This book was an impulse addition to my Amazon Wish List, quite far outside my usual circle of history reading interests. Thank goodness it had plenty of maps to help me visualize a part of the world I am not very familiar with, much less a time period in history (300 B.C.-ish). It was a hard slog for me, not gonna lie. The author did a good job writing for an audience like me who maybe was not exactly on top of their ancient Greek history. There are many characters to keep track of; lots of multiple story lines, if you will. Nevertheless, I found myself constantly drawing comparisons to current events. Political power struggles haven't changed much.

1. Alliances shift with the political winds.
2. Weapons mean nothing if you don't have a good strategy.
3. Once an outsider, always an outsider.
4. Poison is an effective remedy for eliminating enemies.
5. Trust No One.

One aspect of this era in history that I find especially troubling is the constant state of flux of democracy in Athens. My impression of Athens was a shining beacon of democratic society. I was wrong. The rich did not want to lose power, and the common folk stunk at governing. Then you throw in the outside influences stirring the pot. Sound familiar? Makes me worry for the future.