How many times have you wished that you'd been taught Latin at school? Or that your history stretched all the way back to Greek and Roman myths and legends? Or perhaps you wish you knew all about the great inventions and medical developments that have made our world what it is today? "A Classical Education" provides all of these classical facts that modern schooling leaves out and many more. Perfect for parents who wish to teach their children and for those who would like to learn or relearn the facts themselves, "A Classical Education" is informative and educational, but in a completely accessible way, including: Latin and Greek; logic and philosophy; natural sciences; art and architecture; poetry and drama; and, history and classical literature. Also including suggestions for further reading and entertaining tit-bits of information on the classics, "A Classical Education" is a must for anyone feeling let down by modern schooling.
A Classical Education
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The author of I Used To Know That returns with a guide to all things classical, including Latin and Greek phrases and nuggets of ancient philosophy and classical literature. --Bookseller, March 6, 2009
This book aims to fill you in on 'the stuff you wish you'd been taught at school --The Times, June 17, 2009
See if you can tell your Tantalus from your Tacitus --The Daily Telegraph, August 20, 2009
a cutely old-fashioned volume covered in Roman centurions' helmets. --Yorkshire Post, June 19, 2009
If you...wished you'd paid more attention at school, then this is the book for you. Fascinating! --Good Book Guide, July, 2009
This book aims to fill you in on 'the stuff you wish you'd been taught at school --The Times, June 17, 2009
See if you can tell your Tantalus from your Tacitus --The Daily Telegraph, August 20, 2009
a cutely old-fashioned volume covered in Roman centurions' helmets. --Yorkshire Post, June 19, 2009
If you...wished you'd paid more attention at school, then this is the book for you. Fascinating! --Good Book Guide, July, 2009
From the Author
Why `a classical education'? Who cares? Those were the questions I had to answer when I sat down to write this book. And what I came up with was this.
The Greeks and the Romans certainly didn't invent civilisation - the Chinese, the Babylonians, the Egyptians were all there long before them - but they did have an amazing influence on Western civilisation at we now know it. What we call classical architecture - the buildings in many of our city centres that look solid and reliable - derives from the Greeks. The principles of a logical argument were laid down by Aristotle; the science we learn in school was helped along by Archimedes leaping out of the bath-tub. Even if we have never studied classical mythology, we talk about the Midas touch or a Herculean task. We've heard of Homer, Sophocles and Cicero without actually having read their stuff; we remember that Hannibal crossed the Alps with elephants although we are a bit vague on who Hannibal was; and we know that Julius Caesar was supposed to beware the Ides of March even if we haven't a clue when the Ides were.
Let's not forget the language, either. About half of modern English derives from Latin, and much of that originally came from Greek. This means that knowing a bit of Latin will greatly enrich your vocabulary. Lots of our day-to-day, ordinary words come from Anglo-Saxon, but the fancier ones tend to be from Latin. So yes, of course, you can describe somebody as loud, but every now and then - just for the fun of it - you might want to say that they were vociferous.
And `just for the fun of it' is really what this book is about. The classics are all around us, and this book aims to fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge about them - with, I hope, a few laughs along the way.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 51 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is part of an extensive series from Michael O'Mara Books Ltd. on subjects that are - or used to be - taught at school; mathematics, English Grammar, History, etc., presented in an enjoyable, readable style.
This volume is an introduction for the general reader to the world of Ancient Greece and Rome.
The first first chapter deals with language - the Greek alphabet, Latin words and phrases used in English (ad nauseam, de facto,modus operandi, etc.) and Greek and Latin plural forms.
The second is about religion and mythology; the principal gods, the underworld, the labours of Hercules, the Fates, Muses and Furies, the Judgement of Paris,etc.
At 26 pages this chapter is essentially a summary, though very useful to anyone whose knowledge of these things is a little vague.
The rest of the book follows this format, with chapters on Greek and Roman History; Classical literature; (mainly Homer,and including short biographies of the foremost dramatists, and writers - Aesop, Euripides, Sappho, Cicero,Virgil, etc. - and chapters on art and architecture (the Seven Wonders of the World, the Pantheon, the Colosseum,etc.); mathematics, science, inventions, medicine and philosophy - the thought of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, Sophists, Epicureans, Seneca the Younger and Marcus Aurelius. Finally, the last chapter, of just four pages covers the ancient Olympic Games and Roman arena.
This book is intended for anyone whose acquaintance with the Classical world is limited, and would like to learn more; it commendably fulfils this requirement.
This volume is an introduction for the general reader to the world of Ancient Greece and Rome.
The first first chapter deals with language - the Greek alphabet, Latin words and phrases used in English (ad nauseam, de facto,modus operandi, etc.) and Greek and Latin plural forms.
