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Xenophon
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Cyropaedia: the education of Cyrus Kindle Edition

by Xenophon (Author), Henry Graham Dakyns (Translator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 134 ratings
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
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  1. Print length
    210 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
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  4. Publication date
    May 12, 2012
  5. File size
    402 KB
  6. Page Flip
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0082XOA4E
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 12, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 402 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 210 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 134 ratings

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Xenophon

Xenophon

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Xenophon (/ˈzɛnəfən, -ˌfɒn/; Greek: Ξενοφῶν [ksenopʰɔ̂ːn], Xenophōn; c. 430 – 354 BC), son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, also known as Xenophon of Athens, was a Greek historian, soldier, mercenary, and student of Socrates. While not referred to as a philosopher by his contemporaries, his status as such is now a topic of debate. He is known for writing about the history of his own times, the late 5th and early 4th centuries BC, especially for his account of the final years of the Peloponnesian War. His Hellenica, which recounts these times, is considered to be the continuation of Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War. His youthful participation in the failed campaign of Cyrus the Younger to claim the Persian throne inspired him to write his most famous work, Anabasis.

Despite growing up in Athens and being an Athenian citizen, Xenophon is also associated with Sparta, the traditional enemy of Athens. His pro-oligarchic views, service under Spartan generals in the Persian campaign and beyond, as well as his friendship with King Agesilaus II endeared Xenophon to the Spartans, and them to him. A number of his writings display his pro-Spartan bias and admiration, especially Agesilaus and Constitution of Sparta. Other than Plato, Xenophon is the foremost authority on Socrates, having learned under the great philosopher while a young man. He greatly admired his teacher, and well after Socrates’ death in 399 Xenophon wrote several Socratic dialogues, including an Apology concerning the events of his trial and death. Xenophon’s works cover a wide range of genres and are written in very uncomplicated Attic Greek. Xenophon’s works are among the first that many students of Ancient Greek translate on account of the straightforward and succinct nature of his prose. This sentiment was apparent even in ancient times, as Diogenes Laertius states in his Lives of Eminent Philosophers (2.6) that Xenophon was sometimes known as the "Attic Muse" for the sweetness of his diction.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Scan by User:Gabor [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

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4.3 out of 5 stars
134 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a great classic with incredible historical content. Moreover, the book is filled with valuable points on leadership, and one customer notes its Socratic style. Additionally, customers appreciate the good translation and find it worth reading.

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9 customers mention "Readability"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and worth reading, with one customer noting it surpasses Homer's works.

"...All in all a very interesting book, and very inspiring; it makes one want to strive to live an honorable life." Read more

"...Great is questionable, the ideals presented in this book are worth reading about...." Read more

"The book is an interesting read.There is little to no interest in the culture or religion of the court...." Read more

"...or perhaps translated but the story is quite interesting and worth the read." Read more

6 customers mention "Story quality"5 positive1 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, praising its incredible history, with one customer highlighting its simple narrative about an extraordinary man.

"...This is a simple story of an un ordinary man. I loved it...." Read more

"...and the footnotes are really interesting as they give glimpses into the history of the time and other influences Xenophon likely would have had when..." Read more

"...the way the book was written or perhaps translated but the story is quite interesting and worth the read." Read more

"Wow! Incredible history, action, adventure and wisdom roll into one! Seeing Daniel's writing on the wall from Cyrus' point of view. A tactical genius!" Read more

5 customers mention "Leadership content"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the leadership content of the book.

"...nowadays is horsemanship, but all the other fields are seen in a good leader, somebody who inspires his fellows...." Read more

"...A masterpiece on true leadership." Read more

"A very enjoyable reading and great resource on leadership. Just a minus: notes should be hyperlinked in text for direct consultation." Read more

"It's filled with great points on leadership and an overall understanding of Cyrus and the Persian empire. I loved it" Read more

3 customers mention "Style"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the style of the book, with one noting its Socratic approach and another describing it as idealized.

"...The drama and level of conflict is low. The style is Socratic with lots of remarks about proper character and how to govern people...." Read more

"A special note-- "Forgotten Books" series are sleek, very good quality paperbacks. "Cyropaedia."..." Read more

"Idealized, partly fictive biography of the greatest of kings. Shows more of Xenophons personality than that of Cyrus." Read more

3 customers mention "Translation quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the translation of the book.

"The translation was fine...." Read more

"A truly amazing translation of an ancient text...." Read more

"Great classic in a good translation. What more can be said about a book that was written so long ago?" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Zachy moritz
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of our kind absolute best individuals
    Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The tails here in are of one of us that was here and did what he was asked and suppose to do.
    He knew he come, he knew he is here he knew he will go.
    His only mistake he didn't go, he's here always.

    This is a simple story of an un ordinary man.
    I loved it.

    You'll need to over come some linguistic difficulties open you're perspective slightly and the lessons are there valid as all ways.

