The Socrates express : in search of life lessons from dead philosophers

We contemplate for the same reasons we travel: to see the world from a different perspective, to unearth hidden beauty and find new ways of being.

We want to learn how to embrace wonder. Face regrets. Sustain hope. Eric Weiner combines his twin passions for philosophy and global travel in a pilgrimage that uncovers surprising life lessons from philosophers around the world, from Marcus Aurelius to Arthur Schopenhauer, Confucius to Montaigne.

Traveling by train he traversed thousands of miles, making stops in Athens, Delhi, Massachusetts, Coney Island, Frankfurt, and points in between, to recapture philosophy's original purpose: teaching us how to lead wiser, more meaningful lives.

From Socrates and ancient Athens to Simone de Beauvoir and twentieth century Paris, Weiner invites us to voyage alongside him on his life-changing pursuit of wisdom and discovery as he attempts to find answers to our most vital questions.