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

Philosophy is most beneficial, not when treated as a lifeless academic exercise, but as a way of life that forces one to see the world in a new light. While science can provide us with information and knowledge (organized information), it is philosophy and the related fields in the humanities that furnishes us with wisdom.The deepest questions regarding reality, knowledge, existence, morality, and politics cannot be solved by crunching numbers or running experiments; they must be solved by a process of deep reflection and logical rigor—at least for those interested in thinking for themselves. The manner in which you form your beliefs, treat others, and develop your character are all philosophical problems that you either figure out for yourself or else allow others to figure out for you.That’s what makes books like the Socrates Express beneficial; for those with limited exposure to philosophy, it can force them to ask uncomfortable questions and challenge their most fundamental beliefs, leading to drastic changes in thought and behavior and a greater sense of intellectual independence (e.g., freedom from dogma).In The Socrates Express, Eric Weiner takes the reader on a journey as he travels the world reading and reflecting on the works and ideas of 14 great philosophers from across history. Each chapter is devoted to a particular philosopher and idea that can help us to lead more examined and ultimately more fulfilling and rewarding lives. The reader will learn how to grapple with the big questions and apply the lessons from philosophy to develop gratitude, become more attentive and present, build character, cultivate generosity, better handle adversity, and much more. In this sense, the book works.On the other hand, for seasoned readers of philosophy, the treatment of each philosopher will at times feel rather shallow. If you strip away the biographical details and personal commentary about the author's life and travels, you’re left with very superficial accounts of the actual ideas. If you are interested mainly in the ideas, don’t be surprised if you lose patience with the author’s digressions and constant attempts at humor.Take the first chapter on the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius as a case in point. The Meditations is a brilliant work of philosophy with countless examples of deep philosophical wisdom, worthy of extended analysis and reflection. However, the author condenses all of this down into a few quotes and a couple brief comments about getting out of bed in the morning and fulfilling your duties. The rest of the chapter is devoted to the author’s experience on the train and some biographical details of Marcus. While some chapters are better than others, the coverage often feels superficial—almost like the author could have read an encyclopedia article on each philosopher and then wrote the chapter based on that alone.The bottom line: some people are going to love the book while others are going to lose patience quickly. I’m somewhere in the middle. But before we criticize too harshly, we should remember that philosophy can be studied and practiced on multiple levels. If we insist that philosophy must always be highly technical, a wider audience cannot be reached, and instead of philosophy people will flock to religion and related forms of dogma. This is what we should want to avoid. While this may not be the most rigorous philosophy book you’ve ever encountered, it’s valuable in that it exposes the reader to fundamental questions in an entertaining and easily accessible manner. And, considering the entire subject of philosophy is essentially ignored in our public education system, there’s always a need for this.

The Socrates Express is just that: an express train paced tour through the philosophic tradition. Avoiding abstruse topics like metaphysics and epistemology, Weiner focuses on one life lesson from each selected philosopher. This allows him to go into some depth about his own life as well as the philosopher’s life and how the lesson connects to both of these subjects.I’ve studied most of these philosophers and can vouch that Weiner accurately represents their thought. Of course, the decision to concentrate on how to live is itself a selection process. Philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle and Aquinas, whose ethics cannot be separated from their larger worldview, don’t form part of the study.Although Weiner expresses the conventional disdain for academic philosophy, the book could really be used in Philosophy 101. It answers questions like what is wisdom, what is the love of wisdom and why would one study a tradition that comes to no mutually agreed upon conclusions.It also provides a succinct view of much of what Western and Eastern philosophy has to say about how to live. While philosophers themselves may not learn much, even they can enjoy a highly personal and original perspective.But the book is really intended for those who have yet to encounter philosophy or remember it only from textbooks gathering dust on their bookshelves. A well-written and accessible guide to the advice some philosophers have provided on life. Now, if only we could put these ideas into practice!

I loved this book. Eric Weiner is a great storyteller and with a sense of humor, he distills the wisdom of philosophers all the way from Socrates, to Rousseau, Gandhi, de Beauvoir, and even to Confucius. He makes philosophy understandable and fun and raises serious questions about the realities of our modern life. I highly recommend this book.

I highly recommend The Socrates Express. Eric writes with humour and humility. Two things stood out in this book. Firstly, knowing about the philosophers--their lives and where they lived--adds to their ideas, because you realise they struggled and sacrificed for their search for answers (or the best questions). Secondly, philosophy is not just logic, but is also about the emotions we all live with, and together the ideas, the emotions, and the spirit of questioning and struggle, make up philosophy.This book did inspire me, but not because it provided neat strategies for living, but because it made me want to search and wonder as well as feel and experience some of the ideas of the philosopher.I also thank the author for sharing his own experiences; I felt like I was part of his journey at times.This book does the philosophers justice.

14 philosophers are presented in this book in a very pleasant way. Excellent style. Enlightening read.

Really enjoyed this book and wish it were longer. Fun, informative, and great writing. There is much to engage in and the author presents it in a questioning style which encourages the reader to delve deeper into their own perceptions.

too lengthy and the author loses the plot in every chapter

I just loved this book! Educational, thought provoking and thoroughly entertaining! Left me wanting more!!!