Examined Lives: Twelve Great Thinkers and the Search for Wisdom, from Socrates to Nietzsche

(Paperback)

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Description

Before the good life was reduced to a bottle of Prozac, it was philosophers who offered answers to the most fundamental questions about who we are and how to live well. InExamined Lives, James Miller returns to this vibrant tradition with short and spirited biographies of twelve famous thinkers, examining the interplay of their life and thought. From Plato, who risked his reputation to tutor a tyrant, to Kant, who wrestled with hypochondria while advocating arch-rationality in his writings, each thinker took their own unique approach to the good life, but often struggled to put their theories into practice. With a flair for rich anecdote, Miller provides a captivating insight into some of historys greatest thinkers and confirms the continuing relevance of philosophy today.

Reviews

A vivid set of philosophical talesa fresh treatment of subjects who are often served up stale.

A set of beautifully written and richly informative mini-biographies of a dozen philosophers Each of them is a little gem in its own right.

Fascinatingreaders will be astounded to learn that philosophers make as much of a mess of their lives as anyone else.

Admirablehis book gains a novelistic richness.

An engaging wealth of personal detail woven into each philosophers quest for wisdom Refreshingan ideal book to dip into before another night of sleepless worry.

Crisply written and insightful.

Endlessly rich An earnest, wistful collection of biographical sketches of a dozen preeminent lovers of wisdom.

Millers accessible history is entertaining and informative.

Excellent.

Pitch-perfectMillers prose is insightful, anecdotal, warm, and nuanced.

Relevant, interesting, and accessibleMillers deep knowledge of his subject is matched by a passion to share what he knows with others.

Beautifully written, full of anecdotes and interesting historical facts, this is an inspiring read.

Author Bio

James Miller is a professor of politics and the chair of liberal studies at the New School for Social Research. He is the author of The Passion of Michel Foucault among other books. He lives in Manhattan, New York.