The History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins by Gareth Harney

 

Title:  The History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins

Author:  Gareth Harney

Narrated by:  Piers Hampton

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 07 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio.  Thank-you!

Do you collect coins?  I have a few coins I’ve collected through the years, although they are packed up somewhere in my basement after my last move. 

The History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins by Gareth Harney was an overall view of Roman history through the years through the history of twelve different coins.  It was a fascinating way to tell history. I usually read books based on one event in Roman history and I liked this unique way to tell overall Roman history.  My thoughts on this book:

·       I listened to this audiobook on a road trip with my seventeen-year-old son Daniel as we visited colleges he is interested in.  We didn’t finish the book on our road trip, but we both finished it on our own.  Daniel greatly enjoyed this book as well as I did.  He loves history.

·       Daniel and I looked up the coins online to see what they looked like after hearing about them on the audiobook.  I am sure that you get great pictures with the physical book.

·       Author Gareth Harney was first handed a Roman coin by his father as a child, and it started his love for collecting coins and Roman history.  What can these coins tell us about history?  What actions do we do as parents that will prompt wonder and discovery in our children?

·       As an engineer, I liked the history of a huge bridge that was built across the Danube that stood for 1,000 years.  I just marvel at the engineering prowess.

·       I really enjoyed the story of Hannibal and the eventual destruction of Carthage.  How much knowledge, literature, history was lost when Rome destroyed Carthage?

·       This was a very readable book and very enjoyable.

·       I liked that besides discussing the emperors, regular people such as those that made the coins, fought the wars, etc. were also discussed.

·       The audiobook had a great narrator.

Overall, The History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins by Gareth Harney was an engaging nonfiction history of Rome told through the unique perspective of twelve coins that were used over the years of the empire.  It was a fun audiobook for both a teen and a middle-aged mother.