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Diogenes: The Rebellious Life and Revolutionary Philosophy of the Original Cynic
The life and thought of Diogenes the Cynic, an iconoclastic philosopher who pioneered a brash and free-thinking vision of life that inspired the philosophy of Stoicism
In his own day, the ancient philosopher Diogenes the Cynic had a reputation for eccentricity, dispensing wisdom from a clay pot in the marketplace and relieving himself in public. Since his death in 323 BCE, devoted followers passing on his ideas have made him famous the world over, but often in distorted, sanitized form.
In Diogenes, classicist Inger N.I. Kuin scours all existing evidence of Diogenes and his followers to offer an in-depth account of Diogenes’s life and thought, revealing a man whose innovative ideas about power, death, nature, and the body have much to teach the contemporary world. He pioneered a vision of simplicity and autonomy in his day-to-day life, stressing the importance of living in the here and now, and of always thinking for oneself. Diogenes stands apart as history’s first recorded critic of slavery and a proud exile from polite society whose challenging thought proved foundational for the Stoics and their successors.
Diogenes rehabilitates Diogenes as a compelling thinker for the twenty-first century, one who demands that we look at our society with fresh eyes and be unafraid of change—starting with ourselves.
In his own day, the ancient philosopher Diogenes the Cynic had a reputation for eccentricity, dispensing wisdom from a clay pot in the marketplace and relieving himself in public. Since his death in 323 BCE, devoted followers passing on his ideas have made him famous the world over, but often in distorted, sanitized form.
In Diogenes, classicist Inger N.I. Kuin scours all existing evidence of Diogenes and his followers to offer an in-depth account of Diogenes’s life and thought, revealing a man whose innovative ideas about power, death, nature, and the body have much to teach the contemporary world. He pioneered a vision of simplicity and autonomy in his day-to-day life, stressing the importance of living in the here and now, and of always thinking for oneself. Diogenes stands apart as history’s first recorded critic of slavery and a proud exile from polite society whose challenging thought proved foundational for the Stoics and their successors.
Diogenes rehabilitates Diogenes as a compelling thinker for the twenty-first century, one who demands that we look at our society with fresh eyes and be unafraid of change—starting with ourselves.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published November 11, 2025
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125 people want to read
About the author
Inger N.I. Kuin
7 books1 followerInger N.I. Kuin is onderzoeker en docent Oude Geschiedenis aan de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. Ze promoveerde in New York op een proefschrift over religie en humor in de oudheid en studeerde in Amsterdam filosofie en journalistiek. Als journalist schreef ze onder meer voor NRC Handelsblad.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 20, 2025
With thanks to NetGalley and Basic Books for the ARC.
Diogenes is a concise and accessible introduction to one of antiquity’s most eccentric and provocative figures. Kuin writes in a style that’s approachable to most readers, even those without a background in Classics, while still offering a constructive and thoughtful take on Diogenes’ philosophy and legacy.
The book openly acknowledges how limited the surviving evidence is; something I really appreciated. Rather than overreaching, Kuin keeps a critical eye on what can genuinely be said about Diogenes and what might just be legend. Despite its brevity, the book manages to capture the essence of why Diogenes continues to intrigue people today: his rejection of convention, sharp wit, and embodiment of philosophy as a way of life rather than just an idea.
It’s also fascinating that his name endures in the modern diagnosis of Diogenes syndrome, showing how his radical defiance has been remembered and reinterpreted across time.
Overall, this is a short but stimulating read; I found it accessible, reflective, and a great entry point for anyone curious about ancient philosophy or the Cynic tradition.
Diogenes is a concise and accessible introduction to one of antiquity’s most eccentric and provocative figures. Kuin writes in a style that’s approachable to most readers, even those without a background in Classics, while still offering a constructive and thoughtful take on Diogenes’ philosophy and legacy.
The book openly acknowledges how limited the surviving evidence is; something I really appreciated. Rather than overreaching, Kuin keeps a critical eye on what can genuinely be said about Diogenes and what might just be legend. Despite its brevity, the book manages to capture the essence of why Diogenes continues to intrigue people today: his rejection of convention, sharp wit, and embodiment of philosophy as a way of life rather than just an idea.
It’s also fascinating that his name endures in the modern diagnosis of Diogenes syndrome, showing how his radical defiance has been remembered and reinterpreted across time.
Overall, this is a short but stimulating read; I found it accessible, reflective, and a great entry point for anyone curious about ancient philosophy or the Cynic tradition.
August 20, 2025
A memorable and thought-provoking biography of one of ancient history's most provocative philosophers.
