redrobinbookreviews

The Astronomer    Lawrence Goldstone
Entertaining historical thriller set during the time of the publication Copernicus’ heliocentric theory in the 1530s. The history is accurate, the intrigue and horrors of the inquisition based on real people and events, the narrative is satisfying, and the writing is good. Enjoyed the quick read.

Phaedo    Plato
Plato’s final of five dialogues about Socrates’ trial and execution. It is longer and deeper than the previous four. Here, as he prepares to commit enforced suicide, Socrates describes the theory of learning as recollection, the nature of planet earth, and appropriately, the immortality of the soul. Pretty unbelievable stuff in the early twenty-first century, but his death is always a little moving.