brett

Wild Assertions but Still a Fun Listen

Revisado: 09-21-16

Where does The Greek Way rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I like to read Edith Hamilton. However, if your annoyed by the "compare and contrast" method of scholarship (I think its very outdated myself) you wont like this. Mrs Hamilton has a strong need to compare cultures and thus extract the truth shes looking for from the contrasts. The problem is that the generalizations she must inevitably make for this type of approach can be wide sweeping and fairly wild, and thus the conclusions she reaches based on these generalizations become merely subjective. Often you may find yourself disagreeing with her.
One area in particular I disagree with is Hamilton's conclusions regarding Ancient Egypt. Explaining the Egyptians preoccupation with death (as she puts it), she attributes this to the fact that Egypt was mostly a place of misery and toil, thus producing in the culure a certain yearning for the next life and a certain salvation in death. Whereas, on the other hand, you have Hamilton's Greeks, portrayed here as a youthful, playful and life affirming culture, centered on the here and now.
This is wildly inaccurate. The Greeks themselves -Solon, Euclid, Pythagoras, Plato, Herodotus-who traveled there at different times, and acknowledged Egypt as the richer, deeper and more profound culture in every case. The Greeks who made their way to Egypt returned to "revolutionize" their respective fields of science. However, they were merely translating the knowledge of the Egyptians. The Greeks saw themselves more as children when they compared themselves to the Egyptians. All of her sciences had their origins in Egypt, the Greek Gods themselves had their origin in Egypt. Egypt was several thousand years old by the time the Greeks came into their ascendancy. Far from misery and toil, the Egyptian land was abundant, the society was rich and vibrant. Why do you thing Egypt was the breadbasket for the entire Mediterranean even into Roman times? She was the hub of Mediterranean trade. The view of slaves toiling to build the pyramids is so outdated to be comical now days. Egyptian concepts around death were not the attempts of a desperate people to escape the chains of misery, but a highly developed science of the soul which revealed a deep understanding of the nature and immortality of the soul and the possibility for perfection in this life and the next.
Anyway, sorry for the rant, but that's one example that I can provide to show the dangers of this type of compare and contrast history. Still, its a fun listen. Nadia May is great, the book is immersive, and there is still a lot of great info in here.

What about Nadia May’s performance did you like?

Shes great always

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

One reaction, see above

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esto le resultó útil a 7 personas

Excellent introduction

Revisado: 12-02-15

This is an excellent introduction and survey into the various writers of the philolalia. It moves quickly without sacrificing detail or loosing clarity. The writers important contributions are highlighted. The production is high quality and the narration very well done

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esto le resultó útil a 6 personas

Worth it if you stick it out

Revisado: 05-16-15

Meticulously researched, even colorful narrative. The book does get weighed down at places and can be a difficult listen. I had to replay parts. But still a great book

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Dont pass it up

Revisado: 01-21-11

after reading some of the reviews, I almost passed on this audio book-im glad I didn't! While some valid points were made in these reviews, after actually listening to AD 381, I don't think the narration is a deal breaker. Blumenfeld does tend to read a little fast, but he's a good, and professional narrator over all. So, if your on the fence with this one because you like the material but are afraid of the narration, I would say get it. I find no problems as far as immersion is concerned and the material is very very good

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esto le resultó útil a 13 personas

a masterpiece

Revisado: 06-20-09

this has become my top favorite audio book.. Highly recommended. The narration is superb and the writing is enthralling. don't miss this one-totally worth 2 credits.

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esto le resultó útil a 10 personas

Very Good

Revisado: 03-06-08

This depiction of life at sea and at war on an American submarine in the pacific during 1944 is superb. It's gripping of course, but its also very personal and human at the same time. This is the story of men and machines and there is respect felt for both sides of the struggle for control of the pacific islands. The narrator is very good, I had no problem at all with his reading, in fact I think hes a very good choice for this title and felt he became Jim Calvert in his reading.
There are a few glitches in the recording, bad edits and some levels problems, which from a producer's point of view is simply unacceptable. However, it did not detract me from becoming immersed (no pun there) in this excellent story.

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Solid

Revisado: 02-10-08

This is a solid well done production. The narration was very good. The central theme of this epic poem is "things that change" and this is the thread which interconnects all of the various tales. Its full of very colorful stories and loaded with fanciful creatures and all the gods are there. Loads of beautiful Nymphs hanging about in the glades and shores of quiet pools...

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esto le resultó útil a 16 personas

solid, well done

Revisado: 01-05-08

Gibbon's Decline and Fall unabridged! What more can anyone ask for? And with a great narrator to boot! Get this, quit your job and listen full time!

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esto le resultó útil a 25 personas

Superb

Revisado: 11-23-07

I highly recommend this audio book. The book itself, by Robert Graves is a classic. Its an in depth , richly painted portrait of the Julio-Claudian dynasty as seen through the eyes of its most unlikely members. However, the performance of Nelson Runger as narrator makes this a particularly good listen. He did a great job of becoming Claudius. When a narrator can disappear into the part, and really become the part, thats pure joy!

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esto le resultó útil a 32 personas

Really Good

Revisado: 08-29-07

This is one of my favorite audiobooks. I highly recommend it. It is a very personable and colorful look at ordinary life in Medieval Europe. The narrator, Roe Kendell is perfect here. Im hoping to find another audiobook like this soon

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas