The Dangerous Life and Ideas of Diogenes the Cynic

As terse and clear as its unsentimental subject could have wished * Thomas W. Hodgkinson, The Oldie *Diogenes the Cynic was a radical and a disruptive public intellectual of the best kind, challenging the conventions of his day and forcing people to rethink their values and life choices. In a fast-paced and entertaining narrative, this wide-ranging introduction to the ancient traditions about Diogenes sheds fresh light on the idea of philosophy as a way of life. The vigorous translation from Jean-Manuel Roubineau’s original French is complemented by a hard-hitting foreword by classical scholar Phillip Mitsis. * Brad Inwood, author of Stoicism: A Very Short Introduction *Diogenes the Cynic was an ancient philosopher like no other who, as a consequence, has been mythologized for centuries. In this excellent new book–compact yet comprehensive–Roubineau carefully sifts through all the ancient evidence to separate fact from myth, shedding new light on many familiar stories and anecdotes. At last we can appreciate Diogenes in his historical context, while also gaining a clearer picture of his ‘philosophy with no holds barred.’ This should be required reading for anyone interested in ancient philosophy. * John Sellars, author of The Pocket Epicurean *The book is well produced and an effective and thought-provoking contribution to a somewhat underconsidered area of classical philosophy. * Classics for All *A rich, carefully woven historical tapestry out of which Diogenes’ philosophical profile emerges more forcefully than in other recent accounts of his life. Roubineau has a gift for rendering the abstract in concrete forms; in his book we see and hear and even smell Diogenes in his natural habitat. * Times Literary Supplement *The Dangerous Life and Ideas of Diogenes the Cynic is a rich, carefully woven historical tapestry out of which Diogenes’ philosophical profile emerges more forcefully than in other recent accounts of his life. * Costica Bradatan, TLS *A good, quick read about somebody who embodied his philosophy. * Nigel Warburton, Five Books *I don’t think Diogenes had been given enough airtime until very recently, and now that’s happening… [This] a good, quick read about somebody who embodied his philosophy. * Nigel Warburton, The Best Philosophy Books of 2023 *Present[s] Diogenes in an engaging, accessible, and yet erudite manner. * Greece & Rome *This text is an excellent resource for anyoneinterested in either Cynic thought or the life of Diogenes. It would serve as a great introduction to Cynic philosophy for a college-level course on Ancient Philosophy. Researchers will appreciate Roubineau’s thematic organization, which makes it easy to find information about Diogenes’s views on specific topics. * James Besaw, Religious Studies Review *

Jean-Manuel Roubineau is a specialist in ancient history. He previously published Milon de Crotone ou l’Invention du Sport and Les cités grecques, winner of the European History Book Prize in 2016.

Phillip Mitsis is Alexander S. Onassis Professor of Hellenic Culture and Civilization, Professor of Classics and Hellenic Studies, and affiliated Professor of Philosophy and Medieval and Renaissance Studies at New York University.