Thursday, March 25, 2010

IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

YIA' SOU!
MARCH 25 IS GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY!
AS AN AMERICAN OF GREEK HERITAGE,
MAY I WISH ALL OF MY OTHER GREEK
FRIENDS A FINE DAY AND IN HONOR, HERE IS
WHAT I THINK IS AN APPROPRIATE
BOOK TO OFFER TODAY!
GIVEAWAY ENDED
IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME

BY CHARLOTTE HIGGINS

ABOUT THE BOOK:

An informative, smart, and very amusing narrative about the enormous influence Greeks and Greek culture have had on the rest of the world, from art to architecture to literature to politics to love.

Why is ancient Greece important? Because, quite simply, if we want to understand the modern Western world, we need to look back to the Greeks. Consider the way we think about ethics, about the nature of beauty and truth, about our place in the universe, about our mortality. All this we have learned from the ancient Greeks. They molded the basic disciplines and genres in which we still organize thought, from poetry to drama, from medicine to philosophy, from history to ethnography.

Packed with useful facts, including a timeline, a "mythology for dummies," a who's who, a guide to Homer's epics, and a handy map for those struggling to know their Lemnos from their Lesbos, It's All Greek to Me is an entertaining and insightful tour through the world of the ancient Greeks. Why are some laws Draconian? What is an Achilles' heel? Why were the Spartans spartan? Charlotte Higgins provides these answers and more, arming average readers with the knowledge they need to understand the Greeks and their tremendous contributions to our lives. This book aims to unlock the richness of a fascinating culture and place it where it should be—in the mainstream of life.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Charlotte Higgins has worked for the Guardian newspaper in various guises for over a decade, latterly as chief arts writer. She was born in Stoke-on-Trent, England, and studied classics at Balliol College, Oxford. She is the author of Latin Love Lessons: Put a Little Ovid in Your Life. She lives in London.

REVIEW:

IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME: From Homer to the Hippocratic Oath, How Ancient Greece Shaped Our World by Charlotte Higgins is a extraordinary introduction to the influence that the Ancient Greeks have had on our world. It is not a “dry” read but quite captivating as well as also very useful. Charlotte Higgins has surely done her homework on this as she is quite knowledgeable about all things Greek. In providing us with the ways that our society today has been influenced and enriched by the Greeks, the reader will discover information they never even thought about before. The book is easily enjoyable and thought provoking while not lecturing down to the reader. I hate to read a book and be made to feel like I just landed on the planet and have no educational background at all.

From the alpha to the omega, all the most important parts of Greek history and culture are spelled out in a way that makes the book very user friendly. It will stir your memories of literature even from your youngest elementary school days as the Greek Gods and Goddesses give way to much of our more sophisticated literature today. Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without references to Plato, Homer, and Aristotle just to name a few. Their contributions alone can fill volumes. The battles fought by the Greeks show the strength of the people as well as what we learned from these dedicated and skilled warriors.

At the back of the book is one of the most useful parts. Everything from a Timeline to maps, Who’s Who in Greece past and present, Greek Mythology, and even the Greek alphabet and my favorite part ten indispensable Greek quotes. So explore those ancient ancestors of mine and see if you aren’t fascinated by what Charlotte Higgins has given us in IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME. Lastly, from my favorite section, remember what Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living”.

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO KYLE AND GOOD PEOPLE
AT HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHING,
I HAVE 3 COPIES OF THIS INTERESTING

BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!



--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT AUTHOR CHARLOTTE HIGGINS WHEN YOU GO TO HER WEBSITE CLICK HERE

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT MY REVIEW OR DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOK ABOVE

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON HOW YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG OR SUBSCRIBE. IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW YET, YOU CAN BY SUBSCRIBING VIA EMAIL, FOLLOW ON GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT, OR ON FACEBOOK WITH NETWORK IN LEFT HAND COLUMN TODAY..OR ALL THREE! EACH WAY YOU FOLLOW IS A SEPARATE ENTRY AND COMMENT.
GIVEAWAY ENDS
6 PM, EST, APRIL 9 !

GOOD LUCK

43 comments:

traveler said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

The author has written two book about the classics and plays the violin. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

This interesting book sounds wonderful and the various areas that it concentrates on especially the philosopers Plato, Aristotle and literature. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Chèli said...

