Created on 10 July 2025
The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is now presented in podcast, bringing you lively conversations between Professor Jeffrey Sachs and authors of inspiring books about history, social justice, and the challenges of building a decent world. Find ‘Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast apps. Be sure to subscribe for episode updates! The episodes can also be accessed directly here.
Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and Professor James Romm, classicist and historian at Bard College, for a captivating discussion on one of the most dramatic and fascinating political experiments of the ancient world: Plato’s involvement with power politics in Syracuse (Siracusa). Drawing on Professor Romm’s newest book, Plato and the Tyrant, Professor Sachs and Professor Romm explore the extraordinary story of how the great philosopher Plato attempted over the course of three decades to bring philosophy into the heart of government.
Together, they delve into Plato’s journey to the court of the autocratic ruler Dionysius in ancient Syracuse, where he hoped to transform a tyrant into a philosopher-king. They discuss the political turmoil that unfolded, Plato’s close relationship with the philosophically minded Dion, and how Plato’s experiences deeply shaped his writing of The Republic. Professor Romm reveals how Plato’s real-world political experiences ultimately informed his later, more sober work The Laws, and how these texts reflect a lifelong quest to define justice, leadership, and the possibility of a virtuous society.
This episode offers listeners a rich narrative of political intrigue, philosophical ambition, and the enduring relevance of Plato’s quest to unite ethics and power - an ancient story with striking implications for our world today.
How to engage
- Watch
Watch the monthly author conversations. Past session recordings are in the SDG Academy Library for on-demand viewing.
- Listen
Subscribe to ‘Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!
About the Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs
The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is a free global forum to discuss outstanding, recently-published work that examines the most important topics for humanity.
Hosted by Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs, the eminent thought-leader in economics and sustainable development, the Book Club features monthly interviews with renowned authors about their ground-breaking work in sustainability, economics, history, social justice, and more.
The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. All information about the Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs can be found at www.bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.
Visit SDG Academy Library at https://sdgacademy.org/sdgacademy-library/
