How to Think Like Socrates

‘Donald J. Robertson is one of my favourite writers’ – Ryan Holiday, bestselling author and founder of The Daily Stoic ‘One of the best books ever written on the power and practicality of philosophy for building a good and successful life’ – Tom Morris, bestselling author of Plato’s Lemonade Stand and Stoicism for Dummies How can we apply the teachings of the greatest ancient philosopher to modern life? Socrates is the most famous ancient philosopher and the source of the entire Western philosophical tradition. He spent his life teaching practical philosophy to ordinary people in the streets of Athens, yet few people today are familiar with the wisdom he has to offer us – until now. In this groundbreaking book, Donald J. Robertson, a practising cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist, transports readers back to the streets of ancient Athens, expertly weaving together a page-turning account of the visionary man to show us how we can apply Socratic ideas to our daily lives. Through a vivid, semi-fictionalized narrative, readers have a ringside seat to witness Socrates's journey firsthand - from his military service and public trials to his ultimate execution. This engaging guide introduces the core Socratic principles and reveals how his method of rigorous self-examination is more relevant than ever in a world filled with misinformation. ‘Engagingly written and highly accessible, especially innovative in highlighting the significance of Socratic philosophy for modern readers’ – Chris Gill, Professor Emeritus of Ancient Thought, Exeter University

‘Donald J. Robertson is one of my favourite writers’ – Ryan Holiday, bestselling author and founder of The Daily Stoic ‘One of the best books ever written on the power and practicality of philosophy for building a good and successful life’ – Tom Morris, bestselling author of Plato’s Lemonade Stand and Stoicism for Dummies How can we apply the teachings of the greatest ancient philosopher to modern life? Socrates is the most famous ancient philosopher and the source of the entire Western philosophical tradition. He spent his life teaching practical philosophy to ordinary people in the streets of Athens, yet few people today are familiar with the wisdom he has to offer us – until now. In this groundbreaking book, Donald J. Robertson, a practising cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist, transports readers back to the streets of ancient Athens, expertly weaving together a page-turning account of the visionary man to show us how we can apply Socratic ideas to our daily lives. Through a vivid, semi-fictionalized narrative, readers have a ringside seat to witness Socrates's journey firsthand - from his military service and public trials to his ultimate execution. This engaging guide introduces the core Socratic principles and reveals how his method of rigorous self-examination is more relevant than ever in a world filled with misinformation. ‘Engagingly written and highly accessible, especially innovative in highlighting the significance of Socratic philosophy for modern readers’ – Chris Gill, Professor Emeritus of Ancient Thought, Exeter University

'One of the best books ever written on the power and practicality of philosophy for building a good and successful life' - Tom Morris, bestselling author of Plato's Lemonade Stand and Stoicism for Dummies How can we apply the teachings of the greatest ancient philosopher to modern life? Socrates is the most famous ancient philosopher and the father of the entire Western philosophical tradition. He spent his life teaching practical philosophy to ordinary people in the streets of Athens, yet his work has largely been left to gather dust in academia – until now. How to Think Like Socrates is an entertaining and informative primer on the life of the great thinker – and the first book to focus on applying his ideas to our daily lives. Author Donald Robertson transports readers back to the streets of ancient Athens, expertly weaving together a page-turning account of the visionary man who eschewed material pleasures and stood by his beliefs, even in the face of controversy, with a steadfastness that ultimately resulted in his execution. How to Think Like Socrates highlights the continuing importance of the four cardinal virtues of Greek philosophy: wisdom; justice; courage; temperance. As a practising cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist, Robertson also uses his expertise to reveal the many ways in which the evidence-based concepts and techniques of modern psychology can trace their roots back to Socrates and shows how his philosophical insights can guide and benefit all of us to this day. 'Engagingly written and highly accessible, especially innovative in highlighting the significance of Socratic philosophy for modern readers' - Chris Gill, Professor Emeritus of Ancient Thought, Exeter University

'One of the best books ever written on the power and practicality of philosophy for building a good and successful life' - Tom Morris, bestselling author of Plato's Lemonade Stand and Stoicism for Dummies How can we apply the teachings of the greatest ancient philosopher to modern life? Socrates is the most famous ancient philosopher and the father of the entire Western philosophical tradition. He spent his life teaching practical philosophy to ordinary people in the streets of Athens, yet his work has largely been left to gather dust in academia – until now. How to Think Like Socrates is an entertaining and informative primer on the life of the great thinker – and the first book to focus on applying his ideas to our daily lives. Author Donald Robertson transports readers back to the streets of ancient Athens, expertly weaving together a page-turning account of the visionary man who eschewed material pleasures and stood by his beliefs, even in the face of controversy, with a steadfastness that ultimately resulted in his execution. How to Think Like Socrates highlights the continuing importance of the four cardinal virtues of Greek philosophy: wisdom; justice; courage; temperance. As a practising cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist, Robertson also uses his expertise to reveal the many ways in which the evidence-based concepts and techniques of modern psychology can trace their roots back to Socrates and shows how his philosophical insights can guide and benefit all of us to this day. 'Engagingly written and highly accessible, especially innovative in highlighting the significance of Socratic philosophy for modern readers' - Chris Gill, Professor Emeritus of Ancient Thought, Exeter University

