Questions and answers
What age is All the Knowledge I Want to Bestow Upon My Children for?
The books are written for girls and boys aged 12 and up to read themselves, in short, direct chapters with true stories, and for parents who want to hand their children something real.
Is it for daughters as well as sons?
Yes. Dimitrios Tsakmakis wrote the series for girls and boys alike who want to grow up kalos kagathos (καλός κἀγαθός), the ancient Greek ideal of the noble and good person, and to become capable, critical-thinking, sensible adults able to cross the harsh landscape of today's world.
Which volume should I read first?
Start with Volume I, Foundation. It sets out the Three Laws that the rest of the series builds on. Volume II, The Mind, is its sequel and turns to logic, focus and the examined life. Both are available now from Lulu in paperback and as an ebook.
Is it a Stoicism book?
It draws on the Stoics, especially Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, and on the Greek poet Hesiod, and Volume II uses the Socratic method. It is written in the tradition of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations. But it is not an academic introduction to Stoic philosophy. It is a practical letter to the children he hopes to have.
What formats are available?
Volumes I and II are available as paperbacks and as ebooks in PDF and EPUB from Lulu. Volume I paperback ISBN 9786188874312, ebook ISBN 9786188874336. Volume II paperback ISBN 9786188874329, ebook ISBN 9786188874343. Prices are in US dollars on Lulu and should be re-checked on the day you buy.
Do you ship to Greece?
Yes. Lulu prints each paperback on demand and ships it to Greece. Lulu's shipping calculator estimates that one copy starts at around €6 by tracked mail and arrives in about 3–4 weeks. Faster tracked options cost around €27–29. The final price, including VAT, is shown at checkout once you enter your address. The ebook downloads immediately.
Is there a Greek edition of the series?
Not yet. The series is written in English. A Greek-language series will follow once all five English volumes are published. The Greek poetry book Ένα Παιδί, ένας Κόσμος, ένα Μέλλον is a separate work, not the Greek edition of this series.
When is Volume III The World coming?
Volume III, The World, is coming, but there is no release date yet. Join the newsletter to hear first. Volumes I and II are available now.
Does Foundation include exercises?
Yes. Chapters 3 to 8 each end with three exercises and chapters 9 to 13 with four, such as the Niceness Test, the Friendship Audit, the Anger Log and the Spending Log. They are short and practical, written for the reader to do alone, and a parent can do them alongside.
Does The Mind include exercises?
Yes — practice sections, not a worksheet workbook. Chapters include How to Practice the Examined Life, How to Practice Logic, How to Defend Against Rhetoric, How to Build Immunity, How to Build Your Model Toolkit, and Daily Practice: Building the Gap Before You Need It. A teen can try them alone or with a parent.
Who is the author?
Dimitrios Tsakmakis is a carpenter's son from Athens. After school he served in the army as a special forces paratrooper, and since 2008 he has served in the Hellenic Police, including seven years in its counter-terrorism unit and work as a tactical instructor. He writes these volumes as letters to the children he hopes to have, after his father's dementia showed him how completely what a person knows can disappear. He lives in Athens with his wife.
About Dimitrios Tsakmakis → · Series hub → · The Three Laws →