Treats paideia, the shaping of Greek character, as the basis for study of Hellenism to explain the interaction between the historical process by which Greek character was formed and the intellectual process by which they constructed their ideal of human personality.

"[Paideia] is intended for the general reader, and it is probably God's gift to educators, because it conveys to the reader, in a clear and attractive form, covering the ground comprehensively, a conception of the central point of view in Hellenic society and culture."--Edmund Wilson, New Yorker "The most illuminating work I have ever read on Greece."--Edith Hamilton, The New York Times Book Review. "[Paideia] is intended for the general reader, and it is probably God's gift to educators, because it conveys to the reader, in a clear and attractive form, covering the ground comprehensively, a conception of the central point of view in Hellenic society and culture."--Edmund Wilson, New Yorker "The most illuminating work I have ever read on Greece."--Edith Hamilton, The New York Times Book Review.