My Sensei gave me homework for class to read a book “The Peaceful Warrior” of a college graduate who befriended a white hair sage working as a gas attendant. Though he was first irritated by him, he returned, became friends, and found the peaceful warrior within himself.

This is a story of Socrates, that white haired sage, who lived in Russia. His mother died and he was shipped to a military academy to become a Cossack. Trouble was he didn’t know he had Jewish blood in him and instead of becoming a legendary Cossack he just became a gas attendant.

The story was heart-wrenching watching him experience difficult times and people. I don’t want to get into too many details and spoil the twists and turns of the story. Just remember, it’s a much darker story and it’s the last third of the pages that the light begins shining at the end of tunnel. ( )

Whether you read this as historical fiction or a tale of spiritual growth, it is an engrossing book. Beginning ine 1870 Russia, we follow the life story of Sergei Ivanov, nicknamed Socrates. Half Jewish, he is raised by his military uncle, completely isolated from any Jewish contacts after the death of his parents. Since Jews are persecuted, it likely ensures his safety, as does the survival and military training her receives.
The explanation in the last chapter completely scrambled my perceptions of the author. This is the 3rd book of his I've read. Millman has found a way to write interestingly about how to integrate values into one's life. I'll be getting more of his books because the lessons don't get outdated. I read this to my autistic son and it helped him control his behavioral challenges, tho I had to skip some of the sections on Zakolyev--I found those reinforced his anger and inability to cope. ( )

The Journeys of Socrates is the story of a young boy's journey towards becoming a man, through a life of hardship, trial and a lot of pain, and his ultimate triumph over his circumstances, and, himself. The journey passes through the vast and varied landscape of Tsarist Russia as well as the emotional and spiritual terrain of the young protagonist. The writing is so fluid that it took me only two or three sittings to complete this book; the pace doesn't flag even during the philosophical discourses. The main characters are well built and command the reader's care about their lives. The only thing that I felt lacking in this wonderful story is some background of Dmitri and some insight into the reasons behind his actions.
Having never heard of this author before a friend recommended this book to me, I now look forward to reading more books by [a:Dan Millman|1539|Dan Millman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1327194022p2/1539.jpg], after reading this one. ( )

> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Millman-Les-Aventures-de-Socrate/151395

A lovely twist in the ending that pulls everything neatly together. ( )