How to Run a Country

“Edited by Philip Freeman, How to Run a Country is a brief introduction to Cicero’s political philosophy… [I]t contains–in English and Latin–fragments from Cicero’s books and speeches, as well as letters to friends and colleagues… [Cicero’s] views on war and immigration will strike many readers as modern and sane.”–Richard King, Australian “[A] delightful little book …”–John Wilson, Christianity Today “[Freeman’s] book is a collection of tidbits, of course, but if it sends its readers on a journey into Cicero’s world it will have achieved Freeman’s main purpose: the creation of citizen-readers who are a little bit more thoughtful about politics than they were before.”–Brett Evans, Inside Story “Freeman frees the material from its context, selecting excerpts whose content is thought provoking on its own terms, and which demonstrate Cicero’s outlook as a thinker in general. Freeman’s book is an entry-point, an introduction; while it is simply too short … to provide much traction for students in a typical college course, I certainly hope it will be successful in introducing Cicero to a wider audience.”–Joanna Kenty, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

Philip Freeman is the editor and translator of How to Win an Election: An Ancient Guide for Modern Politicians (Princeton) and the author of Oh My Gods: A Modern Retelling of Greek and Roman Myths, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar (all Simon & Schuster). He received his PhD from Harvard University and holds the Qualley Chair of Classical Languages at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.