Eureka! Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Ancient Greeks but Were Afraid to Ask Synopsis
The ancient Greeks gave us our alphabet and much of our scientific, medical and cultural language; they invented democracy, atomic theory, and the rules of logic and geometry; laid the foundations of philosophy, history, tragedy and comedy; and debated everything from the good life and the role of women, to making sense of foreigners and the best form of government, all in the most sophisticated terms. But who were they? In Eureka!, Peter Jones tells their epic story, which begins with the Trojan War and ends with the rise of the Roman Empire, by breaking down each major period into a series of informative nuggets. Along the way he introduces the major figures of the age, including Homer, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Alexander the Great, Euclid and Archimedes; explores the Greek myths and the role of the gods;provides fascinating insights into everyday life in ancient times; and shows us the very foundations of Western culture.
'Like everything else Jones writes, Eureka! is packed with intriguing nuggets for novices and experts alike... He flits between the beautiful and the banal, never missing a good story, whether it is about glorious death or industrious donkeys.' --Natalie Haynes, The Times
'I love the fact that a book like this exists: populist and inclusive in intention, cultured in execution, and often cheerfully abstruse in content... Jones is a storyteller at heart, unashamed to entertain while educating by stealth, as all the best teachers do.' --Spectator
Author
About Peter Jones
Peter Jones spent several years working as a consultant in credit card banking, fixing various issues in high-profile organisations. (And thereby most likely causing the credit crisis and global recession.) Peter's outlook on life changed dramatically when Kate, his wife of 2 years and 3 months, passed away due to a brain haemorrhage. He left his job in finance to follow his passions: now he has written both fiction and non-fiction, and currently runs workshops and talks on his subject of expertise: How To Do Everything and Be Happy. Peter lives just a few miles outside London. He doesn't own a large departmental store and probably isn't the same guy you've seen on Dragons' Den. For more information, visit Peter's website howtodoeverythingandbehappy.com
