Quintus Curtius is an attorney, writer, translator, and former Marine officer. Expertly blending history, biography, philosophy, and the author's personal experience, this penetrating collection of essays achieves what one reviewer called "a perfect fluency in [a] dialogue with truth."

The unifying theme of the book is the nature of masculine identity, and how that identity has been manifested.

The range of topics explored is diverse: the nature of human wisdom, courage in adversity, redemption through suffering, the endurance of hardships, educational development, character in history, the mystical experience, the fickleness of Fate, and the necessity of myths.

Drawing on examples from history and using sources in their original languages, Quintus Curtius's soaring vision combines lucid explanation with a passionate intensity like few other writers. Erudite, thoughtful, and frequently moving, this unique book has been described as "inexplicably inspiring."