Discover new books on Goodreads
Meet your next favorite book
Sign in with Facebook
Guides, overviews and introductions to classical literature (Greek and Roman) - both serious and humorous - that teach us how to read the classics and why we should. Including those that bridge the gap between the classical and modern world.
NOT mere retellings of the myths. Also NOT the source materials, except in anthology/"reader" form.
NOT mere retellings of the myths. Also NOT the source materials, except in anthology/"reader" form.
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
| 1 |
|
Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths
by
Natalie Haynes (Goodreads Author)
4.22 avg rating — 25,804 ratings
score: 399,
and
4 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 2 |
|
Confronting the Classics: Traditions, Adventures and Innovations
by
3.70 avg rating — 2,381 ratings
score: 198,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 3 |
|
Roman Mythology: A Traveller's Guide from Troy to Tivoli
by
3.83 avg rating — 59 ratings
score: 197,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 4 |
|
Not All Dead White Men: Classics and Misogyny in the Digital Age
by
3.89 avg rating — 755 ratings
score: 195,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 5 |
|
Antigone Rising: The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths
by
3.96 avg rating — 1,850 ratings
score: 191,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 6 |
|
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
by
4.06 avg rating — 78,854 ratings
score: 188,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 7 |
|
The Greek Way
by
3.90 avg rating — 2,625 ratings
score: 179,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 8 |
|
Ariadne's Thread: A Guide to International Stories in Classical Literature
by
4.36 avg rating — 11 ratings
score: 164,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 9 |
|
Latin Love Lessons
by
3.43 avg rating — 49 ratings
score: 139,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 10 |
|
All the Violet Tiaras: Queering the Greek Myths
by
Jean Menzies (Goodreads Author)
3.87 avg rating — 510 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 11 |
|
Ancient Skies: Constellation Mythology of the Greeks
by
3.48 avg rating — 237 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 12 |
|
The Wisdom of the Myths: How Greek Mythology Can Change Your Life (Learning to Live, #2)
by
3.87 avg rating — 505 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 12 |
|
Greek Mythology For Beginners
by
3.46 avg rating — 59 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 14 |
|
Mythology and You : Classical Mythology and its Relevance in Today's World
by
3.72 avg rating — 115 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 14 |
|
The Mythology Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained
by
4.06 avg rating — 1,263 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 16 |
|
The Classics: All You Need to Know, from Zeus's Throne to the Fall of Rome
by
Caroline Taggart (Goodreads Author)
3.65 avg rating — 1,845 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 17 |
|
Classics: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.56 avg rating — 1,610 ratings
score: 95,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 17 |
|
The Penguin Book of Classical Myths
by
4.10 avg rating — 763 ratings
score: 95,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 19 |
|
Greek Mythology Explained: A Deeper Look at Classical Greek Lore and Myth
by
3.74 avg rating — 514 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 19 |
|
How to Insult, Abuse & Insinuate in Classical Latin
by
3.85 avg rating — 132 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 19 |
|
Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths
by
3.87 avg rating — 5,375 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 22 |
|
Greek Mythology, Gods & Goddesses Explained!: Fascinating Stories of Greek Gods, Goddesses & Heroes Revealing the Birth of Ancient Greek Mythology& Its Impact on the Modern World.
by
3.54 avg rating — 35 ratings
score: 93,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 22 |
|
Women and Other Monsters: Building a New Mythology
by
3.71 avg rating — 3,085 ratings
score: 93,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 24 |
|
30-Second Mythology: The 50 Most Important Greek and Roman Myths, Monsters, Heroes and Gods, Each Explained in Half a Minute
by
Robert A. Segal (Editor)
3.62 avg rating — 464 ratings
score: 92,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 24 |
|
Cassandra
by
3.87 avg rating — 6,739 ratings
score: 92,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 26 |
|
The Greek and Roman Myths: A Guide to the Classical Stories
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,362 ratings
score: 91,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 27 |
|
Olympus: An Indian Retelling of the Greek Myths
by
Devdutt Pattanaik (Goodreads Author)
3.52 avg rating — 957 ratings
score: 90,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 27 |
|
Thucydides: The Reinvention of History
by
3.88 avg rating — 428 ratings
score: 90,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 29 |
|
A Brief Guide to the Greek Myths
by
3.62 avg rating — 346 ratings
score: 89,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 30 |
|
The Complete World of Greek Mythology
by
4.23 avg rating — 2,133 ratings
score: 88,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 31 |
|
The Oldest Dead White European Males & Other Reflections on the Classics
by
3.69 avg rating — 147 ratings
score: 87,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 32 |
|
Greek Mythology: The Creation of the Gods - The Gods - The Heroes - The Trojan War - The Odyssey
by
3.77 avg rating — 193 ratings
score: 86,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 33 |
|
Greek Mythology: A Concise Guide
by
3.77 avg rating — 1,717 ratings
score: 85,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 34 |
|
The Library of Greek Mythology
by
3.91 avg rating — 2,442 ratings
score: 84,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 35 |
|
By Jove! Brush Up Your Mythology
by
3.83 avg rating — 118 ratings
score: 82,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 36 |
|
The Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology
by
4.30 avg rating — 585 ratings
score: 81,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 37 |
|
Classical Mythology: A Very Short Introduction
by
3.56 avg rating — 836 ratings
score: 80,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 38 |
