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Rome Last Citizen The Life and Legacy of Cato Mortal Enemy of Caesar Rob Goodman Jimmy Soni Books

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Rome Last Citizen The Life and Legacy of Cato Mortal Enemy of Caesar Rob Goodman Jimmy Soni Books

Cato the Younger was a pivotal figure in the history of ancient Rome, as well as a Stoic philosopher who is still looked upon as a role model by many. This biography is well written and fairly balanced. The authors refrain from indulging into the usual stereotypes about Stoicism, and get most of the major points about the philosophy right (unlike the author of a recent biography of Marcus Aurelius, for instance). They also provide a critical yet sympathetic portrait of Cato himself, and discuss his influence through the centuries up to modern times. That latter part comes across as a bit incomplete and aphazard, with some noticeable holes throughout here and there, but it still is a welcome addition to the book. Cato himself was a man of high principles, who rarely failed to uphold them. And yet perhaps because of this he ultimately did not succeed in his quest to save the Roman Republic from the tyranny of Julius Caesar (and eventually from its devolution into empire). He just couldn't bring himself to compromise with potential politically allies, and when he did, it was too little too late. One wonders if modern politicians and citizens of 21st century democracies couldn't learn a thing or two from the successes and failures of the ancient Romans, and of Cato in particular. I have published a six-part commentary on this book, entitled The Cato Chronicles, at my blog, how to be a stoic dot org.


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Rome Last Citizen The Life and Legacy of Cato Mortal Enemy of Caesar Rob Goodman Jimmy Soni Books Reviews

This is a memorable biography of Cato the younger, also known as the Cato Uticensis. As a native Chinese residing in China with little formal education on Roman history, I am in no place to comment on the historical accuracy of the book, but only to read and being introduced to the last days of Roman Republic, reliving the struggles and attempts made by Cato the conservative to restore an idealized Rome’s past. Cato’s principle and moral virtue, the suicide in the name of a noble cause, though deeply rooted in Stoicism that is alien to traditional Chinese philosophy, still rings familiar to us. But what set Cato apart, as this book set out to to do, is his influence on western history, especially the republicanism he purported to uphold.
USA and China are both republics, and are both accused occasionally as false republics, as US president sometimes being called elected monarchy or kingship and his Chinese counterpart often being associated with terms more pejorative, such as “oppressive”, “authoritarian” or outright “dictatorial”. Reading the book against this backdrop constantly reminds one of its real world relevance, individual’s role in history and human agency. This book may not be a masterpiece in historical study or biographical writing, but it does succeed in being an elegant, eloquent and effective rhetorical practice the life of Cato and all the materials about Cato’s legacy in this book coalesced into a trenchant advocacy and apologia for the republican ideal. Moving, mesmerizing and motivating.
A last note on the author. Both authors, Rob Goodman and Jimmy Soni, carries with themselves a speechwriter’s acumen and articulateness, their writings sparkling with wit, insights and ingenious rhetorical devices (especially the many uses of alliteration), their tone genuine and with historical depth. They have now joined the ranks of my favorite writers. I finished all the two books by the authors and hoping to read more.
I was introduced to Cato the Younger earlier this year while reading Plutarch. Few other "heroes" affected me as profoundly as Cato the Younger. Almost immediately upon finishing Plutarch's Cato, I went searching for more material. The two additional sources I ended up purchasing were Joseph Addison's play and Rob Goodman's book.

I'm no Cato scholar, so I can't speak to the accuracy or nuances of his history compared with any other historian -- but as far as an extremely insightful and entertaining read, Rob Goodman captured exactly what I was hoping for. Not only did he give me a detailed perspective of Cato's life, he also filled it in with the legacy of Cato down through the ages. I could feel my mind exploding as I uncovered the juicy details that Plutarch only brushed upon -- I wanted more, and here I found it. Cato as the man, Cato as the politician, Cato as the Stoic, Cato as the paragon of virtue, Cato as a real flawed character, Cato in his own time and Cato as we have demonized and idealized him since. Dante asked, "What man on earth was more worthy to signify God than Cato?" I ask what man on earth was more mythologized over and over again to fit and inform the zeitgeist of the times?

While I love the historic Cato with all his flaws and contradictions, I can't help but feel a special affinity to the Cato of the revolutionary war -- the Cato of George Washington. How could this Cato not inspire dedication to Stoic virtue and gentle enlightenment? I found myself, like George Washington wanting to BE this Cato. This Cato, unlike Seneca or Epictetus, comes with a special weight of actually having lived his Stoic virtues as a politician, inspiring us to this special possibility. Who doesn't love the story of the virtuous standing up to the tyrant -- and though he loses his life actually wins? Cato, Jesus, Socrates, we love them all! For it tells us there is something greater to die for, and something greater to live for. What would the revolution war be if we didn't have this mythologized Cato? Would its possibility still be a possibility? Though a majority of people now days don't even know who Cato was, I can't help but think how we as a people in this post-revolutionary era have both been created in his image and he created in ours.

Rob Goodman is not only brilliant in bringing all the pieces of Cato to perspective but brilliant in bringing this superb history to a modern audience in a simple and necessary way. I'm with Seneca on this one -- "Choose Cato" and there is no better way to start than here with Rob Goodman's book.
Cato the Younger was a pivotal figure in the history of ancient Rome, as well as a Stoic philosopher who is still looked upon as a role model by many. This biography is well written and fairly balanced. The authors refrain from indulging into the usual stereotypes about Stoicism, and get most of the major points about the philosophy right (unlike the author of a recent biography of Marcus Aurelius, for instance). They also provide a critical yet sympathetic portrait of Cato himself, and discuss his influence through the centuries up to modern times. That latter part comes across as a bit incomplete and aphazard, with some noticeable holes throughout here and there, but it still is a welcome addition to the book. Cato himself was a man of high principles, who rarely failed to uphold them. And yet perhaps because of this he ultimately did not succeed in his quest to save the Roman Republic from the tyranny of Julius Caesar (and eventually from its devolution into empire). He just couldn't bring himself to compromise with potential politically allies, and when he did, it was too little too late. One wonders if modern politicians and citizens of 21st century democracies couldn't learn a thing or two from the successes and failures of the ancient Romans, and of Cato in particular. I have published a six-part commentary on this book, entitled The Cato Chronicles, at my blog, how to be a stoic dot org.