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  • Experts

Religion

Most Recommended Books

The Confessions by Augustine (translated by Maria Boulding)

“It is an endlessly capacious, inventive, stimulating book. I won’t say it has something for everyone but it has, for its sheer blend of different approaches, a great deal for a great number of people. The fact that the whole thing is presented as a conversation with God, for a start. And Augustine is remarkably self-exposing and self-disclosing. It’s an extraordinary book for someone who’s just been ordained as a bishop to write. The Confessions had to be on this list and it is most people’s way into Augustine. It is this unbelievably pliant and fruitful work. Every time you read it, you notice new things.”

Catherine Conybeare,

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Dialogues and Natural History of Religion by David Hume

“I think that the most important contributions, the best books, in the philosophy of religion are these two little books that David Hume writes”

Graham Oppy, Philosopher

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Augustine of Hippo by Peter Brown

“it’s very rare that you work in an academic field and there is a secondary work that is just indisputably superior to everything else. An agent once said to me that Brown’s book is known in her field as a “category killer”. No one else dared to write a biography of Augustine, really until the late 1990s. So, for 30 years—for basically a full generation—that was the work on Augustine.”

Catherine Conybeare,

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Greek Thought, Arabic Culture by Dimitri Gutas

“About an enormous movement when Greek works of science and philosophy were translated into Arabic.”

Peter Adamson, Philosopher

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Tractatus Theologico-Politicus by Baruch Spinoza & Samuel Shirley

“The first real biblical criticism, and still the best critique of traditional theism (i.e., the view that God is like a person).”

Anthony Gottlieb, Philosopher

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Browse book recommendations:

Religion

  • Best Atheist Books
  • Buddhism
  • Christian
  • Islamic
  • Jewish
  • Magic & Witchcraft
  • Theology

We have a very wide range of interviews recommending books on all the world’s major religions, as well as others looking at contemporary and historical religious controversies.

On Christianity, we have interviews covering the history of Christianity, Jesus, the saints and versions of the Bible, amongst others.  On Islam, British lawyer Ahmad Thomson talks about the essence of Islam. We also have other interviews on the future of Islam, science and Islam, Islam and feminism and Islam in the West.

Judaism is also covered extensively, with interviews covering Jewish history, Zionism and anti-Zionism, Israel and Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Harris chooses her best books as an introduction to Buddhism and Donald S Lopez also discusses Buddhism.

Beyond that, we have interviews on meditation, premonitions, yoga, being sceptical, faith in politics, multiculturalism, magic, Adam and Eve and religion in China.

Turning to fundamental questions of belief, Edward Feser, associate professor of philosophy at Pasadena City College, chooses his best books on the arguments for the existence of God. Julian Baggini, author of Atheism, A Very Short Introduction, chooses his best books on Atheism and Graham Oppy, professor of philosophy at Monash University chooses his best books on the atheist philosophy of religion.

Author Kenan Malik looks at morality without God and Kenneth Miller, a biologist at Brown, chooses his best books on the arguments against creationism. Another biologist, Jerry Coyne, talks about the incompatibility of religion and science. Last, we have Andrew Copson choosing his best books on humanism.

    The Best Augustine Books, recommended by Catherine Conybeare

  • Read
    The Best Augustine Books - Augustine of Hippo by Peter Brown

    1

    Augustine of Hippo
    by Peter Brown

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    The Best Augustine Books - The Confessions by Augustine (translated by Maria Boulding)

    2

    The Confessions
    by Augustine (translated by Maria Boulding)

  • Read
    The Best Augustine Books - The City of God by Augustine

    3

    The City of God
    by Augustine

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    The Best Augustine Books - Augustine: Select Letters by Augustine

    4

    Augustine: Select Letters
    by Augustine

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    The Best Augustine Books - Eternity's Ennui by M. B. Pranger

    5

    Eternity's Ennui
    by M. B. Pranger

The Best Augustine Books, recommended by Catherine Conybeare

Christianity has been profoundly influenced by Augustine of Hippo (354-430 CE), but the fifth-century North African bishop has impacted almost every area of western thought: philosophy, theology, political theory, linguistics, and rhetoric. His Confessions is one of the most recommended titles on Five Books, but is it really the first autobiography? Professor Catherine Conybeare introduces us to the life, thought, and personality of this controversial yet brilliant figure. She picks the best books to learn more about St. Augustine and explores how he has been unfairly maligned.

    The best books on The Bible, recommended by Nicholas King

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    The best books on The Bible - A History of the Bible by John Barton

    1

    A History of the Bible
    by John Barton

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    The best books on The Bible - An Introduction to the New Testament by Raymond E Brown

    2

    An Introduction to the New Testament
    by Raymond E Brown

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    The best books on The Bible - Jesus the Jew: a Historian’s Reading of the Gospels by Geza Vermes

    3

    Jesus the Jew: a Historian’s Reading of the Gospels
    by Geza Vermes

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    The best books on The Bible - The Misunderstood Jew: the Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine

    4

    The Misunderstood Jew: the Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus
    by Amy-Jill Levine

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    The best books on The Bible - Seeing the Word: Refocusing New Testament Study by Markus Bockmuehl

    5

    Seeing the Word: Refocusing New Testament Study
    by Markus Bockmuehl

The best books on The Bible, recommended by Nicholas King

The Bible is not always an easy read—nor is it always obvious how or where to start reading it. Here, Nicholas King, a Jesuit priest and biblical scholar, chooses five books to help you start getting to grips with what is, arguably, the world’s all-time bestselling book.

    The Best Books on the History of Christianity, recommended by Diarmaid MacCulloch

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    The Best Books on the History of Christianity - An Ecclesiastical History of the English People by the Venerable Bede

    1

    An Ecclesiastical History of the English People
    by the Venerable Bede

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    The Best Books on the History of Christianity - The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon

    2

    The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
    by Edward Gibbon

  • Read
    The Best Books on the History of Christianity - The Culture of Protestantism in Early Modern Scotland by Margo Todd

    3

    The Culture of Protestantism in Early Modern Scotland
    by Margo Todd

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    The Best Books on the History of Christianity - The Church in Africa, 1450-1950 by Adrian Hastings

    4

    The Church in Africa, 1450-1950
    by Adrian Hastings

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    The Best Books on the History of Christianity - The Church of the East by Christoph Baumer

    5

    The Church of the East
    by Christoph Baumer

The Best Books on the History of Christianity, recommended by Diarmaid MacCulloch

How can one get to grips with a subject as huge as the history of Christianity, a 2000 year-old religion with adherents in every corner of the globe? The popular and distinguished Oxford historian, Diarmaid MacCulloch, recommends books that will help you make a start.

    The best books on Buddhism, recommended by Donald S Lopez Jr

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    The best books on Buddhism - The Lotus Sutra by Tsugunari Kubo and Akira Yuyama (traslators)

    1

    The Lotus Sutra
    by Tsugunari Kubo and Akira Yuyama (traslators)

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    The best books on Buddhism - Introduction to the History of Indian Buddhism by Eugène Burnouf

    2

    Introduction to the History of Indian Buddhism
    by Eugène Burnouf

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    The best books on Buddhism - Bones, Stones, and Buddhist Monks by Gregory Schopen

    3

    Bones, Stones, and Buddhist Monks
    by Gregory Schopen

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    The best books on Buddhism - Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche

    4

    Words of My Perfect Teacher
    by Patrul Rinpoche

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    The best books on Buddhism - Journey to the West by Anthony C Yu

    5

    Journey to the West
    by Anthony C Yu

The best books on Buddhism, recommended by Donald S Lopez Jr

What is the Buddhist equivalent of the Bible? What is the Dalai Lama’s favourite book? Buddhist scholar Donald Lopez picks the best books on Buddhism.

