Books for Learning Languages
Last updated: January 12, 2026
Learning a new language is a big commitment, but these days there are a vast array of resources that make it a lot more fun than just reading a grammar textbook (though at some stage you'll probably need one of those, too). We have book recommendations for learning languages ancient and modern. The two are connected, in that by learning Latin, it will make it easier to learn the modern Romance languages (French, Italian, Spanish, Romanian) which are based on it. However, that's quite a roundabout way of setting about learning a modern language, and mostly learning ancient ones is about reading ancient texts, whether it's reading Plato’s Apology of Socrates or Herodotus's Histories in the original Greek, or deciphering the hieroglyphics on a temple wall in Karnak, Egypt.
For modern languages, the learning techniques are very different, as the primary objective is normally not just reading but communication with other human beings. It's worth reading our interviews on learning French and Spanish—even if you're not interested in those specific languages—because the techniques are similar in most languages. As Benny Lewis, the Irish polyglot points out, you really do need to get talking and not get too hung up on making mistakes, otherwise you're never going to get anywhere. Reading is also important and a quick way to ramp up your skills. Nice stories, that make you want to read to the end, are a great way to do this. Olly Richards, an English polyglot, has written a really good series with stories catering to many languages and different abilities, starting with beginner.
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1
Tobira 1: Beginning Japanese
by Mayumi Oka et al. -
2
Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture Starter
by Japan Foundation -
3
Japanese for Busy People 1
by Association for Japanese-Language Teaching -
4
Colloquial Japanese: The Complete Course for Beginners
by Junko Ogawa and Fumitsugu Enokida -
5
Understanding Japanese Society
by Joy Hendry and Emma Cook
The Best Books to Learn Japanese, recommended by Kazuki Morimoto
The Best Books to Learn Japanese, recommended by Kazuki Morimoto
Whether you are preparing for a trip to Japan, are a fan of manga and anime, or simply curious about a non-European language, you might want to try your hand at learning Japanese. With recommendations ranging from Japanese textbooks for beginners, via an up-to-date guide to Japanese society and culture, to helpful online resources, experienced language teacher Kazuki Morimoto explains how to set about studying Japanese.
The Best Books for Learning French, recommended by Vincent Serrano-Guerra
In spite of all the online ads promising to teach you a new language in a matter of minutes, learning a language takes time and commitment—and motivation is critical. Here Vincent Serrano-Guerra, author of a book for learning French that focuses on the 20,000 words that are the same in French and English, explains how best to set about it and recommends some books that’ll also get you familiar with French culture.
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1
Hieroglyphs: A Very Short Introduction
by Penelope Wilson -
2
Hieroglyphics: The Writings of Ancient Egypt
by Maria Betro -
3
The Myth of Egypt and Its Hieroglyphs in European Tradition
by Erik Iversen -
4
Lost Languages: The Enigma of the World's Undeciphered Scripts
by Andrew Robinson -
5
The Dawning Moon of the Mind: Unlocking the Pyramid Texts
by Susan Brind Morrow
The best books on Hieroglyphics, recommended by Diane Greco Josefowicz
The best books on Hieroglyphics, recommended by Diane Greco Josefowicz
Reading the hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt reveals much about the worldview of a civilisation that rose to prominence 5000 years ago and flourished for thousands of years. Here, intellectual historian Diane Greco Josefowicz—whose book, The Riddle of the Rosetta, co-written with Jed Buchwald, tells the story of how the meaning of the hieroglyphs was deciphered in 19th century France—recommends the best books to learn more about hieroglyphics.
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1
Complete Spanish: A Teach Yourself Program
by Juan Kattan-Ibarra -
2
Short Stories in Spanish: New Penguin Parallel Text
ed. John L King -
3
Short Stories in Spanish for Beginners
by Olly Richards -
4
Mastering Spanish Vocabulary
by Axel J Navarro Ramil & Jose Maria Navarro -
5
Lonely Planet Spanish Phrasebook & Dictionary
by Cristina Hernandez Montero & Marta Lopez
The Best Books for Learning Spanish, recommended by Benny Lewis
The Best Books for Learning Spanish, recommended by Benny Lewis
Which are the best books for learning Spanish? Benny Lewis, polyglot and author of the popular language-learning blog Fluent in Three Months, recommends his top five. He explains why beginners should be wary of grammar, and why forcing yourself to make mistakes is the key to success in any language.
The best books on Learning Ancient Greek, recommended by Paul McMullen
Interested in philosophy? Drama? History? Within a year you too could be reading seminal texts in their original language. Academic Paul McMullen recommends the best books for learning ancient Greek.
The best books on Learning Latin, recommended by Harry Mount
What books should you read if you want to learn Latin? Harry Mount (and Katie Walker) recommend the best books for learning Latin—the language of a small, central Italian tribe that managed to conquer most of Europe.
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1
The Languages of China
by Robert S Ramsey -
2
The Sextants of Beijing
by Joanna Waley-Cohen -
3
Wandering on the Way
by Zhuangzi (aka Chuang Tzu) -
4
Diary of a Madman and Other Stories
by Lu Xun & translated by William A. Lyell -
5
The Story of the Stone (also called Dream of the Red Chamber)
by Cao Xueqin
Books every Chinese Language Learner Should Read, recommended by Chris Livaccari
Books every Chinese Language Learner Should Read, recommended by Chris Livaccari
China covers a vast territory, and is far more ethnically and culturally diverse than many outsiders assume. Chris Livaccari, a veteran Chinese language teacher, recommends books he believes every Chinese language learner should read.
