Mere Mortals Book Reviews

Mere Mortals Book Reviews


Developing Character & Virtue In A Barbaric World | The Age Of Alexander (Plutarch)

December 08, 2022

What can the lives of the Ancient Greeks teach us about how to live well?

'The Age Of Alexander' by Plutarch is a selection of 9 Greek lives from his work called 'Parallel Lives'. It covers prominent people from various locations and various professions, but all from around ~400 BC to 300 BC. It focuses mostly on their achievements with quotes, battle statistics, 1st hand sources, moments from their life and overall actions/behaviours.

I summarised the book as follows. "It's a glimpse into the lives of great men, if not necessarily good men. Somewhat sombre due to the carnage but provides enough to get a feel for the person. I found it surprisingly applicable to current situations as decisions/outcomes are derived from one's character. Not hard to pick some qualities you lack and could cultivate."

I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!

Timeline:
(0:00) - Intro
(0:34) - Synopsis
(3:59) - Politics: The reality of a barbaric world
(12:08) - Character: Built on small decisions, not inherent qualities
(21:56) - Observations/Takeaways
(27:14) - Summary

Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/

Support the show