The Battle of Salamis: The Naval Encounter That Saved Greece—and Western Civilization by Barry Strauss is a historical account of the pivotal 480 BCE naval battle between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire. Strauss provides a detailed narrative of the battle, emphasizing its strategic, political, and cultural significance. He explores the leadership of Themistocles, the cunning Athenian general who orchestrated the Greek victory by luring the Persian fleet into the narrow straits of Salamis. The book also delves into the personalities of key figures, the tactics used, and the broader consequences of the battle, which ensured the survival of Greek independence and had lasting impacts on Western civilization.