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The Republic
- Narrated by: Bruce Alexander
- Length: 4 hrs and 48 mins
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Publisher's Summary
In The Republic, Plato tackles the big issues of the state and the individual: how the state should be ruled, and by whom; and the way the individual should lead his life - and why. Plato casts Socrates in the role of the leader and teacher in this carefully-reasoned enquiry held in association with the students of his circle. Yet despite the rigor of the argument - the need for a philosopher-king; the need for just behavior by all - the beneficient humanity of Socrates and the poetic imagination of Plato are vividly apparent. The lively quality of the dialogue can be clearly appreciated in this new translation by Tom Griffith.
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What listeners say about The Republic
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- MIRA
- 09-28-04
Unabridge version would make it a 5 star..
This is one of my favorite audio books, I listen to this audiobook once every two months. I think the narrator brings Plato's words to life, and Socrates thought to our soul. However, I think this version takes away much of the intended meaning of the book.
7 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Traci
- 02-22-04
The Republic By Plato
What is the nature of human beings? of things which transcend the human condition? Plato's Republic is necessary for anyone who wishes to think well, to understand well. Contemplating this book over time will help simplify and clarify the way you understand the world. This book is good for anyone with a thoughtful and inquisitive nature. Even the thoughtful subjectivist is bound to consider the eternal and transcending nature of truth, to reconsider the limitations of truth in the physical world. What is Justice? What is the Good? What is the nature of humans...what is the one thing that sets us apprt from animals? Are all men equal? What is the difference between laborers and rulers? What is the Good Life? This classical text calls up intriguing questions thinkers wonder at every day. Excellent for those who wish to rule or think well...executives, government officials, students. Sheds light on the foundation of Western thought and civilization.
5 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Plato777
- 02-10-03
One of the best book ever written! Period.
The audiobook is beautifully narrated by Bruce Alexander and respects the original ancient Greek version. Plato himself would have been happy by this interpretation.
21 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Patricia
- 09-28-05
Like a Perfect piece of music
One of the best books written and when combined with an excellent reader; it is like a perfect piece of music, just right.
I read this book before, yet only after I heard it read by Bruce Alexander, I understood the excellence of Plato?s writings, just the right amount of notes.
It is just perfect! Now I will be looking forward to more books read by Bruce Alexander. Nadia
In my one year affair with the iPod, I listen to more then 50 books and this one is among the top three I recommend.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Thomas
- 04-25-05
Yup, another five star review
Just wish to add another positive review to this book. A couple of previous reviewers mentioned that since this is an abridged version, it detracted from the original meaning. That might be true and it is good to know. I'll just add that I had not had any experience with the original version and still thought this to be an excellent audio book. The narrator does a great job with the conversations in the book. It is usually very clear and easy to tell, just by his voice, when he has switched to a different speaker.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Michael
- 02-06-05
Well done
Those looking for exposure to Plato will find this abridged version of The Republic a good starting point. The translation is modern and the reader's voice is well suited for the task.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Walter
- 01-19-04
Plato's Republic
This nicely priced, excellently read fresh translation contains Plato's preference for a state ruled by a philosopher-king as opposed to a democracy. It also contains his classic pholosophy of ideal truth under the famous analogies of 'the divided line' and the 'cave'. The work concludes with an interesting account of life after death. Socrates shines in this interpretation as Plato's voice.
9 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Angus Davis
- 09-27-08
Socrates unveiled.
I don't know how many courses I've taken that included The Republic as an exeplary work of political philosophy--the best earliest thinking on democracy sort of etc. So, I thought I knew many of the key concepts. However, I must be an auditory listener because I got so much more out of this audiobook than I ever dd reading the written text myself. Now I appreciate the book beause I found it enjoyable and fascinating and not just because I've been told it is a Great Book. The translation is lucid, intelligent and contemporary enough for some fun, and it is read with ease and grace. This is another one I'll listen to repeatedly with a realistic hope of finally really 'getting it."
3 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Jason_CT
- 05-04-05
Well worth the time.
I picked this title on sort of a whim, primarily because of its status as a timeless classic. I was initially skeptical as it represents a marked divergence from the types of audiobooks I am wont to select. Almost to my surprise, I found that I really enjoyed listening to it. I can now appreciate its reputation for provoking thought and reflection.
The narrator did a fine job in his ability to engage the listener, however he did have a tendency to reduce to a whisper that was often difficult to hear.
5 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Anastasios
- 11-23-03
IMPRESSIVE
Interpretation is all that matters. Bruce Alexander, thank you for your clear and detailed version. Excellent!
5 people found this helpful
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Overall

- Lee
- 05-01-10
Pure joy
This is my favourite audio book by far! I was once told 'there isn't anything we do today that hasn't already been done thousands of years ago' so learn your history well...and the Republic lays out with such simplicity all that drives human behaviour. It?s a real pleasure and joy to listen to - wonderfully narrated and captivating. It takes you along a journey of questioning that makes you wonder how we so easily forget the wisdom of the past. An audio book I can honestly say is worth listening to over and over again ? definitely a keeper!
4 people found this helpful
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Overall

- Welsh Mafia
- 09-29-08
Amongst the Olive Groves??
This is pure pleasure, effortless, engaging, ennobling? enjoyment amongst the ennui of everyday urban existence. Life is as simple as it is broken down and reconstructed by Socrates ? conjecture, belief, opinion, understanding, knowledge. A city built up from its essentials and the just identified and separated out into its component parts?Wisdom dissected, Justice catalogued in a step by step way that sits us at the philosopher?s feet in the sunny, shady grove overlooking the ancient city.
Its on the A level syllabus, by the way??but for those, like me, who are looking to support a young philosopher on his first steps to qualification, what a wonderful way to revisit an old friend ? a real pleasure. Take the time, Socrates is a more steady guide than today?s hyped up gurus.
1 person found this helpful
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- Nicole
- 11-12-19
Abridged!
A shame that this narration compromises (important) passages. Not sure why it would do that, the Republic is no where near as long an average Stephen King book. Otherwise a good narration.
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- Cloe
- 01-03-18
Missing lots of Content
The reading of this audiobook is really delightful but the problem is that it misses out huge chunks of the book! I had my Penguin Classics edition with me as I listened and I had to continually stop the audiobook in order to catch up on reading the bits it had missed out.
Such a shame because like I said, the reading is fantastic.
1 person found this helpful