SPQR by Mary Beard - Book Club #3

[@isabellagrimes848]

"maths and science definitely weren't my strongest subjects in school" says the guy pursuing a PhD in physics!!

[@SimonClark]

what can I say, I like a challenge ;P

[@sevinm6261]

I cannot express just how much I love your book related videos. In September I will go to uni to study maths and it really bothers me how most maths/science students only focus on the subject itself and really don't care for anything else, especially humanities. So, as someone who loves both maths + science but also history, politics, philosophy and literature it's such a nice feeling to know that I'm not the only one out there. Also, I actually own a copy of SPQR and had it on my TBR for quite some time & this video really motivated me to finally pick it up. Yay.

[@SimonClark]

Aw thank you for this! I see no reason why people can't be both - maths/science geeks and also bookworms. Also get on reading SPQR, it's fantastic!

[@jirlam1]

I’ve just finished this book and everything you’ve said in this video is spot on and I agree with you that I found the republic era much more interesting than the rule of the emperors era. I had always wondered how much the ‘poor’ were educated about the history of their world and as you’ve mentioned Beard discusses this with the graffiti in the bar in Pompeii which I found fascinating. Great read and I’d recommend to anyone. Also the further reading section includes a list of other texts to read which alone is a great reason to check out this book.

[@aliceparr8186]

Couldn't agree more about Mary beards writing being razor sharp and succinct, what she's saying is really interesting but still you can't help but marvel at how elegantly she says it. Literally everyone should read this book if your curious about the Romans, it's definitely the best complete history I've read as not only is it so easy to understand, Beard's research is really so up to date I've even heard my ancient history lecturers talk about points from her book - like when you mentioned Beard argues that rather than it being the founding myths of Rome that have influenced Roman identity (ie in the tendency of emperors to murder each other) it's the deeds of Romans that created the myth! Awesome review. MARY IS BAE ❤️❤️❤️

[@caitlin436]

I study classics at uni and can highly recommend it if you like this way of thinking! Rome is fascinating and indeed the sheer lack of knowledge we have about Roman history makes it so interesting to study, and there are so many different interpretations of the evidence we do still have.

[@Xxxxxxx6453eeefgus]

SPQR is excellent, and I applaud Beard for how she deals with the distinct lack of sources for Roman history. I remember her using some graffiti on a wall making a poo joke ....... As I write this, you picked up on exactly what I was going to write about! I thought she chose an excellent way to examine the role of 'identity' in her book, and chose a fitting way to end the book. Her recount of Spartacus' rebellion, and the way in which she questions working-class support for the gladiators' cause in insightful. She's dedicated her life to learning the Romans inside out, and it shows. Great video!

[@MiraNemcik]

I have been thinking about picking up SPQR for some time now, this video is what I needed! Can't wait to get a copy now :) great review Simon! thanks for sharing with us

[@SimonClark]

Yay! You're welcome :)

[@nathanbarber8638]

Hi Simon! I’m very happy to see that you are getting a degree in physics while also loving history because I am the same exact way! There are not many people like that. I am currently getting a degree in aerospace and mechanical engineering and it’s nice to see I’m not the only person in STEM who also enjoys history lol.

[@jd0444]

You should listen to dan carlins podcast 'hardcore history' he has an amazing series on the roman republic from the beginning to its fall highly recommend

[@watch3r1]

Death Throes of the Republic. Oh yea

[@jonathanharrison1632]

Took me a while to get into her way of thinking, but that's my issue, not the books! It's now got me gripped. I'd also massively recommend Mike Duncan's History of Rome podcast- completely comprehensive narrative, easily the best thing I've listened to on Spotify!

[@tanegurnick4691]

Have you listened to dan carlins podcasts on the death of the republic? there is no better podcaster on history

[@RanjaniNarayananranjn2]

well i partially agree with your idea of teaching history in a different way, that may make it less doleful and pique curiosity. But sadly the curriculum is constricted and i don't think textbooks can offer so much detail the way a historical novel like SPQR would. also, our levels of understanding at school level aren't the same as now :)

[@kendrajohnson6535]

Woah! OK, there's two books I'll definitely be buying tomorrow! I did not expect to get so fired up when I hit play on this video. Thanks Simon :) I've signed up for the Blinklist free trial. It sounds amazing - exactly the kind of thing I need - but being a prehistoric* mobile phone owner I need to work out how I will be able to listen to the books. * For environmental reasons I absolutely refuse to get a new one until mine gives up on life. Unfortunately it seems to be very durable - I've had it seven years and it is still going just as strong as when I got it. I'll probably have it for another decade at this rate!

[@SimonClark]

Yay! You're welcome - this is one of those books that I really think everyone with an interest in history should read! And I'd be very interested to hear what you think of blinkist - I've been a big convert already

[@Gioachino_Orsini]

Your persuasion has being successful..... i`m buying this book ASAP!

[@razzledazzle7776]

Do war of the worlds! Not nearly enough people read this amazing sci-fi Classic!

[@PlatycodonPlatypus]

Hi Simon! First of all, I just wanted to say that it's so cool that you enjoy history even though you do Physics :) I just wanted to ask, if I have little knowledge about the Roman Empire( history taught in my country, was more about Independence, Cold War and WWII), would I still be able to understand it relatively well? Thank you and have a great day! :)

[@SimonClark]

Yeah definitely! I think it would be an interesting introduction to the Roman Empire to someone who doesn't know anything about it

[@PlatycodonPlatypus]

Sure, thank you! Have a great day :)

[@kc9performance]

Hi Simon, how long does it take you to read a book like that? I usually struggle to mix school work and reading 😅

[@SimonClark]

This one took me longer than I thought as I had a huge amount of work on - probably about two months?

[@wengeance8962]

As someone who really enjoyed reading Sapiens, would this be a good book too?

[@SimonClark]

I think so! It's a bit more academic but I think they're quite similar in many ways

[@wengeance8962]

Thanks Doc ;)

[@kaizenlifestyle9439]

Great video!

[@vjensen56]

you sold me on the book lol

[@DrMocktopus1]

Hi, does anyone have any beginner recommendations for some books o Quantum Physics? I love reading it for leisure!

[@SimonClark]

Quantum by Manjit Kumar, The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene, and In Search of Schrodinger's Cat by John Gribbin are good places to start, and if you'd like to take your understanding to a more formal level then Dirac's Quantum Mechanics is excellent!

[@DrMocktopus1]

Thanks,I'll be sure to check them out! Keep up the amazing content!

[@sumankrishnapanwar5568]

Can you tell me best books about history knowledge

[@edanvaanunu9678]

I am 15 years old and I am going to high school in a few days. one of the subjects that interest me most are physics and I was wondering if you have any recommendation on a physics book for someone who has just a little over basic knowledge in physics.

[@edanvaanunu9678]

sorry for grammar mistakes btw I am not a native speaker....

[@SimonClark]

Yep definitely - check out this video I did recommending some popular physics books! kzbin.info/www/bejne/onrSoKOVg86oers

[@sebastianbooth5659]

woah! Sold!

[@jacobsaunders7281]

I saw you around Exeter campus but I'm too scared to say hi to you hehe 😅

[@SimonClark]

aw you should! I had a chat with a subscriber in the gym just this morning, I don't bite!

[@appleslover]

@@SimonClark 😂 I love your videos

[@TheLapolli]

My comment has not much to do about book per se, but about your opinions about history itself. Have you ever read Tolstoys War and Peace? If so, do you agree with his theories? If not, i will give a quick overview. Tolstoy always believed that big figures such as Caesares, Napoleons, Alexanders had very little impact on the human affairs as it is usually given credit. He argues that what really drives history is the millions of decisions done by simple and ordinary men. He even says that these great figures does not make the chain of events, but actually follow the tides of events. So things would only be inevitable independent of such figures ever existed in the first place. So, what do you think. I am asking since you are now a history fan. Cheers :)

[@SimonClark]

Yeah I definitely agree - it's an effective critique of the 'big man' view of history. As with all things the truth probably lies somewhere between the truth, but I definitely think the big figures in history get far too much credit for the direction the world has taken

[@heathers8826]

Do you think a 12 year old would like this book? My middle son loves Greek history/mythology, but has refused to get into Roman history because he prefers Greek. I'd like to broaden his horizons, but not give him books that will bore his socks off. Would you have liked this at 12 years of age?

[@SimonClark]

I think it's too advanced for a 12 year old in all honesty - at that age something like the Horrible Histories TV show would probably be better suited, but give it a few years and SPQR would be perfect!

[@heathers8826]

I looked at Horrible Histories. That is WAY too young for him. He's a lot more advanced in his history studies than that. He's already reading adult novels and is working on first year high school work in his lessons (homeschooling rocks!)

[@SimonClark]

Well if he's reading at that advanced a level I'd say give it to him and see what he makes of it! Would be very interested to see what he thinks

[@heathers8826]

I showed him the book. I think he and I might read it together to compare notes. We'll let you know what we thought about it on the Goodreads account.

[@Smartacus98]

Roman history and culture is steeped in Greek myth! One of the most interesting things about Roman history is that the republican aristocracy fashioned themselves around greeks, spoke greek, read greek literature and philosophy, decorated their homes (styled around Greek architecture) with Greek art. Voltaire's Aeneid, and the works of Livy are proof too that the Romans idolised Greece; they traced their own lineage back to Aeneas, a Greek hero. However, by the time of the Byzantine Empire (basically the Eastern half of the Roman Empire that survived much longer than the west), which was very much based in and centred around Greece, people fashioned themselves as Romans and calling them Greek was an insult. While the Byzantines are a period of Roman history beyond that covered by SPQR, Mary beard makes an interesting point that, with all the Greek culture that came flowing into Rome after the conquest of Corinth, Rome began to mirror their Greek counterparts. So much so that Mary Beard proposes that while on the surface, Rome conquered Greece, it was actually Greece who conquered Rome, Rome did not attempt to stamp out Greek culture as they did with Carthage, they instead tried to embody it as almost superior to their own. If he hasn't already, I highly recommend your son read this book. My Mother is not at all interested in ancient history and even she enjoys Mary Beard's work (she has made numerous documentary series as well) so to someone who already enjoys Ancient Mediterranean history, SPQR would be a riveting read!

[@dianabanana08]

simon? can u give me some words of motivation, maybe a few words or 1 sentence. Ive got straight D's because i cant cope up with my night schedule and i feel so sad and i feel like giving up :( pls?

[@SimonClark]

Don't give up! There is always hope - there's no situation that is not transfigurable :) Remember to look at things like I talk about in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYe2i2uDZb-Hr80 You can do this.

[@dianabanana08]

+SimonOxfPhys you replied!! thank you!!! 😊

[@dunkingstudios]

I see with my two eyes... JohnCena!

[@SimonClark]

DA DA DA DAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@nanak3363]

Wonderful community :)

[@Gioachino_Orsini]

"The sexy parts of Roman history"XD

[@SimonClark]

Cato's ass, basically

[@Aiman09870]

hi

[@sumankrishnapanwar5568]

Hi Simon , this book also work for learn and know about history

[@jackj9816]

I wish we did more on rome in school we only did like one term on it the rest was mostly Austrilian history witch i can tell you as a aussie is not as interesting