Ancient Wisdom of Baseball : Lessons for Life from Homer's Odyssey to the World Series

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“...a love letter to baseball that explains its connections to our inner lives and to classical lore in a way that makes one pine for Opening Day.” —THEO EPSTEIN

Who are you, how are you supposed to live, and what about happiness? Answers to age-old questions are offered in classic myths about heroes, gods, and monsters, and at the ballgame.

In The Ancient Wisdom of Baseball, author Christian Sheppard interweaves Homer’s epics with glorious stories from the green fields of America’s pastime, celebrating Achilles’ courage and Odysseus’ cunning along with the virtues of Hall of Fame players such as Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth and of great teams such as the 2004 Red Sox and the 2016 Cubs. Along the way, Sheppard humorously recollects trying to raise his baby daughter true to the teachings of ancient myth and his beloved game. The result is an endearing, insightful, and inspiring guide to cultivating virtue and becoming the hero of your own life’s odyssey.

Christian Sheppard, PhD, is a professor of liberal arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and former teacher of the “Great Books” at the University of Chicago. He is co-editor of Mystics: Presence and Aporia (University of Chicago Press); has published essays on sports, art, literature, and religion; and lectured at the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and the Baseball Hall of Fame. A lifelong baseball fan, he lives within walking distance of Wrigley Field.