Plato, Not Prozac!: Applying Eternal Wisdom to Everyday Problems (Paperback)

~ Lou Marinoff (Author) "A young woman confronts her mother's terminal breast cancer..." (more)
Key Phrases: philosophical counseling, philosophical counselor, philosophical practitioner, Lao Tzu, New York, Socratic Dialogue (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

If one is to believe this New Age self-help book, the answers to most of life's problems can be found by applying lessons learned from the classic philosophers. Marinoff advocates "philosophical counseling" as an improvement over what he considers the psychiatric industry's tendency to medicate their patients for any mental malady, major or minor. By following his "PEACE" process (problem, emotion, analysis, contemplation, and equilibrium), we can deal rationally with matters of the heart, business, family discourse, even face our mortality. Each chapter is sprinkled with aphorisms from such revered philosophers as Sartre, Lao Tzu, Machiavelli, and, of course, Plato. The book includes a primer on some of history's most critical thinkers as well as a directory of organizations and practitioners of philosophical counseling. Would the world be better off if we took the time to analyze our problems as thoughtfully as Marinoff suggests? No doubt. Whether readers accept his theories is the bigger question. Ron Kaplan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Plato, Not Prozac! looks to become the bible of the 'philosophical counseling' movement." -- --Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine

"Philosophy [to Marinoff] is the Lava bar of intellect -- meant to be used every day, down to the nub." -- --San Francisco Examiner

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060931361
• ISBN-13: 978-0060931360
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #197,517 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth a quick read, November 24, 1999

By	Church Taylor (Rockford, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plato, Not Prozac! Applying Philosophy to Everyday Problems (Hardcover)

The author does an admirable job of connecting the ideas of great thinkers to everyday problems. There is not much depth in the analysis so the stories and applications of the ideas seem superficial but the concept (applying philisophical ideas to everyday situations) is a novel and appropriate one to share. The stories did add credibility to my own thought processes for while I may often reach the same conclusions I was unable to say from where the idea or thought derived. I will now study some of the more interesting thinkers shared in the book and see where that leads. What better can be said of a book than it stimulated one to want to learn and discover more? I read 4-5 books a month and rate them harshly so when I say it is a worthwhile read that is a high compliment.

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You can't judge this book by its title, August 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Plato, Not Prozac! Applying Philosophy to Everyday Problems (Hardcover)

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.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lessons to live by, November 15, 1999

By	Suzanne Wargo "Suzanne" (Thompson, Connecticut) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Plato, Not Prozac! Applying Philosophy to Everyday Problems (Hardcover)

I just left an eleven year teaching career to make a life change. I am now the library director for a small town making about a third of what I made as a teacher. I did it because I could no longer reconcile my personal philosophy and beliefs with that of the trends in public education today and the current attitudes of parents. This book was an amazing affirmation of my decision. It was neat to read the philosophies of the masters and know I was following like ideas as well as my heart. I spent years on and off examining my sanity, trying the new drugs, etc all in trying to make myself 'fit' into my career. Luckily I got out and into a rewarding line of work. I think anyone reading Lou's book will find it incredibly readible and something to relate to. It's nice to read a work that affirms life and makes you feel as though you do have control over your life and you don't need a shrink to do it. I highly recommend this work to anyone who has an interest in things of the soul and is a seeker of the lessons of life from the viewpoint of the great philosophers!