Best Philosophy Books to Read Today

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

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Beyond Good and Evil by Fredrich Nietzsche
Autobiography of a Yogi by Yogananda
Being and Nothingness by Jean Paul Sartre
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Meditations on First Philosophy by René Descartes
The Republic by Plato
48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

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