Apology.

I’m not sorry for spending an hour and a half on a Thursday evening reading one of history’s most influential philosophical texts: The Apology by Plato. It’s a recount of Socrates’ defense to the Greek leaders after being accused, essentially, of thinking too much.

In past letters, we've touched on a common truth: many people just don’t think deeply. Today, I want to add that if you do dare to think, you may find society resisting you. Some in society—often those in control—prefer that we don’t think critically, as it might free us from their control.

From my reading, I gathered that Socrates was accused of “corrupting the youth” by encouraging them to question and think toward what is good. In his defense, he argued that he was actually doing Athens a service by challenging people to examine their beliefs and seek truth. He made it clear he had no malicious intent, wasn’t charging fees, and didn’t claim divine knowledge—only that he was pursuing truth above all else.

Ultimately, Socrates was tried and sentenced to death. Yet, his influence lives on, seen in the lives of other historic figures who challenged norms, including Jesus Christ.

Now, here’s my "apology": I won’t be summarizing all 32 pages from the McGraw Hill philosophy text that university students study. Instead, I’ll share the biggest lesson I took away from it—a lesson that I believe resonates with all of us thinkers here on the Nicks Letter list.

The lesson is this: 

Pursue Relentless Curiosity and Self-Examination.

Socrates dedicated his life to questioning assumptions and digging for deeper truths. In our own careers and lives, this can help us stay open-minded and innovative, continuously asking why to understand people’s true needs. Self-examination—a key aspect of Socratic philosophy—keeps us grounded, ensuring our work aligns with our values and goals.

This is the lesson I found by reflecting on my own career. You might uncover a different one when you read the text—and that’s perfectly okay.

Whatever the takeaway, books like Plato’s Apology exist to enlighten us. But we can only get that enlightenment if we know how to read.

If we’re not willing to invest an hour or two to lose ourselves in great books, we might miss out on that growth. Fortunately, there’s a way to get better at reading and thinking deeply.

Which brings me to this week’s offer:

How to Read a Book. Read more by going here.

Until next week,

Nick