Philosophy Books

When it comes to the big names in philosophy, very few people think of women and the books that make the canon have, traditionally, almost always been written by European or American men. Here, Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting, editors of The Philosopher Queens, a book that collects together articles about the most important women philosophers, talk through their selection of the best philosophy books written by women.

The Stoics offer us valuable strategies for thinking about and dealing with hardships that remain relevant for modern society, says Massimo Pigliucci, Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York and a practising Stoic. He recommends books to read to get a better idea of what Stoicism is all about and why some people find the ancient philosophy—famously practised by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius—comforting today.

What do the sages of ancient China have to teach us about living in the 21st century? The Harvard professor and author of The Path, Michael Puett, recommends the texts you need to read to find out. He picks the best Chinese philosophy books.

Existentialist philosophy isn't about bringing despair and angst into our lives, it's about discovering our inner freedom, explains Sarah Bakewell, the author of At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails. She recommends books to learn more about existentialism.

We all have opinions about things and sometimes quite strong ones. When it comes to our values and politics we also tend to think we're right. That's why examining how we think is so important, argues philosopher Julian Baggini. That's something philosophy can help with, if it's done well. Here he recommends five books that shed some light on how philosophers think, when they're thinking at their best.

It's abstract and not everyone's cup of tea but, in many ways, inescapable. Philosopher Tim Crane introduces the best books on metaphysics.

Logic is an excellent form of mind-training because it involves a very particular way of thinking and focus on truth. But how does it work and what are its limitations? Tom Stoneham, a professor of philosophy at the University of York, picks some great books for anyone who wants to learn more about logic.

Do you know your straw man arguments from your weasel words? Nigel Warburton, Five Books philosophy editor and author of Thinking from A to Z, selects some of the best books on critical thinking—and explains how they will help us make better-informed decisions and construct more valid arguments.

Zara, age 12, is an avid reader of philosophy books. Here she shares her favourite picks, and gives adults some tips on selecting the best books to get kids interested in philosophy.

For the general reader deconstruction has a bad reputation. It is seen as over-complicating, arcane and wilfully obscure—but as its founding genius Jacques Derrida pointed out, “If things were simple, word would have gotten around.” Here Peter Salmon, author of an excellent new biography of Derrida, chooses five books to get you started on the text and everything inside it.