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tombennett72's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a recommendation from my wife - and an extremely good recommendation it's turned out to be. It's hard for a recreational reader like me to define a book like this. But a book like this is clearly FOR the recreational reader. As you'd expect from Mary Beard, this is a lively, interesting and fun read, that covers a fantastic amount of ground.
I've learned any number of new things, had a couple of established ideas rattled, and changed perspective on several 'facts' from the classics.
Read it!
I've learned any number of new things, had a couple of established ideas rattled, and changed perspective on several 'facts' from the classics.
Read it!
katielucys's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointing, wasn't as good as the blurb made it sound and got a bit bored/skipped parts after a lot of them started well and just didn't keep the momentum up (like the chapters about Alexander the Great and Boudica)
sarahcoller's review
informative
slow-paced
2.0
I didn't enjoy this book but I think that was partially because it wasn't what I was expecting.
I joined Historathon this year where we read at least one nonfiction book each quarter from an era of history. This quarter we read from prehistory-500 AD. I thought I'd take a look at some stuff about the Greeks and Romans and see if I could get a better handle on a period of Biblical history that I'm less familiar with. This book's blurb promised it would be, <i>"The perfect introduction to classical studies,"</i> yet every single chapter required one to be knowledgeable about many facets of Greek and Roman history and assumed that very little backstory was needed.
Furthermore, the book is really just a compilation of reprints of this writer's critical reviews in professional journals and the like. She thinks pretty highly of herself and doesn't miss the chance to call out the mere mortals who have come to different conclusions in their studies than she has. I've definitely met my match when it comes to snotty book reviews. Her regular digs at others and defenses of herself seem childish and not really appropriate for the general public who isn’t aware of all the inside drama of her “professional” world. Perhaps this should have been titled, <i>Confronting My Colleagues</i> instead.
Not only does she spend a lot of time talking down the research and studies of others, but she doesn’t give proofs for her own point of view. Are we just to take your word for it? We who are trusting in this "perfect introduction into classical studies"? Why should I believe that Cleopatra wasn’t Egyptian just because you say so, when the majority of historical tradition tells us she was? I'm very interested in changing my mind, so tell me how you got this insider info.
While the delivery annoyed me and the complexity of the information went largely over my head, I did come away with a few "beginner" sort of thoughts.
A common theme woven throughout was that much of the claimed "restoration" to ancient art and architecture is actually reproductions based on imagination. Ironically, the author begs for proof that these 16th-19th century artists and archaeologists show us that their restorations are true to the originals they often destroyed in the process. Victorian “archaeology” sounds horrific! Overall, I guess I didn’t realize that so much of what we’re taught is Greek, Roman, etc art and history is actually things heavily reinvented by 16th-19th century artists and archaeologists.
I also didn’t like the intros she gave to each chapter as they contained too many spoilers and punchlines and made the chapters even less worth reading. The stars I give to this book are not so much based on my liking of it as much as they are given to myself for slogging through it.
I joined Historathon this year where we read at least one nonfiction book each quarter from an era of history. This quarter we read from prehistory-500 AD. I thought I'd take a look at some stuff about the Greeks and Romans and see if I could get a better handle on a period of Biblical history that I'm less familiar with. This book's blurb promised it would be, <i>"The perfect introduction to classical studies,"</i> yet every single chapter required one to be knowledgeable about many facets of Greek and Roman history and assumed that very little backstory was needed.
Furthermore, the book is really just a compilation of reprints of this writer's critical reviews in professional journals and the like. She thinks pretty highly of herself and doesn't miss the chance to call out the mere mortals who have come to different conclusions in their studies than she has. I've definitely met my match when it comes to snotty book reviews. Her regular digs at others and defenses of herself seem childish and not really appropriate for the general public who isn’t aware of all the inside drama of her “professional” world. Perhaps this should have been titled, <i>Confronting My Colleagues</i> instead.
Not only does she spend a lot of time talking down the research and studies of others, but she doesn’t give proofs for her own point of view. Are we just to take your word for it? We who are trusting in this "perfect introduction into classical studies"? Why should I believe that Cleopatra wasn’t Egyptian just because you say so, when the majority of historical tradition tells us she was? I'm very interested in changing my mind, so tell me how you got this insider info.
While the delivery annoyed me and the complexity of the information went largely over my head, I did come away with a few "beginner" sort of thoughts.
A common theme woven throughout was that much of the claimed "restoration" to ancient art and architecture is actually reproductions based on imagination. Ironically, the author begs for proof that these 16th-19th century artists and archaeologists show us that their restorations are true to the originals they often destroyed in the process. Victorian “archaeology” sounds horrific! Overall, I guess I didn’t realize that so much of what we’re taught is Greek, Roman, etc art and history is actually things heavily reinvented by 16th-19th century artists and archaeologists.
I also didn’t like the intros she gave to each chapter as they contained too many spoilers and punchlines and made the chapters even less worth reading. The stars I give to this book are not so much based on my liking of it as much as they are given to myself for slogging through it.
hiveretcafe's review against another edition
4.0
Informative and an interesting read. I enjoy the voice that Mary Beard writes with and while this is a compilation of her literary reviews, there were some really interesting arguments and topics that she gave.
katielucys's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointing, wasn't as good as the blurb made it sound and got a bit bored/skipped parts after a lot of them started well and just didn't keep the momentum up (like the chapters about Alexander the Great and Boudica)
lirael83's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting read, by the indomitable classicist Mary Beard. A plethora of reviews on a variety of classical subjects, from Knossos to Asterix the Gaul.
A very pleasing and satisfying birthday gift i received.
A very pleasing and satisfying birthday gift i received.
abbiesreading's review against another edition
2.0
I wish I could rate this book more highly but it’s effectively a collection of book reviews in which Mary Beard comes across super condescending to other academics. Some of the essays are really interesting but overall I found the book quite draining and sometimes infuriating to read.
drbjjcarpenter's review against another edition
4.0
This was such an enjoyable read! For those interested in classics or those who have yet to really engage with the classical world, Confronting the Classics is an extremely good introduction. It wonderfully blends together examination of classical figures with those who have written on and studied them, serving as more than a historical introduction, but as a doorway into the scholarship surrounding the ancient past.
Warm, witty and filled with excellent tidbits of information (and more than a few intriguing arguments), Mary Beard has produced an extremely funny, engaging work which covers everything from the Minoans to Asterix. Simply excellent stuff!
Warm, witty and filled with excellent tidbits of information (and more than a few intriguing arguments), Mary Beard has produced an extremely funny, engaging work which covers everything from the Minoans to Asterix. Simply excellent stuff!
beccadillonx's review against another edition
4.0
This was a brilliant book to read if you want to dip your toe into the wider classical world. Beard reviews many authors argumentd and theories on a variety of subjects but doesnt make her essays so long that you lose interest. Its a very well written book (not surprisingly!) and its given me a few topics of interest i want to read into further!!! Really recommend this one.