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The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers
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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 global travel in a 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 Simone de Beauvoir and twentieth-century Paris, Weiner's chosen philosophers and places provide important signposts as we navigate today's chaotic times.In The Socrates Express , 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.
Reviews
"Weiner's challenge in these chapters is to give a sufficient overview of his subject while maintaining a brisk pace and distilling useful instruction."
"Journalist Weiner...makes a convincing and winningly presented case for the practical applications of philosophy to everyday existence in the 21st century."
"This extra framework serves as a sort of palate cleanser between big ideas ..."
"Weiner starts each chapter with a scene on a train ride between cities and then frames each philosopher's work in the context of one thing they can help us do better."
"His tone alternates between informative and insightful to cheeky and challenging, and he delights in sharing anecdotes that highlight his subjects' various peccadilloes."
"Her carefully crafted adolescent persona of world-weary boredom, negated by periodic demonstrations proving an impressive comprehension of complex ideas, tasks her with running the wisdom of the ages through a filter of 21st century skepticism."
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