{"product_id":"9781541646971","title":"The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us about Our Search for Good Leaders","description":"\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\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","brand":"Basic Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47030443376880,"sku":"9781541646971","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781541646971_p0.jpg?v=1763752032","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781541646971","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}