Giadzy - Shop now
Enjoy this audiobook free + more
Free title with your free trial!
$0.00
  • Click above to get a preview of our newest plan - unlimited listening to select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts.
  • You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
  • $7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel online anytime.
Learn more about membership
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company
List Price: $18.91
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible’s Conditions Of Use. and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

Alexander the Great Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Philip Freeman (Author), Michael Page (Narrator), Tantor Audio (Publisher)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,362 ratings
See all formats and editions

Alexander was born into the royal family of Macedonia, the kingdom that would soon rule over Greece. Tutored as a boy by Aristotle, Alexander had an inquisitive mind that would serve him well when he faced formidable obstacles during his military campaigns. Shortly after taking command of the army, he launched an invasion of the Persian Empire, and continued his conquests as far south as the deserts of Egypt and as far east as the mountains of present-day Pakistan and the plains of India.

In his lively and authoritative biography of Alexander, Philip Freeman describes Alexander's astonishing achievements and provides insight into the mercurial character of the great conqueror. Alexander could be petty and magnanimous, cruel and merciful, impulsive and farsighted. Above all, he was ferociously, intensely competitive and could not tolerate losing - which he rarely did.

As Freeman explains, without Alexander, the influence of Greece on the ancient world would surely not have been as great as it was, even if his motivation was not to spread Greek culture for beneficial purposes, but instead to unify his empire.

Previous slide of product details
  1. Listening Length
    12 hours and 34 minutes
  2. Author
    Philip Freeman
  3. Narrator
    Michael Page
  4. Audible release date
    March 21, 2017
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Tantor Audio
  7. ASIN
    B06XGZYZ5T
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
Next slide of product details

Read & Listen

Switch between reading the Kindle book & listening to the Audible audiobook with Whispersync for Voice.
Get the Audible audiobook for the reduced price of $7.49 after you buy the Kindle book.
$0.99/month for the first 3 months
For a limited time, save 90% on Audible. Get this deal

Product details

Listening Length 12 hours and 34 minutes
Author Philip Freeman
Narrator Michael Page
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date March 21, 2017
Publisher Tantor Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B06XGZYZ5T
Best Sellers Rank #40,454 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#18 in Historical Greece Biographies
#24 in Greek History
#230 in Historical Biographies (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
2,362 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They appreciate the detailed biography of Alexander and his life. The information is well-researched and presented in an accessible way. Readers describe the story as captivating and recommend it for lovers of classical stories. The pacing is described as brilliant and flawless.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
ReadabilityBiographyInformation qualityStorytellingPacingHistorical detailSkill levelAccuracy
168 customers mention "Readability"156 positive12 negative

Customers find the book engaging and easy to read. They appreciate the non-academic writing style that makes the prose accessible. The book is described as an interesting page-turner with deft writing. Readers mention using a kindle helps for looking up names of places.

"...And it is told in a familiar, non-academic way that makes the prose very accessible, although the names of places and people will not be familiar to..." Read more

"...his life before his battles against the Persian Empire to be the most interesting. These are the places where you find the man behind the myth...." Read more

"...the life of this ancient general and king, but thanks to Freeman's deft writing, it was instead a page-turner of an adventure story, handled with..." Read more

"...But most reviewers care about the story, not typo's. So on that end awesome book, and you will learn a ton about Alexander the Great especially if..." Read more

74 customers mention "Biography"74 positive0 negative

Customers find this biography of Alexander interesting. It provides good chronicles of his life and historical context. Readers appreciate the author's honest portrayal of Alexander as a human being with a fiery temperament. The book explores the genius of great military leaders and their relationships with other historical figures. The story is told brilliantly by Philip Freeman, who presents Alexander as a heroic figure.

"...His story is brilliantly told here by Philip Freeman, the Qualley Professor of Classics at Luther College, despite a dearth of original documents..." Read more

"...what I loved the most about this biography is how well Freeman told Alexander’s story without getting bogged down in battle formations and the like...." Read more

"...The storytelling is superb...." Read more

"...this with some very astute observations, and is very honest in trying to present Alexander, flaws and all, through the prism of cultural norms in..." Read more

67 customers mention "Information quality"63 positive4 negative

Customers find the book informative and engaging. They appreciate the author's clear presentation of the facts and details. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the topics and provides a nice perspective on truth versus speculation about Alexander's motivations.

"...And it is told in a familiar, non-academic way that makes the prose very accessible, although the names of places and people will not be familiar to..." Read more

"...The battles were presented, the facts given, no military glorification, which was what I’ve been probably most worried about regarding any read of..." Read more

"...The history is accurate, gleaned from contemporary sources. Freeman goes a step further...." Read more

"...Easy way to learn some impactful history and its lingering effects" Read more

65 customers mention "Storytelling"58 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging storytelling in this book. They find it a great mix of history and interpretation, with historical texts provided as alternative. The narrative is compelling and exciting, making readers curious about Greek and Egyptian history. Readers describe the biography as riveting and well-narrated, anchored in historical facts but reads more like a story or Greek mythology.

