Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Freakonomics is certainly an interesting idea. An economist applies the principles of his field in order to analyse everyday situations. These situations are not what you would expect an economist to be concerned with, as they don’t specifically relate to money. Economist Levitt and his co-writer Dubner examine various topics such as cheating school teachers and good parenting as the whim takes them.

The problem with this book is that it never really lives up to its promise. This is supposed to be “the hidden side of everything” but all too often this side seems to be all too obvious. Take the chapter “Why do drug dealers still live with their moms?” for example. The preamble to the answer is very interesting. We get to hear about one of Levitt’s colleagues living day to day with crack dealers in Chicago; this is exciting and interesting storytelling. After a thorough analysis of the data, Levitt tells us that the big dealers at the top of the tree don’t pay the dealers on the street very much to peddle the product. Wow, I would never have guessed.

The book is also very repetitive. After reading the introduction, there is a distinct feeling of déjà vu in the first few chapters. My edition has an extra one hundred pages or so tacked onto the end that mostly just reprises the first two hundred pages. This final section of “bonus material” has quite an odd tone. At turns it is almost self apologetic, as if the authors know their book isn’t really that good, and at others self-laudatory. Levitt’s humility also seems a bit disingenuous; are we really to believe that “the most brilliant young economist in America” isn’t any good at maths?

On the plus side the book is very readable and at times entertaining. The authors have a logical view of life that is consistent and convincing. Unfortunately it is far from surprising. A nice distraction but there is certainly nothing very deep here. A good book to pick up in the airport.

The Punic Wars: Rome, Carthage, and the Struggle for the Mediterranean by Nigel Bagnall

I really enjoyed this very informative account of a conflict which helped to shape the world as we know it. The detail of the strategy (or lack of) pursued by Rome and Carthage is quite impressive. Bagnall also treats us to some excellent descriptions of the battles, particularly those in the second Punic war. Hannibal is of course a world famous figure but I am now much more able to appreciate how great Scipio Africanus was. If there is one criticism that I must make it is that there really isn’t enough description of the characters of the men involved. I realise that this is quite difficult with history as old as this but Bagnall only really allows himself to speculate on character in his epilogue (and then only by comparing Scipio Africanus and Hannibal). Non the less I’m happy I read this book and recommend it to anyone interested in Roman history.

The Soul of Battle: From Ancient Times to the Present Day, How Three Great Liberators Vanquished Tyranny by Victor Davis Hanson

I read this book a few years ago and I’m revisiting it after reading Tom Holland’s Persian Fire in order to remind myself what I already knew about ancient Greece, specifically Epaminodas. I recommend Hanson’s books. Why the West Has Won was good too although I’m still mulling over it’s basic premise some five years after reading it. I think his political views about the world today are pretty disgusting really but he’s an entertaining and readable author when it comes to more distant history

Daily Life in Ancient Rome by Jerome Carcopino

A fantastic snap-shot of life two-thousand years ago

Carcopino’s book is exactly what it says on the cover. The book is divided into two parts. The first deals with aspects of life general to all cities in history, such as buildings and streets, and social classes for example. The second part takes us through a typical day of a Roman citizen, and in doing so touches on the routines of rich and poor alike. Although functional, Carcopino’s work is never mundane, and remains highly readable even almost seventy years after its first publication.

In an introduction to an otherwise terrible book on the history of the world, the French historian Fernand Braudel gives some very wise advice on how history should be taught to young people. He says that first you have to hook them with the stories of the big figures such as Caesar and Alexander, and then after their interest has been piqued, you can teach history that focuses on more ordinary people. Carcopino, also a Frenchman and contemporary of Baudel, has written the latter kind of book, and while very readable and entertaining, I recommend that you get to know the big events of Rome’s history before delving into this book.

It is clear that Carcopino has an avid interest and respect for his subject. The beginning of the book has a lavish description of the Forum of Trajan that just drips with praise. The book contains immense detail, which really brings ancient Rome to life. This is created through the regular events of the city, reaching its height when Carcopino portrays the races in the Circus Maximus. As he describes the order and type of horses as they were reined to the chariots, one can almost hear the roar of the crowd in the background.

One thing that can get annoying with this type of book is when the writer unreservedly praises the Romans and ignores all the ridiculous, impractical or even pernicious aspects of their society. Carcopino never falls into this trap and is quite prepared to criticise where necessary. Through this criticism we get, among other things, a very absorbing account of the inadequacy of the Roman education system which acts as a balance to Carcopino’s fulsome praise in other areas.

Daily Life in Ancient Rome is certainly a product of its time. The writing can be rather sexist (prepare yourself before reading the section on Marriage, Woman and the Family) and it is clear that the writer has his own axe to grind. As the book continues Carcopino relates more and more aspects of Roman society to the rise of Christianity, but while it is clear that Carcopino is a Christian himself, this doesn’t detract from the interest of his argument. Carcopino describes the inadequacy of traditional Roman religion to satisfy the spiritual needs of the people and also discusses the influence of other religions that arrived in Rome from the East. During this argument Carcopino is prone to take a detour into what may not be thought of as daily life, but it is a fascinating and important discussion just the same. If you’ve ever wondered how Rome became Christian then this is a good book to read.

Like Goldsworthy’s superb The Roman Army at War, this is an excellent book for anyone who wants to know about the every day life people who were just as important to Rome as any Hadrian or Augustus.