The Republic

Coming into the audiobook, one already knows it's a classic. However, the questions remains, does the narrator bring it to life. Well, the answer is yes. The narrator plays an excellent Socrates, and during the dialogues changes voices to include the other characters. I like it very much.

Classically it isn't supposed to be an edge of your seat thriller; if you're into that than you wouldn't be searching for philosophy. It is indeed a good book, well written, and decently narrated. It's "listenable" and not too difficult to get through; certainly beats the paperback version ;)

I'd recommend it to anyone; only it is an exceedingly challenging read. I'm listening along with some of The Great Courses to help me understand all the subtleties.

"Thus Spoke Zarathustra" - in terms of challenge.

Langton has done a great job over Socrates' opponents, distinguishing them very nicely, often mockingly, from the main speaker.

Of course not. It's supposed to stimulate your brain to reason.

Do not buy this on its own! Start thinking about additional lectures. You won't get it right away.

While I have read this title before I wanted to enjoy it again via audio presentation. I would have enjoyed better character separation during the heavy Socratic questions suggestions still not a bad overall performance of a masterpiece of a favorite topic.

Yes, I think I would. The real value in this book isn't the philosophy of Plato or his vaunted republic, it's when you realize that these people had thought the same things in the same way we do today. Plato is very familiar with the "democratic man" as he says and "all of his freedoms". I love hearing a completely honest account of what someone thought about democracy when it was first born.

I don't always agree with Plato and Socrates, but you have to admire the honesty of someone who openly calls for a Republic in which mothers and fathers are separated from their children for the sake of the nation. No punches are pulled and say what you want about their values, ideas and philosophy but don't say they weren't brutally honest in the presentation of their ideas.

The fact that it occurred in a democracy over 2000 years ago and the fact that ancient Greece has similarities to our own society, maybe more so than any society before or since that golden age of Greece.

One little gem from the book: Socrates comments on how a democracy steals the land and possessions from the wealthy. Are things any different in the US today? Perhaps in the fact that we can't just up and take the fortune of one individual, but what of an inheritance tax that takes over 50% of the wealth of an individual?

Glocon - this guy is the original and I mean ORIGINAL Yes man

I believe the Socratic method is to get your subject saying yes as many times as possible, and I can't count how many times GloCon say "Yes" "It is Certain" and other yes like answers. I just wish there was a guy around who agreed with me as readily as Glocon agreed with Socrates.

It would be the most boring movie ever conceived. Honestly, did the person who came up with this question have any idea what this book is and how it is written?

A good book, but best when not listened to all at once. Listening to this book is like reading the Bible, you don't do it all at once and you might want to go back and re-listen to something once in a while.