    The best books on Atheist Philosophy of Religion, recommended by Graham Oppy

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    The best books on Atheist Philosophy of Religion - Why I am not a Christian by Bertrand Russell

    1

    Why I am not a Christian
    by Bertrand Russell

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    The best books on Atheist Philosophy of Religion - The Miracle of Theism: Arguments For and Against the Existence of God by John Mackie

    2

    The Miracle of Theism: Arguments For and Against the Existence of God
    by John Mackie

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    The best books on Atheist Philosophy of Religion - Testament: Memoir of the Thoughts and Sentiments of Jean Meslier by Jean Meslier

    3

    Testament: Memoir of the Thoughts and Sentiments of Jean Meslier
    by Jean Meslier

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    The best books on Atheist Philosophy of Religion - Dialogues and Natural History of Religion by David Hume

    4

    Dialogues and Natural History of Religion
    by David Hume

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    The best books on Atheist Philosophy of Religion - In Gods We Trust: The Evolutionary Landscape of Religion by Scott Atran

    5

    In Gods We Trust: The Evolutionary Landscape of Religion
    by Scott Atran

The best books on Atheist Philosophy of Religion, recommended by Graham Oppy

From the work of an 18th century atheist priest, to recent research in the cognitive anthropology of religion, atheist philosopher of religion Graham Oppy discusses the books that have been most influential to him.

    The best books on Islamism, recommended by Malise Ruthven

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    The best books on Islamism - Hasan al-Banna by Gudrun Kraemer

    1

    Hasan al-Banna
    by Gudrun Kraemer

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    The best books on Islamism - Sayyid Qutb and the Origins of Radical Islamism by John Calvert

    2

    Sayyid Qutb and the Origins of Radical Islamism
    by John Calvert

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    The best books on Islamism - Landscapes of the Jihad by Faisal Devji

    3

    Landscapes of the Jihad
    by Faisal Devji

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    The best books on Islamism - Global Salafism by Roal Meijer (editor)

    4

    Global Salafism
    by Roal Meijer (editor)

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    The best books on Islamism - Shi’ism by Hamid Dabashi

    5

    Shi’ism
    by Hamid Dabashi

The best books on Islamism, recommended by Malise Ruthven

The war on terror relied on a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the threat, say author and academic Malise Ruthven. He picks the best books to get a better understanding of Islamism.

    The best books on Arguments for the Existence of God, recommended by Edward Feser

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    The best books on Arguments for the Existence of God - Summa Theologiae, Questions on God by (ed.) Brian Davies and Brian Leftow

    1

    Summa Theologiae, Questions on God
    by (ed.) Brian Davies and Brian Leftow

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    The best books on Arguments for the Existence of God - The Thought of Thomas Aquinas by Brian Davies

    2

    The Thought of Thomas Aquinas
    by Brian Davies

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    The best books on Arguments for the Existence of God - Aquinas's Way to God: The Proof in De Ente et Essentia by Gaven Kerr

    3

    Aquinas's Way to God: The Proof in De Ente et Essentia
    by Gaven Kerr

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    The best books on Arguments for the Existence of God - The Reality of God and the Problem of Evil by Brian Davies

    4

    The Reality of God and the Problem of Evil
    by Brian Davies

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    The best books on Arguments for the Existence of God - Atheism and Theism by J. J. C. Smart & John Haldane

    5

    Atheism and Theism
    by J. J. C. Smart & John Haldane

The best books on Arguments for the Existence of God, recommended by Edward Feser

Is the existence of God incompatible with evil? What is the difference between ‘classical theism’ and ‘theistic personalism’? What is the best argument against there being a God?  From Aristotle through Aquinas to the present, philosopher Edward Feser gives an in-depth look at arguments for the existence of God.

    The best books on Religion in China, recommended by Ian Johnson

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    The best books on Religion in China - The Religious Question in Modern China by Vincent Goossaert and David Palmer

    1

    The Religious Question in Modern China
    by Vincent Goossaert and David Palmer

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    The best books on Religion in China - Qigong Fever by David Palmer

    2

    Qigong Fever
    by David Palmer

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    The best books on Religion in China - The Missionary's Curse and Other Tales from a Chinese Catholic Village by Henrietta Harrison

    3

    The Missionary's Curse and Other Tales from a Chinese Catholic Village
    by Henrietta Harrison

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    The best books on Religion in China - Zen Baggage: A Pilgrimage to China by Bill Porter

    4

    Zen Baggage: A Pilgrimage to China
    by Bill Porter

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    The best books on Religion in China - Democracy’s Dharma: Religious Renaissance and Political Development in Taiwan by Richard Madsen

    5

    Democracy’s Dharma: Religious Renaissance and Political Development in Taiwan
    by Richard Madsen

The best books on Religion in China, recommended by Ian Johnson

China is a religious country with all kinds of faiths being practised across its vast territories—despite Mao’s attempts to eradicate them. The Chinese Communist Party tolerates a variety of religions but continues to grapple with the potential challenge they pose to its authority. Prize-winning journalist Ian Johnson introduces the best books on the complex topic of religion in China.

    The best books on Jewish History, recommended by Gershon Hundert

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    The best books on Jewish History - Border Lines by Daniel Boyarin

    1

    Border Lines
    by Daniel Boyarin

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    The best books on Jewish History - Between Muslim and Jew by Steven Wasserstrom

    2

    Between Muslim and Jew
    by Steven Wasserstrom

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    The best books on Jewish History - The Compunctious Poet by Ross Brann

    3

    The Compunctious Poet
    by Ross Brann

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    The best books on Jewish History - Two Nations in Your Womb by Israel Jacob Yuval

    4

    Two Nations in Your Womb
    by Israel Jacob Yuval

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    The best books on Jewish History - Founder of Hasidism by Murray Jay Rosman

    5

    Founder of Hasidism
    by Murray Jay Rosman

The best books on Jewish History, recommended by Gershon Hundert

Gershon Hundert, Leanor Segal Professor of Jewish Studies at McGill University, talks about recent revisions to the conventional understanding of Jewish history and selects the most influential current writing on the subject.

    The best books on Zionism and Anti-Zionism, recommended by Gabriel Piterberg

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    The best books on Zionism and Anti-Zionism - Theodor Herzl by Jacques Kornberg

    1

    Theodor Herzl
    by Jacques Kornberg

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    The best books on Zionism and Anti-Zionism - Land, Labor and the Origins of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, 1882-1914 by Gershon Shafir

    2

    Land, Labor and the Origins of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, 1882-1914
    by Gershon Shafir

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    The best books on Zionism and Anti-Zionism - The Question of Palestine by Edward W Said

    3

    The Question of Palestine
    by Edward W Said

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    The best books on Zionism and Anti-Zionism - Facts on the Ground by Nadia Abu El-Haj

    4

    Facts on the Ground
    by Nadia Abu El-Haj

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    The best books on Zionism and Anti-Zionism - Exil et Souveraineté by Amnon Raz-Krakotzkin

    5

    Exil et Souveraineté
    by Amnon Raz-Krakotzkin

The best books on Zionism and Anti-Zionism, recommended by Gabriel Piterberg

Israeli historian Gabriel Piterberg tells us about works of scholarship that have challenged the Zionist Israeli narrative of modern history.

