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Sign up todayThe Spartans
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Learn moreThe Spartans of ancient Greece were a powerful and unique people, radically different from any civilization before or since. A society of warrior-heroes, they were living exemplars of self-sacrifice, community endeavor, and achievement against all odds, qualities that today signify the ultimate in heroism. Scholars even believe that Thomas More had Sparta specifically in mind when he coined the term "Utopia."
Paul Cartledge, widely considered the world's leading expert on Sparta, engagingly examines the rise and fall of this singular society. In a narrative that resounds with the battle cries of the ancient Greeks, he takes a compelling look at the many illustrious Spartan figures from the worlds of history and legend, including Lycurgus, Lysander, King Leonidas, and Helen of Troy and Sparta.
Based firmly on original sources, The Spartans is the definitive book about one of the most fascinating cultures of ancient Greece.
Paul Cartledge has taught Greek history at Cambridge University since 1979 and is also a Fellow at Clare College. Widely acknowledged to be the world’s leading expert on the subject of Sparta and ancient Greece, he is the first A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture (2008) which focuses on the study of more than 1,000 years of Greek cultural achievements and highlights the lasting influence they continue to have on society today. In addition to having written and edited scores of articles and books, including The Spartans: An Epic History; and Thermopylae: The Battle that Changed the World, he is also academic consultant to the BBC and PBS for the series The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization.
JOHN LEE's highly innovative work in the fields of emotional intelligence, anger management, and emotional regression has made him an in-demand consultant, teacher, trainer, coach, and speaker. His contributions in the fields of recovery, relationships, men’s issues, spirituality, parenting, and creativity have put him in the national spotlight for over 20 years. Lee has been featured on Oprah, 20/20, Barbara Walters’ The View, CNN, PBS, and NPR. He has been interviewed by Newsweek, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and dozens of other national magazines and radio talk shows. For over 25 years, Lee has conducted private and group sessions on a variety of issues working with men, women, couples, and families. He lectures, gives workshops and trainings in cities all over the world, delivering sensitive, yet sophisticated material to audiences in a humorous and simple way everyone can understand. His lectures have been branded as “hilariously entertaining, deeply compassionate, yet filled with ‘tell it like it is!’” Lee served as a professor at the University of Texas and at the University of Alabama before becoming a writer, bestselling author, life coach, and personal consultant. He currently resides on breathtaking Lookout Mountain in Mentone, Alabama with his three happy dogs
Reviews
“Cartledge displays a marvelous ability to make the readers care about the Laconic warriors…and the society that shaped them.”
“A fascinating book…Cartledge offers the general reader the fruits of his own rich scholarship in an accessible form.”
“The Spartans presented in this book could change the popular image of ancient history, making it more compelling and accessible.”
“A fine overview of the rise and fall of a singular culture, spiced with anecdotes, quotations, brisk summary, and real insight.”
“Cartledge brings [the Spartans] to life again with verve [and] style.”
“Cartledge brings the Spartans to life, making us share their aspirations and showing them such as they were…There is much in this fascinating book about art, religion, lifestyle, and politics, written in a style that eschews all jargon, ambiguity, and academic obfuscation.”
“Remarkable…Cartledge’s crystalline prose, his vivacious storytelling and his lucid historical insights combine here to provide a first-rate history of the Spartans, their significance to ancient Greece and their influence on our culture.”
“Lee can create nuances in delivery, allowing listeners to distinguish among bits of information that are actually comparatively dull (such as population statistics or facts of coinage). In that the audio version may be superior to the print version”
“Engaging…Cartledge cloaks his erudition with an ease and enthusiasm that will excite readers from page one.”
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