W. K. C. Guthrie (1906–1981)

Does a very good job of establishing the easily forgotten difference and remoteness of the ancient Greek cultural and intellectual background. Also a good synopsis of the Pre-Socratics and their concerns, putting Socrates, Plato and Aristotle in appropriate context, plus a good explanation of key Greek terms and concepts. Some of these can’t really be translated directly, so this is pretty valuable. Guthrie knows his subject well and packs a lot into 175 pages. It’s also an easy and pleasant read.… (mere)

I am an untrained, untaught person who is mildly interested in philosophy, or at least the origins of such thinking. For the most part I have always thought it a lot of impractical nonsense. Until I read this book. Guthrie begins from the beginning and explains in such a way that even I am now interested. I was afraid this would be a slog, but at times it was difficult to put down. I won't claim to have understood it all perfectly, but I can say that it gave me a new appreciation for philosophy in so much as that I now am curious to read about how it developed in other cultures around the world.… (mere)