Every year a slew of new philosophy books are published, works by or about everyone from Aristotle to Žižek, and covering subjects from aesthetics to Zen. But which ones are actually worth reading? Below we keep track of new philosophy books coming out, and try to pick out ones that we like the look of. In his interviews with philosophers, our philosophy editor Nigel Warburton asks them to recommend books by others. The list below also helps us to highlight books they've written themselves.
(Lower down the list, we've also included older books that are available in paperback for the first time).
Philosophy through Science Fiction Stories: Exploring the Boundaries of the Possible
by Helen De Cruz, Johan De Smedt and Eric Schwitzgebel (editors)
Can you learn philosophy by looking at pictures? Philosopher Helene de Cruz, Danforth Chair in the Humanities at Saint Louis University, thinks so. She spoke to us about the best illustrated philosophy books.
Know Thyself: The Science of Self-Awareness
by Stephen Fleming
Know Thyself: The Science of Self-Awareness by cognitive neuroscientist Stephen Fleming looks set to be one of the must-reads of 2021. Scientific, philosophical, and practical, it sheds lights on 'metacognition'—our thoughts about thoughts and the importance of self-awareness to almost anything we embark on.
An Introduction to Moral Philosophy
by Jonathan Wolff
The new, second edition of Jonathan Wolff's introduction to moral philosophy, using real life examples. Our interview with Jonathan Wolff, about political philosophy books, is one of the most popular on our site.
The Great Guide: What David Hume Can Teach Us about Being Human and Living Well
by Julian Baggini
David Hume is a popular figure on Five Books, with even American economist Paul Krugman saying that the Scottish philosopher is one of the key figures who inspired him in his youth. But could he inspire you with a whole philosophy of life? British philosopher Julian Baggini seems to think so. We interviewed Julian about his best books on atheism.
Feline Philosophy: Cats and the Meaning of Life
by John Gray
Lots of fans of cats and British philosopher John Gray will be delighted to hear that he's devoted a whole book to them. In his interview with us, Gray recommended books on 'critiques of utopia and apocalypse.'
The Fourfold Remedy: Epicurus and the Art of Happiness
by John Sellars
In The Fourfold Remedy John Sellars, who earlier wrote an excellent short book about Stoicism, introduces the philosophy of Epicurus. Contrary to our modern vision of someone with refined tastes in food and wine, Epicureans in the ancient world were mostly concerned with achieving tranquillity.
The Art of Chinese Philosophy: Eight Classical Texts and How to Read Them
by Paul Goldin
The Art of Chinese Philosophy by Paul Goldin is a great introduction to Eastern philosophy, so often neglected in university philosophy courses. The writings attributed to eight Chinese thinkers are examined and explained, covering Confucianism and Daoism and including Sunzi, author of The Art of War, one of our most recommended books on Five Books.
Sick Souls, Healthy Minds: How William James Can Save Your Life
by John Kaag
William James, one of the founders of pragmatism and empirical psychology, struggled with the question of what made life worth living. In this book, philosopher John Kaag—who spoke to us about the best books of American philosophy—explains how James's ideas can help those of us who struggle with the same question.
How to Live a Good Life: A Guide to Choosing Your Personal Philosophy
by Daniel Kaufman, Massimo Pigliucci & Skye C Cleary
The ancient philosophers spent a lot of their time thinking about the best way to live. Modern philosophy is often more esoteric, but in many popular philosophy books coming out now, that ancient tradition is making a comeback. There are modern practitioners embracing Stoicism, Epicureanism, secular Buddhism and more. In How to Live a Good Life: A Guide to Choosing Your Personal Philosophy, philosophers Skye Cleary, Massimo Pigliucci and Dan Kaufman gather together essays by 15 thinkers, with each presenting the philosophy they've chosen to guide their lives.
The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad
by Emily Thomas
"This topic brings two things I really love together. I’ve spent years of my life backpacking and I’ve always been a bit obsessed with travel. Having spent my entire adult life as a professional philosopher, I was suddenly gripped with the obsessional idea of writing something about philosophy and travel. When I started, I wasn’t sure if I would find anything. It’s not a topic that’s talked about anywhere. I thought it was possible I would begin research and find that philosophers are just not interested in travel and that philosophy and travel have never interacted. Yet to my delight I found they’ve interacted a lot and there’s plenty to look at."
Emily Thomas also spoke to our philosophy editor, Nigel Warburton, about the best books on the philosophy of travel.
Undercover Robot: My First Year As Human
by Bertie Fraser & David Edmonds
Undercover Robot is a very funny introduction to the ethics of artificial intelligence and of being a human being. Dave Edmonds, who recommended the best books on ethical problems for Five Books, and Bertie Fraser, founder of Storynory.com, do a brilliant job of bringing to life Dotty, who is trying her best to fit in as normal 12-year old girl, but can't help being weird. A children's book, yes, but quite fun to read as an adult too.
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: the Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius
by Donald Robertson
"How to Think Like a Roman Emperor is a philosophical biography of Marcus Aurelius, using key moments in the emperor’s life to introduce readers to the principles and practice of Stoicism, updated on the basis of the author’s experience as a cognitive behavioural therapist”—Massimo Pigliucci, Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York and practising Stoic, in his 2020 update on the best books on Stoicism.
