A Great Book...

A man has been away from his home for ten years, fighting a war he did not wish to partake in. When the war finally ends, he can return home. However, a series of setbacks prevent him, keeping him away for another ten years. When he finally returns to his homeland, he still needs to fight to reclaim what is his: his family, his home, his kingdom. This is the summary of one of humanity's most famous stories, the Odyssey, a mythological tale immortalized 2800 years ago in the verses of the Greek poet Homer.

At first glance, the story appears to be a simple adventure, a hero's journey that requires facing various dangers to finally return home. But it is more than that. The Odyssey represents the struggle of human reason against our wild side, of intelligence against brutality. Odysseus triumphs through cunning and uses force only when necessary.

The book has memorable passages, such as how Odysseus finds a way to escape from the cave of the giant Polyphemus. How he heard the song of the sirens tied to the mast while his companions had their ears plugged. How the Phaeacians received him with great hospitality, and he then narrates his misfortunes to them. The moving passage of how the dog Argos was the first to recognize him after 20 years of absence. And how he finally gets rid of the suitors of his wife Penelope, who were ruining his possessions, to finally assume who he is and reclaim his place. Many layers can be found in a work of such depth. I highly recommend reading it to any citizen who wishes to understand their place in the world.