How to Live a Good Life. Socrates’ Most Important Advice
Highly personal and relevant graphic novel that brings the life and work of Socrates to a broad audience
With her captivatingly lucid and refreshing style, one of the Netherlands’ most-celebrated comic writers makes the work of the Ancient Greek philosopher relevant to new audiences. ‘This is Socrates how I imagine him to be,’ said comic writer Barbara Stok, who continues to draw inspiration from the philosopher and his maverick attitude.
Stok portrays Socrates in her signature soft colours and illustrations of simplified figures drawn with bold, thick lines. While staying true to the original texts, Stok also features herself as a character: sitting attentively in philosophy class, making illustration after illustration and constantly questioning her thoughts. Just as the Greek philosopher so passionately advocates: ‘know what is right.’
That crucial question has become more relevant than ever, as has Socrates’ fundamental attitude: always recognise your own ignorance. Stok’s unique blend of full-page illustrations, text and vignettes takes readers through her thoughts and learning process, showing how those burning questions from thousands of years ago are still relevant to people’s lives today. This book demystifies and enlivens the fundamental teachings of this highly influential philosopher.
Stok’s wonderful book on the world’s most famous philosopher follows her internationally acclaimed graphic novel Vincent about Vincent van Gogh.
This book presents Ancient Greek philosophy in a way everyone can understand
A blend of full-page illustrations and stories
Barbara Stok (1970) is renowned for her candid semi-autobiographical cartoons, using her experiences, observations and dry humour to paint an entertaining yet moving picture of a woman who is optimistic about today’s society. Her Vincent, about Vincent van Gogh, published in over twenty countries, The Philosopher, the Dog and the Wedding, tells the story of Hipparchia, one of the world’s first female philosophers. She has been named ‘one of the Netherlands’ leading comic writers’ by NRC Handelsblad and received glowing reviews from The Times and The Guardian.