Plato, Not Prozac! Applying Philosophy to Everyday Problems [Hardcover]

Lou Marinoff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 7, 1999

There was a time when philosophy meant something to ordinary people and philosophers' ideas were put to good use. Socrates spent his days debating vital issues in the marketplace, and Lao Tzu applied his own advice on following the subtle path to personal happiness and social harmony. Now, as a new millennium dawns, a unique movement called Philosophical Counselling has emerged to return philosophy to its classical roots by combining wisdom and practice to help people solve their most common everyday problems. As the leading proponent of this field, philosopher Lou Marinoff shows us that the road to a successful, fulfilling life begins with a simple choice: Plato, not Prozac! This text explains how insights from diverse wisdom traditions can be used to help yourself to a better life. The issue is not just how you live, but how well you live. With the right philosophy at the right time, you can enhance or regain that wellness. The book is filled with case studies drawn from the experiences of leading philosophical counsellors that demonstrate the effectiveness of philosophy in helping people feel better, think better, and live better.

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

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 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harper; 1 edition (July 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006019328X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060193287
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #483,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 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.

53 of 57 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.

46 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tends to praise philosophy at the cost of psychology, August 9, 1999

By A Customer

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

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.