100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ

Thank you for supporting our 100% NZ-owned independent bookstore โค๏ธ

How to Talk about Love

An Ancient Guide for Modern Lovers
By Plato
4.0 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 33 ratings, 8 reviews)
Brief Description
Explore the nature of love in this charming new translation of selections from Plato's great dramatic work, the Symposium. What is love? In poetry, songs, fiction, movies, psychology, and philosophy, love has been described, admired, lamented, and dissected in endless ways. Is love based on physical... Read More
Format: Hardback
$3499
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

"A new translation of selections from one of the great philosophical works about love, Plato's Symposium"--

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Explore the nature of love in this charming new translation of selections from Plato's great dramatic work, the Symposium.

What is love? In poetry, songs, fiction, movies, psychology, and philosophy, love has been described, admired, lamented, and dissected in endless ways. Is love based on physical attraction? Does it bring out our better selves? How does it relate to sex? Is love divine? Plato's Symposium is one of the oldest, most influential, and most profound explorations of such questionsโ€”it is even the source of the idea of 'Platonic love'. How to Talk about Love introduces and presents the key passages and central ideas of Plato's philosophical dialogue in a lively and highly readable new translation, which also features the original Greek on facing pages.

The Symposium is set at a fictional drinking party during which prominent Athenians engage in a friendly competition by delivering improvised speeches in praise of Eros, the Greek god of love and sex. The aristocrat Phaedrus, the legal expert Pausanias, the physician Eryximachus, the comic playwright Aristophanes, and the tragic poet Agathon each by turn celebrates different aspects of love before Socrates proposes not to praise love but to tell the truth about it. In the final speech, the politician and libertine Alcibiades argues that Socrates himself is the epitome of love.

Deftly capturing the essence and spirit of Plato's masterpiece, How to Talk about Love makes the Symposium more accessible and enjoyable than ever before.

Series: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers

View all
  • How to Be Healthy
    The second-century Greek physician Galen, the most famous doctor in antiquity after Hippocrates, is a central figure in Western medicine. A talented doctor, surgeon, writer, philosopher, teacher, pharmacologist, and inventor, Galen attended the court of Marcus Aurelius, living through outbreaks of plague (likely smallpox) that devastated the Roman Empire. He also served as a physician for professional gladiators, boasting that...
    By Galen
    Hardback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • How to Care about Animals
    An entertaining and enlightening anthology of classical Greek and Roman writings on animals - and our vital relationships with them. How to Care about Animals is a fascinating menagerie of passages from classical literature about animals and the lives we share with them. Drawing on ancient writers from Aesop to Ovid, classicist and farmer M. D. Usher has gathered a...
    Hardback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • How to Do the Right Thing
    There are times when we've all felt that we haven't been treated as we deserveโ€”that we've been misjudged, shortchanged, or given a raw deal. And, at one time or another, other people have probably felt that we've treated them just as unfairly. How to Do the Right Thing draws on the principles of ancient Stoicism as articulated by the Roman...
    By Seneca
    Hardback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • How to Flourish
    Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is one of the greatest guides to human flourishing ever written, but its length and style have left many readers languishing. How to Flourish is a carefully abridged version of the entire work in a highly readable and colloquial new translation by Susan Sauve Meyer that makes Aristotle's timeless insights about how to lead a good life...
    Hardback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • How to Focus
    Distraction isn't a new problem. We're also not the first to complain about how hard it is to concentrate. Early Christian monks beat us to it. They had given up everything to focus on God, yet they still struggled to keep the demons of distraction at bay. But rather than surrender to the meandering of their minds, they developed powerful...
    Hardback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • How to Stop a Conspiracy
    In 63 BC, frustrated by his failure to be elected leader of the Roman Republic, the aristocrat Catiline tried to topple its elected government. Backed by corrupt elites and poor, alienated Romans, he fled Rome while his associates plotted to burn the city and murder its leading politicians. The attempted coup culminated with the unmasking of the conspirators in the...
    By Sallust
    Hardback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • How to Win an Argument
    Timeless techniques of effective public speaking from ancient Rome's greatest orator All of us are faced countless times with the challenge of persuading others, whether we're trying to win a trivial argument with a friend or convince our coworkers about an important decision. Instead of relying on untrained instinctโ€”and often floundering or failing as a resultโ€”we'd win more arguments if...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • How to Be a Bad Emperor
    What would Caligula do? What the worst Roman emperors can teach us about how not to lead If recent history has taught us anything, it's that sometimes the best guide to leadership is the negative example. But that insight is hardly new. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Suetonius wrote Lives of the Caesars, perhaps the greatest negative leadership book of all...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • How to Be a Farmer
    Whether you farm or garden, live in the country or long to move there, or simply enjoy an occasional rural retreat, you will be delighted by this cornucopia of writings about living and working on the land, harvested from the fertile fields of ancient Greek and Roman literature. An inspiring antidote to the digital age, How to Be a Farmer...
    Hardback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • How to Be a Friend
    A splendid new translation of one of the greatest books on friendship ever written. In a world where social media, online relationships, and relentless self-absorption threaten the very idea of deep and lasting friendships, the search for true friends is more important than ever. In this short book, one of the greatest ever written on the subject, the famous Roman...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • How to Be Content
    What are the secrets to a contented life? One of Rome's greatest and most influential poets, Horace (65-8 BCE), has been cherished by readers for more than two thousand years not only for his wit, style, and reflections on Roman society, but also for his wisdom about how to live a good lifeโ€”above all else, a life of contentment in...
    Hardback
    $5499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • How to Be Queer
    An irresistible anthology of ancient Greek writings that explore queer desire and love 'Eros, limb-loosening, whirls me about again, that bittersweet, implacable creature.' Sappho The idea of sexual fluidity may seem new, but it is at least as old as the ancient Greeks, who wrote about queer experiences with remarkable frankness, wit, and insight. How to Be Queer is an...
    By Sappho
    Hardback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780691256887

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 28 January 2025

Country: United States

Imprint: Princeton University Press

Illustration: 1 b/w illus.

Contributors:

  • Translated with commentary by Armand D'Angour
  • Edited and translated by Armand D'Angour

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 114.0mm

Height: 171.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 208

About the Author

Armand D'Angour is professor of classics at Jesus College, University of Oxford. He is the editor and translator of How to Innovate: An Ancient Guide to Creative Thinking (Princeton), Socrates in Love, and The Greeks and the New.

Also by Plato

View all
  • Republic
    HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. Plato's Republic has influenced Western philosophers for centuries, with its main focus on what makes a well-balanced society and individual.
    By Plato
    Paperback
    $999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Republic
    Plato's The Republic stands as a seminal text in the realms of philosophy, political theory, and literature. Written during the fourth century B.C., this masterwork has profoundly shaped Western thought for millennia and continues to be exceedingly relevant in contemporary discussions. The narrative unfolds in the form of a dialectical exchange where Socrates engages with various interlocutors to explore and...
    By Plato
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2300
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Plato: Complete Works
    Immerse yourself in the profound world of ancient philosophy with Plato: Complete Works, a definitive collection that brings together all surviving works attributed to Plato. This comprehensive volume allows readers to explore the breadth and depth of Plato's thought, capturing his most celebrated dialogues, such as the Republic, the Symposium, the Phaedrus, and the Phaedo, alongside lesser-known but equally significant...
    By Plato
    Hardback
    $9999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Last Days of Socrates
    The Last Days of Socrates by Plato is a profound and gripping account of the trial and eventual execution of one of the greatest philosophers in history. This new translation by Christopher Rowe offers a fresh perspective on the timeless dialogues that capture Socrates' unwavering commitment to his principles and his unique approach to life and death. Set in 399...
    By Plato
    Paperback
    $3000
    Backorder
    Ships mid August
  • The Symposium
    In the course of a lively drinking party, a group of prominent Athenian intellectuals, including philosophers, playwrights, and aristocrats, come together to exchange views on the nature of eros, or desire. The setting of this engaging dialogue is the home of the tragedian Agathon, where the guests take turns delivering speeches that delve into various aspects of love, culminating in...
    By Plato
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    Backorder
    Ships mid August
  • The Republic and Other Works
    Explore the profound philosophical insights of one of historyโ€™s most influential thinkers with The Republic and Other Works by Plato. This comprehensive compilation brings together some of Plato's most significant dialogues, presenting a masterclass in classical Greek philosophy. In The Republic, Plato explores the nature of justice, the characteristics of the just society, and the education required to create such...
    By Plato
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3400
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Plato: Five Dialogues
    The second edition of Five Dialogues presents G. M. A. Grube's distinguished translations, as revised by John Cooper for Plato, Complete Works. A number of new or expanded footnotes are also included along with an updated bibliography.
    By Plato
    Paperback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Symposium
    Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilisation and...
    By Plato
    Paperback
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Republic
    HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. Plato's Republic has influenced Western philosophers for centuries, with its main focus on what makes a well-balanced society and individual.
    By Plato
    Paperback
    $1299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Last Days of Socrates
    The trial and condemnation of Socrates on charges of heresy and corrupting young minds is a defining moment in the history of Classical Athens. In tracing these events through four dialogues, Plato also developed his own philosophy, based on Socrates' manifesto for a life guided by self-responsibility. Euthyphro finds Socrates outside the court-house, debating the nature of piety, while The...
    By Plato
    Paperback
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Republic
    The Republic by Plato remains one of the most profound and influential works in Western philosophy and political theory, offering keen insights into the heart of human justice and governance. Set as a Socratic dialogue, the narrative unfolds through the engaging discussions between Socrates and a group of Athenian citizens. These dialogues explore the nature of justice, the formation of...
    By Plato
    Hardback
    $3100
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Theaetetus
    Set against the backdrop of the days leading up to the trial and execution of Socrates in 399 BC, Theaetetus is a profound philosophical dialogue penned by Plato. The narrative revolves around a conversation between Socrates, Theodorus the geometrician, and Theaetetus, an earnest and promising youth. Together, they embark on a quest to explore the essence of knowledge, making this...
    By Plato
    Paperback
    $4800
    In Stock
    Ships today

More from Philosophy & Psychology

View all
  • Eat Your Ice Cream
    New Release
    Eat Your Ice Cream
    The New York Times bestseller that presents a bold new vision for living well and ageing with purpose from a world-renowned health expert THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From a leading doctor and world-renowned health expert, the simple, uplifting and practical guide to cutting through the wellness noise, living well and ageing with purpose. โ€˜Essential reading for anyone who...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    The Winner's Formula
    The Neuroscience of Peak Performance, Success, and Happiness Why do some people win all the time? Why do others languish? From Olympians to Formula 1 drivers, addicts to billionaires, cognitive neuroscientist Dr Kerry Spackman has spent decades working to help people understand how to succeed. In The Winner's Formula, Kerry explains what goes on in your brain when you are...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Atomic Habits
    Atomic Habits by James Clear is a transformative guide that demonstrates how tiny, incremental changes in behaviour can fundamentally reshape your life. Rather than urging sweeping transformations, Clear advocates for the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions. Whether itโ€™s performing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes earlier, or making a brief, focused phone call, these minuscule adjustments,...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Body Keeps the Score
    The Body Keeps the Score by Dr Bessel van der Kolk is a compelling and compassionate exploration of the deep-seated impact of trauma on the human body and mind. This groundbreaking work delves into the complex causes of trauma and paints a vivid picture of the revolutionary treatments that are enabling countless individuals to reclaim their lives filled with purpose...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Strangers
    The must-read memoir of the end of a marriage and the start of a personal revolution, based on the iconic Modern Love essay in the New York Times and perfect for fans of Glennon Doyle. "A beautifully written eulogy for the loss of a relationship" โ€” Joyce Carol Oates How do we go on when a loved one betrays us?...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Inside the Box
    How to do more with less and use limits to stimulate creativity, innovation and collaboration, from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Range. We live in a world that gives us seemingly infinite choices and values freedom above all else. We have an unprecedented number of options regarding what to do, who to be and how to spend our time....
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3900
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Man's Search For Meaning
    Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl is a profound, thought-provoking memoir and psychological exploration that delves into the harrowing experiences of life in Nazi concentration camps, intertwined with the authorโ€™s groundbreaking theories on existential psychology. The book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, offering a beacon of hope and a roadmap for finding purpose...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Tell Me Where It Hurts
    Leading expert Rachel Zoffness bridges the gap between medicine and psychology to get to the heart of treating pain We can move the dial on pain Every one of us will experience pain, be it back pain, the pain of childbirth, or living in an ageing body. Not a single one of us will escape. But what if everything you...
    Hardback
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Book of Awakening
    A new edition of the #1 NYT's bestseller by Mark Nepo, who has been called "one of the finest spiritual guides of our time" and "a consummate storyteller." Immerse yourself in The Book of Awakening, a compelling spiritual daybook by philosopher-poet and cancer survivor, Mark Nepo. This remarkable work is a profound manual for living a more deeply connected and...
    Paperback
    $3999
    Elsewhere:
    $4499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Strong Ground
    #1ย New York Timesย bestselling author Brenรฉ Brown returns with an urgent call to reimagine the essentials of courageous leadership. In a time when uncertainty runs deep and bluster, hubris and even cruelty are increasingly framed as acceptable leadership, Brown delivers practical, actionable insights that illuminate the mindsets and skill sets essential to reclaiming focus and driving growth through connection, discipline and...
    Hardback
    $4000
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Aroha
    Aroha by Dr Hinemoa Elder is an enlightening exploration of timeless Maori wisdom, intricately woven into a contemporary context. This top-selling non-fiction title from New Zealand in 2021 introduces readers to 52 traditional Maori proverbs, known as whakataukฤซ, each offering a profound lesson for every week of the year. Dr Elder, a respected Maori psychiatrist, delves into these powerful sayings...
    Hardback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Stimulated Mind
    A practical, empowering plan to boost your day-to-day brain function and prevent dementia - by a renowned neuroscientist and performance coach. 'From day one I was always blown away by Dr Tommy Wood's command of the science from which he communicates.' - Dr Peter Attia, bestselling author of Outlive- The Science and Art of Longevity 'As global health declines, Dr...
    Paperback
    $3800
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.