Breakfast With Socrates

by Robert Rowland Smith
Breakfast With Socrates cover
Good Books rating 3.67
Technical:
  • ID: 257
  • Added: 2025-09-06
  • Updated: 2025-09-06
  • ISBN: 9781439171882
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2010-03-09
  • Reviews: 3

Breakfast with Socrates offers a sparkling and inventive exploration of everyday life through the lens of philosophy. Former Oxford Philosophy Fellow Robert Rowland Smith imagines spending a day with great thinkers like Socrates, Mill, Herodotus, and Kant, injecting complex philosophical ideas into mundane moments with dry wit and charm. The book grounds abstract concepts in concrete experience, providing an informal introduction to applying philosophy practically in daily routines. As the day unfolds, readers wake up with Descartes, go to work with Plato and Nietzsche, visit the gym with Kant, and even have sex with Ovid or Simone de Beauvoir. This approach not only covers basic philosophical arguments but also awakens readers to a rich range of ideas about how to live, ensuring that neither breakfast, lunch, nor dinner will ever be the same again.

Reviews
Seattle PI - Blogcritics · 2025-09-06
clear 4.00

The book is noted for its easy readability and clear explanations that avoid pretentiousness, making philosophical ideas accessible to a broad audience.

This review highlights the author's approachable style and ability to simplify complex philosophical concepts without talking down to the reader. The tone is friendly and inviting, which helps demystify philosophy and encourages readers to reflect on everyday actions through a philosophical lens.

Quick quotes

    The book is easy to read and to understand.

    Smith's attitude isn't too high-brow.

    He does explain the ideas so that even the most...

Barnes & Noble · 2025-09-06
thoughtful 3.80

The book is viewed as an extraordinary philosophical journey through ordinary life, receiving a moderately positive average rating from readers.

Readers on this platform find the book offers a unique and engaging perspective on everyday experiences by weaving in philosophical insights. While the overall reception is positive, the average rating indicates some mixed feelings, suggesting it may appeal more to those interested in accessible philosophy rather than deep academic exploration.

Quick quotes

    An extraordinary (philosophical) journey through your ordinary day.

    3.8 out of 5 stars, average rating value.

    Read 14 Reviews.

SoBrief · 2025-09-06
accessible 3.20

The book is praised for making philosophy accessible and engaging by connecting complex concepts to everyday life, though some readers find it oversimplified and culturally dense.

Readers generally appreciate how the book presents philosophical ideas in a way that is easy to grasp and relate to daily routines, making philosophy approachable for beginners. However, some find the book lacks depth and feel that cultural references may alienate certain audiences, leading to mixed reactions overall.

Quick quotes

    Many readers appreciate its accessible approach to philosophy in everyday life.

    Some praise Smith's writing style and ability to connect philosophical concepts to mundane activities.

    Critics argue it oversimplifies complex ideas.

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