Max Nelson earned his BA in Classical Civilization from the University of Windsor and pursued his MA at the University of Ottawa, followed by a PhD at the University of British Columbia with a Killam Fellowship. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan and returned to the University of Windsor in 2001, currently serving as an Associate Professor. Nelson specializes in teaching topics such as Roman Civilization, History, Latin, the Classical Tradition, and themes related to Leisure and Pleasure in the Ancient World, including Gladiators and the interplay of culture and screen magic in antiquity. His research focuses on ancient social history, particularly aspects of pleasure including food, drink, sex, and games. He authored the book 'Barbarian's Beverage: A History of Beer in Ancient Europe' published by Routledge in 2005 and has produced further scholarly articles discussing the geography of beer, its medicinal uses, and the practices of monastic brewing. Recent publications include discussions on ancient Greek war games and the cultural significance of games in the city-states, notably featuring topics like gladiatorial puns and interpretations of historical texts.