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“Is playing sports a form of madness? Why do we willingly bruise and batter our bodies, pushing them to their limits—all for a ribbon, a pat on the back, or applause? Two thousand years ago, Lucian was just as perplexed. In How to Compete, he envisions a bewildered foreigner—akin to a Martian—arriving in ancient Greece and trying to make sense of it all. This vibrant new translation breathes fresh life into Lucian’s wit and wisdom, inviting us to reconsider the virtues and vices of athletic competition.”—Michael Fontaine, editor and translator of How to Have Willpower

“Sport was an essential feature of Greek and Roman culture, but its logic and purpose in the ancient world is usually assumed rather than addressed. By highlighting the significance of Lucian’s Anacharsis and its broader questions about pleasure, profit, education, and society, this translation makes an essential contribution.”—Charles H. Stocking, coauthor of Ancient Greek Athletics

“Coupling philosophy with humor, How to Compete captures the vivacity and lightheartedness of Lucian’s ancient dialogue while also inviting us to think about the more serious issues raised by sports, from antiquity to today.”—Reyes Bertol铆n Cebri谩n, author of The Athlete in the Ancient Greek World

“Lucian’s funny and provocative dialogue—presented here in a lucid and accessible new translation—takes us right to the heart of the ancient gymnasium. The introduction shows elegantly and economically how reading the Anacharsis can give us a fresh view of debates about the value of sports, not just in antiquity but also in the present.”—Jason K枚nig, author of The Folds of Olympus: Mountains in Ancient Greek and Roman Culture