Lives vs Shi ji: Which Should You Read?

Both live on shelves: Philosophers, Sources, Biography & Memoir, History

Cover of Lives

Lives Plutarch · 1564 ★★★★☆ 3.9 732 pages · ≈ 13 h 33 m · Demanding Find on Amazon

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Cover of Shi ji

Shi ji Sima Qian · 1550 ★★★★☆ 3.7 20 pages · ≈ 22 min · Demanding Find on Amazon

The verdict

Readers rate Lives higher: 3.9 vs 3.7 from 18 votes.
Shi ji is the quicker read — about 1 hours vs 13 for Lives.

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