Alexander the Great, Bill Yenne
Alexander the Great, Bill Yenne
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Alexander the Great
Lessons from History's Undefeated General

Author: Bill Yenne

Narrator: Richard Powers

Unabridged: 8 hr 42 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/01/2010

Synopsis

Alexander the Great is considered one of the most successful commanders of all time and was known to be undefeated in battle. He is mentioned in the Bible as well as the Qur’an and is on the shortest of short lists whenever the world’s best military leaders are catalogued. When asked to name other great military leaders, Caesar reportedly said Alexander was the only great one.Born in 356 B.C., the son of Philip II of Macedonia, Alexander the Great was educated by Aristotle, became a consummate horseman, and commanded a wing of his father’s army in the victory over the Thebans and Athenians at the Battle of Chaeronea — all when he was still a teenager. By the time of his death at age thirty-two, he had united Greece and had amassed an empire that stretched from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River and included all of Persia and most of Egypt. He ruled as both the shah of Persia and as a pharaoh of Egypt by right of conquest, and he was also crowned king of Asia. The scope of his military prowess remains awe inspiring to this day. Yenne’s masterful biography shows Alexander’s influence on the course of cultural and political history and discusses his leadership, strategy, and legacy.

About Bill Yenne

Bill Yenne is the author of more than two dozen books on military, aviation, and historical topics. He is a member of the American Aviation Historical Society and the American Society of Journalists & Authors and a regular contributor to International Air Power Review. He also worked with the legendary US Air Force commander, General Curtis E. LeMay. He lives in San Francisco, California.

About Richard Powers

Richard Powers has published thirteen novels. He is a MacArthur Fellow and received the National Book Award. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for The Overstory, and Bewilderment was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Lisa on June 05, 2019

With a few exceptions on confusing information, misspellings, and weird quotes this book is a must read for anyone interested in ancient history. I love the comparisons between modern and ancient history/battles. This gives great frame of reference and understanding for the readers. The weird quotes......more

Goodreads review by Gabriel on October 03, 2022

Much more in line with Alexander's militaristic policies and accomplishments than what I expected, Yenne still captures the essence of the conqueror; a brilliant, innovative, and profoundly inspiring leader, with some unique undercurrents of arrogance and ruthlessness of perhaps an almost psychotica......more

Goodreads review by Ross on March 18, 2024

Alexander the Great revealed even more… The author does a fine job of sifting through the classical bio’s to refine the short story of the legendary King, soldier and politician to reveal more of the human character hidden by the ages.......more

Goodreads review by Carmen on August 26, 2018

An in-depth review of Alexander the great as a military strategist, this book is very readable. The author compares Alexander's ideas to more recent battles, to give the reader some basis. He was a brilliant man!......more

Goodreads review by Evel on February 10, 2025

Focused on the military prowess and genius of Alexander the Great. I enjoyed it a lot. Brings a lot more details that are not widely known.......more

Quotes

“Hugely experienced military historian Bill Yenne has added yet another glittering feather to his cap with this impeccably source-based account of the military Midas of the ancient world. One can only agree with General Wesley K. Clark that Alexander’s legacy is enduringly informative.” Paul Cartledge, author of The Spartans and Alexander the Great

“An excellent survey of Alexander’s exploits and a vivid reminder that the geopolitical landscape hasn’t changed that much over the millennia.” John Negroponte, Senior Research Fellow and Lecturer in International Affairs at Yale University

“Listeners hear why history has never forgotten this man or his influence. Narrator Paul Garcia never hesitates in crossing the vast sea of Greek, Arabic, and Latin words—never mind if we don’t literally understand them. His skillful contribution, however, inflects them such that we can follow their context.” AudioFile

“In Alexander the Great, as in all his many books, Bill Yenne displays his talent for succinctly painting the big picture with a series of fascinating details that make ancient history come alive. Only an author of his experience and capability could render the amazing story of Alexander the Great with such accuracy and feeling. Yenne grabs the reader on page one and doesn’t let go until the book is ended with an intriguing chapter on what might have been if Alexander’s life had not been cut short. This book will make us yearn for the return of a leader like Alexander to resolve our current wars in the Middle East.” Walter Boyne, Colonel USAF (Ret.) and Former Director of the National Air & Space Museum

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