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How to Think Like Socrates: Ancient Philosophy as a Way of Life in the Modern World Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Donald J. Robertson (Author, Narrator), Macmillan Audio (Publisher)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 39 ratings
#1 New Release in Greek & Roman Philosophy
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How can we apply the teachings of the greatest ancient philosopher to modern life?

Socrates is the quintessential Athenian philosopher, the source of the entire Western philosophical tradition, and Godfather to the Stoics. He spent his life teaching practical philosophy to ordinary people in the streets of Athens, yet few people today are familiar with the wisdom he has to offer us.

How to Think Like Socrates is an accessible and informative guide to the life of one of the greatest thinkers in history, and the first book to focus on applying his ideas to our daily lives. Author Donald J. Robertson transports listeners back to ancient Athens, expertly weaving together a thrilling account of a philosopher who eschewed material pleasures and stood by his beliefs, even in the face of controversy, with a steadfastness that ultimately resulted in his execution.

How to Think Like Socrates highlights the continuing value of the Socratic Method to modern life. As a practicing cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, Robertson also uses his expertise to reveal many parallels between the evidence-based concepts and techniques of modern psychology and the philosophy of Socrates, and shows how his philosophical insights can guide and benefit all of us to this day.

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  1. Listening Length
    11 hours and 25 minutes
  2. Author
    Donald J. Robertson
  3. Narrator
    Donald J. Robertson
  4. Audible release date
    November 19, 2024
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Macmillan Audio
  7. ASIN
    B0CW7SVH44
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 11 hours and 25 minutes
Author Donald J. Robertson
Narrator Donald J. Robertson
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date November 19, 2024
Publisher Macmillan Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0CW7SVH44
Best Sellers Rank #5,144 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#12 in Greek & Roman Philosophy (Audible Books & Originals)
#19 in Ethics & Morality Philosophy
#31 in Ancient Greek & Roman Philosophy

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4.4 out of 5 stars
39 global ratings

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Customers praise the book's engaging writing and consider it a worthwhile purchase. They find the storyline enjoyable and easy to follow, making it an excellent addition to the author's collection.

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4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's writing style. They say he weaves lessons into a coherent and engaging read.

"This is another great book from Donald Robertson. As with all of his previous books, this book is enjoyable, educational and easy to read...." Read more

"...Donald Robertson has written another instant classic. I'm ordering a stack to give away for Christmas. Buy the book, you'll love it" Read more

"...A great author, a fantastic therapist, and a wonderful story-teller weaving these lessons into a coherent and engaging read." Read more

"...+ Entertainment = 😀 His book re Marcus Aurelius is also superb...." Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, educational, and easy to read. They say it's worth the wait and worth the money.

"...As with all of his previous books, this book is enjoyable, educational and easy to read...." Read more

"Just received. Already re-reading chapters. Worth every penny. The Audible is very good also. You get:..." Read more

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Worth the wait
5 out of 5 stars
Worth the wait
As the Oracle said, "none is wiser than Socrates." So who wouldn't want to learn to think like him. I have spent the last decade learning everything I could about Socrates, and this book contains everything I was able to learn and even more that. Donald Robertson has written another instant classic. I'm ordering a stack to give away for Christmas. Buy the book, you'll love it
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Tim Scott
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is another great book from Donald Robertson. As with all of his previous books, this book is enjoyable, educational and easy to read. He makes ancient philosophy easy to understand and does a great job of explain ways to apply the principals to our modern lives. I highly recommend!!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Scott
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the wait
    Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    As the Oracle said, "none is wiser than Socrates." So who wouldn't want to learn to think like him. I have spent the last decade learning everything I could about Socrates, and this book contains everything I was able to learn and even more that. Donald Robertson has written another instant classic. I'm ordering a stack to give away for Christmas. Buy the book, you'll love it
    Customer image
    Scott
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the wait
    Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2024
    As the Oracle said, "none is wiser than Socrates." So who wouldn't want to learn to think like him. I have spent the last decade learning everything I could about Socrates, and this book contains everything I was able to learn and even more that. Donald Robertson has written another instant classic. I'm ordering a stack to give away for Christmas. Buy the book, you'll love it
    Images in this review
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    6 people found this helpful
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  • J. Sunday
    4.0 out of 5 stars Stimulating
    Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2024
    Socrates, the great philosopher, died in 399 BC. This remarkable 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.