'One of the best books ever written on the power and practicality of philosophy for building a good and successful life' - Tom Morris, bestselling author of Plato's Lemonade Stand and Stoicism for Dummies ------- How can we apply the teachings of the greatest ancient philosopher to modern life? Socrates is the most famous ancient philosopher and the father of the entire Western philosophical tradition. He spent his life teaching practical philosophy to ordinary people in the streets of Athens, yet his work has largely been left to gather dust in academia – until now. How to Think Like Socrates is an entertaining and informative primer on the life of the great thinker – and the first book to focus on applying his ideas to our daily lives. Author Donald Robertson transports readers back to the streets of ancient Athens, expertly weaving together a page-turning account of the visionary man who eschewed material pleasures and stood by his beliefs, even in the face of controversy, with a steadfastness that ultimately resulted in his execution. How to Think Like Socrates highlights the continuing importance of the four cardinal virtues of Greek philosophy: wisdom; justice; courage; temperance. As a practising cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist, Robertson also uses his expertise to reveal the many ways in which the evidence-based concepts and techniques of modern psychology can trace their roots back to Socrates and shows how his philosophical insights can guide and benefit all of us to this day. ------- 'Engagingly written and highly accessible, especially innovative in highlighting the significance of Socratic philosophy for modern readers' - Chris Gill, Professor Emeritus of Ancient Thought, Exeter University

'One of the best books ever written on the power and practicality of philosophy for building a good and successful life' - Tom Morris, bestselling author of Plato's Lemonade Stand and Stoicism for Dummies ------- How can we apply the teachings of the greatest ancient philosopher to modern life? Socrates is the most famous ancient philosopher and the father of the entire Western philosophical tradition. He spent his life teaching practical philosophy to ordinary people in the streets of Athens, yet his work has largely been left to gather dust in academia – until now. How to Think Like Socrates is an entertaining and informative primer on the life of the great thinker – and the first book to focus on applying his ideas to our daily lives. Author Donald Robertson transports readers back to the streets of ancient Athens, expertly weaving together a page-turning account of the visionary man who eschewed material pleasures and stood by his beliefs, even in the face of controversy, with a steadfastness that ultimately resulted in his execution. How to Think Like Socrates highlights the continuing importance of the four cardinal virtues of Greek philosophy: wisdom; justice; courage; temperance. As a practising cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist, Robertson also uses his expertise to reveal the many ways in which the evidence-based concepts and techniques of modern psychology can trace their roots back to Socrates and shows how his philosophical insights can guide and benefit all of us to this day. ------- 'Engagingly written and highly accessible, especially innovative in highlighting the significance of Socratic philosophy for modern readers' - Chris Gill, Professor Emeritus of Ancient Thought, Exeter University

How can we apply the teachings of the greatest ancient philosopher to modern life? Socrates is the quintessential Athenian philosopher, the source of the entire Western philosophical tradition, and Godfather to the Stoics. He spent his life teaching practical philosophy to ordinary people in the streets of Athens, yet few people today are familiar with the wisdom he has to offer us. How to Think Like Socrates is an accessible and informative guide to the life of one of the greatest thinkers in history, and the first book to focus on applying his ideas to our daily lives. Author Donald J. Robertson transports readers back to ancient Athens, expertly weaving together a page-turning account of a philosopher who eschewed material pleasures and stood by his beliefs, even in the face of controversy, with a steadfastness that ultimately resulted in his execution. How to Think Like Socrates highlights the continuing value of the Socratic Method to modern life. As a practicing cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, Robertson also uses his expertise to reveal many parallels between the evidence-based concepts and techniques of modern psychology and the philosophy of Socrates, and shows how his philosophical insights can guide and benefit all of us to this day.

How can we apply the teachings of the greatest ancient philosopher to modern life? Socrates is the quintessential Athenian philosopher, the source of the entire Western philosophical tradition, and Godfather to the Stoics. He spent his life teaching practical philosophy to ordinary people in the streets of Athens, yet few people today are familiar with the wisdom he has to offer us. How to Think Like Socrates is an accessible and informative guide to the life of one of the greatest thinkers in history, and the first book to focus on applying his ideas to our daily lives. Author Donald J. Robertson transports readers back to ancient Athens, expertly weaving together a page-turning account of a philosopher who eschewed material pleasures and stood by his beliefs, even in the face of controversy, with a steadfastness that ultimately resulted in his execution. How to Think Like Socrates highlights the continuing value of the Socratic Method to modern life. As a practicing cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, Robertson also uses his expertise to reveal many parallels between the evidence-based concepts and techniques of modern psychology and the philosophy of Socrates, and shows how his philosophical insights can guide and benefit all of us to this day.