    Look at the content more than the literature side.
    If the word ancient world bothers you remember there's nothing new under the sun.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Christopher (o.d.c.)
    4.0 out of 5 stars What made Cyrus great...
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    "... Our laws themselves, I think, enforce this double lesson:—'Rule thou and be thou ruled.' And when I come to study the secret of it all, I seem to see that the real incentive to obedience lies in the praise and honour that it wins against the discredit and the chastisement which fall on the disobedient." (21) "That, my son," said the father, "is the road to the obedience of compulsion. But there is a shorter way to a nobler goal, the obedience of the will. When the interests of mankind are at stake, they will obey with joy the man whom they believe to be wiser than themselves. You may prove this on all sides: you may see how the sick man will beg the doctor to tell him what he ought to do, how a whole ship's company will listen to the pilot, how travellers will cling to the one who knows the way better, as they believe, than they do themselves. But if men think that obedience will lead them to disaster, then nothing, neither penalties, nor persuasion, nor gifts, will avail to rouse them. For no man accepts a bribe to his own destruction." (22) "You would have me understand," said Cyrus, "that the best way to secure obedience is to be thought wiser than those we rule?" "Yes," said Cambyses, "that is my belief."

    Dakyns, a student of Benjamin Jowett, translated all of Xenophon's writings in the late 19th C. He considered this a late work of Xenophon's, and it was the last work he himself translated. The notes for this volume were adapted from Dakyn's marginal notes to himself in his copy. Overall, it seems to be a much looser job than his translation of the Anabasis or the Memorabilia. (one reason I am giving four stars instead of five) For instance, he will often use phrases from the King James Bible, if the Greek reminds him of it (this is an abiding temptation for 19th C translators).

    The story, as is often pointed out, is more romance than chronicle. Here is one 'leadership secret' which seems as useful today as it did in the 4th C. B.C.:

    ... So the officers went to their quarters, and as they went they talked of Cyrus, and what a marvellous memory he had, always naming each officer as he assigned him his post. (47) The fact was Cyrus took special pains over this: it struck him as odd that a mere mechanic could know the names of all his tools, and a physician the names of all his instruments, but a general be such a simpleton that he could not name his own officers, the very tools he had to depend on each time he wanted to seize a point or fortify a post or infuse courage or inspire terror. Moreover it seemed to him only courteous to address a man by name when he wished to honour him. (48) And he was sure that the man who feels he is personally known to his commander is more eager to be seen performing some noble feat of arms, and more careful to refrain from all that is unseemly and base. (49) Cyrus thought it would be quite foolish for him to give his orders in the style of certain householders: "Somebody fetch the water, some one split the wood." (50) After a command of that kind, every one looks at every one else, and no one carries it out, every one is to blame, and no one is ashamed or afraid, because there are so many beside himself. Therefore Cyrus always named the officers whenever he gave an order.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Rodrigo Silva
    5.0 out of 5 stars Leading Book
    Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Not a page turner, but an excellent book regarding the attributes that a leader must have/learn/practice.

    The only thing that is not needed nowadays is horsemanship, but all the other fields are seen in a good leader, somebody who inspires his fellows.

    Cyrus balances his many attributes and deals with conflicts in a long term view, for the benefit of his fellows, his empire and himself (in this order).

    I would classify this book under management.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • mammy
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not Xenophon's best work
    Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The translation was fine. But this is not a complete picture of Cyrus and the stories are less interesting than what Herodotus wrote in far fewer pages. The drama and level of conflict is low. The style is Socratic with lots of remarks about proper character and how to govern people. But not much detail compared with other Cyrus works. Perhaps Xenophon was not as well informed about the events that happened 200 years his prior.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • urs0polar
    5.0 out of 5 stars Classic
    Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2016
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    I read this on Kindle, and it was well written, and the footnotes are really interesting as they give glimpses into the history of the time and other influences Xenophon likely would have had when he wrote what he wrote.

    All in all a very interesting book, and very inspiring; it makes one want to strive to live an honorable life.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Antonio Bustillo
    4.0 out of 5 stars Xenophon's version of Cyrus the Great
    Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    A special note-- "Forgotten Books" series are sleek, very good quality paperbacks.

    "Cyropaedia."
    There are debates as to whether Xenophon meant this as a pure historical account of Cyrus the Great. I don't believe he did. In Cyropaedia there are scenes that are straight from some of Xenophon's own works, "Anabasis," "Memorabilia," and "Agesilaus."
    Cyropaedia reads more like an excellent historical 'novel.'
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Annastasia L. Wischki
    5.0 out of 5 stars I read this after noting that Cyrus the Great was specifically named to become the ruler he was ...
    Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I read this after noting that Cyrus the Great was specifically named to become the ruler he was 140 years beforehand. After learning that Alexander the Great read this very same author..being Greek myself I just had to read it. It brought the ancient world alive! I learned a lot about humanity through these pages.
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  • Tony
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cyrus the Great
    Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great book on politics. It was mandatory for statesmen to read this book alongside Machiavelli's book 'The Prince'. Although the historical content in this book about Cyrus the Great is questionable, the ideals presented in this book are worth reading about. Anyone who is interested in leadership and rulership should read this book.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Roger
    5.0 out of 5 stars Xenophon is not easy to read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    No translation from another language, especially an ancient language is easy, either to make or to do. Yet this must be one of the most readable from the world of Ancient Greece about Ancient Persia and Medea,
    I am researching this period for something I am writing myself and find the lack or sources much restored by this view of a person and his world.
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  • flotationtherapy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2014
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    Fantastic book to open your mind about how you go about things in life. It's well written and has a great story to tell so my advice is to give it a go!
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  • Henrik Schilder
    5.0 out of 5 stars Xenophon tells a story from real life
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2014
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    Xenophon tells a story from real life.
    This is a very sensible guy telling a learning story 400 years before Jesus.
    Henrik Schilder
    Copenhagen
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  • KAZ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2017
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    It’s very good book thank you Amazon
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  • panayiotis sardos
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 7, 2017
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    Book material according to my expectations.
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