Some birthday gifts are more than gifts.
This year, my wife gave me a Kindle. She knows how much I enjoy reading, learning, and disappearing into a good book whenever I get the chance. And I think she probably knew exactly what would happen next.
One of the first things I did was buy one of my favourite books: Plato’s The Republic.
I have always found this book fascinating, not because I agree with everything in it, but because it keeps forcing me to question things we often take for granted:
- What is justice?
- What makes someone fit to lead?
- What is the difference between knowledge and opinion?
- What kind of society do we want to build?
And perhaps most importantly: how willing are we to question what we think we already know?
These are very old questions. But somehow, they never really become old.
Over the years, The Republic has influenced the way I think about leadership, education, responsibility, knowledge, and even the importance of asking the right question before rushing toward an answer.
So beginning another year of my life by opening this book again feels strangely appropriate.
To my wife: thank you. Not only for the Kindle, but for knowing me well enough to choose something that gives me what I value even more than the device itself: more reasons to read, think, learn, and keep questioning.
I couldn’t ask for a better birthday gift. And apparently, my reading list has now lost its last excuse.
More personal reflections · Look, Listen and Learn — A Childhood Memory That Never Left Me
Originally shared on LinkedIn on October 12, 2026. Revisited and adapted for GORGY.ORG as part of my personal reflections on reading, learning, and leadership.