    Socrates was searching for the meaning in life. It took me some time to read through the pages as I would pause to think about some of his questions that could relate to us. What matters most in your life? What did you spend most of your time doing? What qualities do you admire in others? How much good would a million dollars be in your bank account if you are on the verge of passing away.

    It’s clear that author is highly knowledgeable about the history and wanted to present it to readers in a way that would be easy to understand. As we know, much over the years has changed. Yet, it may seem oddly familiar with the same type of politics and concerns with fear, anger and corruption by manipulative leaders.

    Besides philosophy, Donald J. Robertson included a great deal of the Greek history with the wars and what happened afterward. Critias was one of Socrates’ students. He became the leader of the Thirty Tyrants who ruled Athens after the Peloponnesian War.

    Was the author trying to tell us something? It’s the story of revenge and how their voting systems were manipulated. When the oligarchs took control, they killed anyone that testified against them during the democracy. They arrested soldiers, their personal enemies, prominent citizens and Democrat leaders. Critias made it illegal to teach the art of argumentation as he wanted to outlaw philosophy. And you can guess what happened next. How do we know this? His student, Plato, wrote everything down.

    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.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mark A Walker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good storyline & engaging writing
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Such an easy read, but with so much practical and profound insights. How do we question our assumptions? How do we know truth and justice on a real level? An all-around good read to learn about history and philosophy, but also practically tools that can help us build up more cognitive flexibility and heal our minds a bit more. My big takeaway - illeism; talking to yourself in the third person helps you get distance and promote a healthy perspective on your challenges and problems. A great author, a fantastic therapist, and a wonderful story-teller weaving these lessons into a coherent and engaging read.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • C. Francis
    3.0 out of 5 stars Informative Read, May be a little for the Stoic newbie
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2024
    Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. The following review expresses my own personal opinion. I have not been asked to post it by the author, the publishing company, or anyone connected with the book or author.

    Donald J. Robertson’s How to Think Like Socrates ambitiously sets out to explore the philosophical tools and teachings of one of history’s greatest minds. Robertson, a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist and respected voice in the Stoic tradition, brings clarity and historical depth to Socrates’ method of questioning, moral reasoning, and intellectual courage. But does the book deliver a focused exploration of Socratic wisdom? Not entirely.

    The book excels in its historical detail, vividly reconstructing ancient Athens and its political and intellectual currents. Robertson thoughtfully unpacks segments of Socrates’ life, his unrelenting pursuit of truth, and the art of dialogue that challenged the assumptions of his day—offering readers glimpses of how we, too, might engage with the world more thoughtfully.

    However, Robertson’s background as a psychotherapist at times becomes a double-edged sword. While his clinical insights into the links between Socratic philosophy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are informative, they often weigh down the narrative. For readers seeking to understand Socrates as a guide for living a more noble, reflective life—without the clinical framing—these detours risk causing disconnects. This added layer, though relevant to modern psychology, feels misaligned with the book’s promise of helping readers “think like Socrates” in practical, philosophical terms.

    Compounding this is Robertson’s tendency to stray into lengthy descriptions of military campaigns and Athenian politics. While these passages are meticulously researched, they draw attention away from Socrates himself. The book, at times, feels more like a history of Athens than an in-depth study of Socratic wisdom.

    Writers like Ryan Holiday have demonstrated how ancient philosophy can offer clear, actionable insights for navigating modern life. In contrast, Robertson misses opportunities to translate Socratic ideas into relatable, everyday examples. By lingering too long on the clinical and historical, he dilutes the immediacy of Socrates’ teachings for a broader audience.

    How to Think Like Socrates is a well-written, deeply researched work, but it falters in staying true to its premise. Readers new to Stoicism or hoping for a clearer roadmap to apply Socratic thought in their lives may find the book uneven and occasionally inaccessible. For history enthusiasts or those with an interest in CBT, however, it offers a unique perspective.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Baracas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worth every penny!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Just received.
    Already re-reading chapters.
    Worth every penny.
    The Audible is very good also.
    You get:
    History of Greece
    +
    Philosophy
    +
    Psychology
    +
    Entertainment
    =
    😀

    His book re Marcus Aurelius is also superb.
    One person found this helpful
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