logo
10 Must-Read Books For Anyone Interested In Philosophy

10 Must-Read Books For Anyone Interested In Philosophy

Forbes19-07-2025
Plato and Aristotle in discussion, 1437, by Luca della Robbia (ca 1400-1482), marble tile, depicts ... More two of the greatest philosophers, who wrote two of the all-time best philosophy books.
Philosophy books can open your eyes to new ways of thinking and help you develop a more disciplined, informed approach to life. The best philosophical books explain complex topics using simple language and true-life examples that illustrate concepts explored in nihilism, aesthetics, logic and metaphysics. After reading good books about philosophy, you can examine your own personal beliefs from a more informed perspective. Whether you are interested in moral or political philosophy or want to read a more modern take, you can find what you are looking for in these powerful books. This list of great books about philosophy includes takes from the ancient to the contemporary era.
Top Philosophical Books
Philosophy books encompass anything that examines the acquisition of knowledge, creation of values, and logic of reason. Classical philosophy includes thoughts from ancient Greeks and Romans, like famous authors Plato and Aristotle. Modern philosophy includes thinkers from the 17th century on, building on the work of Medieval and Renaissance philosophers.
Fiction also includes philosophical themes. For instance, any novelist who examines ethics and morality touches on philosophy. Horror, mystery and sci-fi are great vehicles for this type of intellectual inquiry, as they often involve extreme circumstances. This list includes nonfiction books ranked on the uniqueness of their insights, academic rigor of their hypotheses, commercial popularity and enduring value.
Aristotle published the first Greek work to examine dramatic theory from a philosophical point of view, underscoring the importance of the arts in building a strong society. He divides the forms of poetry into distinctive groups and observes the differences in how they mimic real life.
This book is best for drama lovers or fans of Greek mythology. Aristotle's Poetics is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
Considered one of the classics of political philosophy that forms the basis for modern liberalism, Second Treatise of Government considers the basic elements of human nature. It covers debates over tolerance and just government, segueing into more contemporary concerns about citizens' essential freedoms and how to uphold them.
This book is best for anyone who wants to learn more about liberalism. John Locke's Second Treatise of Government is available from publisher Oxford University Press.
Frank B. Wilderson III's accessible yet intellectual look at how race impacts moral and political decisions was longlisted for the National Book Award. He delves into the history of Black enslavement in the United States and how it continues to impact people today, not shying away from tough ethical questions.
This book is best for anyone interested in identity and history. Frank B. Wilderson III's Afropessimism is available from publisher W.W. Norton.
Intention is one of the philosophical cornerstones of the 20th century. G.E.M. Anscombe examines how intention can (unintentionally) set us up for problems that are deceptively hard to solve. She looks at agency and people's reasons for acting the way they do. The book was hailed at publication as a work of genius.
This book is best for anyone interested in philosophy that examines action. G.E.M. Anscombe's Intention is available from publisher Harvard University Press.
Augustine of Hippo, also known as St. Augustine, grew up with parents on either side of the religious spectrum, with one an active non-believer. The saint's musings on how he came to embrace Christianity make for one of the best philosophical books about Christian doctrine.
This book is best for those seeking cross-disciplinary works. Augustine of Hippo's Confessions is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
Botticelli's 1480 depiction of St. Augustine in his cell. Also known as Augustine of Hippo, he wrote ... More "Confessions," one of the best philosophy books.
Philosopher Judith Butler (they/them) has developed powerful theories on gender. Their work, often cited by feminist and queer theory scholars, challenges conventional notions of gender and argues that power 'constrains' sex. They also explore performative sex and gender roles, taking inspiration from great literature in their work.
This book is best for anyone interested in gender identity. Judith Butler's Bodies that Matter is available from publisher Routledge.
The famed Chinese military treatise devotes each of 13 chapters to different military tactics and is arguably the most famous book on the philosophy of war. It looks at the moral imperatives of war and how each side can argue it is just. Sun Tzu highlights unity, not army size, as a critical success factor.
This book is best for those interested in the philosophy of war. Sun Tzu's The Art of War is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
Mary Wollstonecraft's extended essay is one of the first works of feminist philosophy. Her response to critics arguing against women's education doesn't call for a gender revolution but does lay out the ways education could help women better support their families and become more than just wives.
This book is best for anyone curious about early feminist theory. Mary Wollstonecraft's Vindication of the Rights of Women is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
One of the most influential (and controversial) philosophy books ever published, The Second Sex helped spark the second wave of feminism. De Beauvoir begins with the question, 'What is woman?' and how women have been defined as other, i.e., not men. She also rejects traditional views of what women are supposed to be.
This book is best for anyone interested in women's treatment in the past. Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
Plato penned one of the most influential philosophy books in history with this examination of justice and whether the just man is happier than the unjust man. Using Socratic dialogue, Plato proposes a utopian state called Kallipolis and considers the nature of current regimes compared to the ideal.
This book is best for anyone interested in ethics or self help books. Plato's Republic is available from publisher Penguin Random House.
Bottom Line
Philosophy books can give you a new perspective on issues and educate you. Choosing any of these works will expand your mind and prompt new questions worth answering in your own daily life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Are Good Philosophy Books For Beginners?
Reading philosophy can be challenging. By starting with a more accessible text, readers become familiar with foundational philosophical ideas. Here are two good philosophy books for beginners:
Thomas Aquinas's Selected Writings leans heavily on Aristotle's teachings to analyze the relationship between faith and reason from a medieval Christian perspective.
Plato's The Last Days of Socrates breaks down the latter's famed trial in four propulsive dialogues.
What Are Good Philosophical Fiction Novels?
Fiction is a fruitful medium for philosophical inquiry because so many questions can be couched in the form of a story. Two excellent philosophical fiction novels are:
Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder (1991) follows a 14-year-old Norwegian girl who begins lessons on philosophy with a mysterious correspondent.
The Stranger by Albert Camus (1946) tells the story of a man who becomes embroiled in a murder while at an Algerian beach.
What Are Good Moral Philosophy Books?
Moral philosophy focuses on ethics. Two terrific moral philosophy books are:
John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism and Other Essays, which approaches morality by measuring how many people are positively impacted.
Immanuel Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785) sets the foundational ground for his future arguments related to ethics.
What Are Good Political Philosophy Books?
Exploring questions related to justice, social justice and social organizing, political philosophy often weighs the obligations of the state versus the individual. Two good political philosophy books are:
Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince (1532) suggests cutthroat tactics for gaining political power, favoring efficiency over ideals.
Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan (1651) outlines the social contract theory and how government can prosper with an absolute sovereign.
What Are Good Modern Philosophy Books?
So much of popular philosophy hails from centuries ago. But modern-day philosophers still make salient points, as in these two exceptional modern philosophy books:
Natural Goodness by Philippa Foot (2003) expands on her views as one of the founders of contemporary virtue ethics, including her critiques of Kant and Nietzsche.
Debating Religious Liberty and Discrimination by John Corvino, Ryan T. Anderson and Sherif Girgis (2017) offers differing takes on a slew of religious liberty issues.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The one thing that could protect your parents from scammers
The one thing that could protect your parents from scammers

Fox News

time3 hours ago

  • Fox News

The one thing that could protect your parents from scammers

In Greek mythology, the Sirens were creatures whose irresistible song lured sailors to their doom. Odysseus, the hero of "The Odyssey," wanted to hear that famous song. But he knew it was dangerous. So, he had his men tie him to the mast and block their ears with beeswax. Then, they sailed toward the Island of the Sirens. Why? Because Odysseus understood that once he heard their song, he wouldn't be able to resist. And that song always leads to trouble. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my What does this have to do with protecting your parents from scammers? None of us is invulnerable, not even a hero like Odysseus. The trick is knowing what you can't resist and, one way or another, avoiding it. You can teach your parents all there is to know about modern-day fraud and the dangers of sharing personal information, but there's still this Siren song out there that will have them throwing all that knowledge out the window in a heartbeat. What this Siren song is varies from person to person and day to day. It might be a near-perfect clone of a grandchild's voice, calling in a panic and asking for an urgent transfer to bail them out of trouble, if not jail. Alternatively, a financial adviser could be deftly playing on your parents' anxieties around money since retiring. Another common scam involves a suspiciously foreign-sounding Microsoft customer-support worker calling to inform your parents that the computer they don't have or never use has been infected with a virus. The point is that all of us, no matter how well-informed, careful, or clever, can be exploited by a fast-talking scammer. All it takes is the right hook at exactly the wrong moment, and we're along for the ride. All the more so as we get older and technology advances rapidly, leaving us behind. Scammers rely on emotional reactions as much as, if not more than, ignorance. Letting your parents know about the dangers of engaging with strangers (even if they claim to be from Visa or the IRS) is crucial, but it's not enough. Scammers exploit fear, greed, and the desire to please others or simply be a good citizen. They're experts at raising the emotional toll of interrupting, interrogating, or ignoring them. In short, getting drawn into discussions with scammers is playing with fire. So, what's the solution? Stop the scammers from making contact in the first place. They're getting your parents' contact information and much more personal data besides, from somewhere. Stop them from getting their hands on it, and they won't have the chance to manipulate your parents into doing something they'll regret. People-search sites are a great source of information for scammers. Fast, easy, and inexpensive, they fuel smaller operations and individual scammers. People-search sites are a kind of data broker; the other major kind, sometimes called private-database data brokers, are even worse. These data brokers sell personal data in bulk to other businesses. They've been caught selling the personal data of vulnerable adults before, offering data packs that focused on people who needed in-home care or were suffering from cognitive impairment or decline, for example. This is worse than posting your parents' details publicly. This is packaging up those details and marketing them directly to scammers. The good news is that a data removal service can scrub both people-search sites and the databases of those other, more shadowy data brokers clean of your parents' information. Names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, property values, health information, shopping habits, political preferences, and more. You can take all this down in one fell swoop with a personal data removal service. While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren't cheap and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It's what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you and your parents. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: At the end of the day, protecting your parents isn't just about warnings or knowledge. It's about cutting off scammers before they even get a chance to call or reach out in some way. Removing personal data from sketchy sites is the secret weapon here. It's simple, effective, and frees your loved ones from emotional traps. Isn't preventing contact better than trying to clean up the mess afterward? Let us know by writing us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.

Germany train crash: Everything we know after derailment kills three and injures dozens
Germany train crash: Everything we know after derailment kills three and injures dozens

Yahoo

time5 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Germany train crash: Everything we know after derailment kills three and injures dozens

At least three people were killed and dozens were seriously injured after a passenger train derailed in the southwest German town of Biberach, authorities said. Emergency personnel were deployed to the scene, where rescue dogs searched throughout the night for survivors. No more casualties had been found as of Monday morning. About 50 people are believed to have been injured, of whom 25 were seriously injured, German media reported citing local authorities. German chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his shock over the crash. He said in a post on X: 'I am in close contact with the Interior Minister and the Transport Minister and have asked them to support the rescue forces with all available means. We mourn the victims. I express my condolences to their relatives.' The Independent takes a look at everything we know about the German train crash. What happened and how did the train crash? Around 100 people were on the train when two carriages derailed in a forested area at around 6:10pm local time, German news agency dpa reported. The crash happened near the town of Riedlingen, dpa reported, roughly 158km west of Munich. According to reports, there had been a storm in the area shortly before. 'Two carriages of a regional express train derailed on the railway line between Sigmaringen and Ulm early Sunday evening. According to current investigations, three people were killed and other passengers were seriously injured,' Ulm Police said in a statement. Authorities believe that a landslide is the likely cause, after significant rainfall struck the area shortly before the train passed through. 'There have been heavy rains here, so it cannot be ruled out that the heavy rain and a related landslide accident may have been the cause. However, this is currently the subject of ongoing investigations," said Thomas Strobl, interior minister of the state of Baden-Württemberg. At least two wagons are believed to have derailed at the site of the crash, which is around 45 kilometres southwest of Ulm. Police continue to investigate the possible causes of the crash, district fire chief Charlotte Ziller told German outlet Bild. Who died in the crash? Three people died, with the number of injured estimated at 50. Around 25 are believed to be injured seriously, emergency services told Bild. Ms Ziller said the dead include the driver of the train and another employee of Deutsche Bahn, Germany's second largest rail company. "It was terrible to witness," resident Karl Figler, 76, told the outlet. "Two people were lying dead next to the train. They were carried away in blankets. At the same time, seriously injured people were being cared for." A collection point for relatives has been set up at a local community centre, and Deutsche Bahn has set up a special hotline for the affected people and their families. What was the aftermath? Scores of emergency services personnel swarmed the site to search urgently for survivors, using rescue dogs in case some remained trapped in the rubble. As of Monday morning, no further survivors or dead bodies had been found in the search. A number of high-profile figures also rushed to the scene after the news broke on Sunday afternoon. This included the CEO of Deutsche Bahn Richard Lutz, the minister-president of Baden-Württemberg Winfried Kretschmann, of the GReen Party, and the federal and state transport ministers Patrick Schnieder and Winfried Hermann, of the CDU and Green Party respectively, Bild reported. Emergency workers continue to work at the site of the crash.

This Isn't the Midlife I Imagined — Here's How I Pivoted at 55
This Isn't the Midlife I Imagined — Here's How I Pivoted at 55

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

This Isn't the Midlife I Imagined — Here's How I Pivoted at 55

By 55, I thought I'd be cradling a grandchild — not sitting alone in the room that once held a crib for the children I hoped to have. But life had other plans. Despite years of trying — naturally, through IVF, adoption, and even fostering — my husband, Michel, and I were never able to have children together. Michel and I met when I was 40. It was six years after I moved to France, having fled my ex-husband, who had decided that he no longer wanted to have children. We had been together for 13 years, and in the last two years of the relationship, I fought hard for the 'opportunity' to have a child. We went to couples therapy for a year to explore why he changed his mind, to figure out under what circumstances we could be parents (or at least me), and determine how we could still be married if he did not want to raise a child. Therapy didn't shift anything; he didn't change his mind, and I didn't change mine. So I left him. Michel was different. Already a father of two daughters, he wanted more children. After trying naturally for one year, we did several rounds of IVF in France. We traveled to Greece because France did not allow the use of donor eggs for IVF. We spent our earnings to pay for four rounds of IVF cycles using donor eggs. We hired lawyers in Lebanon and an adoption agency in Florida to assist us with the international adoption process. Ten years in, nothing had worked. A few years after moving to the U.S., we started fostering children, but the bureaucracy and the unpredictability of the families took a toll on us. In the meantime, we kept getting older. Before we knew it, we were in midlife. Letting go of the life I planned I was forever defined by my high school biology teacher's encouraging comment about me: 'Stephanie perseveres when times are difficult.' After 20 years of trying to become a parent, I stopped when I was 54. My desire for having children did not wane at that moment, but my disinterest in raising a child under these circumstances surfaced. In February 2024, I spent four weeks in Europe for work. I stayed in Lake Como with one of my closest friends and her daughter, Emily. Emily is 15. She texts nonstop, hangs out with friends, forgets to shower, and must be reminded to go to bed before midnight. She wasn't my responsibility, but I was exhausted just being in her presence. She's a teenager, and I'm middle-aged. One night, while walking to buy chicken for dinner, it hit me. I didn't want to raise a teenager when I was 65. I didn't want to raise one now. I didn't want to worry about late-night curfews or college applications at this point in life. I also didn't want to stay up all night with a newborn. That moment — alone, chicken in hand, on a tiny Italian street — I knew it was over. My desire for having children did not wane at that moment, but my disinterest in raising a child under these circumstances surfaced. I had spent so much time determined to expand my family, I didn't even notice that my dreams had shifted. What I was envisioning now was what retirement would look like for us in 10 to 15 years. Sandy beaches, sitting on the terrace of our apartment in the Algarve, sipping Portuguese wine, reading books, and learning to sail. In my fantasy, we would live in Paris from September to January, and we would spend the rest of the year in Portugal. We would discover different parts of Portugal with our new Portuguese friends. Raising a 10-year-old child did not fit into those plans. When the dream of parenthood finally came to an end, I was left wondering what my purpose would be now. Seeking healing, I connected with a CBT therapist. First, she encouraged me to follow the Miracle Morning routine by Hal Elrod. In this daily practice, you complete the SAVERS protocol each day: Silence, Affirmations, Visualizations, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing (journaling). The goal, she told me, was to calm my anxiety and learn to be present in the moment. Always skeptical, I wondered, What will this do for me? How will this answer my 'what now' question? But left with few options, I did it anyway. What else was I going to do? Keep crying about how my life didn't go as planned? Will I continue to dwell on my failed attempt at parenthood even though I willingly gave it up last year? Or will I make the most of what is in front of me now? When visualizing, I got frustrated. I used to be able to visualize my dream scenario — happy, frolicking kids were always in the picture — but for the first time, I simply couldn't see anything. My therapist suggested that I visualize the current day, week, or month. That made it digestible for me. 'Today, I am working, exercising, making dinner.' 'Next week, I will read a book.' 'In one month, we will be at the beach.' These were simple steps that eventually strengthened this visualization muscle, but I still had more healing to do. Redefining my purpose in my pivot year Recently, I was scrolling on Instagram and came across a reel of Hoda Kotb discussing a book she was reading: The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest. She read, 'Everything is yours for a time, and then it isn't. Everything is borrowed, and everything is temporary when you are here. Yet, you approach your life as though you have forever to live it.' This deeply resonated with me — and I was in my pivot year, so I bought the book immediately. On Day 1 of this calendar book of reflection, Wiest writes, 'Will you continue to replay the memories of yesterday, or will you meet the moment and make the most of what is in front of you now?' That hit hard. Will I continue to dwell on my failed attempt at parenthood even though I willingly gave it up last year? Or will I make the most of what is in front of me now? That sounds simple enough — move on. But to what? On Day 2, Wiest writes, 'When you finally admit that you don't know what's next, you enter the golden vortex — the space between everything you know you're meant for and anything you had previously imagined to be.' For the first time, letting go of what I thought was possible didn't sound so bad after all. This golden vortex of everything else that is possible was on the horizon. Finding meaning in a different midlife than you expected I recently turned the baby's room into my Miracle Morning room. I removed the crib and installed a small white writing desk in front of a window so I could see into the garden. I replaced the rocking chair with a comfy swivel chair and ottoman for my feet. I got a desk lamp so bright it could power the Eiffel Tower — Michel hates it. Every day, I work on the SAVERS. With silence, I listen to sound bowls to relax. Journaling turned into writing a blog. I started reading more — so much more that I need to buy a new bookshelf. Repeating affirmations has helped me maintain emotional balance and stay grounded in the present moment. And visualizations have turned from 'what does today look like' to 'what could my future look like.' This is where the golden vortex comes in: I could finally feel myself opening up to all the possibilities, not just one unattainable goal. So I started exploring them. I took a Broadway dance class — and learned that my speed is more 'Introduction to Ballet.' I also tried puzzling, but realized I'm not patient enough to spend all that time trying to get the right pieces to fit together. In March, I traveled to Rome solo. This version of midlife is different from the one I expected; it's more trial and error, more exploration and unknowns, but I'm learning to live it fully — and I'm uncovering interests and dreams I never knew existed as I go. I'm excited to see what awaits. I'm no longer chasing the life I thought I was supposed to have; I'm focusing on the one I have right now. The post This Isn't the Midlife I Imagined — Here's How I Pivoted at 55 appeared first on Katie Couric Media. Solve the daily Crossword

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store