How To Be Socrates

24 witty essays channelling the ancient wisdom of Socrates for the modern age.



It was Socrates who asked the question we're still trying to answer today: what does it mean to live a good and meaningful life? Tom Hodgkinson, the noted bon viveur and the bestselling author of How to Be Idle, looks to the life of this elusive and maddening philosopher to channel ancient wisdom for the modern age. He learns how to learn to love wisdom, annoy everyone and avoid politics – just like the great thinker himself.



This witty and breezy book is filled with eye-popping stories from the life of Socrates and his cohort in Ancient Athens, structured around Hodgkinson's own experience of putting Socrates' lessons into practice as a lifelong idler, seeker of wisdom and entrepreneur.



From Socrates we can learn to love regardless of gender, to fight furiously with our families, live simply, learn to dance, and face death cheerfully.