Greek Mythology

Ken Jennings' Junior Genius Guides #1

by Ken Jennings, Mike Lowery (Illustrations)

Unleash your inner genius and become a master of mythology with this interactive trivia book from Jeopardy! champ and New York Times bestselling author Ken Jennings.

With this Junior Genius Guide to Greek mythology, you’ll become an expert and wow your friends and teachers with all the best ancient how Prometheus outsmarted the gods, how Achilles’s heel led to his death, and how we mere mortals always seem to get mixed up in so many misadventures. With great illustrations, cool trivia, and fun quizzes to test your knowledge, this guide will have you on your way to whiz-kid status in no time!

Genres: Nonfiction, Mythology, Middle Grade, Childrens, Trivia, History, Greek Mythology

160 pages, Hardcover

First published February 4, 2014

About the author

Kenneth Wayne Jennings III holds the record for the longest winning streak on the U.S. syndicated game show Jeopardy! Jennings won 74 games before he was defeated by challenger Nancy Zerg on his 75th appearance. His total earnings on Jeopardy! are US$3,022,700 ($2,520,700 in winnings, a $2,000 consolation prize on his 75th appearance, and $500,000 in the Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions). Jennings held the record for most winnings on any game show ever played until the end of the Ultimate Tournament of Champions (first aired on May 25, 2005), when he was displaced by Brad Rutter, who defeated Jennings in that tournament.

After winning, he began working on a book, Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs, which explored American trivia history and culture. Ken also appeared as a member of the mob sitting in podium #13 from the new game show 1 vs. 100 in 2006, and in 2007 Jennings was the champion of the first season of the US version of Grand Slam.

Jennings was selected to co-host Jeopardy after the death of Alex Trebek.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2014, the year Ken Jennings released his first Junior Genius Guides, was big for the seventy-four day champion of the game show Jeopardy! for another reason. That year, forty-five all-time Jeopardy! greats competed in the Battle of the Decades tournament to celebrate the show's thirty years on the air. The champion would receive one million dollars, but Ken ultimately fell short by a single correct response. Winner or no, however, Ken had begun making his mark in children's literature with his Junior Genius Guides, humorous little books packed with information on the subject at hand, presented as lessons taught to kids during a day of school. Ken's upbeat comedy made him a good candidate to teach young minds in a way that would keep them interested.

Western civilization coalesced in Ancient Greece from a diversity of cultural traditions. Language, mathematics, representative government, science, and literature were all founded or improved by the Greeks. Most of their mythology centered on the gods said to live atop Mount Olympus: Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Aphrodite, and the rest were immortal, but human flaws made them more relatable. Ken (or is it Mr. Jennings?) quickly summarizes Greek creation myths, then compares Greek deities to their Roman counterparts. After two periods of class he sends us out for recess, where we learn about the Ancient Olympics. Ken suggests a few original (as far as I know) games derived from Greek lore. Back in class we learn the complicated genealogy of the Greek gods, a record of betrayal and innocuous incest that produced a litany of heroes and villains. After separating out the fourteen most important gods, Ken reviews their bios using a series of Greek Gods trading cards. Now there's a collector's item for enthusiastic academics!

Ken tells about feuds among the gods, many of which were triggered by Zeus's philandering. The gods weren't known for quelling their baser urges. In art class we're given insight into the history of constellations that are based on Greek epics, and instructions are listed for a craft we can make to look at the constellations in our own homes. Zeus and the other main gods weren't the only characters in Greek mythology; plenty of demigods had their own dramas, and we read brief versions at this point in the book. At lunch we're told the gods dined on nectar and ambrosia, and Ken offers a recipe for cookies based on the story of the Trojan horse. M&M's are hidden inside for a surprise. We spend a period studying the twelve "impossible" tasks of Heracles, then read up on sundry feats in Greek mythology that are only slightly less impressive. Several pages are dedicated to Jason and the Argonauts. Music class introduces us to the wistful tale of Orpheus, whose journey to the underworld ends in tragedy. In sixth period we're cautioned that mortals boasting against the gods of Olympus rarely turns out well, but when they refrain from doing so, they are the subject of great love stories. My favorite is Baucis and Philemon, an elderly couple whose generosity is honored by Zeus and Hermes in an emotionally moving end scene of their lives. Seventh period is a parade of gruesome gorgons and other monsters, and the tales of how they often (but not always) were slain by heroes. The story of Theseus concludes the period, culminating in his confrontation with the Minotaur in King Minos's Labyrinth. As the school day winds down, Ken administers a quiz, promising accreditation as a Junior Genius to everyone who turns in a passing score. He encourages reading more about Ancient Greece if we're interested, and invites his students back for the next Junior Genius Guide. It's sure to be fun and informative.

