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lookingforvheissu's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
jeremy's review
3.0
An elaborate theoretical edifice is established at the outset of the book and complicated hypotheses described. "It this information-centered hypothesis is right, the key to effective decentralized human cooperation in the context of a state is enabling a wide variety of valuable (at a minimum: accurate and pertinent) information to be exchanged with great frequency by the residents of the state." Then the book shifts to a more traditional history of classical Greece that doesn't offer any serious evidence to support or disprove the hypothesis.
luisvilla's review
5.0
Deftly incorporates data and game theory to discuss why classical Greece rose, fell, and (ultimately) attained cultural immortality. Calling it a book of lessons (for modern democracy, or open source) is probably too strong, but much in there will be thought provoking.
Stylistically, much more readable/accessible than [b:Democracy and Knowledge: Innovation and Learning in Classical Athens|5261306|Democracy and Knowledge Innovation and Learning in Classical Athens|Josiah Ober|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1267371791s/5261306.jpg|5328615], but both are interesting.
Stylistically, much more readable/accessible than [b:Democracy and Knowledge: Innovation and Learning in Classical Athens|5261306|Democracy and Knowledge Innovation and Learning in Classical Athens|Josiah Ober|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1267371791s/5261306.jpg|5328615], but both are interesting.
cat3's review
challenging
informative
slow-paced
2.5
Dense academic argument. The words “counterfactual” and “ efflorescence” overused. Sentences at times too long. Educational and well argued
davidlz1's review against another edition
3.0
An informative read. However, the first four chapters were quite painful to trudge through as this book had the trappings of a thesis. The content was quite thorough and the maps were very detailed. Those who enjoy history and social science will like this work.
sophronisba's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.5
A bit heavy on charts and graphs for my taste, and the writing is dry. The central thesis -- that the rise of democracy contributed to the cultural flowering of ancient Greece -- is well argued and persuasive, but this isn't an easy or accessible read, and I had to push through it. My personal preference leans toward intellectual and cultural history rather than economic history and that made this a difficult book to get through.
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