    The best books on Humanism, recommended by Andrew Copson

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    The best books on Humanism - Two Cheers For Democracy by E M Forster

    1

    Two Cheers For Democracy
    by E M Forster

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    The best books on Humanism - Adam Bede by George Eliot

    2

    Adam Bede
    by George Eliot

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    The best books on Humanism - On Humanism by Richard Norman

    3

    On Humanism
    by Richard Norman

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    The best books on Humanism - His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

    4

    His Dark Materials
    by Philip Pullman

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    The best books on Humanism - Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries by Mengzi

    5

    Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries
    by Mengzi

The best books on Humanism, recommended by Andrew Copson

Humanist ideas are not a recent phenomenon, but have been around for millennia, says Andrew Copson, chief executive of Humanists UK. He explains why it’s worth making a positive choice to be a humanist and recommends a great humanist reading list.

    The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World, recommended by Peter Adamson

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    The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - Greek Thought, Arabic Culture by Dimitri Gutas

    1

    Greek Thought, Arabic Culture
    by Dimitri Gutas

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    The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - Great Medieval Thinkers: Avicenna by Jon McGinnis

    2

    Great Medieval Thinkers: Avicenna
    by Jon McGinnis

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    The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - Avicenna's 'De Anima' in the Latin West by Dag Nikolaus Hasse

    3

    Avicenna's 'De Anima' in the Latin West
    by Dag Nikolaus Hasse

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    The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - Maimonides in His World: Portrait of a Mediterranean Thinker by Sarah Stroumsa

    4

    Maimonides in His World: Portrait of a Mediterranean Thinker
    by Sarah Stroumsa

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    The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - The Teleological Ethics of Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī by Ayman Shihadeh

    5

    The Teleological Ethics of Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī
    by Ayman Shihadeh

The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World, recommended by Peter Adamson

Arabic philosophy was hugely influential during the Islamic Golden Age; at one point, the Persian polymath Avicenna’s influence outstripped that of Aristotle. But a strong tradition has continued in the centuries since, explains Professor Peter Adamson, as he selects five of the best books on the subject.

    The best books on Adam and Eve, recommended by Stephen Greenblatt

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    The best books on Adam and Eve - The Five Books of Moses: A Translation with Commentary by Robert Alter

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    The Five Books of Moses: A Translation with Commentary
    by Robert Alter

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    The best books on Adam and Eve - On Genesis by Augustine

    2

    On Genesis
    by Augustine

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    The best books on Adam and Eve - Paradise Lost by John Milton

    3

    Paradise Lost
    by John Milton

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    The best books on Adam and Eve - The Bible According to Mark Twain by Mark Twain

    4

    The Bible According to Mark Twain
    by Mark Twain

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    The best books on Adam and Eve - The Symbolism of Evil by Paul Ricoeur

    5

    The Symbolism of Evil
    by Paul Ricoeur

The best books on Adam and Eve, recommended by Stephen Greenblatt

Who were Adam and Eve, really? Over many centuries, the origin story has undergone countless transformations. The Pulitzer Prize-winner and Harvard professor Stephen Greenblatt chooses five books that explore the history of Adam and Eve, and tells us why the world isn’t ready to leave the narrative of Eden behind

    The best books on The Saints, recommended by Simon Yarrow

  • Read
    The best books on The Saints - The Confessions by Augustine (translated by Maria Boulding)

    1

    The Confessions
    by Augustine (translated by Maria Boulding)

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    The best books on The Saints - The Cult of the Saints Its Rise and Function in Latin Christianity by Peter Brown

    2

    The Cult of the Saints Its Rise and Function in Latin Christianity
    by Peter Brown

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    The best books on The Saints - Mother of God: A History of the Virgin Mary by Miri Rubin

    3

    Mother of God: A History of the Virgin Mary
    by Miri Rubin

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    The best books on The Saints - Mohawk Saint: Catherine Tekakwitha and the Jesuits by Allan Greer

    4

    Mohawk Saint: Catherine Tekakwitha and the Jesuits
    by Allan Greer

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    The best books on The Saints - Between Heaven and Earth: The Religious Worlds People Make and the Scholars Who Study Them by Robert Orsi

    5

    Between Heaven and Earth: The Religious Worlds People Make and the Scholars Who Study Them
    by Robert Orsi

The best books on The Saints, recommended by Simon Yarrow

Heroes are universal to human culture and, in Christian culture, they manifested themselves as saints. Historian Simon Yarrow recommends the best books to understand the saints, from their widespread appearance in late antiquity to their continuing influence in modern America.

    A N Wilson recommends the best Christian Books

  • Read
    A N Wilson recommends the best Christian Books - The Confessions by Augustine (translated by Maria Boulding)

    1

    The Confessions
    by Augustine (translated by Maria Boulding)

  • Read
    A N Wilson recommends the best Christian Books - The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso by Dante Alighieri

    2

    The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso
    by Dante Alighieri

  • Read
    A N Wilson recommends the best Christian Books - Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich

    3

    Revelations of Divine Love
    by Julian of Norwich

  • Read
    A N Wilson recommends the best Christian Books - Waiting for God by Simone Weil

    4

    Waiting for God
    by Simone Weil

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    A N Wilson recommends the best Christian Books - The Anathemata by David Jones

    5

    The Anathemata
    by David Jones

A N Wilson recommends the best Christian Books

The British writer, A.N. Wilson, recommends books that have helped him understand what Christianity means and to truly believe.

    The best books on Anti-Semitism, recommended by Abraham Foxman

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    The best books on Anti-Semitism - Constantine by James Carroll

    1

    Constantine
    by James Carroll

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    The best books on Anti-Semitism - The War Against the Jews by Lucy S Dawidowicz

    2

    The War Against the Jews
    by Lucy S Dawidowicz

  • Read
    The best books on Anti-Semitism - The Siege by Conor Cruise O’Brien

    3

    The Siege
    by Conor Cruise O’Brien

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    The best books on Anti-Semitism - Trials of the Diaspora by Anthony Julius

    4

    Trials of the Diaspora
    by Anthony Julius

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    The best books on Anti-Semitism - A Lethal Obsession by Robert S Wistrich

    5

    A Lethal Obsession
    by Robert S Wistrich

The best books on Anti-Semitism, recommended by Abraham Foxman

Why has anti-Semitism been such a problem down the ages, and why does it persist today? The emeritus director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, recommends the best books to better understand anti-Semitism.

    The best books on Atheism, recommended by Julian Baggini

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    The best books on Atheism - Dialogues and Natural History of Religion by David Hume

    1

    Dialogues and Natural History of Religion
    by David Hume

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    The best books on Atheism - Existentialism and Humanism by Jean-Paul Sartre

    2

    Existentialism and Humanism
    by Jean-Paul Sartre

  • Read
    The best books on Atheism - Western Atheism: A Short History by James A Thrower

    3

    Western Atheism: A Short History
    by James A Thrower

  • Read
    The best books on Atheism - Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon by Daniel C Dennett

    4

    Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
    by Daniel C Dennett

  • Read
    The best books on Atheism - Atheists: The Origin of the Species by Nick Spencer

    5

    Atheists: The Origin of the Species
    by Nick Spencer

The best books on Atheism, recommended by Julian Baggini

Which are the best books on atheism? The philosopher and author of Atheism: A Very Short Introduction chooses his top five.

