Best Philosophy Books to Read Today

Philosophy Books

Make sense of it all — or not — with the best philosophy books that cover everything from ancient Greek wisdom to Nietzsche’s existential dilemmas. Pick up an influential classic like The Art of War, reap practical Stoic advice from Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations or, if you dare, tap into the mystical realm with the Three Books of Occult Philosophy.

Challenge your way of thinking with some of the best philosophy books. While most of philosophy is grounded in the wisdom of ancient names like Aristotle and Plato, the exploration of knowledge didn’t end there. Through modern names like Nietzsche and Jacques Derrida, human existence continues to be studied.

Philosophy is a big topic, and if you’re not sure where to start, consider The Philosophy Book. Or if you’re looking for something simple, such as mantras or meditations, you can pick up Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations or Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. The modern day philosophical stage has engaging voices like Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point and Jay Heinrich’s Thank You For Arguing.

Explore the psyche of humanity as a whole in great philosophy books like Humanly Possible and Irrationality, or dig into your own mind with Ego is the Enemy. And, when there’s nowhere to go but the stoics, you can find infinite wisdom in the thought process of Seneca, Aristotle and all of their bearded contemporaries. There are plenty of unconventional favorites too, like On Bullshit and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

The entire timeline of human thinking can be tracked with milestone publications such as The Prince, Common Sense, The Communist Manifesto, On Tyranny, Beyond Good and Evil and many more.

Which philosopher should I read first?

It all depends on whether you're more interested in ancient or modern philosophy. If you want to start with a famous ancient philosopher, then reading books by Plato or stories about his teacher Socrates is a great place to start. If you’re leaning more toward works of modern philosophy, then you must read books by Descartes or Nietzsche. And if you’d rather read works by people still alive today, Malcolm Gladwell is infinitely readable and immensely thought-provoking.

What should I read if I want to get into philosophy?

If you’re a complete philosophy beginner, then reading a comprehensive guide like The Philosophy Book: Big Ideas Being Simplified can give you a glimpse into the vast world of philosophers and philosophical concepts, so you can discover what interests you.

Why should we read philosophy?

Reading philosophy books is not just about being entertained, it’s intellectually stimulating, often inspiring the reader to self-reflect, ask questions about life and develop analytical and critical thinking skills.

10 Best Philosophy Books to Expand Your Mind

On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder
Ethics by Gordon Marino
Reasons Not to Worry by Brigid Delaney
Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen
The Road to Wisdom by Francis S. Collins
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz
Revenge of The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

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