An Introduction to Plato's Republic

Can be warmly recommended to teachers of the Republic....Annas' book, with its candor and skillful treatment of the issues, will add freshness and excitement to the study of the Republic; it will also provide students with an excellent model of philosophical scholarship.--Teaching Philosophy

It is obvious that many years of study and teaching of Plato's treatise lie behind her account. Only a first-rate philosopher can bring difficult passages in the Republic to life; Annas us equal to the task.--Choice

This book is likely to be of value to readers of the Republic regardless of the degree of familiarity with the text. On the one hand, it provides an accessible introduction. With a minimum of technical language, Annas systematically takes the reader through the Republic, showing how the various problems with which Plato is concerned frequently run deeper than first appearances suggest. And she is careful to tie the array of issues taken up to Plato's basic objectives, thereby revealing the remarkable coherence of the text itself. But this book is more than just an introduction. Those interested in the more technical aspects of the text will find a fountain of fresh ideas in Annas's discussions. Drawing on (and frequently taking issue with) many of the recent contributions to this area of Platonic studies, Annas develops novel and intriguing approaches to those aspects of the Republic often found so vexing.--The Philosophical Review

Reading this is as exhilarating for the mind as rock climbing is for the body.--Dennis Lamb, Professor of English, Edmonds Community College