Before the book ever reached the “Ithaca” of Greece’s bookstores—a metaphor borrowed from Homer’s Odyssey to signify a destination long sought—its communication strategy seemed perfectly choreographed. Even the narration by actor Aimilios Cheilakis, chosen for the promotional build-up, sounded almost too fitting, as if designed to envelop readers in just the right atmosphere of anticipation.
But the moment Alexis Tsipras’ publishing venture landed in the hands of journalists and politicians, everything changed. As revelations emerged—score-settling with former collaborators, comrades, and friends—the promised “Ithaca” morphed into “Troy,” the Odyssey became an Iliad, and the rebranding effort devolved into full-blown reality TV.
It remains unclear whether this was Tsipras’ intention all along: to stir noise and controversy in order to boost sales. After all, a book must generate revenue—for the publisher, the author, and anyone sharing in the profits. If that was the goal, it appears to have succeeded.
Suddenly, all his former teammates from the “reality show” of Greece’s first time Left government—an expression widely used to describe SYRIZA’s rise to power in 2015—flocked to television and radio studios. They resurfaced some of the most cult, unforgettable moments of the post-1974 political era, while also confirming that their governance was obstructed not only by the objective hardships of the financial crisis, but by the subjective, deeply personal approaches each one brought to the table.
Who is right? Who tells the truth, and who lies? We will never know. It is Tsipras’ word against that of Polakis, Pappas, Zoe Konstantopoulou, Lafazanis, Varoufakis. A Wild West-style showdown, bullets flying in every direction, hoping some might hit the center—because that’s where Alexis Tsipras’ political comeback will ultimately be judged.
The book presentation—and whatever Tsipras chooses to reveal there—may finally offer a more substantive analysis of what happened during his years in power. Short videos posted on social media cannot achieve that. They may work for promotion, but not for political debate, nor for answering the fundamental question: What does Alexis Tsipras want from here on, and what does he have to offer in order to claim it?
A book is indeed a powerful tool for personal branding and marketing. And if it sells, it becomes a long-term revenue stream. If the reported sales numbers are accurate, the former prime minister has made a very savvy business move.
He may also be enjoying a measure of personal satisfaction: firing arrows at the individuals he believes “ruined the vibe” while he was in power—problems he couldn’t confront even later, when he had the chance to rebuild in opposition.
So, are these 762 pages the start of something new—or the end of something old?
Odysseus, upon returning to Ithaca, killed the suitors and reclaimed his kingdom. Will Tsipras do the same, politically slaying his old self and everything that reminds him of that era?
Because few remember the end of Odysseus in the ancient epic Telegony.
But it did come.
