Read the original text (book) or a book about it first?

[diomedes]

I'm thinking it's subject to personal taste, but what do i know. Fishing for opinions, unless we have some scholars roaming about who'll set me straight:

Read first Thucydides Peloponnesian War, or a modern book about the same topic? I have only read part of the original Thucydides a long time ago and wonder if it's logical to actually read it first rather than the other way around.

[j_menz]

Generally, the original first, assuming it is intelligible (some aren't).

The question regarding ancient histories vs modern ones is a little different. If you are trying to gain a knowledge of the  Peloponnesian Wars, then a modern text will include various sources and modern archaeological research and (probably) be better. If you are looking to get a better understanding of Thucydides, then read the original.