Ancient Wisdom for Polarized Times: Why Humanity Needs Herodotus, the Man Who Invented History

Ancient Wisdom for Polarized Times: Why Humanity Needs Herodotus, the Man Who Invented History - Hardcover

$30.00
$30.00
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Ancient Wisdom for Polarized Times: Why Humanity Needs Herodotus, the Man Who Invented History
  • Ancient Wisdom for Polarized Times: Why Humanity Needs Herodotus, the Man Who Invented History
Ancient Wisdom for Polarized Times: Why Humanity Needs Herodotus, the Man Who Invented History - Hardcover

Ancient Wisdom for Polarized Times: Why Humanity Needs Herodotus, the Man Who Invented History - Hardcover

by Emily Katz Anhalt
$30.00
$30.00

Book Overview

How the wisdom of Herodotus can fortify us against political falsehoods and violent extremism

Nearly 2,500 years ago, the Greek writer Herodotus introduced the concept of objective truth derived from factual investigation and empirical deduction. Writing just before the start of the catastrophic Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE), Herodotus addressed an increasingly polarized Greek world. His Histories demonstrates that the capacity for humane moral action depends on the ability to resist unthinking allegiance to authoritative fictions. Herodotus offers an indispensable, nonpartisan approach for countering poisonous ideologies and violent conflict emanating from all extremes of the political kaleidoscope.

Interpreting some of Herodotus's most compelling stories, Emily Katz Anhalt illuminates this ancient writer's vital insights concerning sexual violence, deception, foreign ways, political equality, and more. The Histories urges us to value reality, restrain destructive passions, and acknowledge the essential humanity of every human being--crucial guidance for navigating our own divisive and volatile political climate. Inviting us to take responsibility for our own choices and their consequences, Herodotus exposes autocratic leadership and abuses of power as self-defeating. Herodotus guides readers in assembling and assessing information, distinguishing fact from fiction, and making compassionate moral evaluations. The ancient Greeks never achieved an egalitarian, just society. Herodotus equips us to do better.
ISBN9780300272871
Author Emily Katz Anhalt
PublisherYale University Press
GenreBiography, History, and Philosophy
FormatHardcover
PublishedOctober 2025
LanguageENG- English
Pages416
Weight1.0 lb
Target AudienceAdults
Print SizeStandard Print

Related Subjects

Biography & Autobiography History Nonfiction Philosophy

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More by Emily Katz Anhalt

Ancient Wisdom for Polarized Times: Why Humanity Needs Herodotus, the Man Who Invented History

Ancient Wisdom for Polarized Times: Why Humanity Needs Herodotus, the Man Who Invented History - Hardcover

Ancient Wisdom for Polarized Times: Why Humanity Needs Herodotus, the Man Who Invented History - Hardcover

By Emily Katz Anhalt

About Emily Katz Anhalt

Emily Katz Anhalt is professor of classics at Sarah Lawrence College. She is the author of Embattled: How Ancient Greek Myths Empower Us to Resist Tyranny and Enraged: Why Violent Times Need Ancient Greek Myths. She lives in Guilford, CT.

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