Publisher Description

"Spectacular . . . A delight to read."-The Wall Street JournalFrom bestselling biographer and historian Paul Johnson, a brilliant portrait of Socrates, the founding father of philosophyIn his highly acclaimed style, historian Paul Johnson masterfully disentangles centuries of scarce sources to offer a riveting account of Socrates, who is often hailed as the most important thinker of all time. Johnson provides a compelling picture of Athens in the fifth century BCE, and of the people Socrates reciprocally delighted in, as well as many enlightening and intimate analyses of specific aspects of his personality. Enchantingly portraying "the sheer power of Socrates's mind, and its unique combination of steel, subtlety, and frivolity," Paul Johnson captures the vast and intriguing life of a man who did nothing less than supply the basic apparatus of the human mind."Spectacular . . . A delight to read."-The Wall Street JournalFrom bestselling biographer and historian Paul Johnson, a brilliant portrait of Socrates, the founding father of philosophyIn his highly acclaimed style, historian Paul Johnson masterfully disentangles centuries of scarce sources to offer a riveting account of Socrates, who is often hailed as the most important thinker of all time. Johnson provides a compelling picture of Athens in the fifth century BCE, and of the people Socrates reciprocally delighted in, as well as many enlightening and intimate analyses of specific aspects of his personality. Enchantingly portraying "the sheer power of Socrates's mind, and its unique combination of steel, subtlety, and frivolity," Paul Johnson captures the vast and intriguing life of a man who did nothing less than supply the basic apparatus of the human mind.

Notes

A fresh and fascinating new look at the life of one of the founders of Western philosophy, from the acclaimed journalist and historian.

Back Cover

The 'IT Productivity Paradox' is the concept that, despite massive investment and resourcing by companies and organizations worldwide in their IT systems, there still seems to be little pay-off. Information systems can no longer be viewed as a support service for a business - information technology now has a lead role to play in the strategic planning processes of any organization. As we move further and further into a technology-based working environment, a critical question is how the value of IT can be measured and evaluated. This book brings together a group of the most eminent academic and practitioner thinkers in the area, to consolidate what we know about best IT evaluation practice in a comprehensive and integrated manner, and also provide new ways forward. The key to understanding the productivity paradox is the methods of IT measurement used. Improved measurement can not only reveal that IT has often been more productive than is believed, but can also focus in on ways in which benefits can be improved across the IT systems life-cycle. Critical areas where improved assessment is essential include development, and better risk analysis; sourcing, including IT outsourcing; and infrastructure, including transforming an organization's IT architecture. The authors also take a look at stakeholder interests as a part of the overall evaluation process. Contributors to this volume have been selected not only for their status in the IS field generally, but also for their reputation in the IT evaluation area. As this topic gains increasing prominence as IT expenditure continues to increase, this book will be an invaluable reference for academics and practitioners alike in the areas of information systems, IT evaluation and assessment and IT management.

Author Biography

Paul Johnson's many books, including A History of Christianity, A History of the Jews, Modern Times, Churchill, and Napoleon- A Penguin Life, have been hailed as masterpieces of historical analysis. He is a regular columnist for Forbes and The Spectator, and his work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many others publications. He lives in London.

Table of Contents

The Basic Equations. Finite Element Discretization. Error Control in Time and Space. Constitutive Relations. Identification of Model Parameters. Static and Quasi-Static Solution. Validation of Prediction by Centrifuge. Prediction Applications and Back Analysis. Multiphase Examples.

Review

Praise for Socrates by Paul Johnson:

"An admirably concise view of a remarkable life whose influence remains central to the foundations of Western thought."
—Publishers Weekly

"[Johnson's] genuine love of the demos makes him an all-too-rare figure in today's chattering classes."
—First Things

"Johnson writes more concisely than most scholars and brings to his prose a wealth of anecdote and asides unknown to most academics. His Socrates comes alive not through arguments over Platonic dating or Pythagorean influence, but by wit and allusion to Jane Austen novels, Samuel Johnson, John Maynard Keynes, firsthand remembrances of Winston Churchill's speeches and Richard Dawkins. A valuable overview."
—Washington Times

"Robust."
—The New Republic

"With effortless erudition, Paul Johnson brings to life the world of the great philosopher."
—Women's Wear Daily

"A succinct, useful exploration of life in ancient Athens and of the great philosopher's essential beliefs."
—Kirkus Reviews

"A wonderfully readable account of life in Athens, its political quarrels, and its failures. As good as a murder mystery, Johnson's narrative is exciting."
—Library Journal

"Enlightening.... Johnson disentangles centuries of scarce and questionable sources to offer a riveting account of a homely but charismatic middle-class man whose ideas still shape the way we decide how to act, and how we fathom the notion of body and soul."
—History Book Club

"Johnson is an accomplished historian and writer with a fluid, unpretentious style and an honest voice. These gifts, which have made his 12 previous books enjoyable and popular, are no less evident in Socrates."
—The Washington Independent Review of Books

"This snappy biography goes down easy while offering a full portrait of Socrates—the man, the thinker, the celebrity—and the world he lived in."
—Zócalo Public Square

"Spectacular...a delight to read."
—The Wall Street Journal

Promotional

As Plutarch observed, Socrates 'was the first person to demonstrate that life is open to philosophy at all times, in every part, among all kinds of people, and in every experience and activity.'

Review Quote

"With effortless erudition, Paul Johnson brings to life the world of the great philosopher."

Promotional "Headline"

As Plutarch observed, Socrates 'was the first person to demonstrate that life is open to philosophy at all times, in every part, among all kinds of people, and in every experience and activity.'

Description for Sales People

An insightful look at the life of Socrates and how it shaped his philosophy. Paul Johnson has written several histories which have sold over 54,000 copies in the UK. Paul Johnson writes for The Spectator and the Daily Telegraph and was previously editor of The New Statesman. Paul Johnson lives in Notting Hill Gate.

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