    The best books on African Religion and Witchcraft, recommended by Jean Fontaine

  • Read
    The best books on African Religion and Witchcraft - Divinity and Experience by Godfrey Lienhardt

    1

    Divinity and Experience
    by Godfrey Lienhardt

  • Read
    The best books on African Religion and Witchcraft - Lugbara Religion by John Middleton

    2

    Lugbara Religion
    by John Middleton

  • Read
    The best books on African Religion and Witchcraft - Chisungu - A Girl’s Initiation Ceremony Among the Bemba of Zambia. by Audrey Richards

    3

    Chisungu - A Girl’s Initiation Ceremony Among the Bemba of Zambia.
    by Audrey Richards

  • Read
    The best books on African Religion and Witchcraft - Witchcraft by Lucy Mair

    4

    Witchcraft
    by Lucy Mair

  • Read
    The best books on African Religion and Witchcraft - Kinshasa by Filip de Boeck and Marie-Francoise Plissard

    5

    Kinshasa
    by Filip de Boeck and Marie-Francoise Plissard

The best books on African Religion and Witchcraft, recommended by Jean Fontaine

The emeritus professor of social anthropology at the London School of Economics and author of Speak of the Devil says the Dinka and the Nuer are famous in anthropology for not being preoccupied with misfortune

    The best books on Jewish Vienna, recommended by Brigid Grauman

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish Vienna - Tante Jolesch or the Decline of the West in Anecdotes by Friedrich Torberg & Maria Poglitsch Bauer (translator)

    1

    Tante Jolesch or the Decline of the West in Anecdotes
    by Friedrich Torberg & Maria Poglitsch Bauer (translator)

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish Vienna - The Road into the Open by Arthur Schnitzler & Roger Byers (translator)

    2

    The Road into the Open
    by Arthur Schnitzler & Roger Byers (translator)

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish Vienna - The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth & Michael Hofmann (translator)

    3

    The Radetzky March
    by Joseph Roth & Michael Hofmann (translator)

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish Vienna - The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig & Anthea Bell (translator)

    4

    The World of Yesterday
    by Stefan Zweig & Anthea Bell (translator)

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish Vienna - Last Waltz in Vienna by George Clare

    5

    Last Waltz in Vienna
    by George Clare

The best books on Jewish Vienna, recommended by Brigid Grauman

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Vienna had a vibrant intellectual and cultural life, embraced and at times led by key figures in its large Jewish community. All that would disappear with the rise of anti-Semitism and the Anschluss. Many Jews fled or committed suicide. Others were deported to concentration camps. After the war some went back, but Vienna would never be the same. Here Brigid Grauman, whose father’s family were assimilated Jews from Vienna, recommends books that evoke that poignant, tragic period that ended with World War II.

    The best books on Jesus, recommended by Robert Morgan

  • Read
    The best books on Jesus - Jesus and the Word by Rudolf Bultmann

    1

    Jesus and the Word
    by Rudolf Bultmann

  • Read
    The best books on Jesus - The Quest of the Historical Jesus by Albert Schweitzer

    2

    The Quest of the Historical Jesus
    by Albert Schweitzer

  • Read
    The best books on Jesus - The Shadow of the Galilean by Gerd Theissen

    3

    The Shadow of the Galilean
    by Gerd Theissen

  • Read
    The best books on Jesus - The Birth of the Messiah by Raymond Brown

    4

    The Birth of the Messiah
    by Raymond Brown

  • Read
    The best books on Jesus - Born of a Virgin? by Andrew Lincoln

    5

    Born of a Virgin?
    by Andrew Lincoln

The best books on Jesus, recommended by Robert Morgan

Jesus was a 1st century Jew from Galilee who had a ministry of teaching and healing. He gathered disciples around him, but was eventually arrested and executed by the Roman governor of Judaea from 26 to 36CE, Pontius Pilate. But what else do we know about Jesus and what is his significance in an increasingly secular age? New Testament scholar Robert Morgan talks us through his favourite books on Jesus.

    The best books on English Church Music, recommended by Andrew Gant

  • Read
    The best books on English Church Music - A History of Christianity by Diarmaid MacCulloch

    1

    A History of Christianity
    by Diarmaid MacCulloch

  • Read
    The best books on English Church Music - Music and the Reformation in England by Peter Le Huray

    2

    Music and the Reformation in England
    by Peter Le Huray

  • Read
    The best books on English Church Music - The Stripping of the Altars by Eamon Duffy

    3

    The Stripping of the Altars
    by Eamon Duffy

  • Read
    The best books on English Church Music - The English Carol by Erik Routley

    4

    The English Carol
    by Erik Routley

  • Read
    The best books on English Church Music - The Music of the English Parish Church by Nicholas Temperley

    5

    The Music of the English Parish Church
    by Nicholas Temperley

The best books on English Church Music, recommended by Andrew Gant

Think you’re not interested in church music? Think again. Read this interview and you’ll soon find yourself ordering some books about it too. And a Happy Christmas from your editors at Five Books.

    Meditation Books, recommended by Andy Puddicombe

  • Read
    Meditation Books - Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice by Shunryu Suzuki

    1

    Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice
    by Shunryu Suzuki

  • Read
    Meditation Books - The Life of Milarepa Translated by Lobsang P Lhalungpa

    2

    The Life of Milarepa
    Translated by Lobsang P Lhalungpa

  • Read
    Meditation Books - Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Trungpa

    3

    Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
    by Chogyam Trungpa

  • Read
    Meditation Books - The Bodhicaryāvatāra by Śāntideva

    4

    The Bodhicaryāvatāra
    by Śāntideva

  • Read
    Meditation Books - One Robe, One Bowl: The Zen Poetry of Ryōkan by Ryōkan

    5

    One Robe, One Bowl: The Zen Poetry of Ryōkan
    by Ryōkan

Meditation Books, recommended by Andy Puddicombe

Two decades ago Andy Puddicombe was ordained as a Buddhist monk. Now back in lay life, he tries to teach the benefits of meditation to the rest of us—most notably through the Headspace app, but also by writing books. Here he chooses some of the books that inspired him, from Japanese poetry to Tibetan philosophy. Not all are meditation books but they are his “old favorites.”

    The best books on The Incompatibility of Religion and Science, recommended by Jerry Coyne

  • Read
    The best books on The Incompatibility of Religion and Science - The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God by Carl Sagan

    1

    The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God
    by Carl Sagan

  • Read
    The best books on The Incompatibility of Religion and Science - The Atheist's Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life without Illusions by Alex Rosenberg

    2

    The Atheist's Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life without Illusions
    by Alex Rosenberg

  • Read
    The best books on The Incompatibility of Religion and Science - God in the Age of Science?: A Critique of Religious Reason by Herman Philipse

    3

    God in the Age of Science?: A Critique of Religious Reason
    by Herman Philipse

  • Read
    The best books on The Incompatibility of Religion and Science - Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon by Daniel C Dennett

    4

    Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
    by Daniel C Dennett

  • Read
    The best books on The Incompatibility of Religion and Science - A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom by Andrew Dickson White

    5

    A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom
    by Andrew Dickson White

The best books on The Incompatibility of Religion and Science, recommended by Jerry Coyne

Embracing a scientific worldview excludes the possibility of also believing in God, says evolutionary biologist Jerry Coyne. He picks five non-accommodationist books.

