As Plutarch observed, Socrates 'was the first person to demonstrate that life is open to philosophy at all times, in every part, among all kinds of people, and in every experience and activity.'
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.
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
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