Socrates Café
A Fresh Taste of Philosophy
21 May 2002
Description
"A bracing, rollicking read about the spark that ignites when people start asking meaningful questions." —O Magazine
Christopher Phillips is a man on a mission: to revive the love of questions that Socrates inspired long ago in ancient Athens. "Like a Johnny Appleseed with a master's degree, Phillips has gallivanted back and forth across America, to cafés and coffee shops, senior centers, assisted-living complexes, prisons, libraries, day-care centers, elementary and high schools, and churches, forming lasting communities of inquiry" (Utne Reader). Phillips not only presents the fundamentals of philosophical thought in this "charming, Philosophy for Dummies-type guide" (USA Today); he also recalls what led him to start his itinerant program and re-creates some of the most invigorating sessions, which come to reveal sometimes surprising, often profound reflections on the meaning of love, friendship, work, growing old, and others among Life's Big Questions.
"How to Start Your Own Socrates Café" guide included.
Reviews
"Christopher Phillips is a fine writer, a fine thinker. In his engaging, accessible book, he leads us on a journey to find ourselves." — James Morgan, author of The Distance to the Moon
"An entertaining blend of memoir and philosophical reflection…[Phillips] winningly showcases a tantalizing method for getting philosophy to thrive more widely." — Publishers Weekly
"A noble, accessible tome to enliven the philosophy shelf." — Booklist