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Title: Plato, Not Prozac! : Applying Eternal Wisdom to Everyday Problems by Lou Marinoff ISBN: 0-06-093136-1 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 August, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.45 (20 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: You can't judge this book by its title
Comment: The author of Plato, Not Prozac!, Lou Marinoff PH.D, accomplishes three things with this book. 1) He gives the layman just enough beginner's-philosophy to be effective while holding the reader's interest. 2) He extolls the benefits of "Philosophical Practice" and explains where psychiatry and Psychology can not, or should not, be applied. 3) He gives real-life examples of how some very basic philosophy has helped people cope with everyday life. A fresh and very real approach to self-help and mental health counceling.
Some may be offended by frank and direct discussion. Such as Psychiatry and Psychology's attempts to label a "misguided philosophy" as a mental disease. An alleged motive is to get insurance companies to pay for treatment.
The author suggests that a person whos condition is not brought on by a physical disease, genetics, an accident, or drug abuse may be suffering from a misguided philosophy of life. Hence, there are thousands of years of brilliant philosophical works to draw from. And to assist a patient, a Philosophical Pratitioner is less concerned with childhood conditioning than with helping the patient find a comfortable philosophical view point and get on with life.
A reference made by another reviewer of the book pointed to page 38 where the author is quoted "...no one needs to learn to feel emotion..." Perhaps the sentence could have been written "...most people do not need to be taught how to feel emotion..." But in context, I feel the sentence as-written is fair. The chapter in question is dealing with the author's description of a simple process that can be used as a self-help tool. Earlier in the book the author suggests this process is helpful to those with philosophical issues and not deaper mental illnesses -- as the inability to feel emotion may be.
According to the author, religion and science are rediscovering philosophy whereby even the Pope has more than symbolically endorsed some previously banned philosophical and scientific works, including assisting in his doctoral thesis.
The book is written to appeal to anyone who has tried other means of finding their "way" and have returned feeling something is still missing. This book may even re-affirm your feelings for life in general.
Rating: 4
Summary: Tends to praise philosophy at the cost of psychology
Comment: As a person who reads a great deal of philosophy and psychology, and who tries to combine them in his approach to life, I was quite interested to read Lou Marinoff's new book "Plato, Not Prozac!" But in time my excitement turned to mild disappointment.
First, Mr. Marinoff's habit of elevating philosophy at the cost of psychology diminished my enjoyment of the book. Second, while Mr. Marinoff's understanding of philosophy is impressive, his lack of insight into psychology is somewhat regrettable.
For example, on page 38, while describing his method of philosophical counseling, he writes that for a troubled person facing a problem, "Their emotional reaction is immediate and clear -- no one needs to learn to feel emotion ..." That statement -- only one of many that leap out at the reader -- reveals a disturbing lack of insight into personal psychology and the human condition in general.
While I strongly recommend the book for its philosophical strengths and for introducing readers to the exciting new field of philosophical counseling, I think it would be wise for readers to have something on hand by the wonderful analyst and author Adam Phillips to counteract the drab picture "Plato, Not Prozac!" paints of psychology.
Rating: 5
Summary: The unexamined life is not worth living.
Comment: What a fantastic book! I just wish that it had existed when I was much younger- it would have saved me a great deal of time on my own personal journey.
I always thought that intelligent, truly educated, individuals naturally applied the great wisdom teachings to their daily lives. I mean, that is why we are here isn't it? We truly come to obtain wisdom through philosophy (the love of wisdom) by applying it in the struggle of earthly life. I didn't realize that this had come to be rare and exceptional in the modern world. There is even a name for it now- philosophical practice. What a marvelous concept- students of philosophy helping each other to apply the lessons of the perennial teachings in their daily lives. Of course you can do it alone, as I did, but the author points out that it is nice to have a knowledgeable second party to make sure that you didn't miss something- and that you are truly applying reason and not rationalization.
The use of case studies for specific problem areas is quite informative: seeking a relationship, maintaining a relationship, ending a relationship, family life and strife, work, midlife crisis, the reason for morals and ethics, finding meaning and purpose, and gaining from loss.
The way that individual philosophers and their ideas are introduced is quite well done (theme, refrain, greatest hits, and a thumbnail abstract of their core ideas.) The basics of their systems are outlined nicely, which helps in deciding which to pursue later. I was amazed that so many of the great thinkers that that I had painstakingly discovered over the years were included.
If you would like to delve a little deeper into the various philosophers without tackling the source works I recommend _Basic Teachings of the Great Philosophers_ by S.E. Frost.
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Title: The Big Questions: How Philosophy Can Change Your Life by Lou Marinoff ISBN: 1582342539 Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Pub. Date: 16 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: If Aristotle Ran General Motors by Thomas V. Morris, Tom Morris ISBN: 0805052534 Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, Inc. Pub. Date: 15 November, 1998 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Socrates Cafe: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy by Christopher Phillips ISBN: 039332298X Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: April, 2002 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: What Would Aristotle Do? Self-Control Through the Power of Reason by Elliot D. Cohen ISBN: 1591020700 Publisher: Prometheus Books Pub. Date: May, 2003 List Price(USD): $21.00 |
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Title: Philosophical Practice by Lou Marinoff ISBN: 0124715559 Publisher: Academic Press Pub. Date: September, 2001 List Price(USD): $73.95 |
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