like Aristotle, Alexander the Great, Plato, and Julius Caesar remain familiar thousands of years after their heyday: many of their ideas and actions have, quite simply, proven to be timeless examples of managerial prowess. Wisdom from the Ancients, by classics professors Thomas J. Figueira, T. Corey Brennan, and Rachel Hall Sternberg, explores the writings and activities of these and others not as well-known from the days of the Greek and Roman empires to ferret out principles and concepts that are still relevant in today's business world. The nature of leadership, team building, consultation, decision making, compensation, and similar topics are examined through quotes, anecdotes, and even period artwork as the authors attempt to put everything into a context that readers without their academic backgrounds can understand and use. A section on networking, for instance--yes, even these individuals recognized its value--includes references to the likes of Pindar of Thebes (recalling the contributions of a mentor), historian Herodotus (who used the Olympics to widely disseminate his writing), and elegiac poet Theognis (extolling the virtues of eating and drinking with "noble gentlemen" from whom one can learn). Interesting and useful. --Howard Rothman

Book Description

Timeless business wisdom from the brilliant strategists of ancient Greece and Rome.

Ancient Greece, the culture that brought us democracy, philosophy, comedy and tragedy, and the Olympic Games, and ancient Rome, best known for its military prowess, technological achievements, and imperial administration, are justly renowned for their contributions to Western civilization. Wisdom from the Ancients brings alive for today's managers the timeless insights of such larger-than-life figures as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Trajan, Pericles, and dozens of other colorful and enigmatic leaders. Through direct quotations of ancient texts, engaging commentary, and period art, the authors illuminate the strategies and tactics that have withstood the test of time-from leadership and delegation to managing conflict to effective and persuasive communication.

Customer Reviews:

Ancient Economics 101.......2002-04-08

After taking yet another one of Prof. Figueira's courses on the ancient world, I was pleased to read something that was less overpowering to my mind. I think that Profs. Figueira and Brennan were able to capyture the similarities between our modern world and that of the ancient. They were able to apply concepts that we readily know now, to a world that we won't understand immediately. In particular the emphasis on ancient coinage was employed well.

The More Things Change . . . .!.......2001-12-28

Caution: Some of the translations here are pretty raw in describing sexual matters. If such things offend you, this book may not be the ideal way for you to learn about better business practices.

The ancient Greeks and Romans were very concerned with political, military, and financial effectiveness. Since human nature changes slowly, if at all, we should not be surprised to learn that many ancient leaders and authors had quite a lot to say that is of relevance today. The book's subjects relate to many of the tricky areas of human interaction and psychology. There are sections on leadership, building and losing constituencies, consulting and decision making, strategy, competition, collegiality and teamwork, risk taking, recognizing opportunity, communications, management-employee relations, motivation, hiring and firing, delegation, and handling success and coping with mistakes.

I found the ancient materials very interesting, learning about classical figures I had not heard of before. I would have enjoyed the book even if it had not been presented as a business management book. Since the work is done by classicists, the ancient references are numerous, well chosen and spicy.

As a management guide, the book is not nearly as big a success. However, I did not find it any less good than any of the books I read which regurgitate what other writers have had to say before.

There were no big "ah-ha's" for me. Maybe I've been reading too many management books.

On the other hand, I didn't read anything here that was a bad idea for a business person to think about.

There's some very fine humor in several sections. For example, the "consultants" are usually seers, interpreters of oracles, and advisors. The explanations given for bad advice by the "consultants" are often pretty funny.

Many people report knowing better when they make a mistake in these areas . . . but taking the wrong path anyway. Now I wonder what the ancients would have had to say about that?

Think carefully, especially when you feel caught up in an emotional reaction!

Book Description

Xenophon's only true Socratic discourse, the Oeconomicus, is a dialogue between Socrates and a gentleman-farmer on the art of household management and the art of farming as practiced on a gentleman's estate. It is generally acknowledged to be the oldest surviving work devoted to "economics," and it constitutes the classic statement of "economic" thought in ancient Greece. The dialogue examines the roles of husband and wife in the household and the division of labor between them, and considers the duties of the farm steward and the housekeeper. It discusses the goals of efficient management and the means for attaining these goals.

Customer Reviews:

The Strangeness of Ancient Household Management.......2003-07-12

Allan Bloom, Strauss's most famous and perhaps most brilliant student, once stated that we do not understand Plato because we do not understand Xenophon, who to us seems a fool but to older thinkers seemed wise. Xenophon is far simpler than Plato, and in my experience his books are good introductions to the world of Socratic philosophy. However Xenophon's works are often on topics one might consider prosaic from the standpoint of high philosophy. Besides his more famous works on the Persian emperor Cyrus, Xenophon wrote treatises on hunting, horsemanship, and running a family household.

Interestingly, this last book, the Oeconomicus, is a Socratic work; in it Xenophon presents Socrates speaking with a country gentleman, Kritobulus, about running a family and a large farm. Financial arrangements, relations with the city, the benefits and difficulties of rural plantation life, finding good overseers, and the role of the wife and children in maintaining one's household are all discussed here. On a surface level, then, the book seems to be less about economics and more about economizing or family budgeting. Because Socrates is presented in Plato's works as not much of a family man or as a lover of the country living (Socrates hardly ever goes outside the city of Athens except under compulsion), his interest in Kritobulus' life is unexpected and peculiar to say the least.

I came to this book because the family seems a great rival to the city as a way of living for people, but Plato's Socrates hardly investigates it. The family is dissolved in Plato's Republic, and no dialogue of Plato's deals directly with the family or the country household. To him, it seems, city life is where the action is. By contrast, the Hebrew Bible seems almost entirely concerned with the fortunes of families, or rather the premier family, the children of Israel and their heavenly Father Jehovah. I had gotten a taste of the Bible's rejection/ignorance of philosophy and cities, so I wanted to know what the quintessential representative of philosopy--Socrates--thought about the family. Plato helped me little, so I turned to Xenophon's Oeconomicus. I won't tell you what I found out, but it was amazing how much insight I gained into the Bible from reading Xenophon's little book on household management.

Athenian Economy and Society
Average customer rating:

Powerful study of a neglected topic

Athenian Economy and Society
Edward Cohen
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Ancient Economy (Sather Classical Lectures , No 43)

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ASIN: 0691015929

Book Description

In this ground-breaking analysis of the world's first private banks, Edward Cohen convincingly demonstrates the existence and functioning of a market economy in ancient Athens while revising our understanding of the society itself. Challenging the "primitivistic" view, in which bankers are merely pawnbrokers and money-changers, Cohen reveals that fourth-century Athenian bankers pursued sophisticated transactions. These dealings--although technologically far removed from modern procedures--were in financial essence identical with the lending and deposit-taking that separate true "banks" from other businesses. He further explores how the Athenian banks facilitated tax and creditor avoidance among the wealthy, and how women and slaves played important roles in these family businesses--thereby gaining legal rights entirely unexpected in a society supposedly dominated by an elite of male citizens.

Special emphasis is placed on the reflection of Athenian cognitive patterns in financial practices. Cohen shows how transactions were affected by the complementary opposites embedded in the very structure of Athenian language and thought. In turn, his analysis offers great insight into daily Athenian reality and cultural organization.

Customer Reviews:

Powerful study of a neglected topic.......1998-07-24

This book examines the extremely scarce references to banking in the Athenian world. The author argues that a form of deposit banking did exist and was deeply involved in both real estate (landed loans) and commerce (maritime loans). He puts this in the context of the social practices and customs of Athens (4th c. BC, after the Peloponnesian war). Marriage, slavery, and property ownership are among the issues looked at in close detail. The author succeeds in establishing the existence of a banking industry in Athens. It is clear that this extremely sophisticated society (in all respects) *also* had sophisticated credit mechanisms. It is difficult to say to what extent the existence of a developed credit industry must alter our concept of the Athenian economy to make it "more capitalist." But here we have at least a compelling basis for arguing that the existence of highly developed commerce must entail as well the existence of credit mechanisms. The! discussion of the Athenian banking practice of using slaves as key bank officers, and then taking the foremost slave and marrying him to the widow of the bank owner upon his death, is a fascinating look at the complexity of the oikos and legal context of immigrants and slaves in the Athenian economy.

This is a first rate piece of scholarship. Even if your interest in ancient Athens is primarily literary/philosophical, you should be familiar with this book. In addition to specialized legal documents and abundant reference to scholarly work on the Athenian economic system, the author makes use of well-known sources such as Plato and Aristotle. It is a tour de force. The author (Cohen) has a Ph.D. from Princeton in classics and also is a principal in a pennsylvania bank.

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