This was my first time reading a philosophical book and I did not enjoy it. The essence of what the author was trying to convey was difficult to understand. The arguments portrayed in this book were sub-par, strawman, and lengthy. However, some arguments may pique our brains slightly, as certain arguments and examples provided may lead us to ponder about the "what ifs" when applied to other scenarios.
Content: To put it simply, the book is split into 10 smaller "books" or chapters, each chapter covering a debate over a range of topics, such as justice and governance. It is written in a way which is easily understandable - Socrates going back and forth with other individuals on their arguments on the form of justice.
Estimated reading time needed: 20h+; More time required as I was not used to the style of writing used here and to understand the point they are trying to put across.
Key takeaways:
1) It is wise to establish the context of any discussion, which will help identify the approach to take. This is especially crucial during the start of the conversation so that the parties do not get confused over the objective of the discussion.
2) To holistically develop and grow, we should focus on a few areas to improve on, including the body, brain, and soul. In the book, they suggested individuals in society pick up gymnastics and music from a young age, but I think there are alternatives to develop ourselves as well.
3) To grow and mature is to be aware of what is going on around us, the good and the bad. Being protective of the young may not be the best idea if they turn out to be oblivious to the bad that is happening around them.
Recommendation: Overall, the book is not for me but if you do enjoy reading abstract or philosophical books, this could be interesting to you. The arguments presented may push you to think about how they can be applied to more useful and relevant contexts.
