Socrates - by Paul Johnson (Paperback)

About the Book

Socrates is often called the father of philosophy, yet he left no writings. What we know of his life and ideas comes from the works of his contemporaries. Socrates taught--and strove to embody--that how each of us chooses to live and die has great meaning.

Book Synopsis

"Spectacular . . . A delight to read."
--The Wall Street Journal

From bestselling biographer and historian Paul Johnson, a brilliant portrait of Socrates, the founding father of philosophy

In his highly acclaimed style, historian Paul Johnson masterfully disentangles centuries of scarce sources to offer a riveting account of Socrates, who is often hailed as the most important thinker of all time. Johnson provides a compelling picture of Athens in the fifth century BCE, and of the people Socrates reciprocally delighted in, as well as many enlightening and intimate analyses of specific aspects of his personality. Enchantingly portraying "the sheer power of Socrates's mind, and its unique combination of steel, subtlety, and frivolity," Paul Johnson captures the vast and intriguing life of a man who did nothing less than supply the basic apparatus of the human mind.

Review Quotes

Praise for Socrates by Paul Johnson:

"An admirably concise view of a remarkable life whose influence remains central to the foundations of Western thought."
--Publishers Weekly

"[Johnson's] genuine love of the demos makes him an all-too-rare figure in today's chattering classes."
--First Things

"Johnson writes more concisely than most scholars and brings to his prose a wealth of anecdote and asides unknown to most academics. His Socrates comes alive not through arguments over Platonic dating or Pythagorean influence, but by wit and allusion to Jane Austen novels, Samuel Johnson, John Maynard Keynes, firsthand remembrances of Winston Churchill's speeches and Richard Dawkins. A valuable overview."
--Washington Times

"Robust."
--The New Republic

"With effortless erudition, Paul Johnson brings to life the world of the great philosopher."
--Women's Wear Daily

"A succinct, useful exploration of life in ancient Athens and of the great philosopher's essential beliefs."
--Kirkus Reviews

"A wonderfully readable account of life in Athens, its political quarrels, and its failures. As good as a murder mystery, Johnson's narrative is exciting."
--Library Journal

"Enlightening.... Johnson disentangles centuries of scarce and questionable sources to offer a riveting account of a homely but charismatic middle-class man whose ideas still shape the way we decide how to act, and how we fathom the notion of body and soul."
--History Book Club

"Johnson is an accomplished historian and writer with a fluid, unpretentious style and an honest voice. These gifts, which have made his 12 previous books enjoyable and popular, are no less evident in Socrates."
--The Washington Independent Review of Books

"This snappy biography goes down easy while offering a full portrait of Socrates--the man, the thinker, the celebrity--and the world he lived in."
--Zócalo Public Square

"Spectacular...a delight to read."
--The Wall Street Journal

About the Author

Paul Johnson's many books, including A History of Christianity, A History of the Jews, Modern Times, Churchill, and Napoleon: A Penguin Life, have been hailed as masterpieces of historical analysis. He is a regular columnist for Forbes and The Spectator, and his work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many others publications. He lives in London.