"...but thanks to Freeman's deft writing, it was instead a page-turner of an adventure story, handled with such skill that you feel you're almost..." Read more

"Great mix of history and interpretation- often with historical texts provided as alternative..." Read more

"...an author as deft and articulate as Philip Freeman, who presents history in such fluid prose and exciting story-telling, it is just a gift that is..." Read more

"Good chronicles of Alexander’s life and nice historical context. The world has changed for the most part but some of the tendencies remain...." Read more

28 customers mention "Pacing"28 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing fast and flawless. It flows like a novel and keeps their attention. Readers say it holds their interest and keeps turning pages.

"...It is well written and moves along at a trot, not a crawl...." Read more

"...This is a terrific book with brilliant pacing and vivid descriptions...." Read more

"...If you have an interest in this giant of history, and want to read a fast-paced and exciting narrative that gives you a broad overview of his life..." Read more

"...Freeman's Alexander is keenly intelligent, capable of quick, decisive action, and brave to the point of recklessness...." Read more

12 customers mention "Historical detail"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides detailed descriptions of battles and important details about the time period. They find the book suspenseful and full of action, with good battle scenes and explanations of war tactics. The historical account is written with a fast and gripping pace of a thriller. It includes a handy map.

"...The battles were presented, the facts given, no military glorification, which was what I’ve been probably most worried about regarding any read of..." Read more

"...No dry battle tactics here. Freeman has clearly mastered a vast array of sources, but feels no need to throw in arcane bits here and there...." Read more

"...This account does give a nice historical timeline and includes a handy map which tracks Alexander’s campaign through the Middle East, Persia, the..." Read more

"...Philip Freeman, has a fictional flair in his writings, describing battle scenes vividly...." Read more

6 customers mention "Skill level"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's skill level. They find it easy to read and say Freeman is an expert craftsman when it comes to storytelling.

"...on the battlefield, Freeman makes a strong case that Alexander’s greatest skill and strength was his innate understanding of human nature, honed at..." Read more

"...writing, it was instead a page-turner of an adventure story, handled with such skill that you feel you're almost there beside him in those exotic..." Read more

"...Great job!" Read more

"The best story-form biography of Alexander The Great. Freeman does a great job of making what could potentially be a lengthy and boring tale of..." Read more

6 customers mention "Accuracy"3 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed views on the book's accuracy. Some find it clear when certain facts are sketchy, while others mention inaccuracies and inconsistencies between sources.

"...The picture is comprehensive and appropriately complex...." Read more

"Written very well, some inconsistencies due to the fact the author judged instead of reporting" Read more

"...Very good writing style, and is clear when certain facts are sketchy and reasons out the facts available." Read more

"...That is certainly the case here, where the sources many times conflict markedly. At other times, supernatural forces are credited...." Read more

10/10 book I would recommend that everyone should read this book.
5 out of 5 stars
10/10 book I would recommend that everyone should read this book.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Gary Moreau, Author
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! There is nothing else to say.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Real life may or may not be stranger than fiction, but it is sometimes more fantastic. And the story of Alexander III, popularly known as Alexander the Great, certainly meets that standard.

    Born in 365 BCE, Alexander became the king of Macedonia, then a relatively small and undistinguished kingdom that sat on the northern edge of Greece (now a region that includes parts of six Balkan countries). He soon set out on an eleven-year journey to conquer his neighbors to the north, south, and east, which included the Persian Empire, the mightiest empire of its time. He reached as far as northwestern India and by the time he was done he had created the largest empire of the ancient world. (The Roman Empire came later.)

    Famous for his skills as a general and warrior, Alexander was one of those few kings throughout history that seemed to effortlessly straddle the line between nobility and commoner. Often at the front of the line to perform the most daring, challenging, or distasteful jobs, respectful of even his fiercest enemies who met his rigid standard of bravery, humility (although he considered himself to be the son of Zeus), and loyalty, he was adored by the Macedonian farmers and herders who became the backbone of his army and followed him to the virtual end of the known world.

    His story is brilliantly told here by Philip Freeman, the Qualley Professor of Classics at Luther College, despite a dearth of original documents from which to glean the details. And it is told in a familiar, non-academic way that makes the prose very accessible, although the names of places and people will not be familiar to the average reader. (The author does often provide a modern geographical reference.)

    There is so much to take away. The sheer violence is appalling to the modern senses. As is the extent of patriarchal power and slavery. And the betrayal and theft is seemingly without bounds. Somehow, however, Alexander seemed to be bound by a simple code of what was, in a different time and place, and in his own mind, a code of honor, although he admittedly jettisoned that code in a fit of rage at betrayal.