|
Classical Mythology: Images and Insights
by
4.05 avg rating — 316 ratings
score: 79,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 39 |
|
Why Homer Matters
by
3.88 avg rating — 1,846 ratings
score: 78,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 40 |
|
The Roman Way
by
3.84 avg rating — 924 ratings
score: 77,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 41 |
|
The Cambridge Companion to Greek Tragedy
by
Patricia E. Easterling (Editor)
3.86 avg rating — 100 ratings
score: 76,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 42 |
|
The Cambridge Companion to Greek Comedy
by
Martin Revermann (Editor)
3.50 avg rating — 4 ratings
score: 75,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 43 |
|
The Cambridge Companion to the Greek and Roman Novel
by
Tim Whitmarsh (Editor)
3.75 avg rating — 8 ratings
score: 74,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 44 |
|
The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric
by
Felix Budelmann (Editor)
4.43 avg rating — 7 ratings
score: 73,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 45 |
|
The Cambridge Companion to the Roman Historians
by
3.73 avg rating — 11 ratings
score: 72,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 46 |
|
The Cambridge Companion to Roman Satire
by
Kirk Freudenburg (Editor)
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 11 ratings
score: 71,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 47 |
|
On Writing History from Herodotus to Herodian
by
John M. Marincola (Translator)
4.09 avg rating — 11 ratings
score: 70,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 48 |
|
The Cambridge Companion to Roman Comedy
by
Martin T. Dinter (editor)
4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings
score: 69,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 49 |
|
The Norton Book of Classical Literature
by
Bernard Knox (Editor)
4.16 avg rating — 177 ratings
score: 68,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 50 |
|
Classical Literature (Pelican Books)
by
3.87 avg rating — 199 ratings
score: 67,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 51 |
|
The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature
by
M.C. Howatson (Editor)
4.25 avg rating — 79 ratings
score: 66,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 52 |
|
The Concise Oxford Companion to Classical Literature
by
Ian Chilvers (Editor)
4.05 avg rating — 20 ratings
score: 65,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 53 |
|
The Classical Tradition: Greek and Roman Influences on Western Literature
by
3.90 avg rating — 236 ratings
score: 63,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 54 |
|
Handbook of Classical Mythology
by
3.45 avg rating — 11 ratings
score: 62,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 55 |
|
Greek Myths: Gods, Heroes and Monsters: Their Sources, Their Stories and Their Meanings
by
3.72 avg rating — 60 ratings
score: 61,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 56 |
|
Aphrodite to Zeus: An Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman Mythology
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 9 ratings
score: 60,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 57 |
|
Gods and Heroes of Ancient Greece
by
Gustav Schwab (Editor)
4.08 avg rating — 2,332 ratings
score: 59,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 58 |
|
The World of Odysseus
by
3.90 avg rating — 1,111 ratings
score: 58,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 59 |
|
Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away
by
3.85 avg rating — 1,960 ratings
score: 57,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 60 |
|
The Oxford Anthology of Roman Literature
by
Peter E. Knox (Editor)
4.26 avg rating — 38 ratings
score: 56,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 61 |
|
A Companion to Ovid
by
Peter E. Knox (editor)
4.17 avg rating — 6 ratings
score: 55,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 62 |
|
A Companion to Horace
by
0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
score: 54,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 63 |
|
The Cambridge Companion to Horace
by
Stephen J. Harrison (Editor)
4.25 avg rating — 8 ratings
score: 53,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 64 |
|
The Metamorphosis of Ovid: From Chaucer to Ted Hughes
by
3.94 avg rating — 62 ratings
score: 52,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 65 |
|
A Companion to Latin Literature
by
Stephen J. Harrison (Editor)
3.60 avg rating — 15 ratings
score: 51,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 66 |
|
Oxford Readings in the Roman Novel
by
Stephen J. Harrison (Editor)
3.33 avg rating — 3 ratings
score: 50,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 67 |
|
Ovid: Myth and Metamorphosis
by
3.60 avg rating — 10 ratings
score: 49,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 68 |
|
Roman Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Roman Gods, Goddesses, and Mythological Creatures
by
3.56 avg rating — 131 ratings
score: 48,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 69 |
|
The Cambridge Companion to Virgil
by
Charles Martindale (Editor)
3.68 avg rating — 38 ratings
score: 47,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 70 |
|
Opening Pandora's Box: Phrases We Borrowed from the Classics and the Stories Behind Them
by
3.62 avg rating — 308 ratings
score: 46,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 71 |
|
Homer on Life and Death
by
4.01 avg rating — 71 ratings
score: 45,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 72 |
|
It's All Greek to Me
by
3.72 avg rating — 296 ratings
score: 43,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 73 |
|
The Gods of the Greeks
by
4.11 avg rating — 588 ratings
score: 42,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 74 |
|
The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours
by
4.19 avg rating — 225 ratings
score: 41,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
People Who Voted On This List (8)
Related News
Hollywood has been mining the world of books for a long time—since 1899, according to some reckonings. The practice has been ramping up in recent...
Anyone can add books to this list.
How to Vote
To vote on existing books from the list, beside each book there is a link vote for this book clicking it will add that book to your votes.
To vote on books not in the list or books you couldn't find in the list, you can click on the tab add books to this list and then choose from your books, or simply search.
