The Virtues of War is a masterful exploration of ancient warfare, weaving together history, philosophy, and vivid storytelling to create an engaging and thought-provoking narrative. From the campaigns of Alexander the Great to the battlefields of ancient Persia, the author delves deep into the psyche of warriors and leaders, offering profound insights into the virtues and vices that accompany the pursuit of conquest.

What sets this book apart is the author’s ability to bring history to life with his vivid prose and meticulous research. Whilst reading, I felt transported to the heart of ancient battles, experiencing the chaos and adrenaline of combat alongside legendary figures such as Alexander and Achilles. The author’s intimate understanding of military strategy and tactics shines through in every page, making this book a must-read for history buffs and military enthusiasts alike.

However, this is not a book for everyone. Its focus on ancient warfare and philosophical musings may not appeal to readers looking for a light or fast-paced read. Instead, this book is best suited for those who enjoy delving into the complexities of human nature and the art of war. Military history aficionados, scholars of ancient civilizations, and anyone interested in the timeless themes of honour, courage, and leadership will find this book to be a captivating and enriching read.

In conclusion, I found this book to be a compelling masterpiece that earns its place among the classics of military literature. With its impeccable research, gripping narrative, and profound insights, it deserves a full five-star rating and is highly recommended for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the virtues and complexities of warfare throughout history.

I've always been amazed at Pressfield's uncanny ability to portray ideals of depth with such truth. Virtues of War is no different. At surface level, easily on par with Homer's Iliad for it's detailed and graphic action scenes, but there is so much more. The exploration of warrior culture digs into concepts of Honor, Valor, Loyalty, Humility, Trust, Courage, and other values known so well to soldiers of any generation. There's some inspirational muse that empowers Pressfield to depict universal meaning behind language, and it manifests here though his description of Alexander's "Daimon", and his monstrous abilities. This novel is more than highly accurate historical fiction, but a journey through unimaginable success and indescribable failure in search of fulfillment and human purpose.

"Life is a battle, is it not? And how better to train for it than to be a soldier?"

Pressfield chooses an interesting premise to tell the story of Alexander in Virtues of War: a tired, frustrated conqueror relates his memories to an aide in the weeks after turning back from his campaign in India.

What follows is a recounting of the major battles of Alexanders' career, beginning with a battle against the Thebans, then the champions of the Greek city states. As the narrative flows from battle to battle, Pressfied offers fascinating insights into Alexander's strategy, particularly his efforts to disguise his strategies until the perfect time to strike.

I had a general knowledge of Alexander before reading the book, but I learned a lot of details about Alexander's battles on his Asian campaign, in particular: Granicus, Issus, and Gaugamela. Pressfield wields a background in the Marine corps to frame believable scenes of ancient warfare.

Like many readers, I first became acquainted with Pressfield through his book on the Battle of Thermopylae, Gates of Fire. I would still recommend that book as an introduction to his oeuvre, as VOW is more technical, broader in scope. Still, this was a good read. One I will remember for a long time.

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This is the third time I've read this novel narrated by Alexander the Great. I am engrossed in every page! The author gives the reader such clear pictures, colorful imagery, cogent observation of events as well as characters that anyone can enjoy this book, set as it is in ancient times, and covering many facets of military maneuvers and strategy. A must read for ancient history lovers and former Latin pupils!

I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel as it was written as if it was during the time of Alexander III of Macedon’s life, his succession to King, conquest and more specifically the campaigns into India.
The novel shows Alexander’s leadership and how he inspires his men, which has made him memorable not only by his feats of victories in battle but how he lead his men. This legacy of his did not only last for a generation but is still talked about to this day, a mere 2300+ years later.
This novel shows Alexander as a man and doesn’t just talk about the facts and which battles were won, etc. although it has all the battle tactics and numbers of men, etc. that you would find in a non fiction book as well. I believe it is a good combination of both and is a novel that could be enjoyed by both sorts of readers: fiction as well as nonfiction.

n  "I have always been a soldier. I have known no other life."n

I have lots of thoughts on this one, I will see if I can set myself the Herculean (or Alexandrian?) task of ordering them here.

First off, the framing device of a mature Alexander sitting by the campfire regaling young page boys with his manly triumphs couldn't help me thinking of the infamous "Canteen Boy" SNL sketch.


Is my beard too scratchy, Itanes?

Next, almost inevitably in books about Alexander III of Macedon you get plenty of juicy dialogue or mentions of his academic tutor, Aristotle. It's irresistible stuff for most authors, of course: one of history's greatest thinkers influencing a man who would go on to become on of history's greatest conquerors. The way this book is written, though, is as a soldier's memoir and Big A is focussed on passing on his experiences as a leader and a campaigner to his audience, not the inner workings of his soul or philosophical musings.


Looking for Aristotle Content?

There are scattered flashes of self-awareness but don't expect much else by way of humility from the world-conqueror. The Alexander who acts as narrator is arguably at the height of his powers, before the death of his beloved Hephaestion and still scheming to invade and subjugate every corner of the known world that has thus far escaped his passing. Expect a lot of discussion of his "Daimon", an inner demon more in keeping with the pagan Hellenic tradition that what you see in the Exorcist, as it possesses him to states of exultation and rage at seemingly minor triumphs, set-backs and slights.


Definitely a bro who gives himself his own "cool" nicknames

Ultimately it is a compelling narrative that neither lionizes nor demonizes the historical Alexander but attempts, as much as can be possible, to place him in his own context. I recommend.


I got you in my bleary sights, Romans!

A note on the Audiobook narrator: I can only wish I had a rich, sonorous baritone like John Lee but I feel his stentorian patrician cadence somehow didn't fit the first person perspective, particularly for scenes like when Alexander is delightedly recounting how some of the passes in the Hindu Kush were so steep they'd make a mule's asshole whistle from the effort of climbing them. But perhaps I'm just letting myself be too influenced by the memory of Colin Farrell's Irish bumpkin version of some years ago, which probably strayed too far to the other extreme.


It IS true that Alexander was said to be rather short and stocky...

This is my third historical novel by Steven Pressfield, following The Gates of Fire and Killing Rommel, and it's another engaging addition to his body of work. Coming into this, I didn't know much about Alexander the Great, but was excited to learn more through Pressfield's fictionalised lens.

As with his other works, he does justice to the subject matter, creating a vivid and immersive narrative. The book tracks Alexander's life and exploits from before his father's death to his own untimely end. It's an inspiring and fascinating journey, exploring not only the grand scale of his military campaigns but also the intimate details of his leadership and relationships with his officers and army.

Pressfield has a knack for bringing historical figures to life in a way that feels authentic and deeply human. That said, I've always found large-scale battles in Pressfield's books a bit of a struggle. He has a stylistic habit of cataloguing the individual units and forces involved in great detail, which can feel unnecessary and somewhat tedious at times. However, this doesn't detract from the overall impact of the story.

This is a great read for anyone interested in leadership, war, military history, or historical fiction in general. It's both a compelling narrative and a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to lead on and off the battlefield.

Written in first person, this novel tells the story of Alexander's conquests through his own words. This book was a major turn-off in the beginning because it was nothing more than a statistical summary of all the components of his army during one campaign versus another. He would list in detail the types of weapons his men carried, how much these weapons weighed, how they were utilized and why they were so effective in certain situations. Also a lot of detail on battlefield strategy, which interested me not in the least. What I was looking for was a story about Alexander and how he came to power, not a checklist of his supplies. But in the end, I realized that my expectations were probably set too high. When you consider that Alexander spent his entire adult life making war, it's probably a pretty accurate depiction of who he really was. What else could be said about a guy who was always thinking ahead to his next battle? So perhaps the novel's weaknesses shouldn't be blamed on Pressfield but instead on Alexander, who maybe just wasn't as interesting as I would've thought. I would like to add, however, that there were parts to the story that I liked very much, especially toward the end when Alexander begins to express a faint sense of regret. If this had been a bigger part of the plot, I would have given it a much better recommendation.

My first experience of Pressfield, the weaving of great history and splendid writing, is something that I cannot express well enough. Some are historians, with dry and textual content. VERY few are incredible writers. Steven Pressfield holds talent in both areas. This book is a clear example of his gifts.
“From that day, I vowed never to squander a moment's care over the good opinion of others. May they rot in hell. You have heard of my abstemiousness in matters of food and sex. Here is why: I punished myself. If I caught my thoughts straying to another's opinion of me, I sent myself to bed without supper. As for women, I likewise permitted myself none. I missed no few meals, and no small pleasure, before I brought this vice under control.”
A young man's journey into the world of the military under Alexander is the thread. To comprehend the level of devotion and isolation and brutality, day after day and year after year, is hard for me, even as a military veteran. Leadership is paramount in the military. This book demonstrates both good and poor leadership. This book, like The Art of War, could be brought into the business world, as well as the family structure.
I rarely give five stars. but this is very much worthy.

Εξαιρετικό και πολύ ευχάριστο στην ανάγνωση, σε μεταφέρει πίσω στον χρόνο στο πλάι του Μ Αλέξανδρου.

120 pages in a week? Inconceivable.

I wanted to like this book, and there were moments when I did. But overall, I was bored out of my skull. Couldn't make it halfway. I already renewed it once at the library and I can't see holding onto it when I'd rather read medication warning labels more exciting stuff.

I think I could like Pressfield, if he'd focus on characters and story rather than play-by-play details of battles. His narrative voice for the first person Alexander is off too. Doesn't make him sympathetic at all.

I'll give it 2-stars. Because it's "ok" rather than something I dislike. But life is too short to mire oneself in "ok" reading experiences.

La lectura de este libro se me hizo larguísima en su momento al tratarse de una novela histórica. No obstante, leerlo vale la pena, a pesar de que no necesariamente todo lo que está ahí coincide con la realidad histórica, porque representa una fiel adaptación a la vida y obra de Alejandro Magno, el conquistador de Asia Menor. Expone su vida temprana, el autor recrea de una manera única y crea a un Magno diferente al que a veces acostumbramos a ver en los libros de historia. Nos enteramos que Alejandro era austero, humilde, psicótico y un apasionado, más allá de sus facultades en el campo de batalla y la estrategia. Además de centrarse en Alejandro, la historia va en torno a otros personajes como Hefestión, Seleúco, Ptolomeo y el resto de sus generales, posteriormente llamados diádocos. Interesado por el título, que en español es La Conquista de Alejandro, lo compré en una tienda de garage mientras estaba de viaje y valió la pena, además porque el precio era diminuto y porque acabé sacando una buena tajada del libro en cuanto a conocimientos, me enganchó algunos días. Recomendable.