The Cambridge Companion to Philosophy series continues to devote ample attention to ancient philosophy. In 2007 the series began to publish Companions to individual books of particular importance to philosophy in addition to Companions to philosophers and schools. This excellent Companion to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics (hereafter NE) is the third of the first twelve such volumes on a work of ancient philosophy. The series aims to provide "lively, clear introductions" that are "enjoyed by students, scholars, and anyone with an interest in philosophy." This volume amply fulfills those goals for Aristotle's NE. I expect that it will be most useful to students—advanced undergraduates and graduate students given the specificity of the contributions—but the book should also be useful to scholars as well.

The Companion has many strengths that recommend it. The range of topics is very complete. In addition to covering standard issues in the interpretation of the NE such as eudaimonia, the doctrine of the mean, choice and responsibility, the various virtues of character and intellect, Aristotle's theory of action, akrasia, friendship and pleasure, the book also includes essays on the relationship of the NE to Aristotle's other ethical and political writings and a very full bibliography arranged by topic. The quality of writing throughout is very high, and each chapter provides a clear roadmap of the topic at hand. Students will learn not only the content of these central questions about Aristotle's NE but also why they matter for the larger interpretation of Aristotle's ethical thinking and their broader philosophical importance. In addition, each chapter introduces relevant secondary literature in a way that should not overwhelm readers new to the subjects.