I read a book eaarlier this year about Greek Mythology and it had a section about impact on society. It was interesting.

cyderryATyahooDOTcom
Chèli
Cheli's Shelves

Linda Kish said...

GFC follower


lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I would love to review the back of the book to start..timelines, Who's Who and Greek Mythology sound very informative.


lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

She also wrote Latin Love Lessons.


lkish77123 at gmail dot com

rubynreba said...

Charlotte plays the violin.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I subscribe by email and follow on google
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I think the book would be interesting because it gives you a tour through the world of ancient Greeks.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Unknown said...

The author is a mediocre but enthusiastic chamber musician.

Unknown said...

I follow with google reader.

Unknown said...

The book goes from alpha (beginning) to omega (end).

Colleen Turner said...

Hello again!

Read on the author's website that she plays the violin...I have always wanted to play an instrument but, alas, don't seem to have the skill.
Thanks,
Colleen
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I follow you via email, google connect and email.
Thanks,
Colleen
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I like that you stated in your review that the author explains the Greek history in an enjoyable and understandable way without talking down to the reader. I don't like when a book makes me feel dumber for reading it!
Thanks,
Colleen
candc320@gmail.com

Eleni said...

Hi Bingo! Oops I didn't even realize it's Greek Independence Day today! I'm such a bad Greek lol - well yay for the Greeks! :) No need to enter me in the giveaway though. Hope all is well with you!

Glenn said...

I found the part in the review about the back section of the book interesting - sounds like a great addition to this history of Greece.
Thanks for the giveaway.

glenn_pessano AT yahoo DOT com

Vera said...

I think it's amazing she's worked at the same place since 1997! LOL You don't see that these days.

vvperesk@gmail.com

Vera said...

Thanks for pointing out in your review that this book is very accessible and I don't need to be a scholar to understand it :)

vvperesk@gmail.com

brokenteepee said...

Chief arts writer for the guardian is pretty impressive
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

brokenteepee said...

I have always been fascinated with Greek culture. It's one of my favorite cuisines!
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

brokenteepee said...

I am in your networked blogs
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

brokenteepee said...

I subscribe
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

brokenteepee said...

i follow on google
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

brokenteepee said...

I tweeted
http://twitter.com/BrokenTeepee/status/11115234907
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

enyl said...

I found it intresting that there is an author espousing the theory that Jesus has a twin brother.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

I like that the book doesn't talk down to the reader,as I plan to add it to my classroom library.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

GFC follower.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

e-mail subsciber.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

NetworkedBlogs follower.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

Tweeted.
twitter.com@enylstil#greek
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

Kitty said...

email subscriber-- maynekitty///at///live///dot///com

Kitty said...

I found that she also wrote--Latin Love Lessons and I have put it on my TBR list. Thanks for letting us know about this book and the author.

Kitty said...

#640
google friend connect follower---Kitty

Anonymous said...

I have no idea how to do this thing called...blog...but I would like to know if I can get a free book if I know the author of this blog. Doesn't that mean I have an 'in' with her? Your much appreciated review makes me want to read this book, especially re it's history & since I'm in bed sick for the past wk, I could make good use of the time. Can I have it, Bingo???? :>)

Anonymous said...

Kathryn says: "What is this thing called Blog? & how do I send a message? My comment is that your review made this book sound so interesting, especially the history part of it, that I want to read the book. I've been sick in bed for a wk now & could have made good use of this time if I'd had this book. So, can I have it? I'm also so impressed with all you are doing here. Have I said enough good things to get the free book? Oh, & your blog has great colors & designs etc etc. :>) This is Kathryn. I mean that's my identity but it won't go thru. What am I doing wrong?"
(submitted for a non-computer/blog literate person via email)

kdemas at juno dot com

dag888888 said...

The author plays the violin and is a chamber musician!

dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com

dag888888 said...

Google friend follower!

dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com

dag888888 said...

I'm a sucker for anything about Greek mythology!

dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com

Angie said...

I am an email subscriber & follower

aksimmo at brainerd dot net

Angie said...

ooooh! Love ancient Greece!

aksimmo at brainerd dot net

Darcie K. said...

I find it interesting that the author has written about how the ancient Greeks have molded our lives today.
dmkayes@gmail.com

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