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The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers

The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers

by Eric Weiner

Avid Reader Press / Simon Schuster ·2020 ·352 pages ·Essays
Near the Top
Near the Top
I Index
68/99
Near the Top

68/99

Critics

Near the Top

69/99

Readers

n/a

Scholars

70/99

Rating

66/99

Volume

67/99

Rating

71/99

Volume

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About This Book

The New York Times bestselling author of The Geography of Bliss embarks on a rollicking intellectual journey, following in the footsteps of history's greatest thinkers and showing us how each—from Epicurus to Gandhi, Thoreau to Beauvoir—offers practical and spiritual lessons for today's unsettled times.We turn to philosophy for the same reasons we to see the world from a dif­ferent perspective, to unearth hidden beauty, and to find new ways of being. We want to learn how to embrace wonder. Face regrets. Sustain hope. Eric Weiner combines his twin passions for philosophy and travel in a globe-trotting pil­grimage that uncovers surprising life lessons from great thinkers around the world, from Rousseau to Nietzsche, Confucius to Simone Weil. Traveling by train (the most thoughtful mode of transport), he journeys thousands of miles, making stops in Athens, Delhi, Wyoming, Coney Island, Frankfurt, and points in between to recon­nect with philosophy's original teaching us how to lead wiser, more meaningful lives. From Socrates and ancient Athens to Beauvoir and 20th-century Paris, Weiner's chosen philosophers and places provide important practical and spiritual lessons as we navigate today's chaotic times. In a "delightful" odyssey that "will take you places intellectually and humorously" (San Francisco Book Review), Weiner invites us to voyage alongside him on his life-changing pursuit of wisdom and discovery as he attempts to find answers to our most vital questions. The Socrates Express is "full of valuable lessons…a fun, sharp book that draws readers in with its apparent simplicity and bubble-gum philosophy approach and gradually pulls them in deeper and deeper" (NPR).


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Reviews

"Yes, it is a book about philosophy, but it's also a book about being human, travelling, learning and—sometimes—coffee ..."

Gabino Iglesias· NPR Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"This is not a book to race through and then shelve away."

Lucinda Robb· The Washington Post Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"Weiner crafts a seamless, engaging study of condensed knowledge crafted in graceful prose ..."

Lisa Guidarini· The New York Journal of Books Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"Whether steeped in philosophical knowledge or somewhat unfamiliar with the field, most readers will enjoy Weiner's unique approach and ultimately satisfying conclusions."

Kathleen McBroom· Booklist Read review ↗ Near the Top

"Each reader will cotton to certain of Weiner's philosophers more than others; the author's example teaches us that this is as it should be."

Kirkus Read review ↗ Near the Top

"With humor and thoughtfulness, he distills the wisdom of thinkers from throughout history ..."

Publishers Weekly Read review ↗ Near the Top

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