First half really interesting

First half of the book was really interesting but I struggled to keep with the second half

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Short and straightforward examples

Good early chapters, then the 2nd half was less interesting as became a little too deep for me.

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Not what I expected

As this book was referenced by Ade Edmondson in his autobiography, I thought I would give it a try.
If you are looking for a self help book, look elsewhere.
The guy clearly knows about the ancient Greek philosophers, but he just delivered a stream of references to them and their works with only the occasional reference to modern application.

Disappointed.

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A fantastic summary and comparison of ancient philosophy

Thoroughly enjoyable and packed with insightful history. Well performed but found it difficult to really lose myself in it. It’s a book I will come back to but a little too academic I feel as an audio book.

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Interesting book

Really interesting and fascinating book gives you a lot of food for thoughts in some inspiring things to look at and understand well narrated and engaging

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1 person found this helpful

Whistle stop tour of philosophy

This is an absolutely brilliant premise and a great whistle-stop tour of philosophy, philosophers and doctrines and fitting those into modern life and the issues we face today.

It's a massive undertaking to tackle such a broad subject and it's set out well.

That said, I had mixed feelings about this book at points. The author did not take a consistently unbiased stance and, at points, use of language such as "claptrap" hinted at his predilections. Although at other points he would appear open to and neutrally describe ideas that I found quite extreme.

As such, I swung from violently agreeing with the author, to disagreeing depending on his lack of neutrality and my own.

For instance, I felt the author was dismissive about 'new age' ideas, and yet surely there is a Venn diagram where the new age and the philosophical naturally overlap? ('There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy')

I think I will read this again and again as there is a lot to digest. It's well written, amusing and clever and, for me, a good starting point to work out which philosophy might be worth a deeper look. I wish this had existed when I studied philosophy at uni!

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4 people found this helpful

Makes you think.

I found out about this book while listening to Adrian Edmondson’s autobiography.

And I’m glad I listened, as someone who struggles with their own thoughts sometimes. Control, self loathing, anxiety to name a few. I found this book very interesting and helpful. I’m now beginning to look into certain philosophers I resonate with myself to help with my own quirks.

And as a father to a child with autism & PDA, I’m hoping as they get older and begin to understand their emotions more I can help them via the teachings of certain philosophers.

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3 people found this helpful

Great listen

Did not know what to expect. The book is educational, thought provoking and entertaining. I purchased the hardback as well. This allows me to dip in and out.

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