Tactics change, weapons change, but the ultimate purpose of war remains much the same through the centuries. A great warrior has to look beyond the battlefield to decide whom to fight and why, and how to measure success.

Join Barry Strauss for a talk about his new insightful book, "Masters of Command: Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, and the Genius of Leadership" (Simon & Schuster, May 1, 2012). In his book he shows us what these three great commanders can teach us today about ambition, leadership, branding, and more. In comparing how they waged war and how they succeeded and failed, lessons on strategy can be drawn from their experiences.

Barry Strauss is the Professor of History and Classics and Chair of the Department of History in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell. He is the former director of Cornell's Peace Studies Program, and current director of its Program on Freedom and Free Societies. Strauss has written many books including “The Spartacus War” (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2009), “The Trojan War: A New History” (2006), and “The Battle of Salamis: The Naval Encounter that Saved Greece – and Western Civilization” (2004).

Following the talk, he will lead a question and answer session. Light refreshments will be available throughout the event and books will be available for purchase and signing.