The Big Questions: How Philosophy Can Change Your Life

by Lou Marinoff

From the author of the international bestseller Plato Not Prozac! , a vital guide to the art of living.

Professor Lou Marinoff's first book drew on the wisdom of the great philosophers to solve our everyday problems, launching a movement that restored philosophy to what it once useful in all walks of life. Now, in The Big Questions , he takes the concept to the next level, applying centuries of philosophy and great literature to answer central questions of modern existence.

Urging us not to accept victimhood as the by-product of modern life, Professor Marinoff uses specific case studies from his counseling practice to show how wisdom from the great thinkers can help us define our own philosophy, and thereby reclaim our sense of well-being. He asks and answers questions that go to the heart of the human How do we know what is right? How can we cope with change? Why can't we all get along? And, most centrally, how can we use the centuries of wisdom that have come before us to help us answer these questions and feel at ease in the world?

Accessible, entertaining, and profoundly useful, The Big Questions mixes wisdom from the great thinkers with specific case studies to illuminate how a shift in perspective can truly be life changing.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Psychology

400 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2003

About the author

Lou Marinoff is Professor of Philosophy at The City College of New York, founding President of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA), and an internationally bestselling author.

Reviews

[Amir Sahbaee · Rating 2 out of 5]

من فارسیشو خوندم ولی ادیشن فارسیش اینجا موجود نبود.
مشخصات:
نام فارسی:پرسش‌های بزرگ(درمانی برای خردمندان یا فلسفه چگونه می‌تواند زندگی‌تان را دگرگون کند.مرجعی برای مشاوره‌ی فلسفی)
نشر شب‌خیز
مترجمان:ایمان همتی،سیده معصومه موسوی
--
این کتابو اقای مقدسی خیلی وقت پیش اینستا معرفی کرده بود.منم با توجه به حال اخیرم تصمیم گرفتم برم سراغش.این مدت هم زندگی خیلی خوب پیش نرفت و کارای دیگه داشتم واسه همین خوندنش طول کشید.
--
می‌تونم بگم کتاب واقعا خوب شروع شد.نویسنده که خودش از بنیانگذاران مشاوره فلسفی هست سعی می‌کنه نشون بده کِی وقتِ مراجعه به مشاور فلسفی بجای روانپزشک و روانشناسه.و چرا اصلا همچین چیزی باید وجود داشته باشه و مهم باشه.
بعد اشاره می‌کنه به بیماری و نا-راحتی (در لفظ انگلیسی تشابهشون خیلی زیاده و فقط همین خط فاصله متفاوتشون می‌کنه).خود این مبحث هم خیلی خوب و جالبه.روانشناس‌های زیادی هم بهش پرداختن.اینکه دقیق شدن شرح بیماری‌ها و نشونه‌هاش نباید باعث بشه که همه‌چیز رو بیماری انگاری کنیم و بخوایم درمانشون کنیم.
بعد میره سراغ سوال‌های بزرگ ما در زندگی که برامون مهمه و باید باهاشون مواجه بشیم.اگر این سوالات برامون حل نشده باشن به مشکل میخوریم و کیفیت زندگیمون کم میشه و غیره.
سوالات هم بسیار خوبن.مثلا:
از کجا بدانیم چه کاری درست است؟
ایا اهانت به شما آسیب می‌زند؟
آیا ناگزیریم رنج بکشیم؟
و....
بعضی از این فصول هم خوب نوشته شدن.برای خودم بخشی از این سوالا و جواب‌هاشون مفید بود.که سعی کنم چیزهارو در دنیا درست‌تر ببینم و فکر کنم به ابعاد کارام و غیره.
اما
به نظرم هرچی کتاب جلو رفت بدتر شد.کم کم تبدیل شد به "پرسش‌های بزرگ و جواب‌های احمقانه"
نویسنده فلسفه رو خلاصه می‌کنه به فلسفه‌ی شرقی(که احتمالا بیشتر شبیه عرفان یا مسلک یا آیین هستن تا فلسفه).
هرچی جلوتر میریم نقش افلاطون و ارسطو و مونتنی و کانت و زنون کمتر میشه و بودیسم و کابالیسم و عرفان چینی جاشو میگیره.
بعد بخش‌های از کتاب اصلا برای این زمان خنده‌دارن.نویسنده درباره‌ی تکنولوژی کلی چیزی نوشته(که قطعا از چالش‌های بزرگ عصر و نسل ماست)اما بجای پرداختن دقیق به مساله،گفته ما چون زیاد ایمیل میزنیم وقتمون گرفته میشه.اصلا انگار موضوع رو عوض کرده.
بعد از برابری جنسیتی و اینا حرف زده که اونجا هم بخش زیادیش تاسف‌اوره.مثال‌هاش از زنانیه که موفق و پولدارن ولی شاد نیستن چون طبیعت زن بچه اوردن و پرورش دادن و ایناست.
بعدم تو یه فصل دیگه میگه ما که همه‌چیز رو نمیدونیم پس چرا بده اگه تاس بریزیم و فال بگیریم.یه روش فال گرفتن ژاپنی رو ترویج میکنه.
--
کتاب سوال‌های خوبی داره اما در بیشتر بخشا جواب‌های خوبی نداره.
اونقدرها هم فلسفی به معنی‌ای که ما انتظار داریم نیست.
ولی هنوز بخش‌هایی از ابتداش به نظرم ارزشمند بود.
--
مترجما هم بد نبودن.ولی بازم تعداد پانویس‌ها و اصطلاحات اصلی بسیار کم بود.مخصوصا تو نیمه‌ی دوم کتاب.انگار دوتا مترجم نصف نصف کار کرده بودن.تو نیمه‌ی دوم جمله‌ها شلخته‌تر و پانویس‌ها کمتر بود کلا.
ویراستار هم اوایل کتاب خیلی با وسواس علائم نگارشی و نیم‌فاصله گذاشته بود اما از یه جایی به بعد انگار دچار وسواس شده بود.ویرگول‌ها بسیار زیاد و گاهی اشتباه بودن و کلماتی مثل "ارزشمند" هم به شکل "ارزش‌مند"نوشته شده بودن که دیگه برای چشم اشنا نبودن.
--

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like 3.7 or 3.6 stars, I'd say. I would round it up to 4, but it wouldn't feel right.
So, this was definitely a good book, and it was insightful, and I learned new information, and it made me think about some interesting things. But:

-The writing style kind of felt...condescending. To me, personally.

-There were a lot of opinions in this book, it seemed like, and there were some I personally didn't agree with, and yes, it did cause me a lot of dis-ease. It was also just rather annoying.

-This isn't a big issue, but it was super similar to the author's previous book, Plato, Not Prozac, which I read, and so it felt a little...unoriginal, kind of? (To be honest, I would like this book more than Plato, Not Prozac if the writing style didn't feel more condescending and if I didn't have qualms with some of the author's opinions. This one was definitely more interesting.)

One thing I really loved was all the references to renowned philosophers and intellectuals, because a lot of that is stuff I don't know, and it's super helpful.
So, anyway, you might like this book, you might not. Either way, it's likely it'll be helpful and at least slightly interesting, if you read it.

[Frank Haug · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a movement for a while where some philosophers were atempting to get licenced as "philosophical Counselors" much the same that a psychologist of physician gets licensed. Maybe the most famous poduct of this was the movie "I Heart Huckabee" which was good. Opponents said that this was mostly a scheme to just be a ble to charge $100 an hour to tell people about Aristotle. Proponents claimed that it seems foolish to ignore the substantial amount of thought philosophy has put into how to live the best life. And that as students and cataloguers of this information, philosophers are in a particular posiion to guide people through this information. I think there is a little truth in both. I certainly don't think that you can solve depression by prescribing John Stuart Mill, but I do think that people could come to see there problems, or lives, in a different and perhaps broader sense by getting to their core beliefs about what the purpose of life is, how people ough to act, what meanin is to be found, and how we define beauty and good. These are philosophical questions as much if not more than pschological ones. I just think this isn't a totally hack idea.

[Alexandru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on practical philosophy. Together with the book of Jules Evans this one is a good guide for anyone who asks themselves how philosophy can help you in the everyday life. It is easy to read and the cases used in the book connects philosophy to real life problems that all of us have to deal on a daily basis. Certainly I do not agree on all the points of view of the author, but this is not the point, the book is designed to ignite discussions and dialogue and not to prove a point wrong or right. That's philosophy, right?

[Kipahni · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good philosophy book but the author tends to promote eastern philosophy over other options

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author should also study Psychology in order to be able to talk about it. People should stick to their knowledge field, and this book is the living proof of it.

[Misaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro consigliato a chi vuole riflettere su se stesso e vuole ricominciare da zero. Molto fluido il discorso e ricco di spunti su cui soffermarsi a pensare. Un libro terapeutico per rigenerarsi dalle ferite della vita, vista la confortante filosofia orientale e, in particolare, quella buddista. Molto interessanti anche le conclusioni che hanno tratto i 2 intervistati, per nulla scontate. Giusto alcuni temi per me sono stati un po' generalizzati, per il resto è ottimo.
P.s. ovviamente, si trattano temi molto esistenziali, perciò la lettura richiede molta concentrazione, però ne vale davvero la pena!

[Gin• · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libro molto interessante, anche se inizialmente leggendo il titolo pensavo potesse essere un libro legato maggiormente alla spiritualità e alla scperta di se stessi... Devo dire che comunque è un libro che ti arricchisce molto, poichè tratta di argomenti veamente molto attuali e che comunque possono essere utili alla crescita personale. Si passa dal parlare dal ruolo del leader e del'insegnante, al tema della morte, fino ad alcune critiche/argomenti che io personalmente ho ritenuto un po' troppo ''radicali'' in alcuni punti. Giustamente si fa tanta ''pubblicità'' alla scuola buddista della Soka Gakkai, ma al di la di questo è un libro molto bello e illuminante!

[Joe Sabet · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve read little to no philosophy before, this book might be ideal. It flows well, is easy for the laymen. But with such broad overviews it misses great works totally or fails to explain things thoroughly. Other that, a very good book like I said for a neophyte

[Valentina Márquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Demore mucho tiempo en leer este libro. Pero ha valido totalmente la pena. Cada enseñanza que pude tomar, la leí en el momento que más la necesita a y sin darme cuenta.
Una excelente guía de entendimiento personal

[Natellu · Rating 4 out of 5]

เอาหลักปรัชญามาใช้กับการดำเนินชีวิต ปรัชญาบำบัด even if the book is somewhat pseudo science It’s helpful nonetheless.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical philosophy

I really loved this book. The case studies highlighted how the various philosophies are applied to real life situations. Thanks

[Lolha · Rating 2 out of 5]

noioso e ripetitivo da morire e cita soltanto senza fare concreti discorsi

[Timon Flikweert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lou Marinoff toont ons in ‘The Big Questions: How Philosophy Can Change Your Life’ een briljante kijk in de moderne wereld van praktische filosofie. Ik zou willen zeggen dat het boek briljant is specifiek omdat de complexe problemen zo simpel mogelijk opgeschreven zijn. Wat het makkelijker maakt om ze te onthouden en om ze op te lossen.

Een dubbel positief resultaat.

Ten eerste vergemakkelijkt Marinoff zogezegd hiermee de toegang tot de wereld van filosofie. Iets wat van een vele malen groter belang is dan academies altijd al denken. Iedereen wilt namelijk de dingen die gemakkelijk, eenvoudig en leuk zijn. En zijn ze dat niet, dan negeren we ze of ontkennen we ze zelfs. In de filosofie is dit niet anders, misschien roept het zelfs ergere reacties op vanwege het complexe karakter ervan.

Maar maakt men filosofie moeilijker dan het is, dan geraakt men er zelf veelal niet eens aan uit, en zal men zich ervan distantiëren. Maakt men het makkelijker dan het is, dan wantrouwt men het, en zal men er zich eveneens van distantiëren.

Het gaat om het vinden van een balans daarin. Alleen dan toont filosofie ook zijn praktisch nut; alleen dan heeft het zin, doel en betekenis. En Marinoff heeft een dergelijke balans als één van de enige met dit boek weten te vinden. Bewonderenswaardig.

Ten tweede wijst hij zijn lezers op de noodzaak van het vinden van orde in de chaos van meningen. Iets wat hij tot een levensfilosofie maakt; toepasbaar op zowat alle denkbare gebieden. Van wanneer dit principe de mens zelfbewuster van zichzelf en zijn omstandigheden zal maken, zo beargumenteert hij, zal men vele malen effectiever naar oplossingen kunnen zoeken. Een statement dat hij erg gedetailleerd wist uit te kaderen, met goede voorbeelden van theorie naar de praktijk.

Dit alles maakt in het zijn compleetheid een uitermate dynamisch werk. Een terechte verdiener van 5 sterren.

[Efímera Bonhomía · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pregúntale a Platón es la continuación del best seller Más Platón y menos Prozac donde el autor, Lou Marinoff, profundiza aún más en su faceta como consejero filosófico y funciona como un libro de autoayuda que te va explicando corrientes de la filosofía introduciendo problemas mundanos y haciéndote preguntas para que dudes hasta de los dedos de tu mano.

Me gustó mucho más Más Platón y menos Prozac por el simple hecho de que no era un libro de autoayuda al uso, era una manera de transmitir la filosofía mediante los hechos y acontecimientos que nos ocurren a todos diariamente y que hace que todo lo que estudiamos o chapamos se adapte a la práctica. En Pregúntale a Platón encontramos más teoría, algo caso expuesto y las famosas preguntas a final de cada capítulo para que te preguntes a ti mismo lo que expone. Mentiría si dijera que no lo he disfrutado, porque lo he hecho, pero el formato de libro de autoayuda es lo que ha hecho que no llegase a ser tan transcedental para mí como lo fue su primer libro.

Pregúntale a Platón no sólo explica cuestiones filosóficas, ahonda también en los mundos cotidianos de las personas y en lo que nos hace muchas veces realizar acciones que no son correctas o pensamientos que invaden nuestra cabeza y no los sabemos dominar. Pregúntale a Platón sigue siendo una filosofía aplicada a la práctica, por eso mismo, recomiendo a todos eses que sienten que la filosofía no es para ellos que cojan estos dos libros y sientan que la aplicamos cada día, en cada decisión y en muchos momentos y ni siquiera nos damos cuenta.

"Antes de hablar de llevarse bien con los demás, primero debemos llevarnos bien con nosotros mismos."

3,5/5

[GONZA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personalmente, nutro un'insana passione per tutto quello che non riesco a capire, non a caso ho da anni l'abbonamento a "Le scienze", e la filosofia rientra tra i grandi punti interrogativi della mia vita. Dal liceo in poi non ho mai smesso di leggere, cercare di capire, come mai il dialogo fine a se stesso riscuotesse questo grande successo e forse la risposta dell'angosciante quesito sta proprio nel sottotitolo di uno di questi due libri (quello del Prozac), che recita: Basta con le pillole, usa la filosofia! Qualcuno prima di te, quel problema, l'ha già risolto. Per tutti coloro che hanno sempre saputo che la filosofia serve a qualcosa, senza riuscire a dire esattamente cosa.
Di questo genere di libri di filosofia pop (intesa nel senso di popolare) ce ne sono una marea in giro, a cominciare da "Il mondo di Sofia" per arrivare a "Il flipper di Popper", ma questi 2 scritti da Marinoff li ho particolarmente apprezzati, intanto perchè semplici (ma è una cosa che hanno in comune con gli altri) poi perchè si usa la filosofia per risolvere i problemi di ogni giorno, con tanto di schemino in cinque passi (lo so fa tanto alcolisti anonimi, però può essere utile).
Non è un libro di estetica o filosofia teoretica (per quanto...), ma si lascia leggere da chi, naturalmente, non ha aspirazioni a scrivere saggi sull'argomento

[Gaby · Rating 3 out of 5]

In all honestly, I have a hard time with non-fiction because I put it down, pick it back up, put it down, etc...it takes me a while because there's no plot to follow! This was still a great read. I already knew much of the philosophy so it was sor t of a repeat but it was interesting how they aplied it to many different cases. The first half was most interesting while they were going over all the different types of philosophy, how it can be applied and how each would be used differently to go about resolving problems from different angles.
The second half was just case after case and got a little boring when they weren't presenting any more information.
I'd say it's a great introductory book for anyone who hasn't really thought about how to think or sort through their own problems philosophically instead of reactively.

[Liedzeit Liedzeit · Rating 3 out of 5]

If there is one genre I dislike (despise) it is “help” books. And this even has a blurb with praise from Paulo Coelho! But it is quite interesting, especially the beginning. Marinoff is a Philosopher Counsellor. But he does have a philosophical background and some common sense too. A little bit too many example “cases”. Brian and Kevin and Magdalena. “With increasing frequency in recent times, people have confused privileges with rights, objectivity with subjectivity, wishing with willing, wanting with needing, price with value, affluence with fulfillment, reality with appearance, and sameness with equality. Not to mention dis-ease with disease.”

[Liedzeit Liedzeit · Rating 3 out of 5]

If there is one genre I dislike (despise) it is “help” books. And this even has a blurb with praise from Paulo Coelho! But it is quite interesting, especially the begining. Marinoff is a Philosopher Counsellor. But he does have a philosophical background and some common sense too. A little bit too many example “cases”. Brian and Kevin and Magdalena. “With increasing frequency in recent times, people have confused privileges with rights, objectivity with subjectivity, wishing with willing, wanting with needing, price with value, affluence with fulfillment, reality with appearance, and sameness with equality. Not to mention dis-ease with disease.”

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt that this was a good introduction to many topics that you can approach with philosophy. I disagreed with some of the arguments the author poses and I feel that he puts an emphasis on Eastern Religion throughout the book. I would suggest reading this title if you want to spend time thinking about how philosophy can be used to approach different situations.

[Mollie Connelly-MacNeill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers an amazing perspective on both mental health and philosophy. Though the end was not as enticing as the beginning, I really feel that this book came to me at the right time of my life. Anyone experiencing a quarter-life crisis or just feeling frustrated and ignorant will benefit from reading this book. Truly life changing.

[Dagmar Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting view of things, drawing from various philosophical directions. Everyday life case scenarios illustrate the authors therapy approach. Good quotes from Emerson,Ghandi, Freud, Buddha and Kant. It might give you explanations about how people operate.

[Elias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intresting book. Applying philosophy to everyday life helps understand the world better and in more depth and find a meaning to the things that happens to us and around us.

Remember -- “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional”

[Asimina · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was one of the best books i have ever read!Although i didn't like his arguments in specific subjects , i reccomend this book to everyone who is fond of philosophy but he doesn't like the difficult reading.4 stars for the dislikeable arguments.

[Ann Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a beginner's guide to guilt, virtue, and philosophy.
Thought-provoking, but it certainly doesn't tackle the Big Issues quite the way a genuine wrestling with the philosophers does.

[Schwartzmara]

Brilliant so far. Takes philosophy beyond theory and shows how to apply the concepts to improve your life, relationships, and overall mental health.

[Lilly Roth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro interesante para ir leyendo lentamente, entre otros libros, para ir absorbiendo de a poquito-

[Giorgos Petrou · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good book

[Mariano Nieva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta bueno el libro. Es una especie de terapia abordando distintos conceptos filosóficos. Muy interesante.

[Yld Slr]

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