This one was hard to rate. It's basically a history of books and libraries of the ancient Greco-Roman world. It started off fairly interesting but my interest didn't seem well matched to the length of the book, and it wasn't a long book. So I'm not sure whether the later chapters on Roman libraries and early Christian libraries were drier or more repetitive or what, but my interest flagged a little. I considered dropping down to 2.5 stars but thought that might be a bit harsh.

TITLE: The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

AUTHOR:  Paul Jordan

DATE PUBLISHED: 2002

FORMAT: Paperback

ISBN-13: 978-0-582-77187-1

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In this book, Paul Jordan takes a look at the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World:  how the list (or rather lists, since there were many) were compiled4, who compiled the lists (the Ancient Greeks), why specific wonders ended up on the lists, what the ancient wonders looked like since none exists in their original form and many of them have been destroyed, where they were located, and what eventually happened to them.  The book includes a map and illustrations.  I found this book to be generally interesting, but was disappointed by the chapter on the Egyptian Pyramids which was outdated (even at the time of going into press).  Jordan also discusses possible wonders from other civilizations that may (or may not) have made it onto such a list had the Ancient Greeks known about them.

Other relevant book:

Wonders of the Ancient World: Antiquity's Greatest Feats of Design and Engineering by Justin Pollard

This book provides a summary and brief analysis of what the Classical Greeks and Romans knew or thought about the world around them in terms of geography and exploratory journeys.  The book basically does what it says on the cover, so there isn't much to comment  on.  This book would make a useful addition for someone researching geography during the Classical Greek & Roman age.  For the non-researcher this book may eventually get a bit tedious, even though it is interesting in parts.

SIMILAR RECOMMENDED BOOKS

*  The Extraordinary Voyage of Pytheas the Greek by Barry Cunliffe.

*  Europe Before Rome:  A Site-By-Wite Tour of the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages by T. Douglas Price.

*  In Search of the Immortals:  Discovering the World's Mummy Cultures by Howard Reid.

*  The Voyage of the Argo:  The Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes

*  The Vinland Sagas

Egypt has time and again proved to be an enigma to the world. Ancient Egyptian history is one of the most intriguing topics of discussion among archaeologists. What makes Ancient Egypt such a fascinating subject?

This e-book has been divided into two main sections, the first dealing with the history of Ancient Egypt and the second with Egyptian mythology.

Are you excited to begin this journey into the history of Ancient Egypt and its many myths?

what did I think of it:
5 stars
Even though its only 40 pages, its still good , because it brakes the information down so you can actual understand it better, its a good book to have if your just starting out to study Ancient Egypt

This is the small companion book to the exhibit of the same name. There is a larger, heavier, and costlier book. I saw the exhibit in Washington, DC at the National Geographic Museum.

This small companion book is a good remembrance of the show. You will not learn really anything more than the wonderful show tells you, but it does have lovely pictures. The show itself is worth going to, and includes some items that have never left Greece until the show. It does blend a bit of Hollywood in - for instance the 300 section is referring the movie, yet then the history is put front and center.