    It did strike me that the challenge of multiculturalism and embracing diversity is not a new one. While Alexander sought to raise himself from being the ruler of Macedonia to becoming a truly global king, his Macedonian troops, on whose backs he conquered his empire, never quite made the transition. (Nor did many of the people he conquered, for that matter.) They remained Macedonians first and foremost, with the insular worldview and bias that nationalism always imbues.

    While most well known for his skills on the battlefield, Freeman makes a strong case that Alexander’s greatest skill and strength was his innate understanding of human nature, honed at the knee of Aristotle, his childhood tutor. Over time his ability as both a statesman and politician developed to a remarkable degree for the violent times in which he lived.

    In the end, however, Alexander clearly valued strength and power above all else. According to Freeman, when implored to name the successor to his empire by those surrounding his deathbed, he whispered, “To the strongest.” (Many yet today embrace that standard, a testament to how little, in fact, the world has changed on many fronts.)

    All told, this is, if not a marvelous story, a fantastic one. It is well written and moves along at a trot, not a crawl. If you’re looking for something that is interesting, informative, and just a bit off the beaten path, I strongly recommend it.
    29 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • BookwormBlues
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, Gripping Biography
    Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I have always done my level best to avoid reading much about Alexander the Great. The issues I find with him are a few fold. First, I can’t really grasp military stuff. Battle formations and the like don’t do basically anything for me. The best way to get me to fall asleep at night is by talking in detail about battles. I just fundamentally do not care. And let’s be honest here. That’s basically what Alexander the Great is. A whooooooooooole lot of battles. So yeah, I’ve avoided him for this reason alone.

    Secondly, I find a lot of these dudes from antiquity have somehow transcended their humanity and the hero-worship kind of makes me really uncomfortable. I understand the desire and need to admire someone and all their strengths because, let’s be honest here, there’s a lot to admire. However, it seems like these people have been romanticized past the point of believability. Somewhere in all this mess since Alexander’s life, he has stopped being human.

    I can’t even really remember why I decided to read a biography of Alexander the Great, but the desire did fill me up last week and I did my level best to find a biography that was both succinct and well informed, and did away with a whole lot of this hero worship and battle details that so displeases me. I landed on this one by Philip Freeman. And… I really liked it.

    Alexander the Great is a figure who is larger than life. People throughout history have been praising this guy’s name. He accomplished things that just about anyone since then hasn’t been able to accomplish. People in Rome worshipped this guy. Alexander himself thought he was a direct descendent of Hercules. He seemed impossible to stand against. If you went along with him, he’d treat you well, but woe upon those who stood against him. They did not end well (example, Tyre).

    In all honesty, I found (which I expecting, knowing myself as well as I do) the parts of the biography that detailed his daily life, and his life before his battles against the Persian Empire to be the most interesting. These are the places where you find the man behind the myth. I’d also really, really love someone to write a biography of his father, Philip (maybe someone has?) because that guy seems really interesting. He truly paved the way for Alexander to become what he has become.

    Macedon was a country that was beset by strife. Philip, Alexander’s father, was taken as a hostage as a youth as a sort of “fair treatment” bribe by the Greeks. Essentially, you play nice over there in Macedon, and we won’t cut Philip’s head off. Philip, however, was taken as a hostage by one of the best soldier generals in the Greek world at the time, and he basically got the best military training in antiquity due to that. This allowed Philip, when he was released, to seize power (by exiling and/or killing his half-brothers), and then rebuild his army from the ground up, bringing all sorts of novel military inventions into the mix, like 18 foot spears and unique formations that made it almost impossible to stand against the soldiers. He took a broken, crumbling nation, and slowly expanded the borders until he had created an empire. Until even the Greeks feared him.

    Insert his son and seven wives into this mix, and you’ve got a real nice setup for empire building.

    There are mysteries, of course. No one knows, for example, if Alexander or his mother had any part in the assassination of Philip, though I personally think it might be one of the least surprising things that have ever happened if, in fact, they did (Philip had divorced Olympias, and claimed Alexander was not his son, so at the point of his death, there was really no love lost here). They had everything to gain by Philip’s death, and not much to lose. That being said, nothing has been proven or could really be concluded one way or the other.

    The other thing is, of course, Alexander’s death. Now, until this point, I’d always heard he had been assassinated. However, at the end of this book, Freeman talks a bit about Alexander’s death. He had a few spells of falling ill throughout his campaign. He’d also struggled with injuries, the most recent one was a collapsed lung in a battle somewhere in India. He had dodged a whole lot of death, but that right there is enough to weaken anyone’s immune system. Then, add to it the fact that he lived in an army camp, and dysentery and malaria were likely as common as blowing your nose, and you’ve got a nice stew for some illness to creep in and do a whole lot of damage. So, while I did at one point think he was likely assassinated, (and maybe he really was, who knows) I also see now that there were a WHOLE LOT of opportunities for an illness to sweep him away, and it’s kind of amazing he lived as long as he did, considering all the battles and risks.

