{"product_id":"the-quest-for-character-what-the-story-of-socrates-and-alcibiades-teaches-us-about-our-search-for-good-leaders-9781541646971","title":"The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us about Our Search for Good Leaders","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe author of \u003ci\u003eHow to Be a Stoic \u003c\/i\u003easks what might be philosophy's ultimate question: can we learn to be better people? \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Is good character something that can be taught? In 430 BCE, Socrates set out to teach the vain, power-seeking Athenian statesman Alcibiades how to be a good person--and failed spectacularly. Alcibiades went on to beguile his city into a hopeless war with Syracuse, and all of Athens paid the price. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e In \u003ci\u003eThe Quest for Character\u003c\/i\u003e, philosophy professor Massimo Pigliucci tells this famous story and asks what we can learn from it. He blends ancient sources with modern interpretations to give a full picture of the philosophy and cultivation of character, virtue, and personal excellence--what the Greeks called \u003ci\u003earete\u003c\/i\u003e. At heart, \u003ci\u003eThe Quest for Character\u003c\/i\u003e isn't simply about what makes a good leader. Drawing on Socrates as well as his followers among the Stoics, this book gives us lessons perhaps even more crucial: how we can each lead an excellent life. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMassimo Pigliucci \u003c\/b\u003eis the K. D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. The author or editor of sixteen books, he has been published in the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, the \u003ci\u003eWall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, the \u003ci\u003eWashington Post\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eSalon\u003c\/i\u003e, among others. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Basic Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50525795352850,"sku":"9781541646971","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_3425a39c-d2ad-4359-ad1a-3337a24f9cd5.jpg?v=1731239286","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-quest-for-character-what-the-story-of-socrates-and-alcibiades-teaches-us-about-our-search-for-good-leaders-9781541646971","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}