The book by Nicholas White is a work that focuses on some of the central issues in Plato's philosophy, particularly the problems of epistemology and metaphysics that emerge in various forms in Platonic texts.

From this perspective, White's book is an ambitious endeavor. What makes it valuable is the fact that the author succeeds not only in identifying the fundamental questions that Plato addresses in the discussions of each dialogue but also in highlighting the reasons why different approaches are adopted in each case.

White's sensitivity to philosophical problems leads him to trace the movement of Plato's thought from the Euthyphro to the Theaetetus, beyond the often-imposed divisions of early, middle, and late periods in his work. He illuminates the boldness of the Platonic project while also revealing Plato's dissatisfaction that drives him to write his next work.