Outstanding! This is THE book on Carthage.

This is an awesome history of Carthage, with a fresh look at how it existed in its own times and setting, as opposed to the way it appeared to Greek and Roman historians. Obviously, we have no opportunity to do primary research on Carthaginian mores and motives, but the author does an outstanding job of dissecting much of the conventional wisdom about Carthage, its people, and the events surrounding its rise and fall.

Some reviews have addressed a long dry patch somewhat early in the work, and I did in fact wind up forwarding past a few chapters. Yet this is what makes the book definitive. I was blown away by the level of detail assessing sources such as works of art, artifacts, and secondhand histories. The economic drivers, likely cultural influences, and geographic facts of life lend the author's own analysis a great weight. Just the same, this section is a bit dry if you are not already conversant with much of the artifact-based history. Having heard a good sampling of the evidence, I skipped much of it, decided to take him at his word and got back to the juicy mainstream of the book.

This is a powerful and convincing history well told by the writer and well-read by the narrator. A top-notch effort and well worth not only your money, but your time and attention.

If you were interested enough to check out this title, then this IS a book you want.

23 people found this helpful

Fascinating Overview, Occasional dry stretches

I have read a fair amount of ancient history, but never knew much about Carthage in particular. This book gives a compelling, easy to understand and enjoyable to hear overview of the ancient city's entire history. There are just a few dry as dust sections where archaeological details get a little overwhelming, but the vast majority of the book moves along well. Grover Gardner, as always, does a great job with the narration.

15 people found this helpful

Facinating

This is a thought provoking overview of the political, military, religious and social history of the rise and fall of an early "world" power. The book covers an approximately 800 year period from the founding of the city of Carthage to its complete destruction by Rome. The book is well researched but does not overwhelm the lay reader with source material. Events are presented both from the perspective of Carthage and from other, primarily Greek and Roman sources. There are many parallels between events in this time period and our own. Carthage was much more than Hannibal and the elephants crossing the alps. Well worth a listen.

10 people found this helpful

Very enjoyable and unique

I've gone through the story of the punic wars over and over again but this is the first I've heard the story from the carthaginian pov. Beyond that, the book gets into history you probably haven't heard about the carthaginians such as their Sicilian campaigns.

2 people found this helpful

Excellent and Informative

Where does Carthage Must Be Destroyed rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's in my top twenty- I'm generally fond of historical books and this is in my top 5, in that particular category.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I found the early sections of the book to be most enjoyable, in spite of a popular consensus that they are "Dryer" than the rest- indeed, to an extent I found the earlier parts the most engaging of the entire work, because of how well the author explains the painstaking work that goes into reconstructing any bit of useful historical information about Qart-Hadasht.

2 people found this helpful

Great book read by a great choice

this want my favorite groover Gardner performance because of some pronunciation issues, but his voice is perfect for audio books overall.

I really like Richard Miles presentation of Carthage. it's honest and deep. so many authors of books like this fall in love with their subject and cannot be critical of the failings of cultures or leaders. Miles sticks to the facts and presents Carthage in a relatable, human way. His presentation of the culture and how it for into the greater Greek and Latin world was very insightful, showing them in the truest way we can see in light of the limited sources. Impressive authorship!

1 person found this helpful

Great account of the Mediterranean's "Other" City

As much as I have read about Roman history, I have only learned about Carthage while studying about Rome. Everything has been derived. Thus, Carthage was typically presented in almost a stereotypical manner, juxtaposed as the proverbial villain against Rome. Miles did a good job in distilling Carthaginian history, much of which was passed to us through Roman bias.

It is amazing to consider what Phoenicia and Carthage did through their exploration and establishing trade routes. Reading that they made it to the West coast of Africa, and probably up the French coast is not surprising. But to accomplish what they did given their technology and tools is remarkable.

Its tragic end was somewhat anti-climatic, although everything we have of it is through a Roman lens. And I don't think Miles fully grasped Scipio Corculum's opposition to the war. He presented this as a possible addition by later generations who had experienced the Roman Civil Wars that broke out after the fall of Carthage. But many Roman's understood their history and had seen what had happened previously when an up-and-coming civilization had supplanted its rival and arrived on the pinnacle with no rivals. Athens (Persian Empire) and Sparta (Athens) both suffered in a breakdown of their society's and then of their country after having bested their nemesis. The parallel with the US and the USSR is unmistakable.

Great read and a great companion to Cline's 1177 B.C., both of which I recommend highly. - Hamilton of the Smokies

1 person found this helpful

Complement to The Rise of Rome

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. You'll learn a lot about Carthage, Carthaginians, and Carthage's relationship to Rome.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hannibal to learn about, but not to like.

What about Grover Gardner’s performance did you like?

His voice was clear with gravitas that kept your attention.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No.

1 person found this helpful

Okay pop history, terrible narration

Carthage isn't a subject given a lot of attention outside of as an antagonist for Republican Rome, fair enough, but Miles delves deep into the background of one of the great cities of the Ancient Mediterranean. Indeed, much of the book only sets the scene for the Second Punic War, which seems to be the primary focus (or at least the subject given the most attention) rather than the events immediately surrounding the destruction of Carthage.
Like a lot of popular history books these days, it seems, Carthage Must Be Destroyed relies heavily on connecting various, and sometimes loosely, related topics to provide an overarching narrative that grasps for word count rather than content. Miles' work here is more reminiscent of an excellent, if overly ambitious, undergrad thesis (or an underwhelming graduate one) than a moderately serious work designed as anything other than selling units.
While probably worth a read if one is interested in Carthage, or Republican Rome, actually reading the book, rather than listening to this audiobook, may be a better option. Gardner's narration, or more precisely his pronunciation, is often so randomly off that it's jarring. Ancient names and words, understandably, have a certain leeway with pronunciation but one is often forced to wonder if Gardner has ever thought to look up a word rather than attempt to sound it out. It's truly terrible.

9 people found this helpful

Amazing mythic analysis

Richard Miles catalogs the Three Punic Wars from start to finish whilst tracing the attempts both sides made to align themselves with the Hercules myths to garner support. Through illuminating these connections one can see how war in the ancient world was also a politicized religious affair. The case he crafts about the perseverance of Hannibal and Romes resilience in an ideological and military sense.