A Field Guide to Getting Lost

I was gifted a copy of Rebecca Solnit’s – A Field Guide to Getting Lost. Not far into the book she uses a quote, “How will you go about finding that thing the nature of which is totally unknown to you?” (Plato) 

Try as I might, I couldn’t find this in audio form that was available to me. On my quest, I found the study guide below. 1. Which lead me to Plato’s Meno. 

“Plato’s Meno introduces aspects of Socratic ethics and Platonic epistemology in a fictional dialogue that is set among important political events and cultural concerns in the last years of Socrates’ life.”2. As a friend of mine says, “shew buddy.” By the end of this fictitious dialogue I wanted to punch Socrates and say, “what the hell dude?”  Socrates is trying to get Meno to define virtue. All I got, and at one point, I think Meno as well, is a lot of double talk and a headache. While there are points I agree with. My head is still spinning. 😵‍💫 

Back to Solnit. 

A Field Guide to getting list is written as a series of autobiographical essays. As we take a walk through Solnit’s life, she explores every aspect of getting lost. From nature (getting lost hiking) to personal loss. She dives into city verses country scenery, art, music and how these tie into our own ideas of getting lost. 

It took me awhile to get into the book. Honestly, I felt lost. And a time or 2 I felt like I was reading Meno all over again. Yes, lost. Overall, I’m so glad I stuck with it. 

“The Essence of living is being lost.” Rebecca Solint

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Plato’s Meno | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Summary of Rebecca Solint’s – A field guide to getting lost- IRB Media