If you want a book of detailed Greek myths, I recommend Padraic Colum's The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles, a 1922 Newbery Honor book. It's not fast-paced, but delves into the deeper emotions of famous and lesser-known Greek legends. Ken Jennings's Greek Mythology is much funnier, but its brevity doesn't allow for protracted narrative. I met Ken on his bookstore tour for these Junior Genius Guides in 2014—he's as witty and likable as he appeared to be on Jeopardy!—and I look forward to the rest of the series. Young or old, gifted or ordinary, you can learn something from the Utah Computah.

[Nikoleta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, it was a little try-hard but I'm sure if I was ten years old and could understand English (I only knew 15 words back then), I would have greatly enjoyed it. The information in it is not that extensive but it provides an ok overview of Greek mythology, enough to get a child interested. It was not un-enjoyable but it's not one of those books you can read as an adult and still love (eg. Secret Garden, Narnia, you get the picture) - if you're interested in Greek mythology, pick up an adult book. By the way, mom, if you're reading this, I'm 21 now; you don't need to get me the children's books from the library anymore. Yeah, thanks!

[Meredith Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books is brilliant way for all middle-grade and older readers to discover a little something about Greek Mythology. Entertaining, engaging, and easy to understand. Already ordered three more :)

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this for my kids, and then ended up stealing it from them so I could read it myself. Miriam (age 8) and I finally called a truce and shared the book by flipping the pages to read our favorite parts to each other as Magdalena listened in. The drawings are awesome. The text is great. The tone is engaging. I officially love this series. Youth non-fiction is tricky to get right, but Ken Jennings succeeded. So well, in fact, that Miriam actually ran back from the morning bus yesterday yelling "MYTHOLOGY!!!" and grabbed this book to bring to school. This will be good for many re-reads to come, and different bits of the book will catch her (and Magdalena's and eventually Sterling's) interest at different ages.

Because the thing is, we live overseas and don't have access to an extensive library of children's books. If I'm going to buy a book, it can't be for just a one-off read. It has to be WORTH it, for years to come, for all the kids. I took a risk on this (and Maps and Geography, the only other JGG available from The Book Depository) and it paid off, big time. Hooray!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ken Jennings took America by storm in 2004 by winning 74 games in a row on Jeopardy!, earning $2.52 million in prizes. Since then, he has toured the television circuit, and has launched a line of New York Times Bestselling books entitled Junior Genius. The apt motto of the series, and arguably Jennings himself, is a quote from French scientist Blaise Pascal: "It is much better to know something about everything than everything about something."One of Jennings' latest installments in the Junior Genius series is Greek Mythology, which is also brilliantly illustrated by Mike Lowery, notably children's author and favorite among the Junior Genius series. Within this novel is a witty, brilliant overview of the Greek pantheon and some of the most notable stories. The author separates the stories into "periods" and "teaches" the book like a class. Some of the periods include "art class", where you create projects to reflect the constellations, and there is even "recess" built into the schedule, where students learn about the Greeks' influence on sports. Jennings makes sure to give his students a "lunch" period complete with a recipe for the Trojan Cookie. Jennings' wit is clear throughout the book with clever titles for sections, including "Rolling in the Deep", where he introduces the Underworld, and "Born this way" to discuss comical birth stories of many gods and goddesses (i.e., Athena). He weaves in modern culture throughout, including creating a "trading card game" for the major twelve gods and goddesses that resembles something like Magic: The Gathering. The book is full of one-liners like this that are sure to make the reader chuckle: "Mushy stuff: Most of the stories of the Greek Gods aren’t terribly romantic. Zeus disguises as something to romance some unsuspecting mortal woman, end of story” (130).

The best part about this book is the way the author and illustrator work seamlessly together to create an experience that hinges just as much on the pictures as it does the words. The "infographics" are woven into the very fabric of the myth. To the right are some examples of the innovative ways Jennings and Lowery created a work that truly seems the product of one mind.

With the popularity of Rick Riorden's Percy Jackson series, mythology books are flying off the shelves. Overview books are the most popular, but many might be daunted by the definitive works of Edith Hamilton. This pared down guide to the basics of Greek Mythology offers a great background for students who may be interested or studying mythology but have very limited exposure to the vast number of gods and their complex relationships. Jennings' guide is also helpful for mythology projects that require students to know the background of the pantheon. While Jennings doesn't get too down and dirty with too many stories, and what the guide lacks are a lot of the most popular stories that explain the origin of many modern words or phrases. However, as an introductory tool, the book serves its purpose. And, as Pascal says, it's good for those that just want to know something.

