Do you like a good thriller? Everybody likes a little excitement right? Such books as Marathon Man, Rear Window, and John Grisham’s 1991 book THE FIRM are just a few that can be classfied in this genre. If you’re a fan of thrillers, everything from 007 to a good Hitchcock story you might find it interesting what was rated number one and two by the International Writers Organization in the recent book: Thrillers, 100 Must Reads, edited by David Morrell and Hank Wagner.
THESEUS AND THE MINOTAUR (1500 B.C.)
The story of Theseus and the Minotaur is over 3,500 years old. Synopsis: Athens and Crete have a truce, held together by Athens sending young men and women to be sacrificed to the Minotaur (halve man and bull). The hero volunteers to be its victim, seduces the daughter of the enemy King, and is provided a ball of string to find his way out from the maze where the Minotaur kills its victims.
and
Homer’s THE ILLIAD and THE ODYSSEY (7th Century B.C.)
The Illiad tells the tale of the anger of Achillies. The story provides us passages like:
Dazzling was the sheen of their gleaming helmets, their
fresh-burnished breastplates, and glittering shields as they
joined battle with one another. Iron indeed must be his courage
who could take pleasure in the sight of such a turmoil, and look
on it without being dismayed.
…and within the pages of the Odyssey we have tales of the Cyclops, the enchantress Cerce, and the nymph Calypso, with a room full of suitors being picked off by Odysseus.
The arrow struck Antinous in the throat, and the point went clean through his neck, so that he fell over and the cup dropped from his hand, while a thick stream of blood gushed from his nostrils. He kicked the table from him and upset the things on it, so that the bread and roasted meats were all soiled as they fell over on to the ground. The suitors were in an uproar…
Now THAT is a thriller if there ever was one.
Can you guess what was third on the list?
Rob Cain has traveled extensively through Europe, Italy, and Egypt. He was formerly on active duty with the United States Army. He is a fan of history, and enjoys reading books on the history of Rome. He currently has a podcast presentation on itunes and hipcast. The blog is for the free and open discussion of Ancient Rome based on Mr. Cain's observations noted in his podcast. Most episodes start out with an original dramatic narration written by Mr. Cain. In the podcasts he will include his own unique commentary, and interviews with subject matter experts. Comments are welcome and will be highlighted on the show. 
Episode 10, “Nothing New Under the Sun. Get Over it”, features the book, “The Ancient Guide to Modern Life” written by author, comedian, and TV commentator Natalie Haynes.” Whether political, cultural, or social, there are endless parallels between the ancient and modern worlds. Whether it's the murder of Caesar or the political assassination of Thatcher; the narrative arc of the hit HBO series, The Wire, or that of Oedipus; the popular enthusiasm for the Emperor Titus or President Obama – over and over again we can be seen to be living very much like people did 2,000 or more years ago. It's time for us to re-examine the past. Our lives are infinitely richer if we take the time to look at what the Greeks and Romans have given us in politics and law, religion and philosophy and education, and to learn how people really lived in Athens, Rome, Sparta and Alexandria. 
This is a book with a serious point to make but the author isn't just a classicist but a comedian and broadcaster who has made television and radio documentaries about humor, education and Dorothy Parker. This is a book for us all, not for an elite.
