"Lysistrata," the play by Aristophanes, has been published in an anonymous translation as part of the Dover Thrift Editions series. The opening commentary on the text notes that this play dates back to 411 BCE. Aristophanes tells the story of his title character, an Athenian woman who, weary of war, conceives a bold plan: she enlists the women of Greece to refuse to have sex with their men until the men make peace.

The plot of this play is thus quite simple, but it is marvelously handled by the author. The play is a rich and effective mix of slapstick antics, bawdy wordplay, and biting sociopolitical commentary. At the center of this enjoyable play is the commanding figure of Lysistrata. Articulate and resolute, she is truly one of the great characters of world drama; she's a woman with a bold vision.

Although it is a funny comedy, "Lysistrata" does deal with some serious issues that remain relevant after all these centuries. Recommended as a companion text: "Necessary Targets," a play by Eve Ensler. This non-comedic drama also deals with the issue of women in a country at war.

This is probably the most entertaining play I've ever read, and it was written more than 2,000 years ago! Aristophanes brilliantly critiques the rigid gender roles of ancient Greek society in several dozen hilarious pages.

Aristophanes writes of a group of Greek women who, in protest of war, refuse to have sex with their husbands, and the plot is a glorious success. Aristophanes depicts men begging their wives for sex, and paints a picture of Greek women not very dissimilar to the women of contemporary Western society.

"Lysistrata" is a crucial reading for anyone interested in Greek history, feminism, or anyone who just wants to read a devastatingly funny comedy about sex.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

"The Lysistrata" by Aristophanes is probably one of the earliest pieces of litereature demonstrating the free will and power that women inherently posess, but have historically seldom used. In this comedy, the women of Athens, and then throughout Greece, bond together under the common goal of ending the war between the Athenians and Spartans, so that their husbands will return home. Knowing their physical limitations, the women decide on a plan of attack recomended by their leader Lysistrata. She convinces the women that, in order to get their husbands back, they must abstain from the joys of love. Lysistrata insists that everything the women do must be executed with the purpose of arousing their husbands, however, once they have their man's interest they are to act coy.

"The Lysistrata" was written during a time when the Greek city-states where in a constant state of quarrelling. Aristophanes' use of comedy mocks the pointless wars of the time, while trying to focus attention back to the things that should matter most in a man's life. Like Shakespeare, Aristophanes is trying to deliver a political message to as many people as possible; so, to keep the interest of the common man, he has masked his political agenda with a delightful comedy.

I don't believe I've seen more than two of Mazursky's films but I enjoyed his book, especially the juicy chapter on his adventures with the increasingly more bizarre Peter Sellers. This is not a biography, but rather a series of essays about his involvement with different Hollywood people and some chapters about his current life and childhood. Recommended.

An interesting, light and witty Summer read that gives you insight into Mazursky's career and tales of movie production. Mazursky, born in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn started out as an actor (Blackboard Jungle), moved on to be a comedy writer (Danny Kaye, I Love You Alice B Toklas) when acting parts were infrequent, and made his directorial debut with Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice. My favorite scenes in the book? When a young Mazursky catches his zade eating his bubbe's herring on the afternoon of Yom Kippur; when Eisner and Katzenberg ask Mazursky if he thinks that the I.B. Singer story (Enemies, A Love Story) is too Jewish... maybe it can be about the Cambodian Holocaust instead of the WWII one; when Richard Dreyfus pulls out of the Enemies project; and the creation of Down&Out in Beverly Hills.

I loved reading this book, both from the standpoint of appreciating Paul Mazursky the director of many of my favorite films and reveling in Paul Mazursky the no-holds-barred storyteller. But--and, I'm sorry, there is a 'but'---why devote one sentence to the great Art Carney, who Mazursky calls the most pure actor he'd ever worked with, and then not tell the reader WHY he feels that way about Carney? There are no anecdotes to share about Jill Clayburgh or Robin Williams? Come on, Paul, give! This lapse is mostly compensated for by Mazursky's tales of traveling in the "then" Soviet Union and South America, his memories of working for Danny Kaye and his sharing the bitter and the sweet about his family, his friends and the ups and downs of his life. The chapter about Mazursky's relationship with his mother is especially powerful and a reminder that much of the pathos within even his funniest films came honestly to him. So, five stars for what's here---just would've liked to have seen more!

I am planning a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and found this book very helpful. It gives all the information needed for mail drops,supply stops,shelters and towns along the way from Georgia to Maine. It is organized state by state and is in a handy spiral bound booklet. It is a useful guide for a thru-hike or just a couple of days on the trail. I gave 4 stars because there could be more maps. Otherwise a very useful guide.

Well, having finished my masters I decided on some light reading until I found a decent job in London. I soon took an interest in Sociology and read in great depth on criminology. This book was one of the best when it came to offering what sociologist would called the 'Anomic Apprach'- and yes that is as in Durkheim's theory. This book is generally considered as one of the best if you are looking for something realtd to the theory of anoie, in the context of differential association (Sutherland's main theory). I would also draw comparisons with Cloward and Ohlin who, in the 60's wrote 'Delinquenct and Opportunity'- a masterpeice in the peicing together of these very difficult concepts.

I always find it a shame that more people do not read book such as these aqs they really con offer a valued insight to the way society works, and more importantly, how it can go wrong.

I woudl be interested if anyone else should have any thoughts on this subject. Please feel free to email me on olie_sharp@hotmail.com

I am thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail right now (today I'm resting in town and using a computer at a church). I started with this book and found that it did not work well for me on the AT. It has lots of stuff that just isn't needed by a thru-hiker which makes it sooooooo heavy and it is hard to follow. I switched to wingfoot's handbook, which is more condensed and to the point. I got criticized by some people who were using this one, but it's one of the best things I have done to make my thru-hike successful so far. I threw my companion away and haven't regretted it. Get a handbook!

This guide is written by dozens of volunteers who actually hike the sections of trail they report on each year. This is the only AT guide that has first-hand knowledge of the trail every year. If you want second-hand, outdated, and fictional information you should use Wingfoot's book. The Companion lists all the services along the AT, not just the ones that have paid a fee to be listed. Get the Companion, it's the complete guide!

This is the best guide for A.T. hikers period.