Synopses & Reviews
A dynamic and exciting way to understand success and failure, through the life of Hannibal, one of history's greatest generals.
The life of Hannibal, the Carthaginian general who crossed the Alps with his army in 218 B.C.E., is the stuff of legend. And the epic choices he and his opponents made-on the battlefield and elsewhere in life-offer lessons about responding to our victories and our defeats that are as relevant today as they were more than 2,000 years ago. A big new idea book inspired by ancient history, Hannibal and Me explores the truths behind triumph and disaster in our lives by examining the decisions made by Hannibal and others, including Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Steve Jobs, Ernest Shackleton, and Paul Cézanne-men and women who learned from their mistakes.
By showing why some people overcome failure and others succumb to it, and why some fall victim to success while others thrive on it, Hannibal and Me demonstrates how to recognize the seeds of success within our own failures and the threats of failure hidden in our successes. The result is a page-turning adventure tale, a compelling human drama, and an insightful guide to understanding behavior. This is essential reading for anyone who seeks to transform misfortune into success at work, at home, and in life.
Review
“Charming and fascinating”
—The Wall Street Journal
"What makes or breaks a book like this, with its uncommon structure and sometimes lofty subject matter, is the storytelling, and this book is one of the best in that regard that I have read in a long time."
—Jack Covert, 800ceoread.com
“Fight any urge to dismiss Hannibal and Me as boys-only self help. True, the book comes complete with warriors, military strategies, elephants, golf, and a seductress, but this book is a serious and fascinating exploration of issues many of us grapple with on a daily basis. Highly recommended.”
—New York Journal of Books
“A study of the ephemeral nature of power that grapples, often very effectively, with the meaning of true happiness…Hannibal and Me is a rare blend of military strategy and emotional intelligence that offers a more mature solution for winning life's battles.”
—Kirkus
"[Hannibal and Me's] fresh perspective, drawing on the life of a warrior who lived more than two millennia ago, gives is a fresh appeal."
—Booklist
Review
“Andreas Kluth’s absorbing exploration of the life of the great military commander Hannibal will inspire you to look beyond simplistic notions of success toward a deeper understanding of what it is to live the good life. This is a book full of lessons both profound and practical.”
—Daniel H. Pink, bestselling author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
“A serious and fascinating exploration of issues many of us grapple with on a daily basis.”
—New York Journal of Books
“A startlingly fresh outlook on an old mystery.”
—Patrick Hunt, Electrum Magazine
“Fascinating.”
—Los Angeles Magazine
“Kluth does superior work in spelling out the elusive values of success and failure…Realistic and timely, Kluth’s book uses historic truths to move us past the frequent traps of success and failure to mold practical, productive lives.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A study of the ephemeral nature of power that grapples, often very effectively, with the meaning of true happiness…Hannibal and Me is a rare blend of military strategy and emotional intelligence that offers a more mature solution for winning life's battles.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“[Hannibal and Me’s] fresh perspective, drawing on the life of a warrior who lived more than two millennia ago, gives it a fresh appeal.”—Booklist
Synopsis
“Charming and fascinating.”—The Wall Street Journal The life of Hannibal, the Carthaginian general who crossed the Alps with his army in 218 BCE, is the stuff of legend. And the epic choices he and his Roman enemies made on the battlefield and in life offer timeless lessons to us today about how we should respond to our own victories and defeats.
Inspired by ancient history, Hannibal and Me explores the triumphs and disasters in our lives by examining the decisions made by Hannibal and others, including Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Steve Jobs, Ernest Shackleton, and Paul Cézanne. Kluth shows why some overcome failure and others succumb to it, and why some fall victim to success while others thrive on it. The result is a page-turning adventure tale, a compelling human drama, and an insightful guide to understanding behavior.
About the Author
Andreas Kluth has been writing for The Economist since 1997. He is currently the magazine's U.S. West Coast correspondent, covering politics, society, and economy in California and the western states. A dual citizen of Germany and the United States, Kluth is a graduate of Williams College and the London School of Economics.