The Virtues of War

A Novel of Alexander the Great

By: Steven Pressfield

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

I have always been a soldier. I have known no other life. So begins Alexander’s extraordinary confession on the eve of his greatest crisis of leadership.

By turns heroic and calculating, compassionate and utterly merciless, Alexander recounts with a warrior’s unflinching eye for detail the blood, the terror, and the tactics of his greatest battlefield victories. Whether surviving his father’s brutal assassination, presiding over a massacre, or weeping at the death of a beloved comrade-in-arms, Alexander never denies the hard realities of the code by which he lives: the virtues of war.

But as much as he was feared by his enemies, he was loved and revered by his friends, his generals, and the men who followed him into battle. Often outnumbered, never outfought, Alexander conquered every enemy the world stood against him - but the one he never saw coming....

©2004 Steven Pressfield (P)2004 Books on Tape, Inc.

the virtues of Steven Pressfield

I don't know Pressfield so easily carries this book off - bringing a ancient character such as Alexander the Great" so long in grave once again to "life" - and extraordinarily so through this exploration in first person no less is not mean feat. And this is an outstanding read by a very fine reader. A must for those of us, especially, who "read" Bernard Cornwell, etc!

Considerable depth

This book is incredible, and probably best suited as an audiobook. As a first-person telling by Alexander himself (and with excellent narration by John Lee) you feel like you are listening to a real account of his life.

The magic, of course, is mostly in Pressfield's pen and imagination. He manages to detail some of the most epic battles in history, full of action and gore and triumph, but also delve into the moral and intellectual concerns which Alexander struggled with during his life, what Pressfield seems to posit as the qualities that truly made Alexander "great."

I was blown away by this book.

Excellently written and read. One of my favorites!

Excellently written and read. One of my favorites! seven more words so I can post.

As good as expected.

This was a wonderful performance by John Lee. His voice was believable as the voice of Alexander. I found his performance dichotomy and kept me in the story the whole time. His job, however, was made easy by the excellent story telling talents of Steven Pressfield. Pressfield's ability to produce historic fiction and make it seem real is at times without equal.
I highly recommend this and other novels by Pressfield if you are a student of battle, business, or the mind; or even of you just live to read.

Excellent

What a chef d’œuvre, so well seen, the point de vue well chosen, the author seems to be one of the participants ! Bravo

Fantastic Listen

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book as the narrator brings the test to life. I have learned applicable lessons for my every day from this tome as well as interesting knowledge which I didn't possess before. I highly recommend you listen to this book on Alexander the Great.

On how the emperor was greedy.

I loved on how Alexzander was able to get the best of his men’s respect and kindness.

Humanity and Strategy

I am stunned at Pressfield's portrayal of Alexander the Great. It shows him as a vicious champion hell bent on victory, but also a man with a strict set of values that he would not let himself or any of his men violate. It shows the relation between passion and charisma. And through detailed (but still very engaging) description of field tactics, it shows the genius of the maneuvers that Alexander performed. Do you want to be a god? Read this book and ask Alexander. This is Pressfield doing what he does best.

Absolutely loved it!

What an experience!
as usual, Mr Pressfield is an excellent story teller..
I am sure that I'll listen to it again and again

More than just an old story.

Wow! Pressfield is not just a story teller, he is a thinker, a philosopher. Alexander of Macedon has enjoyed mythic renown for centuries, but who has told his story with such glaring insights into this human condition of ours? I really enjoyed this book.