[Erin Bembridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute!

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

8 year old me would have loved this! Even as a grown up, I got quite the kick out of it and learned a couple things I didn’t know before.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

learned alot.

[Heather Plumb]

I will print out my Jr. Genius certificate when I get home.

[Ashley N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written for kids but enjoyable for all. I find the writing style of Ken Jennings easy to read and very accessible. He has a good way of conveying a lot of information in simple and fun ways. This book refreshed my memory of learning the Greek myths way back when in high school. I find it amazing how many words and phrases we use daily have their origins in Greek myth. Neat stuff.

[Susan Chalecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenna's Review

I really like this book I hope other's out there read it.
I love Greek Mythology so that's why I really like this book

[Jaime K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very obviously a “junior” book, and I still love it. I’m not a huge fan of the illustrations, but they work for the goofy tone that Jennings writes.

With all my fellow Junior Geniuses, I solemnly pledge to quest after questions, to angle for answers, to seek out, and to soak up. I will hunger and thirst for knowledge my whole life through, and I dedicate my discoveries to all humankind, with trivia not for just us but for all.

Thus begins the school day, as the chapters are broken up by periods (with recess and lunch, of course!), a fun and unique way to approach each concept with Greek mythology.

Interspersed are random pieces of information which fit with the main content, yet deviate from it. These provide a more comprehensive understanding of the mythology.
There are also cryptograms to decipher using the key Jennings provides at the start of the book. As a person who teaches a unit on cryptology, I enjoyed that.

First Period: This gives a good background of Greek mythology, including the reason as to why the myths are so important. It’s also important to keep in mind that ancient Greeks were actually a mixture of different cultures and stories that blended together. Too, Greek myths didn’t always reflect the thinking of those telling the stories. For example, most Greek scientists understood the earth to be round, but in their mythology Earth was definitely flat. These myths were resurrected in Roman culture with the same gods, though with different names.
I like the side note about Hero of Alexandria and his inventions. It is such a neat piece of info!
I also like some information as to how Greek myths provide stories for the origins of different things, including the Milky Way.
The bit on Hades made me chuckle, but also taught me something new.

Second Period: This provides information on Greek creation stories, and provides a bit of a family tree for Gaea and Uranus. Jennings gives a humorous piece on how these incestual relationships (without using the word) are yucky but that’s what the gods were doing so we have to just accept the myths as they are. Many of the men were also pretty bad fathers, which is detailed in this chapter.
Then we get to the actual creation of humans and how the gods handled that.
I found it very interesting that the phrase “Pandora’s Box” is actually incorrect due to a mistranslation and should actually be “Pandora’s Jar.”

Recess: I really like some of the Greek-based games described here…even if Jennings mentions Jar Jar Binks as something someone may dislike!

Third Period: This chapter really details some of the gods in Greek mythology, including the 14 Olympians (even though there should be 12, and which two are often excluded given the circumstance). I thoroughly enjoyed the Greek god trading cards set of those 14! And man, Zeus was definitely a womanizer.

Art Class: This provides a fun activity.

Fourth Period: Beyond the Olympians are many other gods, and Jenkins describes some of them here. Of note are those of the skies (with morals), groups of triple goddesses (including the Muses), nymphs, and some of the darker gods. I find it very interesting that Pan is the only one with a myth about his death!

Lunch gives a fun recipe that I’ve taken screenshots of because it’s complex and awesome.

Fifth Period: Here we are taught about some Greek heroes and their odd backgrounds. I enjoyed the story about Heracles (with 10 and then 2 more problems he had to solve) and how he finally was released from servitude. I also had fun reading about the most famous team-up of heroes for the Quest for the Golden Fleece, including some problems they faced at sea.
We also get some information on weaknesses some of the gods had and then how they led to downfalls.

Music Class: This includes neat information on the ways in which Greek myths were set to and/or included music.

Sixth Period: Back in the day…ancient Greeks thought they missed out all the fun from “back in the day!” So here we get some interesting mortals in Greek mythology, including those who boasted and were punished for it. There is also information on prophets and then ways in which mortals were pit against gods (including the winners).
Mortals also had some sweet love stories and some major feats.

Seventh Period: This is about the mythological enemies, as all heroes need to have someone (or something) to face against. There are awful siblings, hybrid animals (“a hideous, nightmarish version of Build-A-Bear workshop” is an apt description), and we get quite a bit of the story of Minotaur.

I only got “Almost Olympian” in the final examination, but to be fair I wasn’t taking notes on the material.

[Keith Mannina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only recently saw that this book existed. Ken Jennings is by far my favorite all-time Jeopardy champion. I wish this book was around when I was much much younger. I’ve always been fascinated by mythology since a very young age. Everyone of the classical myths is broken down to short easily digestible and relatable morsels of text. There’s even a few recipes in here for snacks that the ancient Greeks would’ve eaten! I do love a book that Gives you snack instructions! Are used to read Edith Hamilton‘s book about mythology over and over again when I was in middle school. There were a few times that I had to consult a dictionary or an encyclopedia for some words that I was not familiar with. This book is incredibly fascinating! There’s even a cipher included at the beginning of the book that helps you to decode hidden messages and answers throughout the book!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books on Greek Mythology geared for kids, and this is a pretty good one. I actually prefer the storybook style of D'Aulaires' to this, but I love Jennings's humor and fact-based presentation.

The only drawback is that there are A LOT of characters in Greek mythology. I can see younger or struggling readers getting confused. I might start with a more basic primer on the subject and use this to add to my knowledge. My kids both really enjoyed it, however, and my daughter used it for a lot of her artwork inspiration. It would be a great companion to other Greek myth books.

Also, comparing this against Jennings's other "Genius Guides," I'd say I like this one a bit less than the other ones. It may just be my reading on the subject matter, though.

[Caity · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is really fun and interesting. My only complaint is the overall organization of the information. In some periods it worked really well but others felt like some needed information was left out because it didn’t fit the periods theme, leaving the reader with a partial story. I still think it’s a great companion for readers exploring Greek mythology or books, like Rick Riodian’s Percy Jackson series, which use the myths in their own retelling.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very basic introduction to Greek mythology. The way the book is arranged is a cute idea, but it leaves the reader feeling like it's a little haphazard. If you want a very light overview that's written in a humorous way, this might be the book for you. If you want more depth to each of the stories as well as better illustrations, you would be better off reading D'Aulaire's book.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greek mythology has alwaysed interested me and so this book helped me learn more about it. Like the percy jackson series this can be fun and educational at the same time. I reccomened this book to those people who like egyption mythology.

[Toya Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came in the April OwlCrate Jr. 2018 box. (Awesome box). This was very interesting and the book had a nice dose of humor in it. There is a quiz at the back that I didn't take because the answers are in the Greek alphabet..LOL.

[Mysterious Shade · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars out of 5
Just finished this cute book. It was pretty interesting, as a person really fond of Greek Mythology (Hehe, Percy Jackson ;) ). I found out new stories which I liked. But it also bored me at times. It was okay to good.

[Joseph Matuch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know whether to rate this book as a 33 year-old or a 13 year-old. It summarized Greek mythology well. I hope to remember the major points so as to correctly answer more questions in my trivia league. I think that sentence reveals too much about myself and not enough about the book...

[Su · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know little to non about Greek Mythology but I am intrigued to learn more. It is intimidating to pick up big book full on Geek Mythology thus Junior book it is. It is interesting to know many gods of Greek.

[JoAnn M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know nothing about Greek mythology, so I picked this up hoping to get some basics about the subject. The book was cute, but so jam-packed full of trivia, all the gods and goddesses started running together for me. However, if I got one gem to remember, it was worth the read.

[Brenda Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book whose stated audience is the ‘junior genius.’ However, it’s quite informative and it held the interest of this self titled, ‘senior star.’ Not surprising, Ken reads well and his quick, wry humor adds to this book’s enjoyment.

[Angela]

I'll skip giving this a rating since I'm not the intended audience, but I wasn't impressed. There were a few graphics (like the trading cards) that had concise useful info; everything else seemed like rambling stories with no apparent organizational scheme. 2.5.

[Pat Harris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written and a bore! Definately NOT recommended. So bad that I couldn't finish it. Don't buy this book!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book

[Maria (miamaria_348) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Snabbläste denna för en bokutmaning, kände igen det mesta från andra sagor. En bra bok om man vill lära sig mer om grekisk mytologi

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best explanation book I've come across on Greek mythology so far. Great addition to our homeschooling for my grade 6 student.

[Bea Elwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a good series and a must in the classroom.

[cleo s · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not the best, but it's fun to read and easy to understand. It contains some of the most classic Greek Myths and some lesser-known myths.