    The best books on The Role of Religion, recommended by Selina O'Grady

  • Read
    The best books on The Role of Religion - The Aeneid by Virgil

    1

    The Aeneid
    by Virgil

  • Read
    The best books on The Role of Religion - The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman

    2

    The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ
    by Philip Pullman

  • Read
    The best books on The Role of Religion - Our Church: A Personal History of the Church of England by Roger Scruton

    3

    Our Church: A Personal History of the Church of England
    by Roger Scruton

  • Read
    The best books on The Role of Religion - The Human Stain by Philip Roth

    4

    The Human Stain
    by Philip Roth

  • Read
    The best books on The Role of Religion - The Children Act by Ian McEwan

    5

    The Children Act
    by Ian McEwan

The best books on The Role of Religion, recommended by Selina O'Grady

Religion has an ability to create groups and communities that has yet to be surpassed, argues Selina O’Grady, author of And Man Created God: A History of the World at the Time of Jesus.

    The best books on Jewish Humour, recommended by Ruth Wisse

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish Humour - The Big Book of Jewish Humour by William Novak and Moshe Waldoks

    1

    The Big Book of Jewish Humour
    by William Novak and Moshe Waldoks

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish Humour - Tevye the Dairyman and The Railroad Stories by Sholem Aleichem

    2

    Tevye the Dairyman and The Railroad Stories
    by Sholem Aleichem

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish Humour - Herzog by Saul Bellow

    3

    Herzog
    by Saul Bellow

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish Humour - The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson

    4

    The Finkler Question
    by Howard Jacobson

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish Humour - Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious by Sigmund Freud

    5

    Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious
    by Sigmund Freud

The best books on Jewish Humour, recommended by Ruth Wisse

Ruth Wisse, Martin Peretz Professor of Yiddish Literature and Comparative Literature Emerita at Harvard and author of No Joke: Making Jewish Humour, identifies Tevye the Dairyman as the first standup comic and Sigmund Freud as Jewish humour's greatest analyst.

    The best books on God, recommended by Anthony Gottlieb

  • Read
    The best books on God - Tractatus Theologico-Politicus by Baruch Spinoza & Samuel Shirley

    1

    Tractatus Theologico-Politicus
    by Baruch Spinoza & Samuel Shirley

  • Read
    The best books on God - Dialogues and Natural History of Religion by David Hume

    2

    Dialogues and Natural History of Religion
    by David Hume

  • Read
    The best books on God - Society without God by Phil Zuckerman

    3

    Society without God
    by Phil Zuckerman

  • Read
    The best books on God - Sacred and Secular by Pippa Norris, Ronald Inglehart

    4

    Sacred and Secular
    by Pippa Norris, Ronald Inglehart

  • Read
    The best books on God - God Is Back by John Micklethwait, Adrian Wooldridge

    5

    God Is Back
    by John Micklethwait, Adrian Wooldridge

The best books on God, recommended by Anthony Gottlieb

The philosopher and former executive editor of The Economist, Anthony Gottlieb, discusses religion and suggests that belief in God only truly declines in a society when economic development brings existential security.

    The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World, recommended by Robin Lane Fox

  • Read
    The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - The World of Late Antiquity by Peter Brown

    1

    The World of Late Antiquity
    by Peter Brown

  • Read
    The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - Pagan and Christian in an Age of Anxiety by E R Dodds

    2

    Pagan and Christian in an Age of Anxiety
    by E R Dodds

  • Read
    The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - Augustine of Hippo by Peter Brown

    3

    Augustine of Hippo
    by Peter Brown

  • Read
    The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - The Inner Citadel by Pierre Hadot

    4

    The Inner Citadel
    by Pierre Hadot

  • Read
    The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - The Jews In The Greek Age by Elias J Bickerman

    5

    The Jews In The Greek Age
    by Elias J Bickerman

The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World, recommended by Robin Lane Fox

Cultural and philosophical changes that occurred in late antiquity are essential to our understanding of the world today, but few us know much about that period. Historian Robin Lane Fox recommends the best books to read to get a good sense of late antiquity.

    The best books on David Hume, recommended by Simon Blackburn

  • Read
    The best books on David Hume - The Life of David Hume by Ernest Mossner

    1

    The Life of David Hume
    by Ernest Mossner

  • Read
    The best books on David Hume - An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume

    2

    An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
    by David Hume

  • Read
    The best books on David Hume - Dialogues and Natural History of Religion by David Hume

    3

    Dialogues and Natural History of Religion
    by David Hume

  • Read
    The best books on David Hume - The Philosophy of David Hume by Norman Kemp-Smith

    4

    The Philosophy of David Hume
    by Norman Kemp-Smith

  • Read
    The best books on David Hume - Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant

    5

    Critique of Pure Reason
    by Immanuel Kant

The best books on David Hume, recommended by Simon Blackburn

Hume had a message he wanted to get out — particularly as regards skepticism about religion — but he was no proto-Richard Dawkins, says Cambridge philosopher, Simon Blackburn. He chooses the best books on (or by) David Hume.

    The best books on Atheism, recommended by Susan Jacoby

  • Read
    The best books on Atheism - The Confessions by Augustine (translated by Maria Boulding)

    1

    The Confessions
    by Augustine (translated by Maria Boulding)

  • Read
    The best books on Atheism - The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine

    2

    The Age of Reason
    by Thomas Paine

  • Read
    The best books on Atheism - The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

    3

    The God Delusion
    by Richard Dawkins

  • Read
    The best books on Atheism - 36 Arguments for the Existence of God by Rebecca Goldstein

    4

    36 Arguments for the Existence of God
    by Rebecca Goldstein

  • Read
    The best books on Atheism - Mortality by Christopher Hitchens

    5

    Mortality
    by Christopher Hitchens

The best books on Atheism, recommended by Susan Jacoby

The main reason for the survival of religion is not a desire to live a better life, but our fear of death, says the atheist author. She chooses the best books on atheism.

    The best books on Morality Without God, recommended by Mary Warnock

  • Read
    The best books on Morality Without God - Dialogues and Natural History of Religion by David Hume

    1

    Dialogues and Natural History of Religion
    by David Hume

  • Read
    The best books on Morality Without God - The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman

    2

    The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ
    by Philip Pullman

  • Read
    The best books on Morality Without God - Godless Morality by Richard Holloway

    3

    Godless Morality
    by Richard Holloway

  • Read
    The best books on Morality Without God - The Collected Philosophical papers by G E M Anscombe

    4

    The Collected Philosophical papers
    by G E M Anscombe

  • Read
    The best books on Morality Without God - Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

    5

    Mansfield Park
    by Jane Austen

The best books on Morality Without God, recommended by Mary Warnock

Which comes first, morality or religion? And what happens when religious dogma clashes with the morality it purports to uphold? British philosopher Mary Warnock recommends the best books on morality without God.