The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers
by Eric Weiner
"‘Socrates’ is a stand-in for the kind of philosophy that I was interested in, that I write about, which is a practical, therapeutic, accessible philosophy. It was Cicero who famously said of him that he called philosophy down from the heavens and introduced it into people’s homes. That’s what I’m trying to do."
Bestselling author Eric Weiner talked to our philosophy editor, Nigel Warburton, about 'Life-Changing Philosophy Books'
The Philosopher Queens: The lives and legacies of philosophy's unsung women
by Lisa Whiting & Rebecca Buxton
"The book aims to challenge the notion of the well-defined canon, which typically doesn’t have many women in it. We were also really keen to make a book that was written by women who are working in philosophy."
We spoke to Lisa Whiting and Rebecca Buxton about their favourite philosophy books by women.
The Way of Nature (The Illustrated Library of Chinese Classics)
by Zhuangzi (aka Chuang Tzu), C. C. Tsai (illustrator) and Brian Bruya (translator)
A light introduction to Daoism and the philosophy of Zhuangzi.
Plato's Republic: A Ladybird Expert Book
by Angela Hobbs
Plato's Republic is one of our most recommended books on Five Books and one of the greatest works of philosophy ever written. It can be a difficult book to read. Plato's Republic: A Ladybird Expert Book explains very clearly what it's all about in just 24 pages (of text, there, are also lovely illustrations). It explains the context and introduces the most important topics that Plato's Republic covers. The author, Angie Hobbs, is a leading Plato scholar (and Five Books interviewee) and has also written a 100,000-word book on Plato's Republic. As she confesses, "in some ways this was harder."
While Socrates was focused more on how individuals should live, Plato was more political. It was he who first used the term "enemy of the people," a phrase that appears in the Republic. As philosopher Rebecca Goldstein says, "so much in Plato's Republic feels starkly, even horrifyingly, relevant today."
How to Teach Philosophy to Your Dog: Exploring the Big Questions in Life
by Anthony McGowan
"We’re doing philosophy now, and that means following the argument wherever it leads, like that time you chased a rabbit and ended up with your head stuck in a hole." —Anthony McGowan
How to Teach Philosophy to Your Dog got a special mention in Nigel Warburton's Best Philosophy Books of 2019.
Becoming Beauvoir: A Life
by Kate Kirkpatrick
***One of the Best Philosophy Books of 2019, recommended by Nigel Warburton***
"If I had to summarize her in a single sentence, I would say Simone de Beauvoir is a very misunderstood woman" —Kate Kirkpatrick, author of Becoming Beauvoir, a biography of the 20th century French philosopher and feminist Simone de Beauvoir.
We spoke to Kate Kirkpatrick about the best Simone de Beauvoir books.
Lessons in Stoicism: What Ancient Philosophers Teach Us about How to Live
by John Sellars
"Here, in around 80 pages, Sellars gives a lucid, easy-to-follow account of what Stoicism as a way of life amounts to, and how you might start to put it into practice."
Our philosophy editor Nigel Warburton's review of Lessons in Stoicism:
Secularism: A Very Short Introduction
by Andrew Copson
"Andrew Copson’s short book covers a lot of ground. It is one of the best books I’ve read in this excellent series. Copson in his role as Chief Executive of Humanists UK is practically involved with secularism on a daily basis, and is an eloquent defender of secularist principles, but nevertheless here provides a balanced and generous interpretation that presents arguments on different sides."
Our philosophy editor Nigel Warburton's review of Secularism: A Very Short Introduction by Andrew Copson can be found below.
We also have an interview with Andrew Copson on the best books on humanism.
Spinoza's Ethics, Translated by George Eliot
by Baruch Spinoza, Clare Carlisle & George Eliot
"Hatred is increased by reciprocal hatred, but can be destroyed by love"—Baruch Spinoza.
Rather excitingly, Princeton University Press has published George Eliot's translation of Baruch Spinoza's Ethics, which previously was quite hard to buy. The book is edited by Clare Carlisle, a philosopher at King's College London, whose introduction details the influence of Spinoza on George Eliot's later literary work.
The influence of Spinoza on George Eliot is discussed in this interview on the Best Philosophical Novels, with philosopher and novelist Rebecca Goldstein.
A Theory of Jerks and Other Philosophical Misadventures
by Eric Schwitzgebel
***One of the Best Philosophy Books of 2019, recommended by Nigel Warburton***
What is the difference between a jerk and an asshole? A Theory of Jerks and Other Philosophical Misadventures by Eric Schwitzgebel explores this and other important issues.
Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, and Justice
by Martha Nussbaum
***One of the Best Philosophy Books of 2016, recommended by Nigel Warburton***
Socrates in Love: The Making of a Philosopher
by Armand D'Angour
***One of the Best Philosophy Books of 2019, recommended by Nigel Warburton***
The Infidel and the Professor: David Hume, Adam Smith, and the Friendship That Shaped Modern Thought
by Dennis Rasmussen
***One of the Best Philosophy Books of 2016, recommended by Nigel Warburton***
