Love, Sex & Tragedy : How the Ancient World Shapes Our Lives

Rating:
Summary: Clark Gable, Gladiator, and Cicero
Review: Simon Goldhill has written a splendid and charming book about how ancient Greek and Roman cultures shape our lives, without us even knowing it. Much has been made in recent years of how politicians turn to ancient authorities for guidance and justification in making difficult decisions. Members of the Bush administration, for example, invoked Thucydides and Herodotus during the build up to our attack on Iraq. And, yet, as Goldhill so smartly explains, we need not view the ancients as distant mentors: they live and breathe within us, for better or worse--influencing everything from how we view sex and gender to what entertains us to how our government works. From sex symbols to sporting events, we are impacted by the cultures of our deep past. Amassing a dazzling array of examples, Goldhill is a wonderful synthesizer and storyteller. Highly entertaining, this book is recommended for any general reader, including young adults, interested in ancient history.