What I do not like about the summaries is that they have an automatic imposition of the author's bias on what is supposed to be neutral commentary. Readers are fooled into thinking a certain concept, instead of just thinking for themselves. Just go for a polemic or actually read a few of the Old Books.
There are some extraordinarily good commentaries done by the Straussians, and Eric Voegelin, however. If you get Plato's Republic, get the Allan Bloom translation (Strauss' greatest student) for the critical essay following the primary text.
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