    Kenneth Miller recommends the best Arguments against Creationism

  • Read
    Kenneth Miller recommends the best Arguments against Creationism - The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins

    1

    The Blind Watchmaker
    by Richard Dawkins

  • Read
    Kenneth Miller recommends the best Arguments against Creationism - Endless Forms Most Beautiful by Sean B Carroll

    2

    Endless Forms Most Beautiful
    by Sean B Carroll

  • Read
    Kenneth Miller recommends the best Arguments against Creationism - Evolution by Carl Zimmer

    3

    Evolution
    by Carl Zimmer

  • Read
    Kenneth Miller recommends the best Arguments against Creationism - Creationism's Trojan Horse by Barbara Forrest and Paul R Gross

    4

    Creationism's Trojan Horse
    by Barbara Forrest and Paul R Gross

  • Read
    Kenneth Miller recommends the best Arguments against Creationism - The Devil in Dover by Lauri Lebo

    5

    The Devil in Dover
    by Lauri Lebo

Kenneth Miller recommends the best Arguments against Creationism

Biology professor—and Catholic—Kenneth Miller tells us what we should read to understand the battle being fought between scientists and creationists.

    The Best Nietzsche Books, recommended by Brian Leiter

  • Read
    The Best Nietzsche Books - Nietzsche: A Philosophical Biography by Rüdiger Safranski & translator Shelley Frisch

    1

    Nietzsche: A Philosophical Biography
    by Rüdiger Safranski & translator Shelley Frisch

  • Read
    The Best Nietzsche Books - Nietzsche on Truth and Philosophy by Maudemarie Clark

    2

    Nietzsche on Truth and Philosophy
    by Maudemarie Clark

  • Read
    The Best Nietzsche Books - Nietzsche’s System by John Richardson

    3

    Nietzsche’s System
    by John Richardson

  • Read
    The Best Nietzsche Books - Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche & translated by Walter Kaufmann

    4

    Beyond Good and Evil
    by Friedrich Nietzsche & translated by Walter Kaufmann

  • Read
    The Best Nietzsche Books - On the Genealogy of Morality by Friedrich Nietzsche

    5

    On the Genealogy of Morality
    by Friedrich Nietzsche

The Best Nietzsche Books, recommended by Brian Leiter

Relativist, atheist, existentialist, Nazi. All have been said of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, some with more reason than others. In 2011, we asked Nietzsche expert Brian Leiter to explain the appeal of the controversial philosopher and to recommend books by and about him. This September (2020) our philosophy editor, Nigel Warburton, asked Brian about some of the latest Nietzsche books, notable works that have come out in the decade since we first spoke to him.

    The best books on Sin, recommended by Paula Fredriksen

  • Read
    The best books on Sin - God: A Biography by Jack Miles

    1

    God: A Biography
    by Jack Miles

  • Read
    The best books on Sin - Augustine of Hippo by Peter Brown

    2

    Augustine of Hippo
    by Peter Brown

  • Read
    The best books on Sin - The Confessions by Augustine (translated by Maria Boulding)

    3

    The Confessions
    by Augustine (translated by Maria Boulding)

  • Read
    The best books on Sin - War and Remembrance by Herman Woulk

    4

    War and Remembrance
    by Herman Woulk

  • Read
    The best books on Sin - Christ Stopped at Eboli by Carlo Levi

    5

    Christ Stopped at Eboli
    by Carlo Levi

The best books on Sin, recommended by Paula Fredriksen

Tortured by the sins of your past? Or contemplating new ones? The historian of ancient Christianity recommends five books you to understand the role of sin in Christian thought.

    The best books on Islam in the West, recommended by Tariq Ramadan

  • Read
    The best books on Islam in the West - Muslims in the West by Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad (editor)

    1

    Muslims in the West
    by Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad (editor)

  • Read
    The best books on Islam in the West - Islam in America by Jane I Smith

    2

    Islam in America
    by Jane I Smith

  • Read
    The best books on Islam in the West - Islam and the Blackamerican by Sherman A Jackson

    3

    Islam and the Blackamerican
    by Sherman A Jackson

  • Read
    The best books on Islam in the West - Young, British and Muslim by Philip Lewis

    4

    Young, British and Muslim
    by Philip Lewis

  • Read
    The best books on Islam in the West - British Muslims by Mohammad Siddique Seddon, Dilwar Hussain and Nadeem Malik (editors)

    5

    British Muslims
    by Mohammad Siddique Seddon, Dilwar Hussain and Nadeem Malik (editors)

The best books on Islam in the West, recommended by Tariq Ramadan

The Islamic scholar and commentator tells us what it means to be Muslim and Western, and explains how mainstream views get trapped between noisy extremism and a sensation-seeking media

    The best books on Being Good, recommended by A C Grayling

  • Read
    The best books on Being Good - The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle

    1

    The Nicomachean Ethics
    by Aristotle

  • Read
    The best books on Being Good - Tractatus Theologico-Politicus by Baruch Spinoza & Samuel Shirley

    2

    Tractatus Theologico-Politicus
    by Baruch Spinoza & Samuel Shirley

  • Read
    The best books on Being Good - On Liberty by John Stuart Mill

    3

    On Liberty
    by John Stuart Mill

  • Read
    The best books on Being Good - Rameau’s Nephew by Denis Diderot

    4

    Rameau’s Nephew
    by Denis Diderot

  • Read
    The best books on Being Good - Why I am not a Christian by Bertrand Russell

    5

    Why I am not a Christian
    by Bertrand Russell

The best books on Being Good, recommended by A C Grayling

What does a moral life entail? How does one achieve it? Philosopher AC Grayling picks the best books on “being good.”

    The best books on Christianity, recommended by Richard Harries

  • Read
    The best books on Christianity - The Confessions by Augustine (translated by Maria Boulding)

    1

    The Confessions
    by Augustine (translated by Maria Boulding)

  • Read
    The best books on Christianity - The Cloud of Unknowing by Anonymous

    2

    The Cloud of Unknowing
    by Anonymous

  • Read
    The best books on Christianity - Moral Man and Immoral Society by Reinhold Niebuhr

    3

    Moral Man and Immoral Society
    by Reinhold Niebuhr

  • Read
    The best books on Christianity - The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

    4

    The Brothers Karamazov
    by Fyodor Dostoevsky

  • Read
    The best books on Christianity - On Christian Theology by Rowan Williams

    5

    On Christian Theology
    by Rowan Williams

The best books on Christianity, recommended by Richard Harries

The former bishop of Oxford tells us about books that explore what it means to be a Christian – from St Augustine and medieval mysticism to grappling with Dostoyevsky and more modern dilemmas. He picks the best books on Christianity.

    The best books on Witches and Witchcraft, recommended by Diane Purkiss

  • Read
    The best books on Witches and Witchcraft - Red Shift by Alan Garner

    1

    Red Shift
    by Alan Garner

  • Read
    The best books on Witches and Witchcraft - The Viking Way: Magic and Mind in Late Iron Age Scandinavia by Neil Price

    2

    The Viking Way: Magic and Mind in Late Iron Age Scandinavia
    by Neil Price

  • Read
    The best books on Witches and Witchcraft - Soul Hunters: Hunting, Animism, and Personhood among the Siberian Yukaghirs by Rane Willerslev

    3

    Soul Hunters: Hunting, Animism, and Personhood among the Siberian Yukaghirs
    by Rane Willerslev

  • Read
    The best books on Witches and Witchcraft - The Annotated Collected Poems Edward Thomas (ed. by Edna Longley)

    4

    The Annotated Collected Poems
    Edward Thomas (ed. by Edna Longley)

  • Read
    The best books on Witches and Witchcraft - The Poems of Emily Brontë Emily Brontë (ed. by Derek Roper)

    5

    The Poems of Emily Brontë
    Emily Brontë (ed. by Derek Roper)

The best books on Witches and Witchcraft, recommended by Diane Purkiss

For centuries, the witch has been an index not only of what we fear most in others, but also what we cannot cope with—the powerfully abnormal, strange and often irrational elements—in ourselves. And the best way to understand the history of witches and witchcraft is to first understand the supernatural, according to Diane Purkiss, Professor at Keble College, Oxford and author of the lauded book The Witch in History.

