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Augustus: Invitation to Philosophy
Enter the mind of Rome’s greatest emperor. A concentrated dialogue that will inspire you to live more philosophically—and powerfully.
Ingenious and fascinating … Neel Burton rivals the greats. All those who love history and philosophy should read this book.
— Readers’ Favorite
According to the historian Suetonius, the emperor Augustus wrote an invitation (or exhortation) to philosophy. If this is true, it would have been inspired by Cicero’s famous Hortensius, which was, in turn, informed by Aristotle’s Protrepticus. Tragically, all three protreptics have been lost, depriving us of antiquity’s most popular, inspiring, and potentially life-changing genre of philosophy.
This concise work is an imaginative reconstruction of the first Roman emperor’s invitation to philosophy, based on arguments and anecdotes gleaned from other ancient authors, including Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Cicero, Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. It features Augustus in conversation with his two young grandsons (who were also his adopted sons and heirs), Gaius and Lucius, in the forlorn hope that they might one day rise into philosopher-kings, or, even, philosopher-emperors.
At his trial, Socrates declaimed that the unexamined life is not worth living. But what are the arguments behind this slogan, and why should we, today, take up the study of philosophy?
Among the arguments, you will
How to feel more alive.When to disobey your parents.The dangers of teaching the wrong person.The key differences between man, animal, plant, and god.Why money could never buy happiness.Why people never consult a philosopher.Why death is your second-best friend.How best to participate in eternity.And much, much more.
About the author
Dr Neel Burton FRSA is a psychiatrist and philosopher. He is a Fellow of Green-Templeton College in the University of Oxford, and the recipient of several book prizes including, most recently, a BIBA (2024). His work features regularly in the likes of Aeon and Psychology Today, and has been translated into several languages.
Editorial reviews
A paean to the life of the mind. If you enjoyed the Stoic Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, you will absolutely love this book.
—Charles Mauleverer, composer
What a lovely idea, to reconstruct the emperor Augustus’s lost Invitation to Philosophy. Neel Burton has done so with admirable scholarship and imagination.
—Prof Armand d'Angour, classical scholar and author of Socrates in Love
As mental health and humanity face deepening crises, Neel is increasingly turning to the wisdom of the ancients for answers. Through his work, he seeks to bridge the gap between ancient philosophy and modern challenges, offering insights that resonate deeply in today’s troubled world. —Plato’s Academy Centre, Athens
◆ Grab your copy now and drop in on the best and most beautiful thoughts of antiquity.
Ingenious and fascinating … Neel Burton rivals the greats. All those who love history and philosophy should read this book.
— Readers’ Favorite
According to the historian Suetonius, the emperor Augustus wrote an invitation (or exhortation) to philosophy. If this is true, it would have been inspired by Cicero’s famous Hortensius, which was, in turn, informed by Aristotle’s Protrepticus. Tragically, all three protreptics have been lost, depriving us of antiquity’s most popular, inspiring, and potentially life-changing genre of philosophy.
This concise work is an imaginative reconstruction of the first Roman emperor’s invitation to philosophy, based on arguments and anecdotes gleaned from other ancient authors, including Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Cicero, Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. It features Augustus in conversation with his two young grandsons (who were also his adopted sons and heirs), Gaius and Lucius, in the forlorn hope that they might one day rise into philosopher-kings, or, even, philosopher-emperors.
At his trial, Socrates declaimed that the unexamined life is not worth living. But what are the arguments behind this slogan, and why should we, today, take up the study of philosophy?
Among the arguments, you will
How to feel more alive.When to disobey your parents.The dangers of teaching the wrong person.The key differences between man, animal, plant, and god.Why money could never buy happiness.Why people never consult a philosopher.Why death is your second-best friend.How best to participate in eternity.And much, much more.
About the author
Dr Neel Burton FRSA is a psychiatrist and philosopher. He is a Fellow of Green-Templeton College in the University of Oxford, and the recipient of several book prizes including, most recently, a BIBA (2024). His work features regularly in the likes of Aeon and Psychology Today, and has been translated into several languages.
