Appropriately enough, Water Margin was adapted (very loosely) into a JRPG series, Suidoken(by Japanese company Konami, so I assume "Suiodken" is the romanization of the Japanese rendering of a Chinese title). And you recruit a huge cast in each game.
However, I am confused on one point. You describe a conversation on how to rule between Cyrus and "his father Astyages", but Astyages is his grandfather, and Cambyses I his father, no? I checked the Henry Graham Dakyns translation and the conversation appears to be with Cambyses I.
Re. discerning between solvable and unsolvable problems reminds me of the no-win "Kobayashi Maru" scenario from the 1982 film, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan". Designed to unveil a leader's true character--how he would react in the face of certain death, it cribbed a rather obvious page from the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ's willing submission to His Father's will in crucifixion to save sinners, and the martyrdom of His people (Christians) down through the ages.
ST's atheistic creator, Gene Rodenberry (d.1991), would surely never admit such a link, but with Cyrus, whom Isaiah prophesied long before his birth, the comparison strikes a lot closer to the truth.
This was an outstanding review and exposition of the fundamentals of Xenophon's book. I've always admired Xenophon, the less intellectual of Socrates famous students. I do remember my efforts in a Jesuit high school trying to translate some of The Anabasis.
We used to celebrate March 4th as Exelauno Day, exelauno being the Greek for "to march forth", a frequently used verb in the book.
I do think you were incorrect in calling X a "frenemy" of Socrates. I've read and srill have a copy of his "Recollections of Socrates", a book which deserves to be besides Plato's writings on their teacher.
In a similar vein, from a less civilized but more recent country, I recommend the autobiography of the late 19th c. Afghan Padshah: "The life of Abdur Rahman, Amir of Afghanistan"
"...the narrative contained in volume one of The Life has been otherwise overlooked by scholars, and its virtues, both as a story and as a treatise on kingship, have been largely ignored. This is a strange oversight, if only because Abdur Rahman's life history is a fascinating tale of adventure and intrigue. As the translator of the autobiography notes in his preface, Abdur Rahman's early life is “like a chapter of the `Arabian Nights,' the reader cannot help being interested to notice that a monarch like the Amir, setting aside the idea of boasting, should condescend to make a clear statement of how he was a prisoner in fetters at one time, and a cook at another; a Viceroy at one time, and a subject of the Viceroy at another; a general at one time, and under the command of the general at another; an engineer and a blacksmith at one time, and a ruler at another.
Beyond its sheer drama, however, the story of Abdur Rahman's early life deserves attention for what it tells us about the Amir's vision of kingship and his understanding of the reciprocal obligations of ruler and ruled. Written originally as a book of advice, The Life retains its sense of moral instruction even in its English incarnation." --"Heroes of the Age", Edwards
Regarding the ruling class being Spartan, this has disappointingly infected the European upper-managerial class as well; when I was an office whipping boy, I looked forward in glee to the days when I, too, could go for cigars and martinis in the City and call it work, but by the time I got there the culture was coffee and marathon training. I remain incredibly disappointed, albeit I must admit the dullness and grind of long distance running is a natural match for the dullness and grind of corporate life.
Appropriately enough, Water Margin was adapted (very loosely) into a JRPG series, Suidoken(by Japanese company Konami, so I assume "Suiodken" is the romanization of the Japanese rendering of a Chinese title). And you recruit a huge cast in each game.
I've typically slightly preferred Mrs. Psmith's reviews to yours (because of the subject matter) but this is a banger. Nice work.
Excellent review.
Read The Anabasis next! https://lawliberty.org/book-review/the-socratic-statesman/
It’s on the list! (It is a long list.)
Thanks for the review.
However, I am confused on one point. You describe a conversation on how to rule between Cyrus and "his father Astyages", but Astyages is his grandfather, and Cambyses I his father, no? I checked the Henry Graham Dakyns translation and the conversation appears to be with Cambyses I.
Good catch! I fixed this, thanks.
Welcome back! And congrats as well.
Re. discerning between solvable and unsolvable problems reminds me of the no-win "Kobayashi Maru" scenario from the 1982 film, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan". Designed to unveil a leader's true character--how he would react in the face of certain death, it cribbed a rather obvious page from the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ's willing submission to His Father's will in crucifixion to save sinners, and the martyrdom of His people (Christians) down through the ages.
ST's atheistic creator, Gene Rodenberry (d.1991), would surely never admit such a link, but with Cyrus, whom Isaiah prophesied long before his birth, the comparison strikes a lot closer to the truth.
This was an outstanding review and exposition of the fundamentals of Xenophon's book. I've always admired Xenophon, the less intellectual of Socrates famous students. I do remember my efforts in a Jesuit high school trying to translate some of The Anabasis.
We used to celebrate March 4th as Exelauno Day, exelauno being the Greek for "to march forth", a frequently used verb in the book.
I do think you were incorrect in calling X a "frenemy" of Socrates. I've read and srill have a copy of his "Recollections of Socrates", a book which deserves to be besides Plato's writings on their teacher.
You and Scott Alexander both reviewed this book within a week of each other?
Hah! What a coincidence. Glad I scooped him.
Valuable lessons from Emperor Cyrus' education --
In a similar vein, from a less civilized but more recent country, I recommend the autobiography of the late 19th c. Afghan Padshah: "The life of Abdur Rahman, Amir of Afghanistan"
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gdc/gdclccn.01027174v1
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gdc/gdclccn.01027174v2 .
"...the narrative contained in volume one of The Life has been otherwise overlooked by scholars, and its virtues, both as a story and as a treatise on kingship, have been largely ignored. This is a strange oversight, if only because Abdur Rahman's life history is a fascinating tale of adventure and intrigue. As the translator of the autobiography notes in his preface, Abdur Rahman's early life is “like a chapter of the `Arabian Nights,' the reader cannot help being interested to notice that a monarch like the Amir, setting aside the idea of boasting, should condescend to make a clear statement of how he was a prisoner in fetters at one time, and a cook at another; a Viceroy at one time, and a subject of the Viceroy at another; a general at one time, and under the command of the general at another; an engineer and a blacksmith at one time, and a ruler at another.
Beyond its sheer drama, however, the story of Abdur Rahman's early life deserves attention for what it tells us about the Amir's vision of kingship and his understanding of the reciprocal obligations of ruler and ruled. Written originally as a book of advice, The Life retains its sense of moral instruction even in its English incarnation." --"Heroes of the Age", Edwards
Regarding the ruling class being Spartan, this has disappointingly infected the European upper-managerial class as well; when I was an office whipping boy, I looked forward in glee to the days when I, too, could go for cigars and martinis in the City and call it work, but by the time I got there the culture was coffee and marathon training. I remain incredibly disappointed, albeit I must admit the dullness and grind of long distance running is a natural match for the dullness and grind of corporate life.
One of the best reviews you’ve done! A great read