    Books about Travelling in the Muslim World, recommended by Tim Mackintosh-Smith

  • Read
    Books about Travelling in the Muslim World - The Travels of Ibn Battutah by Ibn Battutah (edited by Tim Mackintosh-Smith)

    1

    The Travels of Ibn Battutah
    by Ibn Battutah (edited by Tim Mackintosh-Smith)

  • Read
    Books about Travelling in the Muslim World - The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron

    2

    The Road to Oxiana
    by Robert Byron

  • Read
    Books about Travelling in the Muslim World - A Year Amongst the Persians by Edward G Browne

    3

    A Year Amongst the Persians
    by Edward G Browne

  • Read
    Books about Travelling in the Muslim World - The Sindbad Voyage by Tim Severin

    4

    The Sindbad Voyage
    by Tim Severin

  • Read
    Books about Travelling in the Muslim World - Night and Horses and the Desert by Robert Irwin (editor)

    5

    Night and Horses and the Desert
    by Robert Irwin (editor)

Books about Travelling in the Muslim World, recommended by Tim Mackintosh-Smith

Author and Arabist Tim Mackintosh-Smith tells us about the rich tradition in Islam of travelling to gain knowledge, and directs us towards some of those, both Western and Arab, who’ve inspired with their tales of life on the road.

    The best books on Yoga, recommended by Liz Derow

  • Read
    The best books on Yoga - Yoga for the Three Stages of Life by Srivatsa Ramaswami

    1

    Yoga for the Three Stages of Life
    by Srivatsa Ramaswami

  • Read
    The best books on Yoga - The Ayurvedic Cookbook by Amadea Morningstar

    2

    The Ayurvedic Cookbook
    by Amadea Morningstar

  • Read
    The best books on Yoga - Light on Life by B K S Iyengar

    3

    Light on Life
    by B K S Iyengar

  • Read
    The best books on Yoga - Ramakrishna and His Disciples by Christopher Isherwood

    4

    Ramakrishna and His Disciples
    by Christopher Isherwood

  • Read
    The best books on Yoga - Awakening the Spine by Vanda Scaravelli

    5

    Awakening the Spine
    by Vanda Scaravelli

The best books on Yoga, recommended by Liz Derow

Contrary to its popularization in Western culture, yoga isn’t just a form of fitness: its history is rooted in a long Hindu tradition shaped by great teachers in India. Here we have the best books for those who want to learn more about yoga, recommended by Liz Derow, a longtime practitioner and teacher of yoga in India and around the world.

    The best books on Christmas, recommended by Bruce Forbes

  • Read
    The best books on Christmas - 4000 Years of Christmas by Earl Count and Alice Count

    1

    4000 Years of Christmas
    by Earl Count and Alice Count

  • Read
    The best books on Christmas - The Origins of Christmas by Joseph Kelly

    2

    The Origins of Christmas
    by Joseph Kelly

  • Read
    The best books on Christmas - A Christmas Carol: And Other Stories by Charles Dickens

    3

    A Christmas Carol: And Other Stories
    by Charles Dickens

  • Read
    The best books on Christmas - The Battle for Christmas by Stephen Nissenbaum

    4

    The Battle for Christmas
    by Stephen Nissenbaum

  • Read
    The best books on Christmas - Encyclopedia of Christmas by Tanya Gulevich

    5

    Encyclopedia of Christmas
    by Tanya Gulevich

The best books on Christmas, recommended by Bruce Forbes

Did you know that Santa Claus was a 4th century bishop in what is now Turkey? That Puritans tried to outlaw Christmas? Or Tiny Tim was originally Little Fred? Religious scholar Bruce Forbes recommends books that shed light on Christmas’s pagan past and consumerist present.

    Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction

  • Read
    Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction - Inside Kasrilevke by Sholem Aleichem

    1

    Inside Kasrilevke
    by Sholem Aleichem

  • Read
    Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction - Rabbis and Wives by Chaim Grade

    2

    Rabbis and Wives
    by Chaim Grade

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    Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction - The Chosen by Chaim Potok

    3

    The Chosen
    by Chaim Potok

  • Read
    Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction - The Pagan Rabbi by Cynthia Ozick

    4

    The Pagan Rabbi
    by Cynthia Ozick

  • Read
    Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction - Daniel Deronda by George Eliot

    5

    Daniel Deronda
    by George Eliot

Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction

Jewish literature doesn’t have to be written by Jews, says the novelist, but it does have to speak to the Jewish experience. She tells us about the Jewish writing, from Chaim Potok to George Eliot, that means the most to her.

    The best books on Morality Without God, recommended by Kenan Malik

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    The best books on Morality Without God - Five Dialogues by Plato (translated by GMA Grube)

    1

    Five Dialogues
    by Plato (translated by GMA Grube)

  • Read
    The best books on Morality Without God - The Epistle of Forgiveness by Abul Ala al-Ma’arri

    2

    The Epistle of Forgiveness
    by Abul Ala al-Ma’arri

  • Read
    The best books on Morality Without God - Radical Enlightenment by Jonathan Israel

    3

    Radical Enlightenment
    by Jonathan Israel

  • Read
    The best books on Morality Without God - The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

    4

    The Brothers Karamazov
    by Fyodor Dostoevsky

  • Read
    The best books on Morality Without God - The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus

    5

    The Myth of Sisyphus
    by Albert Camus

The best books on Morality Without God, recommended by Kenan Malik

Religion is often presented as the guardian of moral values. The problem with this, says the author and broadcaster, is that it diminishes what it means to be human. He picks the best books on morality without God.

    The best books on Being Sceptical, recommended by James Randi

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    The best books on Being Sceptical - The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan

    1

    The Demon-Haunted World
    by Carl Sagan

  • Read
    The best books on Being Sceptical - The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins

    2

    The Blind Watchmaker
    by Richard Dawkins

  • Read
    The best books on Being Sceptical - In Darwin’s Shadow by Michael Shermer

    3

    In Darwin’s Shadow
    by Michael Shermer

  • Read
    The best books on Being Sceptical - In Joy Still Felt by Isaac Asimov

    4

    In Joy Still Felt
    by Isaac Asimov

  • Read
    The best books on Being Sceptical - The Coming of the Fairies by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    5

    The Coming of the Fairies
    by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The best books on Being Sceptical, recommended by James Randi

Former magician and internationally renowned debunker of paranormal claims James Randi sharpens his knives against proponents of flim-flam, pseudoscience and the so-called paranormal – and tells us where the creator of Sherlock Holmes went badly wrong. He selects the best books on scepticism for Five Books.

