In his work Phaedo, Plato utilizes the character of Socrates, before his death by poison in prison, as a vehicle for establishing the existence of, and immortality of, the human soul. Though his arguments often make bold jumps that are difficult to reconcile, he does a more than admirable job of molding a logical argument for the existence of the soul, by taking on a number of possible objections to the theory, objections which are both abstract and somewhat scientific in nature. By likening the soul to the Forms, or the basic abstract properties of the universe, he argues that the soul not only must exist, but must also exist indefinitely, due to its very nature. This book is no doubt worth the read, as it provides an exceptional reflection on death and human mortality, and is a great starting point for Plutonian philosophy.

My reading in Plato begun with Parmenides. Which is pity, to think about it, since Parmenides is to this day considered to be one of the most esoteric. Contrast to Parmenides, where young Socrates stands up against this old thinker, Phaedo reveals old Socrates who now discusses things in fully down-to-earth terms. In fact, Socrates at this time is a dying one. And his tragic end is so well presented that it actually reads like a novel. Back to my point, this book is, I think, the most appropriate as a starter. Then you could trace back to Plato's more abstract discussions. Nowhere in Plato's works his conception of the idea is more clearly explained than in Phaedo. This also summarizes Plato's outlining of philosophy. A must-read.

This book is combination of poetry and philosophy. The time before the death of Socrates and his last great teachings. It is a mile-stone in ethics. Socrates teachings can (and have been) compared to and elevated above the teachings of Jesus. Along with its ethical value, the book reads magnificantly. 'Phaedo' gives Plato his rightfull place as an all time great writer in the company of Homer, Shakspeare, and Goethe.

"Glory at a Gallop" tells the stories of the Confederate cavalry's greatest exploits. While magnificently written and keeps your reading, I have found certain innaccuracies. Johnson's Brigade at Brice's Crossroads was commanded by Col. William Arthur Johnson, 4th Ala. Cav, not Bushrod Johnson, the AOT infantry commander. As I am an Alabamian, I found this mistake and failure to give honor to my countryman (although most likely accidental)disappointing. Other than that, a great read for any War for Southern Independence lover. Great job Mr. Brooksher and Mr. Snider.

This is an easy to read book that captures the heart and daring of the South's most flamboyant leaders. The authors have selected a number of exciting antedotes from the likes of Stuart, Mosby, Wheeler, Forrest and Morgan, Hampton, and Van Dorn. If you enjoy the sound of hoofbeats pounding in the night, then you are sure to enjoy this book.

For teachers looking for something between a comprehensive collection of the dialogues and a photocopied hand-out, this little edition nicely fits the bill. It's an extremely user-friendly translation with a generous introduction and copious but clear and concise endnotes. The editor admittedly errors on the side of verbosity in the introduction, going to excessive (not to mention gratuitous) lengths to argue that the "Crito" is not inconsistent with the "Apology." Also, rather than substituting "defense" for "apology" and " goodness" for "virtue," he might have accomplished the goal of a clear and accessible edition by giving the reader a bit more credit. Finally, many instructors and readers would understandably be forgiven if they shunned this edition because of its omission of the "Phaedo," the final chapter in the trial, sentencing, and punishment of Socrates.

Fun, anecdotal narrative history, comprised of a series of essays on Confederate cavalry raids. (Battles generally aren't covered, with the exception of Brice's Crossroads.)

Somewhat less than deep scholarship--the chapter on Stuart at Gettysburg isn't the best, and Morgan's guerrilla-like side gets lost in the chivalry--but generally an interesting read that captures the exhilaration of a deep raid.