Reviews

The Histories written by Herodotus is regarded as the first history book written. This is a model example for all history books that came afterwards, as Herodotus is the first person to realize the value of history. Collecting his research from a wide array of sources, Herodotus crafted a book meant to be analyzed and studied for future generations. In his narrative, he takes a deep look into his own world and the events that lead up to the main point of his book, the Greco-Persian War. In The Histories, Herodotus writes about the many different cultures of the known world, stretching from Libya and Egypt to the far reaches of the Middle East. Although the book can often be an unreliable account of history due to it including myths and legends alongside real accounts, it remains a leading source for the Ancient World. As a result, Herodotus is often cited as the Father of History. Furthermore, the book itself is an enjoyable, albeit confusing and slow read. The style and stories of Herodotus are engaging, but the book is long and lacks pacing. For example, Herodotus jumps around topics frequently and gets sidetracked with new subjects while he is still in the middle of explaining the previous one. Nevertheless, Herodotus’s The Histories remains a great introductory book to the Ancient World. However, I recommend the book to be read by people who already have a rudimentary knowledge of ancient history, as this will avoid some of the inaccurate accounts of Herodotus. As a result of its interesting style, incoherent pacing but cultural significance, it earns a 4/5 rating from me.