What I learned from reading Alexander the Great: The Brief Life and Towering Exploits of History's Greatest Conqueror--As Told By His Original Biographers by Arrian, Plutarch, and Quintus Curtius Rufus.
Alexander lived for 32 years and eight months.
He ruled for twelve years and eight months.
He was handsome, embraced hardship, and had the sharpest of minds.
He was extremely brave and dedicated himself to both honor and to taking risks.
He had an insatiable appetite for glory, even when circumstances were unclear.
He was highly skilled in seeing what needed to be done.
When it came to drawing up, arming and equipping his army, he was highly knowledgeable.
He was able to raise morale among his soldiers, to fill them with hopes, and through his own fearlessness, to dispel their fear.
In times of danger, at moments of uncertainty, he acted with the greatest courage.
He kept his promises.
It is true that passion or temper may have sometimes led Alexander Astray, that to some degree he inclined towards arrogance.
But Alexander was noble enough to repent for his errors.
Whoever would reproach Alexander should first weigh up his own personality and achievements against Alexander's.
It is my opinion that at that time there was no nation, no city, not even one man who had not heard the name of Alexander.
That is an excerpt from the last chapter of the book that I'm going to talk to you about today, which is Alexander the Great, the brief life and towering exploits of history's greatest conqueror, as told by his original biographers.
Okay, before I jump back into the book, I want to go back a few episodes ago on episode number 226, I read this book called heroes.
It's by this fantastic writer named Paul Johnson, who I just discovered and absolutely love.
And I'm starting to devour his books.
And he breaks down.
There's like 30 heroes throughout history.