    What was, perhaps, the most interesting for me was how cunning Alexander was. He was not really afraid to think outside of the box in any situation, and he seemed to have a grasp on psychology in a way that not many others did. He knew that to mint coins showing his various victories would be a great way to spread word about him around his expanding empire, with very little effort on his part. He was not afraid to deal swiftly and ferociously with those who stood against him, and he seemed to be pretty fair, considering everything. However, the farther out into the world he went, the more he seemed to need constant praise, the more he seemed to drink, the more he believed himself godlike and impenetrable. He seemed outgrow his own humanity.

    It is unfortunate that he left his empire with no true heir, and a book called Ghost on the Throne is going to be one of my next reads, which talks about what happened after Alexander died and everyone in his empire started fighting for a toehold on what he left behind.

    He was quite an amazing man, but I didn’t end up admiring him the way I expected to. He was an empire builder. He was cruel and he was merciful. He was a formidable man with a devious, cunning mind and an eye to expand his borders. He was, however, also stunningly, absolutely human and had plenty of flaws. Perhaps what I loved the most about this biography is how well Freeman told Alexander’s story without getting bogged down in battle formations and the like. The battles were presented, the facts given, no military glorification, which was what I’ve been probably most worried about regarding any read of Alexander the Great.

    Freeman wrote a fantastic biography here. A great starting point and fantastically accessible. Highly recommend.
    87 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jack Zavada
    5.0 out of 5 stars "Tremendously entertaining..."
    Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Philip Freeman's Alexander the Great could have been a dry, plodding account of the life of this ancient general and king, but thanks to Freeman's deft writing, it was instead a page-turner of an adventure story, handled with such skill that you feel you're almost there beside him in those exotic lands.

    The history is accurate, gleaned from contemporary sources. Freeman goes a step further. When there are conflicting reports from ancient historians, he gives both, then postulates on the most plausible. But you have the opportunity to decide for yourself.

    Alexander was a complex person, alternately kind to a fault and astoundingly cruel. Freeman delivers a three-dimensional character while explaining the influences that made him who he was. There's plenty of intrigue. Alexander's entourage and sycophants were always jockeying for position and he deliberately exploited that.

    Thanks to an education by Aristotle, Alexander was a well-rounded man with a better than average appreciation for history and ethics. Sometimes history lessons helped him outsmart superior forces. Ancient warfare was brutal, vicious, but Alexander participated in every battle and suffered serious wounds several times. He loved his soldiers and they loved him.

    This is a terrific book with brilliant pacing and vivid descriptions. I am not exaggerating when I say it was it was one of the finest histories I've read in ages. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Jong Kim
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable history book
    Reviewed in Canada on April 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The author wrote in a way the readers can read it like a novel. I enjoyed the book and learned a lot as well.
    Report
  • TeaAndCookies
    5.0 out of 5 stars You need to read it to understand the world
    Reviewed in Germany on December 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    You need to read it to understand the world
    Report
  • Srinath
    5.0 out of 5 stars ALL YOU NEED
    Reviewed in India on March 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    If you don't know anything about Alexander the great and want to know what he achieved and his chronological life, this is one of the best book to read. The language used by the author is simple and the way he narrated the story is racy. The author also talks about the contradictions of ancient sources and leave the judgment to the readers. Not only about Alexander, the author gives brief introduction to previous kings of his kingdom and the conquered lands so it pretty much covers everything you want to know about Alexander the great and what happened after his death. HIGHLY RECOMMENDABLE book
    Customer image
    Srinath
    5.0 out of 5 stars ALL YOU NEED
    Reviewed in India on March 21, 2024
    If you don't know anything about Alexander the great and want to know what he achieved and his chronological life, this is one of the best book to read. The language used by the author is simple and the way he narrated the story is racy. The author also talks about the contradictions of ancient sources and leave the judgment to the readers. Not only about Alexander, the author gives brief introduction to previous kings of his kingdom and the conquered lands so it pretty much covers everything you want to know about Alexander the great and what happened after his death. HIGHLY RECOMMENDABLE book
    Images in this review
    Customer image Customer image Customer image
    Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
    Report
  • GB
    3.0 out of 5 stars Too long and tedious.
    Reviewed in Poland on December 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Just a personal opinion but very difficult to get started. Writing is very small print and long and rather tedious. Gave up about a quarter through the book.
    Report
  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars best book i have ever read
    Reviewed in Italy on November 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Never been a fan of reading books but this one, it feels like a movie in your mind and you actually feel like there living the adventures of Alexander
    Report