I'd heard of Diogenes in college but didn't know much about him before requesting this ARC from Netgalley. My Philosophy courses mostly focused on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle before moving on to the philosophers of the Enlightment era, so I went into this with minimal bias and maximum curiosity.
Kuin does a remarkable job in painting a picture of who Diogenes was, both figuratively through examination of ancient historians and literally through references of classical art through the ages. The man who lived in a jar caused quite a sensation in the ancient world, ruffling the feathers of many prestigious figures including Plato and Aristotle, and leaving lasting impressions on such giants as Phillip of Macedonia and Alexander the Great with clever witticisms and matter-of-fact speaking. I burst out laughing more than once.
Kuin's narrative leads readers to beg the question: Why is there not more dialogue surrounding Diogenes in the modern world?
I think the answer lies in the life Diogenes lived and what he stood for. Chiefly, live with only what you need to survive and be at one with nature. Two concepts that at their core are inherently anti-capitalist and anti-nationalist when truly lived to their fullest.
I encourage everyone who is interested in philosophy to read this book. Diogenes was truly an intriguing and life-changing individual who made a lasting impression on some of the most notable figures in antiquity. His life is a stark contrast to anyone else's I've learned about, and to be quite honest, as the world literally burns down around us from excessive consumerism and environmental exploitation, there are valid and crucial lessons to be learned from this man.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'd heard of Diogenes in college but didn't know much about him before requesting this ARC from Netgalley. My Philosophy courses mostly focused on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle before moving on to the philosophers of the Enlightment era, so I went into this with minimal bias and maximum curiosity.
Kuin does a remarkable job in painting a picture of who Diogenes was, both figuratively through examination of ancient historians and literally through references of classical art through the ages. The man who lived in a jar caused quite a sensation in the ancient world, ruffling the feathers of many prestigious figures including Plato and Aristotle, and leaving lasting impressions on such giants as Phillip of Macedonia and Alexander the Great with clever witticisms and matter-of-fact speaking. I burst out laughing more than once.
Kuin's narrative leads readers to beg the question: Why is there not more dialogue surrounding Diogenes in the modern world?
I think the answer lies in the life Diogenes lived and what he stood for. Chiefly, live with only what you need to survive and be at one with nature. Two concepts that at their core are inherently anti-capitalist and anti-nationalist when truly lived to their fullest.
I encourage everyone who is interested in philosophy to read this book. Diogenes was truly an intriguing and life-changing individual who made a lasting impression on some of the most notable figures in antiquity. His life is a stark contrast to anyone else's I've learned about, and to be quite honest, as the world literally burns down around us from excessive consumerism and environmental exploitation, there are valid and crucial lessons to be learned from this man.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 5, 2025
If Diogenes did not exist, we would not have to invent him, because he lived a life of disrupting expectations.
This is a book about Diogenes the Cynic. Not Diogenes the cynic, which is a joke that works poorly in English.
Structured as a biography, the author takes a sort of 'what if' reading to the biography of Diogenes, a middle ground between overly credulous ancients and dismally disbelieving contemporaries, assuming that the stories about him reflect some truth or true event, so the project is to find out what that might be.
Cynicism stands aside philosophically. Its influence is evident in more remarked on philosophies of the time like Stoicism. It shows up rarely but consistently throughout the eras. Yet the author points how how no one is willing to swallow the frog, how it is always a consistently elided Cynicism, frequently over matters of sex and a more general contempt for conventional action, that (particularly Stoicism and Christianity), wanted nothing to do with.
It is a good read, relatively short. The problem is the overall lack of evidence. The author is aware of this, and more interested in the structure of conjecture and story. For me that is pretty neat in terms of thinking about the way the philosophy works, but I can see readers whom it would frustrate.
I think that the value here is in the always funny retelling of all the stories about Diogenes. Even when not true, they are hilarious, and much like with Cynical philosophy represent a sort of perpetual bit of the human condition that is frequently unrepresented.
My thanks to the author, Inger N.I. Kuin, for writing the book, and to the publisher, Basic Books, for making the ARC available to me.
This is a book about Diogenes the Cynic. Not Diogenes the cynic, which is a joke that works poorly in English.
Structured as a biography, the author takes a sort of 'what if' reading to the biography of Diogenes, a middle ground between overly credulous ancients and dismally disbelieving contemporaries, assuming that the stories about him reflect some truth or true event, so the project is to find out what that might be.
Cynicism stands aside philosophically. Its influence is evident in more remarked on philosophies of the time like Stoicism. It shows up rarely but consistently throughout the eras. Yet the author points how how no one is willing to swallow the frog, how it is always a consistently elided Cynicism, frequently over matters of sex and a more general contempt for conventional action, that (particularly Stoicism and Christianity), wanted nothing to do with.