The second is about religion and mythology; the principal gods, the underworld, the labours of Hercules, the Fates, Muses and Furies, the Judgement of Paris,etc.
At 26 pages this chapter is essentially a summary, though very useful to anyone whose knowledge of these things is a little vague.
The rest of the book follows this format, with chapters on Greek and Roman History; Classical literature; (mainly Homer,and including short biographies of the foremost dramatists, and writers - Aesop, Euripides, Sappho, Cicero,Virgil, etc. - and chapters on art and architecture (the Seven Wonders of the World, the Pantheon, the Colosseum,etc.); mathematics, science, inventions, medicine and philosophy - the thought of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, Sophists, Epicureans, Seneca the Younger and Marcus Aurelius. Finally, the last chapter, of just four pages covers the ancient Olympic Games and Roman arena.
This book is intended for anyone whose acquaintance with the Classical world is limited, and would like to learn more; it commendably fulfils this requirement.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having studied some of the classics, out of interest as distinct from academic pressure, I found this book extremely interesting and easy to read, in fact I could hardly put it down. Although I had come across practically everything in this book, the book itself is a wonderful summary, both for the beginner and the well versed. For the price of a couple of pints it is well worth it if only to gain an introduction to th classics. BUY IT and you will not be disappointed.
194 of 213 people found the following review helpful
By Aspasia
Format:Hardcover
As a lecturer in ancient history I have - contrary, perhaps, to the assumptions of other reviewers of this book - no quibble with the popularisation of the subject: on the contrary I wish there were many more accessible and funny books on the subject, for ancient history is packed with opportunities for good gags. However, a popular style is no excuse for poor scholarship, and Ms Taggart has some real howlers: she claims that Homer lived and composed in the 9th century BC: although precise dating is impossible it is generally agreed that Homer (whoever he was) was a product of the 8th century BC. Any edition of his works, any textbook, any reliable reference book will tell you that. So what? It was a long time ago. But a 100 years is not an inconsiderable period of time. How would you feel about a popular history book that claimed WWII took place between 1839 and 1845? You would think the author was an idiot, and you would be right. What's more Athens did NOT have an empire before the Persian Wars - that came later, and for very good reason - and no, Herodotus does NOT claim there is no evidence for Pheidippides' run to Athens from Marathon: in fact he makes no reference to it at all. Oh, and by the way, modern scholarship now agrees the runner was actually called 'Philippides': up-to-date translations have this version. Has she read one? There's more, but I'm sure you get the drift. Ms Taggart suggests you can show off at dinner parties with the material she provides, but do so with caution - you might find yourself sitting next to one of my first-year undergraduates, all of whom have a better grasp of the subject than the author of this book. And what's more, the jokes, on the whole, are pretty feeble. The word 'shagging' is not, in itself (or per se, if you prefer)witty. It really isn't. Caveat emptor.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Giggleworthy
Truly splendid light hearted romp through the classics. Great book to have on your iPhone app for traffic jams, waiting rooms etc. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs Kim Stuart
4.0 out of 5 stars
a lighthearted skip through history..
I was not lucky enough to study classical Greek and Roman literature at school,so I bought this book to fill in a few gaps in my education. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Pat Brunger
5.0 out of 5 stars
The things I missed
What was I doing at school to miss these gems? This book puts the missing knowledge in easy to understand format. I wish this book was around for my school days
Published 2 months ago by J. F. Yelding
3.0 out of 5 stars
Useful primer for beginners
A basic overview that is useful as a quick reference book. Not worth buying if you have some knowledge of the Greeks and Romans from classical times.
Published 3 months ago by amazon lover
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book!
Lots of things we never actually absorbed in the first place. lol... now the guidelines tell me 9 more words are required... So there!!
Published 3 months ago by Figaro
5.0 out of 5 stars
good
These books are very useful as they 'remind' us of things we learned but have forgotten; they are also written in a rather humorous way
Published 3 months ago by nessas kindle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Laugh-out-loud funny... the best way to get information to stick
I bought this, along with most of the others in the series, in order to get back into the swing of 'learning' things. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Hermes Love
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Title is spot on
I have just reached my 65th birthday and on a whim selected this book hoping to fill in a few gaps in my education.
Turned out to be a great decision. Read more
Turned out to be a great decision. Read more
Published 13 months ago by JERRYFUL
2.0 out of 5 stars
Doubly annoying - style and Kindle format
This might be okay in paperback to dip into occasionally - while contemplating as another reviewer mentions.
But the Kindle version is extremely aggravating - 1. Read more
But the Kindle version is extremely aggravating - 1. Read more
Published 15 months ago by flOIslAc
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classical Education: The Stuff You Wish You'd Been Taught at School
Informative and a good reference book. A good study, and yes I wish I'd learnt it all 50 years ago.
Published 16 months ago by Thelma
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