    The best books on Islamic Militancy, recommended by Jason Burke

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    The best books on Islamic Militancy - Jihad by Gilles Kepel

    1

    Jihad
    by Gilles Kepel

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    The best books on Islamic Militancy - A Fury for God by Malise Ruthven

    2

    A Fury for God
    by Malise Ruthven

  • Read
    The best books on Islamic Militancy - Jihad in Saudi Arabia by Thomas Hegghammer

    3

    Jihad in Saudi Arabia
    by Thomas Hegghammer

  • Read
    The best books on Islamic Militancy - The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad

    4

    The Secret Agent
    by Joseph Conrad

  • Read
    The best books on Islamic Militancy - From Fatwa to Jihad by Kenan Malik

    5

    From Fatwa to Jihad
    by Kenan Malik

The best books on Islamic Militancy, recommended by Jason Burke

Jason Burke, journalist and author of an acclaimed book on Al-Qaeda, tells us what he learnt about militants when he was caught in a firefight in Iraq—and suggests five books we should read to understand their motivations.

    The best books on Understanding the Arab World, recommended by Issandr El Amrani

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    The best books on Understanding the Arab World - What’s Really Wrong with the Middle East by Brian Whitaker

    1

    What’s Really Wrong with the Middle East
    by Brian Whitaker

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    The best books on Understanding the Arab World - The Arabs by Eugene Rogan

    2

    The Arabs
    by Eugene Rogan

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    The best books on Understanding the Arab World - Covering Islam by Edward W Said

    3

    Covering Islam
    by Edward W Said

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding the Arab World - Zaat by Sonallah Ibrahim

    4

    Zaat
    by Sonallah Ibrahim

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding the Arab World - The Arabian Nights by Husain Haddawy & Muhsin Mahdi

    5

    The Arabian Nights
    by Husain Haddawy & Muhsin Mahdi

The best books on Understanding the Arab World, recommended by Issandr El Amrani

The influential blogger and journalist tells us why there’s so much misinformation about the Arab world, and suggests what we should read to improve our understanding of the region’s history and current turmoil

    The best books on The Arab World, recommended by Tarek Osman

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    The best books on The Arab World - A History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani

    1

    A History of the Arab Peoples
    by Albert Hourani

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    The best books on The Arab World - The Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz

    2

    The Cairo Trilogy
    by Naguib Mahfouz

  • Read
    The best books on The Arab World - The Future of Culture in Egypt by Taha Hussein

    3

    The Future of Culture in Egypt
    by Taha Hussein

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    The best books on The Arab World - Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih

    4

    Season of Migration to the North
    by Tayeb Salih

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    The best books on The Arab World - Islam and Its Discontents by Abdelwahab Meddeb

    5

    Islam and Its Discontents
    by Abdelwahab Meddeb

The best books on The Arab World, recommended by Tarek Osman

The Egyptian author and journalist discusses Egypt’s past and present and the main issues facing the post-revolutionary Arab world

    The best books on Religion versus Secularism in History, recommended by Martin Marty

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    The best books on Religion versus Secularism in History - A Secular Age by Charles Taylor

    1

    A Secular Age
    by Charles Taylor

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    The best books on Religion versus Secularism in History - Saeculum by R A Markus

    2

    Saeculum
    by R A Markus

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    The best books on Religion versus Secularism in History - World Come of Age by Ronald Gregor Smith (editor)

    3

    World Come of Age
    by Ronald Gregor Smith (editor)

  • Read
    The best books on Religion versus Secularism in History - Out of Revolution by Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy

    4

    Out of Revolution
    by Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy

  • Read
    The best books on Religion versus Secularism in History - The Dream of the Perfect Act by Richard Fenn

    5

    The Dream of the Perfect Act
    by Richard Fenn

The best books on Religion versus Secularism in History, recommended by Martin Marty

The professor of religious history says that though the world may seem to be increasingly secular, the growth of Christianity and Islam in some places disproves it. He chooses five books that fuel the debate

    The best books on The Emergence of Understanding, recommended by Peter Atkins

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    The best books on The Emergence of Understanding - Sacred Texts of the World by Ninian Smart and Richard Hecht (editors)

    1

    Sacred Texts of the World
    by Ninian Smart and Richard Hecht (editors)

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    The best books on The Emergence of Understanding - A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell

    2

    A History of Western Philosophy
    by Bertrand Russell

  • Read
    The best books on The Emergence of Understanding - A Journey into Gravity and Spacetime by J. A. Wheeler

    3

    A Journey into Gravity and Spacetime
    by J. A. Wheeler

  • Read
    The best books on The Emergence of Understanding - The Extended Phenotype by Richard Dawkins

    4

    The Extended Phenotype
    by Richard Dawkins

  • Read
    The best books on The Emergence of Understanding - The Tempest by William Shakespeare

    5

    The Tempest
    by William Shakespeare

The best books on The Emergence of Understanding, recommended by Peter Atkins

Science is the only way to make sense of the world around us and the scientific method the only way to establish truth, says Peter Atkins, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at the University of Oxford. Author of several chemistry textbooks as well as many popular science books, he recommends books that track the evolution of our understanding about the world around us, starting with an anthology of sacred texts and ending with Shakespeare.

    The best books on Jerusalem, City of Peace?, recommended by James Carroll

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    The best books on Jerusalem - How to Read the Bible by James L Kugel

    1

    How to Read the Bible
    by James L Kugel

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    The best books on Jerusalem - God and Empire by John Dominic Crossan

    2

    God and Empire
    by John Dominic Crossan

  • Read
    The best books on Jerusalem - The Iron Cage by Rashi Khalidi

    3

    The Iron Cage
    by Rashi Khalidi

  • Read
    The best books on Jerusalem - The Seventh Million by Tom Segev

    4

    The Seventh Million
    by Tom Segev

  • Read
    The best books on Jerusalem - The Hebrew Republic by Bernard Avishai

    5

    The Hebrew Republic
    by Bernard Avishai

The best books on Jerusalem, City of Peace?, recommended by James Carroll

Jerusalem has been at the center of conflict for millennia and its current problems cannot be blamed on Israelis and Palestinians alone, says bestselling author and former Catholic priest James Carroll.  He picks the best books to understand Jerusalem’s complex history and its message of peace which still gives him hope.

    Versions of the Bible, recommended by Timothy Beal

  • Read
    Versions of the Bible - The Bible The New Oxford Annotated Bible

    1

    The Bible
    The New Oxford Annotated Bible

  • Read
    Versions of the Bible - The Jewish Study Bible (TANAKH Translation) by Adele Berlin, Marc Zvi Brettler, Michael Fishbane

    2

    The Jewish Study Bible (TANAKH Translation)
    by Adele Berlin, Marc Zvi Brettler, Michael Fishbane

  • Read
    Versions of the Bible - The Green Bible by Harper Bibles

    3

    The Green Bible
    by Harper Bibles

  • Read
    Versions of the Bible - Bible Illuminated by Forlaget Illuminated Sweden (Editor)

    4

    Bible Illuminated
    by Forlaget Illuminated Sweden (Editor)

  • Read
    Versions of the Bible - The Woman’s Bible by Elizabeth Cady Stanton (Editor)

    5

    The Woman’s Bible
    by Elizabeth Cady Stanton (Editor)

Versions of the Bible, recommended by Timothy Beal

Religion professor Timothy Beal introduces five different versions of the Bible — from the New Oxford Annotated edition to less traditional “green” and feminist takes

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