Prison Philosophy cover art

Prison Philosophy

How a Rich Roman Named Boethius Got Locked Up and Accidentally Invented Self-Help (Cogito Ergo Nope)

Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Prison Philosophy

By: Sophia Blackwell
Narrated by: Benjamin Powell
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $9.99

Buy Now for $9.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

The hilarious true story of history's most successful posthumous career change!

Before there was "Chicken Soup for the Soul" or "The Secret," there was a condemned Roman aristocrat writing philosophy by candlelight while awaiting execution. Meet Boethius: Rome's most overachieving nerd who went from Senate superstar to death row philosopher faster than you can say "political conspiracy."

In "PRISON PHILOSOPHY," you'll discover:

  • How Boethius invented the self-help genre while literally awaiting execution (talk about deadline pressure!)
  • Why Fortune is basically that toxic friend who builds you up just to watch you fall
  • How to find happiness according to a guy who was objectively in one of the least happy situations imaginable
  • The mind-bending solution to free will vs. divine foreknowledge that's kept philosophy professors employed for 1500 years
  • Why kings, monks, and scholars all suddenly decided prison writings were the hottest thing in medieval town
  • How to apply "The Consolation of Philosophy" without the inconvenience of imprisonment or execution

Part biography, part philosophical roast, and part genuine life advice, this irreverent guide transforms Boethius's dense philosophical classic into a laugh-out-loud exploration of life's biggest questions. You'll learn how a man who lost everything—wealth, freedom, and eventually his head—managed to write a book so influential it would be read for the next thousand years.

Whether you're facing your own wheel of fortune or just enjoy philosophical humor that doesn't take itself too seriously, "PRISON PHILOSOPHY" delivers ancient wisdom with modern wit. Because sometimes the best life advice comes from someone having a worse day than you.

Warning: May cause uncontrollable laughter, unexpected philosophical insights, and the sudden urge to write your memoirs the next time you're mildly inconvenienced.

©2025 Sophia Blackwell (P)2025 Sophia Blackwell
History Philosophy

What listeners say about Prison Philosophy

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.