- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Gibson Square Books Ltd (19 Jan 2006)
- ISBN-10: 1903933463
- ISBN-13: 978-1903933466
- Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 13.8 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 801,256 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
Praise for Anthony O'Hear's most recent publications 'Impassioned and impressive.' John Gray, Independent 'Lucid... elegant and at times moving.' Sunday Telegraph 'Profound, subtle and brilliantly argued.' Spectator 'Trenchant.' Choice 'Restores philosophy to its central place.' Roger Scruton 'Vital, necessary and erudite.' Bryan Appleyard
Daily Telegraph
`Humorous... rich and satisfying.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The dreary childhood memoir has been done to death. However, Frith Powell spares us the details - though hints that her early years weren't much fun. The fun begins when she is reunited with her real father at the age of 14, a larger than life character who quotes Dante, chases women half his age, and encourages his daughter to lose her English inhibitions. This is a charming tale of cultural identity, growing up and loving, combined with a modern travelogue as she revisits the places - Rome, Florence, Venice, Amalfi Coast and Rimini - where she spent time with her father. Full of amusing characters. I loved it!
14 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is well worth reading, addressing, as it does, a range of contemporary issues in the context of Plato's cave. Anybody interested in the "good life" and how to live it will find it stimulating and thought provoking.
In particular, it addresses some of the problems of "political correctness" and popular culture in pretending to offer easy solutions to all, when this is clearly, on reflection, impossible.
It invites the reader to consider whether he is happy staring at the shadows or perhaps wish to walk towards the light.
Once again, Plato thought of it first...
My one complaint is that the book has been badly proof-readen and has numerous typographical and punctuation errors.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
An amusing tale of a girl who loses contact with her Italian father and spends the early years in England growing up with her Swedish mother. The mother seems to collect a bad selection of boyfriends/new stepfather for her daughter, culminating in mother and daughter occaisionally having to flee the house.
Her Italian father is rich, handsome and famous,whilst her mother is beautiful, but cannot stand 'this italian'. The father recommends the daughter take lovers to acquire the skills needed in life (particularly an understanding of Dante, and multi linguistic skills)
Theres a lot of humour in this book as well as angst as the daughter seeks the love and respect she would want from a father. It's colourful insight into italian 'psyche' is amusing and sensitive.
Its factual content on the brief Italian 'grand tour' is full of great content
All in all an easy book to read that wont tax your mind too much
Her Italian father is rich, handsome and famous,whilst her mother is beautiful, but cannot stand 'this italian'. The father recommends the daughter take lovers to acquire the skills needed in life (particularly an understanding of Dante, and multi linguistic skills)
Theres a lot of humour in this book as well as angst as the daughter seeks the love and respect she would want from a father. It's colourful insight into italian 'psyche' is amusing and sensitive.
Its factual content on the brief Italian 'grand tour' is full of great content
All in all an easy book to read that wont tax your mind too much
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Geriatric snob lists countercultural complaints
Reading Plato's Children, it's hard to see for what purpose this book is intended. If your intention is to make pithy observations of 'The State We Are In', as the subtitle... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. C. Wilson
awful
Absolutely disappointing. I am italian , have been for 45 years, and I thought this book coul be a funny and nice book about the British point of view on Italy and italians, but,... Read more
Published on 14 Nov 2009 by Lucrezia
Honest and fun
This is a bright, witty and intelligent book that follows a 14 year old Helen Frith Powell's first holiday with her playboy Italian father (who she had not seen since she was a... Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2009 by Adrenalin Streams
Thought provoking
This is an extremely well written book and a great read, both in terms of its highly perceptive intellectual "thrusts" and the author's fluid writing style, which makes for a... Read more
Published on 24 Aug 2008 by Alan J. Stedall
Great idea - dissapointingly executed
Its hard to find an academic philosopher in the UK today who actually makes the big bad Roger Scruton look like a chilled out anarchist, but Anthony O'Hear almost manages it. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2008 by Bruno
Grumpy old philosopher.
Beginning with the famous image of the cave from Plato, jumping to a spurious link with the film, 'The Matrix', and ending with fond glances at Wittgenstein and Pascal, the stuff... Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2007 by J. T. Meddle
Ciao Bella - growing up with a clash of cultures.
An excellent, honest, human account of growing up torn between three cultures: an over indulged, sensual, once wealthy, Italian Father with very decided views, a Bridget Bardot... Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2006 by Arthur E. Burland
An Italian original.
This is a remarkable book, combining a profound understanding of Italy and the Italian psyche, with a vivid and moving account of the author's eccentric and extraordinary father. Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2006 by P. K. Cameron
pithy
A brilliant indictment of modern life. Fantastic book from the ever-reliable Tony O'Hear: he never fails to provoke and amuse.
Published on 18 April 2006 by Henry Day
Important
I read the book after the review by A.C. Grayling. May be one does not always agree with O'Hear's solutions, but he invariably asks the kind of fundamental questions that... Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2006 by "joancarlton"
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