Skye answers “Two questions: 1) does this book read like...”

A Goodreads user asked this question about SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome:

Two questions: 1) does this book read like a textbook? And 2) how unbiased is it? Eurocentric? AntiEurocentric? I want neither.

Skye 1) It definitely doesn't read like a textbook. I just finished taking a "History of Latin Literature" class where we had several textbooks, and now I'…more1) It definitely doesn't read like a textbook. I just finished taking a "History of Latin Literature" class where we had several textbooks, and now I'm reading SPQR (the day after my final exam, I might add) for pleasure because it feels like a fun and dynamic re-working of all I have just learned. You could definitely read it for bed or at the beach without feeling bored at all.

2) It's hardly biased-- I mean, any source about history has some bias, but SPQR is only biased in that Mary Beard is devoted to not just telling one side of the story. So from one perspective, you could say she goes out of her way to give a fair picture of Roman history-- one that includes women, children, non-Romans, and pretty much anyone else who is usually ignored by Roman histories. It's a book on Europe so it's about Europe (hardly a fault of the book), but I wouldn't say it's Eurocentric because she ties in connections to today and, occasionally, other civilizations. I think it's the fairest, best Roman history book you could find if you don't want a textbook and want a fair representation of history. (less)

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Breanna Joy Thanks!
Dec 23, 2015 06:01PM · flag

Steven Thanks for being so clear !
Feb 15, 2016 11:50PM · flag

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