How to Think About War

An Ancient Guide to Foreign Policy

De: Thucydides, Johanna Hanink - translator, Johanna Hanink - introduction

Narrado por: David de Vries

Why do nations go to war? What are citizens willing to die for? What justifies foreign invasion? And does might always make right?

For nearly 2,500 years, students, politicians, political thinkers, and military leaders have read the eloquent and shrewd speeches in Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War for profound insights into military conflict, diplomacy, and the behavior of people and countries in times of crisis. How to Think about War presents the most influential and compelling of these speeches in an elegant new translation by classicist Johanna Hanink, accompanied by an enlightening introduction.

Thucydides intended his account of the clash between classical Greece's mightiest powers - Athens and Sparta - to be a "possession for all time". Today, it remains a foundational work for the study not only of ancient history, but also contemporary politics and international relations.

How to Think about War features speeches that have earned the history its celebrated status - all of those delivered before the Athenian Assembly, as well as Pericles' funeral oration and the notoriously ruthless "Melian Dialogue". Organized by key debates, these complex speeches reveal the recklessness, cruelty, and realpolitik of Athenian war fighting and imperialism.

©2019 Johanna Hanink (P)2019 HighBridge Company

Amazing ideas

Always fascinating to see how today’s issues are the same issues as 2500 years ago. It was great to have an abridged version to hit the highlights of this interesting history.

very good wisdom

I enjoyed this ancient wisdom and got lost in it for a while. highly recommend.

I understand why leaders read Thucydides

After reading this book, you understand how empires loose their luster. Informative wisdom from the long past

Just as relevant as ever

The speeches discussed within are as important today as in ancient times. Students of history and politics should take the few hours to enjoy and absorb this, as they will find uncanny parallels to today's political sphere and how nations behave.

Save time - essentials of the Peloponnesian War

Masterful selection of just the right passages for modern warfare to learn from this ancient text. Save time, most practitioners do not have time to read all of Thucydides. This is a brilliant translation of 6 sections that matter today

Wisdom for the ages

Breaks down some very complex ideas
I know it sounds old but it still applies to today