This is Definitely by far the best book on Greek Democracy. It is detailed and easy to read

W. G. Forrest's classic little book is the best account of the political evolution of ancient Greece for general readers and for introductory classes in Greek History. Forrest writes beautifully, if informally, treats evidence fairly, and makes complex issues seem clear. The book is not only well written but also well illustrated. He succinctly treats Homeric Society, Colonization, the Hoplite Reform, the origins of Greek tyranny, the Spartan Revolution, Solon's reforms in Athens, Pisistratus' regime, Cleisthenes' creation of early democracy, and mature Athenian democracy, and he always shows the interrelationship of political, social, and economic factors driving developments in Greek History. His general picture is as valid today as when he wrote it in the mid-sixties. Some publisher ought to get this back in print!

I admit I first bought this little book for the pictures. It was a while before I got around to reading the text. I expected a bland textbook summary of Greek history. Instead, I found a fascinating, lively analysis of the emergence of Greek poliical institutions (not only democracy). The highlight of the book is Forrest's analysis of the way political structure was transformed by the influence of social struggles between the old-wealth aristocracy and the rising lower classes. Hmmm... when I type that, it sounds dull. It isn't! Forrest really opened up Greek history for me in a compelling and original way, one that influences the way I view political change and conflict in our own society. It belongs on the same shelf with M. I. Finley's study of class politics in the ancient world. and Donald Kagan's four-part history of the Peloponnesian War. Incidentally, the book is also a spirited defense of the much-maligned Athenian democracy against conservative critics like Plato and Thucydides. This is a book I would like to assign to my classes.

I feel I ought to give a qualified endorsement of this work, given the tenor of some of the other reviews that have been posted. If your readings in general works on ancient Hellas or ancient Athens have prompted curiosity about the Spartans, this book is a fairly satisfying follow-up. A knowledge of the outline of Spartan history helps, since the narrative of this slim work is so compressed.
The most intriguing aspect of the book is where Forrest departs from the chronological narrative to write at greater length on two of the more vexing questions of Spartan history: 1) the true scope of the Lycurgan (or "Lykurgan," in Forrest's annoyingly pedantic spelling) constitution and 2) the number of Spartiates at various points in Spartan history. Forrest exhibits a healthy skepticism for the ancient sources (none of which, except for some fragments of poetry, can be said to have been written by the Spartans themselves), although he perhaps goes too far in attempting to deflate the myths surrounding the Spartans, which, whether true or not, exercised such a profound influence on ancient writers on republican government.

Make it something else. This book is far too dry for the casual reader to enjoy. I read it with a few others, namely Ernle Bradfords Thermopylae: Battle for the West and The Greco-Persian Wars by Peter Green and it provided a good source of reference, but not much else.

Also of note by Peter Green is Alexander of Macedon and if your just looking for a "quick fix" I suggest Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield.

This is a wonderful book for the person who has a passing interest in ancient Sparta, but is unwilling to spend a whole lot of time doing research on the subject. At just over 150 pages, W.G. Forrest offers a readable and informative text that gets you into Lacedamon, out of Lacedamon & on your way in almost no time at all.

What is surprising about this study is that the author does not hold the Spartans in particularly high regard. This is unusual in that normally, as a rule-of-thumb, historians either write extensively on people / social organizations that they are fervently in favor of, or utterly despise. It is evident that Forrest neither loves nor hates the Laconians; he merely writes about them.

Forrest covers the period of expansion, which is when Sparta exerted its hegemony (forcefully) over Messenia. It is little wonder that the Messenians despised the Spartans, but slaves throughout history have generally not been treated well. I am inclined to cringe at the tacit notion that the Spartans were the only culture in all of history that treated its slave workforce egregiously.

Forrest offers a nice summary of the influence of Lycurgus, but does not articulate very many of his revolutionary ideas. Forrest goes on to explain how the political machinery of Sparta worked, utilizing the Gerousia, ephors and 2 monarchs. For a people who craved simplicity, the political system of Sparta was quite cumbersome. Then again, it was likely that way by design, so that nothing would ever get done. At any rate, Forrest also discusses some different interpretations of the epoch of Lycurgus' life and the the dates of his reforms. Much of this, however, will be of only remote interest to the average reader.

The most gripping part of this book, sadly, is about the fall of the civilization. After their decisive defeat at the hands of the Thebans in 371 @ the battle of Leuctria, Sparta sent out a much smaller army to combat their enemy. However, realizing that the situation was hopeless and they were too outnumbered, the army turned around and returned to the homeland.

I have often been fixated on this about-face of a supposedly invincible Spartan army. It was at this juncture in time that group of warriors decided to turn their backs, not only on an empire, but on a way of life. Gone was the doctrine of Leonidas to "stand and fight to the last man, no matter what the circumstances, no matter the number of the enemy." Sparta would never be the same after 371, and it is with haunting detail and clarity that Forrest takes us thru that sad chapter in Greek history.

This book is highly recommended for those who wish to read of the rise and decline of group of brutal warriors who fielded the most fierce armies of the classical age. These were the men who created the boot camp which military forces still use (to varying extents) in the present day.

This book has been informative in that I have learned a great deal about the political and militaristic problems Washington endured during America's push for independence. I have a feeling that, without Washington's sacrifice, America as we know it probably wouldn't occur. However, I also think of the famous quote attributed to Napoleon that "History is the myth men choose to believe." While Thomas Paine wrote about independence for the colonies, he also tore into the concept of slavery as immoral, so it wasn't as if no one was talking about this issue. If Washington would have "stepped up" and abolished slavery then and there, so that all men (and women) were truly created equal, as I said before, America might not be here. It was a politically divided and bankrupt country. I don't consider those reasons justification for sacrificing another person's human rights. The racial problems we face today stem from a lack of identity stolen from a stolen people

who did much of the work to build this country in its early days and, while the opprtunity was there, given nothing in return. "Patriot Sage" is an excellent insight into many aspects of Washington's life of which I was ignorant (like his influence on the Constitutional Convention) Sadly, some of its essays are too right-wing, to the point of Clinton bashing. What modern era president could really live up to the accomplishments of the one who defined the job's parameters ? One essay focuses on the moral symbolism of Washington now devoid in today's presidents, while another openly admits he gambled and sought prostitutes. To be read overall with some perspective.