Review:This book is an interesting read covering a large amount of historical societies. Unfortunately, the two societies covered the most extensively were to me the least interesting. Still worth reading in hopes of learning from past mistakes. Read more

Review:This book is spectacular, but advertised as containing audio version as well. The end of the book has a chapter called "Link to free audio recording of Seneca's Letters." The chapter just says "The Letters of Seneca," with no link. The text is not live either, so it's not like you touch it and it goes to the link in question. Read more

Review:After reading I Claudius, my interest wanted to learn more of early Roman history after the Claudian reign.
This book provided what I was looking for and I enjoyed it immensley.
Would recommend it to any person interested in early Rome as regards to the Ceasars. Read more

Review:Thomas Cahill's "Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter" is another in his series of books entitled "The Hinges of History" in which he focuses on an historical civilization and tries to show their impact and relevance on the modern Western world, all written for a general audience. This is a very shallow and unenlightening survey of Greek culture, tinged with some annoyances of Cahill's writing.

Cahill's doesn't try to deliver a general history of Ancient Greece. His discussi... Read more

Review:Thomas Cahill's "Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter" is another in his series of books entitled "The Hinges of History" in which he focuses on an historical civilization and tries to show their impact and relevance on the modern Western world, all written for a general audience. This is a very shallow and unenlightening survey of Greek culture, tinged with some annoyances of Cahill's writing.

Cahill's doesn't try to deliver a general history of Ancient Greece. His discussi... Read more

Review:The fetid,yet maddeningly lush & thus, compelling environment that yielded such treasures to the intensity of these two men's driving curiosity immediately captures the reader. This reviewer withholds the fifth star of admiration only due to an absence of deeper detail regarding Stephens&Catherwood. Perhaps, such detail was lost to the "official"record? However, the desire for character detail is proof-positive that JUNGLE of STONE fills a gap in our historical narrative; indeed, the eno... Read more

Review:I was disappointed in SPQR. As someone said in our book club, the author seems more interested in histography than in writing a narrative history of the Roman Empire. Can't fault her expertise, but I found this book exceedingly repetitive and therefore pretty full Read more

Review:An informative, smart history of the world written around 100 objects from the British Museum. Great idea, and well executed. Easy to dip in and out of. I got smarter and enjoyed myself at the same time. Recommended. Read more

Review:Updated on April 20, 2011:

I'm thrilled to finally be able to buy a 2nd copy that can take the abuse of several readings. This small book delivers a ton of information without boredom. James (the author) reveals a lot of historical facts based on his research (which he cites the sources). For example, the actual birth dates and time lived of Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates is still unsettled and argued. Shortly after the conquest of Alexandria, Alexander the Great invited Aristotle to spe... Read more

Review:I loved some previous novels set in ancient egypt and was hoping this would be the same - not so. It was not well written and didn't build any excitement as you get towards the end. I barely finished this one. Read more