Evil Roman Emperors: The Shocking History of Ancient Rome's Most Wicked Rulers from Caligula to Nero and More Paperback – June 14, 2021

Think about the worst president or leader you know about in recent history - and then turn them into an actual murderer, out and out thief, and cruel dictator that revels in making average people suffer...now you get what the history of roman emperors is about. The book is captivating and like the title suggests, will shock you. We think of Rome and its great empire as something to admire. Barlag will show you another side to the story that's not often told...and you will see why Rome flourished and why it burned. You will also see the ugliest side of humanity. I read the book in one sitting - I kept waiting to see what could be worse that Emperor at hand. Turns out the next one on Barlag's list is indeed worse. A must read for any roman history buff. Don't miss this book.

I'm still working my way through this one. I love the wording, how the content is relatable in modern political terms. Highly recommended!

Sensational! I was hooked from the first page! Barlag’s writing is witty, fun, colorful and compelling. He does an excellent job profiling some of the truly worst people ever to walk the planet (Roman rulers) in a way that is both astonishing and intriguing. Would recommend to anyone and also to school age kids who might prefer a truly entertaining tale of Roman history unlike the traditional textbook versions.

They are all so loathsome it starts to bore towards the end. Still, the villainy is so compelling, it keeps you interested for quite some time.

I knew the Roman emperors were not models of decency. I thought some were evil and some ok by Roman standards. They were all evil. every one. It's amazing how evil they were and to what heights of evilness they could climb. OMG they did horrible things to everyone including their own relatives (brothers, sisters, sons, mothers). This book is a great read if you can stomach the violence. I couldn't put it down.

I started reading this book shortly after it arrived at my home. I got really into it right away. The author does a great job of pacing the story along the long arc of history. I think everyone’s heard of Nero and Caligula - that’s probably why they are mentioned on the cover - but Elagabalus? Valentinian III? Amazing stories, all! There was a lot of engaging history in this book! I highly recommend it for Roman history buffs or simply to learn about extreme human behavior.

Hiding inside this book is a fascinating look at the whole sweep of Roman history, from the founding of the city to the collapse of the Western Empire. It even gives a little preview of the Byzantines. Not only is the subject of the worst of Rome’s rulers intrinsically interesting, but the stories of who these people were - and why they did what they did - are fast-paced and engaging. I enjoyed it greatly.

This is a wonderfully readable, well referenced and thoroughly shocking book about some of the most awful people to lead one of the most significant empires in human history. Each biography is more astonishing than the last and one can only marvel at the misery and waste of human life these men—and the occasional woman—caused. Read it and learn—and be glad you were never within the orbit of these terrible people!

The newly written biographies of the cruel emperors of Rome. Recommend!

This book is so engrossing I almost walked into a pole while reading it.It's exhibits A-Z on how power corrupts...and unlike everything else you read, it'll make you thankful for your current President/King**With a few exception, obvs.

Superb Read, well written and so Different from the usual tales of Roman Emperor's, really enjoyed reading this book, and would reccomend it to anyone interested in the subject of Rulers of Rome and their history.

At first I was dubious, the jovial and often mocking tone of this book wasn't initially to my taste. Having indulged in books from Tom Holland, Barry Strauss, Matthew Keane and Mary Beard before this, Barlag's book is of a different nature.However to someone just casually interested in the drama, betrayal and intrigues of Ancient Rome without much of the dredgery of superfluous detail, this is actually a cracking read. Casually written, often hilarious and with lashings of wit, it has shaped up as a really decent read.If you're delving into Ancient Rome for the first time, or just want an insightful and clever book yo indulge in, I would happily recommend it. However if you're in the middle of a deep-dive into academic history and the nuance of Roman rulers then you may be better off reading something else.It really depends on what you're looking for. This book isn't for everyone but that doesn't detract from its occasional brilliance. The tag line reads "a light hearted look at the darkest side of the Roman soul" - and that is exactly what you'll get here.

Bought this for my husband and he enjoyed reading it.