A Theory of Great Men

A Theory of Great Men is the humorous and fast-paced story of an irreverent, flawed man who has a talent for accumulating both protégés and enemies. George Cavaliere, a veteran high school history teacher, has many attributes of a brilliant educator: he’s a vibrant classroom performance artist, his colleagues respect his knowledge of history, and he’s popular with many students.

Cavaliere is at his best when he’s debunking the so-called “Great Man” theory, which maintains that the actions of major historical figures dominate the course of human events. Cavaliere insists that people’s lives are shaped by sweeping forces beyond their control, and often their understanding. And yet his own life seems to show the opposite. Cavaliere’s impatience with political correctness and his restless philandering lead to the unraveling of his career and his marriage. A part-time job coaching an underdog basketball team helps Cavaliere confront his own shortcomings and begin to see that, although he is anything but a great man, he is, nevertheless, the master of his own fate.

"Wise, funny and engaging, A Theory of Great Menis the kind of book that sticks with you... Whether you loved high school or merely survived it, you'll love this book and its examinations of the perils of idealism and the thin boundaries that separate teaching and learning."--- Chris Ballard, Sports Illustrated, and author of The Art of a Beautiful Game

"A witty, insightful writer, Daniel Greenstone has captured all the frustration of teaching, along with some of the sweet surprises that make the job worth doing. An intriguing book of ideas, and one with heart." --- Barbara Croft, author of Moon's Crossing