I don't think it's a must read, but I think it's a great read. I found it very, very entertaining and super informative.
This is critical thinking 101: I don't think it's that hard to do, I just think it's upsetting for a lot of people to do.

 

The author laid everything out so beautifully using a semi-historical narrative of Socrates's life. And in key moments, he would elucidate something about Socrates philosophy, as demonstrated by the dialogues he would have with key people in his life. In each of those, the author then ties that key philosophical piece to something in modern psychology, which then critiques the conclusions one might draw from reading other self-help books.

 

He gives you, with all that connection, a tool to sift through all the information that you receive from the world around you, and even the information that you generate within yourself. Because they do say that it's easier to critique somebody else's ideas or thoughts than it is to critique your own.

It's basically talking about yourself in the third person, as if you're talking about someone else’s ideas, to critique your own ideas.

 

That I think is easy.


Anyone could do that.

 

But I don't think that that's something innate. You should be able to hear your own thoughts come out somebody else's mouth, then critique them, and then think differently.

 

I don't think that that's impossible, but it is difficult

 

A lot of the conflict and tension in this narrative comes when Socrates tries to undermine other people's thoughts. By just asking the questions that they have to conclude is some kind of exception to the ideas that they are trying to espouse.


Like what is justice?


What is truth?


What is good?


What is bad?


What is wrong?


He seems very concerned about virtues like that.

And those that claimed to be wise were the ones that were most resistant to Socrates. Because in order to actually undermine what they are trying to say, they’d have to concede that somebody else is wiser than they are.

 
That is an issue for the sophists back then, and the sophists now. Those people, which are all around us constantly, cannot critique their own thoughts.

 

Perhaps critical thinking is very difficult for them.


Not impossible, because if you have the tools, you would be able to.

 

This book is great. I would not say it must read though, because it's just critical thinking 101. But for those that really could use some sharpening of their logic skills, I think it's fantastic.


I don't think I've ever really given many self help books like low scores because if the tips don’t work, it’s your own fault. So this one gets a high score for me. It's a five out of five, with the beautiful narrative and the prose with which it was done, and the narrator for the audio book was a perfect cast.

 

It was great.

“How to Think like Socrates” is a good book.

This enjoyable book tells the story from his point of view. It starts when he was working for his father, a master sculptor, and then continues through his military days and years of teaching. It’s clear that the author is highly knowledgeable about the history and wanted to present it to readers in a way that would be easy to understand. This book will fill your mind with the how to “know thyself” along with the politics of the time. I was more interested in the philosophy as how it relates to our thinking patterns. It’s definitely a conversation piece of writing. It ends with several pages of references and notes. I think young readers will find it interesting and easy to understand.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the audio preview.

I enjoyed this book more than I expected. This may not be for everyone. I am rather stoic in general

I listened to about 20% of the audiobook. The content is very good but I cannot listen to this narrator. That’s about me, not him. Will try the print edition.

Roberson’s text “contains a dramatized and semi-fictional account of the life of Socrates designed to make his thought more accessible while also highlighting connections with modern psychology.” As a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, the author wants readers to access the tools within themselves by emulating the questioning techniques Socrates engaged in with his students. Rather than seeking the advice of self-help books, Robertson asserts that it is better to “use reason to actively problem solve and evaluate different strategies rather than depend on other people for stock advice.” As a result, this “can lead us toward freedom and genuine fulfillment.”

The relaxed approach of Robertson’s book made me feel as though I were listening to Socrates’ conversations with Plato, Pericles, Pythagoras, Aspasia, Alcibiades, and many others. The author’s own voice as narrator allowed an enjoyable listening experience.

I once had a graduate writing professor who had us write,“Yes, but why?” after every paragraph. While it was incredibly frustrating and time-consuming, this self-reflective activity improved my writing more than anything a professor could have written on a paper or commented to me. I think this type of questioning introspection is what Robertson is encouraging.

The analogy that “rhetoric is to the mind…as confectionary is to the body” helped me better understand the difference between rhetoric and philosophy.

I would love to listen to a conversation with Donald Robertson and Jay Heinrichs!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio version of this title for an honest review.

*How to Think Like Socrates* is a compelling blend of ancient philosophy and modern relevance. Donald J. Robertson brings Socrates to life, offering an engaging account of his unwavering principles and thought-provoking methods. The book shines in its application of the Socratic Method to everyday challenges, seamlessly connecting ancient wisdom with modern cognitive-behavioral strategies. Robertson’s insights make Socrates feel approachable and his teachings practical, encouraging readers to question, reflect, and seek truth in their own lives. A fascinating read for anyone looking to bring timeless philosophical tools into the modern world. 4 stars.

This was my first dabble into philosophy, and I knew very little about Socrates before reading this book. Lots to think about once finished.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Every once in a while, I take a break from fantasy, smut, and dystopias to dive into some nonfiction. Last year was Oppenheimer, and this year, it's Socrates. This audiobook did not disappoint and was very engaging. By first illustrating the methodology of the Socratic way of thinking, then examining those methods in dialogue, the author is really able to show the sound reasoning with which Socrates lived his life and how that practice is still relative today. The history and hypothetical dialogue, as well as the psychology behind aforementioned dialogue, really captured my interest with this one. It's a read for anyone who wants to be a better thinker, any lover of Socrates, and Greek history buffs.

Thanks @netgalley from proving me with this audiobook ARC of How to Think Like Socrates by @donaldjrobertson. This is a @macmillan.audio production.

A fantastic read bout the dialogue Socrates could have had. Insightful and engaging! This book gives a penetrating look into the philosophy of Socrates and how he viewed ethics, emotion, and logic!

This book offers a compelling look at Socrates and the origins of his philosophy. It dives deeply into how Socrates developed his ideas, often challenging his own beliefs in the search for wisdom about life’s most meaningful questions. I appreciated how it captured his dedication to his country, even as he pursued his ideals. While the detailed accounts of the battles felt a bit extensive, they still added a valuable layer of historical context. I was surprised to learn just how many stoic principles trace back to him—a revelation I hadn't fully appreciated before reading this. Well-written and insightful.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press for the ARC

This was brilliant. Honestly, there is so much I want to keep thinking about. Even though the topics are presented simply and logically, they were deep and complicated. As I listened to this, I thought it was remarkable how much Socrates still influences how people think. I chose to study psychology instead of philosophy, but I think Socrates understood psychology at least as well as any psychologist.
Socrates understood how philosophical concepts are tied into our psychology and how we think, The book is presented mostly as a series of dialogues, which is appropriate considering the original texts about Socrates. There is also a great explanation of history, showing the effects of war, relationships, and death on society.
The narrator's accent was great, and I felt like I could listen to him for hours no matter what the topic. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook.

This was a bit long. I do like to revel through these stoic stories. Making myself more aware of the thoughts and how much we actually control them. Good narration. Thoughtful writing. Lots of pondering for me to do now. Thanks, NetGalley for the listen!