Roots by Alex Haley

Such a tremendous book, a powerful read that took me by surprise.

The first surprise was the depth of the story - perhaps the first third of the book - taking place in Africa.  My American-centricity simply assumed the story would take place entirely in the US.  The detailed telling of young Kunta Kinte's life in the African village of Juffure showcased its vibrancy and humanity, and perhaps even its normalcy versus my preconceived notions.

The horror of Kunta's crossing on the slave-ship to America etched a deep transition into the story and the credibility of mankind.  It didn't surprise me, but the detailed unfolding and inhumanity of the journey was jarring.

Another surprise, however, was the ascendancy of the characters in the story through their development of skilled trades.  I expected the story to focus on the daily horrors of slavery in the fields.  Roots instead focuses on the lives of people like Kunta, a decades-long chauffeur for his master, George, a renowned cockfighter, and Tom, a highly skilled blacksmith.

I was also surprised how the story continued through the generations, starting with Kunta, but continuing through perhaps seven generations and ending with Alex Haley himself.  I didn't know the story was to end with the author, revealing Roots as the story of his own roots.

A highly impressive work whether you consider it a novel, a history, or a combination of the two.  It should be required reading for us all.

The Rise of the Roman Empire by Polybius

As I transition my studies from the Hellenistic to the Roman period, this ancient book became an obvious choice, covering the rise of the Roman Empire in the latter centuries of the Republic.

Perhaps what's most interesting about this book is that it was written be a Greek historian, Polybius, telling the story of Rome's ascent over his own society and culture.  Polybius (c. 200–118 BCE) lived through many of the events of the story and knew some of its characters quite well.  His close friendship with the Roman Scipio Aemilianus the Younger gave him access and insight to the Roman leadership.

Polybius lived in the Peloponnese, a prominent citizen and advocate for the Achaean league, one of the large powers of the Greek world at that time.  He watched Rome's slow but persistent conquest of the Greek world with a mix of sadness, awe and admiration.  It's a rare instance of history being written by the loser, with those writings surviving more than two millennia and counting.

Rome came to dominate the Greek world for many reasons, not the least of which was military superiority.  But Rome's political singularity played a significant role when matched with the multitude of states across the Greek world, with the subsequent archipelago of political interests, philosophies and competencies.

Rome played something of the big-brother to the Greek states, who often asked Rome to adjudicate over political (and military) differences.  Often times the major beneficiary of these disputes became Rome, stepping in to settle matters militarily when the truces it brokered were breached.  State by state, region by region, Rome assumed power across the Greek world.

Perhaps my favorite sections of the book, however, covered the Punic Wars between Carthage and the Roman Republic.  I've read through them before, but perhaps 20 or more years ago.  I enjoyed the refresher, and perhaps I will dig deeper, especially with our impending trip to Sicily in 2026.

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

I love this genre of mythological fiction, and it was certainly the time to read this book, starting it just prior to our trip to Turkey and our tour of Troy.

And I love the idea of this book, bringing to light the untold stories of the women impacted by the Trojan War.

But for some reason it didn't work quite as well as I had hoped.  

It's difficult to understand why.  Perhaps it's the lack of a narrative, even though I know my Iliad and Odyssey quite well.  It read more like a series of short stories, which I can certainly enjoy, but wasn't expecting in this case.

But still I'm happy to have read it, for the new perspectives these stories add to the rich tapestry of The Iliad, The Odyssey, and the broader canon of the ancient Mediterranean world.

The Cambridge Companion to the Hellenistic World

Once again, these guides are invaluable to understanding and exploring such massive topics.  Among other findings, this book has underscored the need to read Polybius before completing my study of the age.

Alexander to Actium: The Historical Evolution of the Hellenistic Age by Peter Green

I love big books on big topics, and this one didn't disappoint.  Green covered the spectrum of the Hellenistic era, covering the military and political progress, but more interestingly the social, cultural and religious progress as well.

The era was unsettling for most people, rocking the political underpinnings of the known world, motivating people to think more inwardly and independently.  Rather than focusing on the glory of their city-state, people tended to focus on their immediate family and their inner thoughts.  Hence the rise of Epicureanism and Stoicism.

Art focused on realistic features, including the ugly, poor and struggles of life.  

These themes and more were explored in great detail, and I'm grateful to have found such a wonderful overview of so important an era.

Now I need to decide how many specific topics of the Hellenistic I want to dive further into (art, literature, religion?) before moving squarely on to the Roman republic.

Albert Schweitzer - Out of my life and thought

I bought this slim paperback perhaps 30 years ago, for $0.40 at McKay Used Books in Knoxville.  In need of a quick palette cleanse, I ripped through it this week.

Although most well known for the hospital he founded and led in equatorial Africa, it turns out that Schweitzer was something of a polymath, a latter day DaVinci.  I would estimate only 5-10% of the book recounts his time spent in Africa.

He was also renowned as a preacher, a writer of philosophical works, and a celebrated organist and Bach expert.

Schweitzer hailed originally from the Strasbourg region, which began his life as part of Germany, ending as part of France, changing hands as a result of WWI.  This unique perspective over the course of both WWI and WWII elevated him in my mind to a man-of-the-world, the very opposite of a nationalist, a concept which he abhorred.

I skipped over most of his philosophical and religious thinking; my interest centered on his philanthropic work, which was ground breaking and thoroughly interesting, if only one part of his prolific life.

Istanbul by Bettany Hughes

 I needed a refresher on Istanbul's long, complicated history, and this book by Bettany Hughes fit the bill.

With our trip to Istanbul less than three months away, I'm now reminded of the cultural prominence of this remarkable city.

I can hardly wait to experience it in person, after reading about it for 25+ years!