It is a good read, relatively short. The problem is the overall lack of evidence. The author is aware of this, and more interested in the structure of conjecture and story. For me that is pretty neat in terms of thinking about the way the philosophy works, but I can see readers whom it would frustrate.
I think that the value here is in the always funny retelling of all the stories about Diogenes. Even when not true, they are hilarious, and much like with Cynical philosophy represent a sort of perpetual bit of the human condition that is frequently unrepresented.
My thanks to the author, Inger N.I. Kuin, for writing the book, and to the publisher, Basic Books, for making the ARC available to me.
November 11, 2025
I wrote a review of this book for Open Letters Review, which you can find here!
Today (November 11, 2025) is release day for this book. I got excited and went to Barnes & Noble today to buy the hardcover, where it was covertly placed in the philosophy section of the store.
Everyone needs some Diogenes in their life!
Today (November 11, 2025) is release day for this book. I got excited and went to Barnes & Noble today to buy the hardcover, where it was covertly placed in the philosophy section of the store.
Everyone needs some Diogenes in their life!
May 22, 2025
Living almost two and a half thousand years ago, Diogenes the Cynic is one of those extraordinary figures who forces himself into the consciousness of succeeding ages. His pithy sayings and thought provoking actions have challenged every generation to think about the difference between ethical norms and social conventions.
His approach to philosophy was very much a ‘common sense’ one. When a philosopher produced a syllogism to prove that humans have horns, he rubbed a hand across his head to refute it, refusing to engage with a logic that was so obviously contrary to everyone’s experiences.
Whereas his philosophic contemporaries gave lectures and produced learned books, Diogenes refused to do so. He wasn’t a teacher of mere words, he was a performer of live, living his philosophy in and through his daily life. To some extent he is the originator of the idea of ‘lived experience’ as having a philosophical significance.
One of the priorities of his thinking was ‘freedom.’ When people told him about ‘rightness’ and ‘proper behaviour’ he wasn’t impressed by the imposition upon him of other’s standards. On the contrary, he would wander around town urinating and defecating in public, demonstrating his contempt for the very idea that he should feel a ‘shame’ based on conforming to social or political conventions.
His contemporaries recruited disciples, but Diogenes went out of his way to discourage would-be followers. Although when they pressed him, he would begrudgingly accept them. Among those followers was Hipparchia, giving us one of our view glimpses of female philosophers of the era.
One of the interesting facets of Diogenes’ character was his dry wit. When asked what the best wine is, he immediately said it is the one that someone else is paying for. When someone pointed to a luxury honey cake and said, look what you could eat if you worked for the king. He pointed to his own cheap olives and figs and said, you wouldn’t have to work for the king if you ate this.
Throughout the book the author skillfully weaves a wide variety of anecdotes and incidents from Diogenes’ life, so that readers get a lively impression of a fascinating individual.
One of the particularly welcome aspects of the book is that it explores how Diogenes was received in later generations from the Romans to Christianity, to twentieth century philosophers. What emerges is the voice of counter culturalism, which lurks as a warning in the background of every age, asking people to reflect on why they hold their most cherished assumptions.
Overall this is a knowledgeable and well-written account of one of history’s truly fascinating individuals. It is written in an engaging way which means that it should be accessible to readers from any background. It is particularly relevant to those interested in politics and ethics, and to anyone who wants to explore what open mindedness means in one of its most radical manifestations.
(These comments are based on a free pre-publication ARC version of the text).
His approach to philosophy was very much a ‘common sense’ one. When a philosopher produced a syllogism to prove that humans have horns, he rubbed a hand across his head to refute it, refusing to engage with a logic that was so obviously contrary to everyone’s experiences.
Whereas his philosophic contemporaries gave lectures and produced learned books, Diogenes refused to do so. He wasn’t a teacher of mere words, he was a performer of live, living his philosophy in and through his daily life. To some extent he is the originator of the idea of ‘lived experience’ as having a philosophical significance.
One of the priorities of his thinking was ‘freedom.’ When people told him about ‘rightness’ and ‘proper behaviour’ he wasn’t impressed by the imposition upon him of other’s standards. On the contrary, he would wander around town urinating and defecating in public, demonstrating his contempt for the very idea that he should feel a ‘shame’ based on conforming to social or political conventions.
His contemporaries recruited disciples, but Diogenes went out of his way to discourage would-be followers. Although when they pressed him, he would begrudgingly accept them. Among those followers was Hipparchia, giving us one of our view glimpses of female philosophers of the era.
One of the interesting facets of Diogenes’ character was his dry wit. When asked what the best wine is, he immediately said it is the one that someone else is paying for. When someone pointed to a luxury honey cake and said, look what you could eat if you worked for the king. He pointed to his own cheap olives and figs and said, you wouldn’t have to work for the king if you ate this.
Throughout the book the author skillfully weaves a wide variety of anecdotes and incidents from Diogenes’ life, so that readers get a lively impression of a fascinating individual.
One of the particularly welcome aspects of the book is that it explores how Diogenes was received in later generations from the Romans to Christianity, to twentieth century philosophers. What emerges is the voice of counter culturalism, which lurks as a warning in the background of every age, asking people to reflect on why they hold their most cherished assumptions.
Overall this is a knowledgeable and well-written account of one of history’s truly fascinating individuals. It is written in an engaging way which means that it should be accessible to readers from any background. It is particularly relevant to those interested in politics and ethics, and to anyone who wants to explore what open mindedness means in one of its most radical manifestations.
(These comments are based on a free pre-publication ARC version of the text).
November 11, 2025
Diogenes is published today!
I am often skeptical about new biographies of ancient people, especially if the ancient in question left behind few remnants of their own life. Many times, the biography can be a regurgitation of prior biographies or primary source texts. To Kuin’s credit, she does draw her own conclusions about supposed scenes from Diogenes’ life and his philosophical beliefs, but she does rely heavily on Diogenes Laertius’ biography (which she does discuss in her Note on Sources).
Kuin builds this biography around central tenants of Diogenes’ philosophy: his thoughts on the body, slavery, rulers, death, etc. The final two chapters detail how Kuin sees Diogenes’ philosophy surviving, first throughout the rest of history up to the Enlightenment, then the period after up to modern history. I was very interested in what she had to say about Cynicism versus cynicism, “C” vs. “c”.
This book will be a great public-facing work of Classics that will be advantageous for research about Diogenes’ life and ideas. In some instances, I personally wasn’t convinced by how much credit Kuin gives Diogenes for early ideas and their longevity through time. For example, to say Diogenes’ proto-abolitionists ideas could have made much of an impact on the much-later banning on legal slavery is a bit of a stretch.
I found what I believed to be a mistake in the book that bothered me, but have emailed the publisher and hope it will be resolved, since all the other historical information seems pretty sound.
Thank you to NetGalley and Basic Books for the ARC.
I am often skeptical about new biographies of ancient people, especially if the ancient in question left behind few remnants of their own life. Many times, the biography can be a regurgitation of prior biographies or primary source texts. To Kuin’s credit, she does draw her own conclusions about supposed scenes from Diogenes’ life and his philosophical beliefs, but she does rely heavily on Diogenes Laertius’ biography (which she does discuss in her Note on Sources).
Kuin builds this biography around central tenants of Diogenes’ philosophy: his thoughts on the body, slavery, rulers, death, etc. The final two chapters detail how Kuin sees Diogenes’ philosophy surviving, first throughout the rest of history up to the Enlightenment, then the period after up to modern history. I was very interested in what she had to say about Cynicism versus cynicism, “C” vs. “c”.
This book will be a great public-facing work of Classics that will be advantageous for research about Diogenes’ life and ideas. In some instances, I personally wasn’t convinced by how much credit Kuin gives Diogenes for early ideas and their longevity through time. For example, to say Diogenes’ proto-abolitionists ideas could have made much of an impact on the much-later banning on legal slavery is a bit of a stretch.
I found what I believed to be a mistake in the book that bothered me, but have emailed the publisher and hope it will be resolved, since all the other historical information seems pretty sound.
Thank you to NetGalley and Basic Books for the ARC.
June 1, 2025
Say Diogenes again...
The book is a thoughtful and accessible introduction to one of antiquity’s most provocative figures. Best known for living in a pot, mocking power, and rejecting materialism, Diogenes comes across here not as a cartoonish eccentric but as a critic of social norms and a thinker whose ideas still provoke.
Kuin does a commendable job of capturing the spirit of Diogenes’ rebellion. Drawing from scattered ancient sources, she reconstructs his life and philosophy in a way that’s clear, engaging, and digestible, especially for readers without a background in ancient philosophy. This is a more “popular history” approach less focused on beating you over the head with scholarly debate and more on making the material approachable, which suits the subject well.
That said, the book isn’t without its stylistic quirks. Most noticeably, Kuin uses the name “Diogenes”...frequently. While it doesn’t ruin the book, the repetition is, at times, distracting and breaks the flow.
That said, for those curious about Cynicism or interested in an unconventional figure who lived his philosophy to the extreme, this book offers a solid entry point.
The book is a thoughtful and accessible introduction to one of antiquity’s most provocative figures. Best known for living in a pot, mocking power, and rejecting materialism, Diogenes comes across here not as a cartoonish eccentric but as a critic of social norms and a thinker whose ideas still provoke.
Kuin does a commendable job of capturing the spirit of Diogenes’ rebellion. Drawing from scattered ancient sources, she reconstructs his life and philosophy in a way that’s clear, engaging, and digestible, especially for readers without a background in ancient philosophy. This is a more “popular history” approach less focused on beating you over the head with scholarly debate and more on making the material approachable, which suits the subject well.
That said, the book isn’t without its stylistic quirks. Most noticeably, Kuin uses the name “Diogenes”...frequently. While it doesn’t ruin the book, the repetition is, at times, distracting and breaks the flow.
That said, for those curious about Cynicism or interested in an unconventional figure who lived his philosophy to the extreme, this book offers a solid entry point.
September 27, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
We often hear about Diogenes in the capacity of the lantern and the barrel, and very little else. There’s a certain level of him as a philosopher and a critic that we don’t hear as much about, and it is, quite frankly, a shande.
His ideas were certainly radical, both for the time and in the modern era. This book provides a breakdown of his main philosophies, and contextualises them in a way that makes sense both for the era and the modern day.
This book takes the time to characterise Diogenes not as an insane man who lived in a barrel, but rather a cynic and a scholar who took life less as a gift and more as a curse. He was pragmatic, philosophical about the human condition, and also generally against the idea of consumption and profit in a way that anyone in the modern era could claim to be.
This book is well worth a read for anyone even remotely curious about Diogenes, and for anyone willing to look beyond the better known philosophers for someone who was genuinely radical.
We often hear about Diogenes in the capacity of the lantern and the barrel, and very little else. There’s a certain level of him as a philosopher and a critic that we don’t hear as much about, and it is, quite frankly, a shande.
His ideas were certainly radical, both for the time and in the modern era. This book provides a breakdown of his main philosophies, and contextualises them in a way that makes sense both for the era and the modern day.
This book takes the time to characterise Diogenes not as an insane man who lived in a barrel, but rather a cynic and a scholar who took life less as a gift and more as a curse. He was pragmatic, philosophical about the human condition, and also generally against the idea of consumption and profit in a way that anyone in the modern era could claim to be.
This book is well worth a read for anyone even remotely curious about Diogenes, and for anyone willing to look beyond the better known philosophers for someone who was genuinely radical.
December 2, 2025
This clearly written and accessible book is an excellent introduction to the life, ideas and legacy of Diogenes the Cynic. The historical record is fragmentary, making a cradle-to-grave conventional biography difficult, as much of the material is purely anecdotal, but the author’s meticulous research has enabled her to construct a credible, coherent and convincing account of this most unconventional of philosophers. She explores not only Diogenes’ thoughts and ideas but also the way his ideas have percolated down through the centuries, and how they are still surprisingly relevant today. With a blend of scholarship and storytelling, she manages to make complex material easy to follow for the general reader, whilst providing much for those more familiar with the subject. An enjoyable and illuminating read.
June 6, 2025
Seriously a Great Resource for the Daily Living!
Very well researched, lightly writed, clarifying and connectig dots between several history-philosophical figures
I am sure that the same Diógenes would read it and have it besides "his bed" to read it again and again
If you want to know the essence of the one person that told Marco Aurelio "step away that you are covering the sun to me"...
That the laughed from money, relationships, and power, not in the bad sense, but because the real meaning of all of that, read this now!
Very well researched, lightly writed, clarifying and connectig dots between several history-philosophical figures
I am sure that the same Diógenes would read it and have it besides "his bed" to read it again and again
If you want to know the essence of the one person that told Marco Aurelio "step away that you are covering the sun to me"...
That the laughed from money, relationships, and power, not in the bad sense, but because the real meaning of all of that, read this now!
January 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book.
While this was very interesting to me who does not really know anything about philosophy and philosophers, it was also a lot of information that was irrelevant to my life. Kuin takes on a lot of pathways that stray from the main premise. Though this is very useful for people researching Diogenes and everything related to him (the core audience for this book). I did find myself skimming through sections that talked about other people and the repetitive parts as well.
Very useful, just not for me.
While this was very interesting to me who does not really know anything about philosophy and philosophers, it was also a lot of information that was irrelevant to my life. Kuin takes on a lot of pathways that stray from the main premise. Though this is very useful for people researching Diogenes and everything related to him (the core audience for this book). I did find myself skimming through sections that talked about other people and the repetitive parts as well.
Very useful, just not for me.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews