A seminal piece of work.

As a student of classical Greek history, and a professional post-graduate economist, this simply has reframed my understanding of the rise and decline of Classical Greece. Ober does not simply describe a series of unconnected events, nor is he just an entertaining story-teller, the author genuinely seeks to explain 'why' and 'how' the Ancient Greeks were so different. Ober holds some uncommon academic positions - with chairs in both classics and political science departments at Stanford. He brings an almost unique perspective - weaving Public Choice theory, economics, quantitative analysis as well as traditional textual reading. The book naturally is a political economy history of Greece. The Greek world was far larger, sophisticated and influential in its day than we give it credit. Standards of living, even for slaves, were not matched until 17th century Holland. The experience was not (mainly) driven by reliance on a slave economy (all ancient cultures had slaves), but by a uncompromising belief in self-government, competition, equality of opportunity and ultimately commerce and human capital development. Sound familiar? As I quipped to my friends: the Greek world was the United States of its day - the land of the free, who jealously guarded their rights including the right to defend their homes. If you are searching to reset your bearings about why democracy matters, read this book. It's no easy coffee-table book, he is an academic after all, but the investment is worth it. Ilias Mastoris