Editorial reviews
A paean to the life of the mind. If you enjoyed the Stoic Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, you will absolutely love this book.
—Charles Mauleverer, composer
What a lovely idea, to reconstruct the emperor Augustus’s lost Invitation to Philosophy. Neel Burton has done so with admirable scholarship and imagination.
—Prof Armand d'Angour, classical scholar and author of Socrates in Love
As mental health and humanity face deepening crises, Neel is increasingly turning to the wisdom of the ancients for answers. Through his work, he seeks to bridge the gap between ancient philosophy and modern challenges, offering insights that resonate deeply in today’s troubled world. —Plato’s Academy Centre, Athens
◆ Grab your copy now and drop in on the best and most beautiful thoughts of antiquity.
92 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2024
About the author
Neel Burton
42 books260 followersDr Neel Burton is a psychiatrist, philosopher, and wine-lover who lives and teaches in Oxford, England. He is a Fellow of Green-Templeton College in the University of Oxford, and the winner of several book prizes including, the feather in his cap, a Best in the World Gourmand Award. His work features regularly in the likes of Aeon and Psychology Today and has been translated into several languages. When he is not reading or writing, or imbibing, he enjoys cooking, gardening, skiing, learning languages, visiting museums and gardens, and travelling, especially to wine regions.
His books include:
- The Meaning of Myth (Ancient Wisdom 1)
- Stoic Stories (Ancient Wisdom 2)
- The Gang of Three: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle (Ancient Wisdom 3)
- The Meaning of Madness (Ataraxia 1)
- Hide and Seek: The Psychology of Self-Deception (Ataraxia 2)
- Heaven and Hell: The Psychology of the Emotions (Ataraxia 3)
www.neelburton.com
His books include:
- The Meaning of Myth (Ancient Wisdom 1)
- Stoic Stories (Ancient Wisdom 2)
- The Gang of Three: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle (Ancient Wisdom 3)
- The Meaning of Madness (Ataraxia 1)
- Hide and Seek: The Psychology of Self-Deception (Ataraxia 2)
- Heaven and Hell: The Psychology of the Emotions (Ataraxia 3)
www.neelburton.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 1, 2025
What a beautiful, creative and readable book Neel Burton has written. Augustus: Invitation to Philosophy, is a brilliant reconstruction of a conversation Emperor Augustus may of had with his two grandsons Gaius and Lucius about the wonders and importance of living a philosophical life. This short book reads like a play.
Burton created this book based on fragments of works from Augustus himself and from other ancient philosophers (Plato, Aristotle, Epictetus and Cicero) Such a unique piece of work! I raise my glass of Cabernet to you Neel Burton!
Burton created this book based on fragments of works from Augustus himself and from other ancient philosophers (Plato, Aristotle, Epictetus and Cicero) Such a unique piece of work! I raise my glass of Cabernet to you Neel Burton!
November 2, 2024
Excellent primer for Plato
This accessible dialogue will whet your appetite for climbing (or re-climbing in my case) the steeper mountains of Plato. It’s filled with allusions that would delight those familiar with Stoicism, Cicero, and Roman history. But even without that background, you will still gain a wealth of wisdom.
This accessible dialogue will whet your appetite for climbing (or re-climbing in my case) the steeper mountains of Plato. It’s filled with allusions that would delight those familiar with Stoicism, Cicero, and Roman history. But even without that background, you will still gain a wealth of wisdom.
April 21, 2026
Augustus: Invitation to Philosophy by Neel Burton is an imaginative and intellectually rich reconstruction of what a philosophical dialogue from the Roman emperor Augustus might have looked like. Blending history, philosophy, and creative interpretation, the author builds a reflective conversation that brings ancient thought into a modern, accessible format.
What makes this work stand out is its ability to bridge classical philosophy with timeless human questions. Through the lens of Augustus speaking with his heirs, the book explores ideas around happiness, mortality, virtue, and the meaning of a well examined life. It draws heavily from major philosophical traditions, including Stoicism and Classical Greek thought, while presenting them in a narrative style that feels engaging rather than academic.
The writing encourages deep reflection without becoming inaccessible, making complex philosophical ideas approachable for general readers. It succeeds in sparking curiosity about how ancient wisdom can still inform modern life choices, leadership, and personal development.
Overall, it is a thought provoking and elegantly constructed philosophical work that appeals to readers interested in history, ethics, and the pursuit of meaning.
What makes this work stand out is its ability to bridge classical philosophy with timeless human questions. Through the lens of Augustus speaking with his heirs, the book explores ideas around happiness, mortality, virtue, and the meaning of a well examined life. It draws heavily from major philosophical traditions, including Stoicism and Classical Greek thought, while presenting them in a narrative style that feels engaging rather than academic.
The writing encourages deep reflection without becoming inaccessible, making complex philosophical ideas approachable for general readers. It succeeds in sparking curiosity about how ancient wisdom can still inform modern life choices, leadership, and personal development.
Overall, it is a thought provoking and elegantly constructed philosophical work that appeals to readers interested in history, ethics, and the pursuit of meaning.
February 19, 2026
A possible moment in history.
"The wise man knows what use to make even of life itself." There were so many great quotes that struck true. When reading about Roman history, Augustus was the only emperor who seemed to want the best for Rome. Neel Burton's intriguing conversation between Augustus, his grandsons, close associates includes both people known to them as well as Greek historical personalities. I was struck by the "theater" possibilities, imagining men in togas expounding on philosophy.
"The wise man knows what use to make even of life itself." There were so many great quotes that struck true. When reading about Roman history, Augustus was the only emperor who seemed to want the best for Rome. Neel Burton's intriguing conversation between Augustus, his grandsons, close associates includes both people known to them as well as Greek historical personalities. I was struck by the "theater" possibilities, imagining men in togas expounding on philosophy.
December 19, 2025
A Conversation on Philosophy
Burton's writing is fluid, flows, making reading effortless. Here's a few of my favorite parts.
"...virtue requires the presence of evil." Gaius
"Teaching is the gardening of the soul." Lucius
"Behind every great man is a great philosopher." Dionysus
"A human life is like a ripple of consciousness in a vast ocean of darkness..." Athenodorus
"...there is no value in a philosophical precept unless it leads to virtue of the soul." Augustus
Burton's writing is fluid, flows, making reading effortless. Here's a few of my favorite parts.
"...virtue requires the presence of evil." Gaius
"Teaching is the gardening of the soul." Lucius
"Behind every great man is a great philosopher." Dionysus
"A human life is like a ripple of consciousness in a vast ocean of darkness..." Athenodorus
"...there is no value in a philosophical precept unless it leads to virtue of the soul." Augustus
May 26, 2026
This book presents an interesting introduction to ancient philosophy by way of creating conversations that may or may not have taken place thousands of years ago.
While it has a certain 'creative' element to it the book avoids any dry and detailed explanations of what is being 'discussed.'
It is, in effect, an interesting re-imagining, rather than a comprehensive study but a clever and worthwhile starting point for those interested in the subject.
While it has a certain 'creative' element to it the book avoids any dry and detailed explanations of what is being 'discussed.'
It is, in effect, an interesting re-imagining, rather than a comprehensive study but a clever and worthwhile starting point for those interested in the subject.
January 5, 2026
A bit of philosophy
I received a complementary copy via Goodreads Giveaways.
This short book presents some background as well as a dialogue discussing philosophical questions and ideas.
I received a complementary copy via Goodreads Giveaways.
This short book presents some background as well as a dialogue discussing philosophical questions and ideas.
February 6, 2026
Augustus reads like a play script. This has its pros and cons, but overall I found it to be a nice, quick read. I feel that having a background in the characters helps to add richness to the conversational tone.
September 17, 2025
💯💯💯💯💯
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
sff-ok-r
September 17, 2025Rokg
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews