If, like me, your philosophical knowledge only seems to go as far as popular cultural references (for me, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: "What is the answer to the meaning of life?" Answer: "42"), you might feel as equally overwhelmed in beginning to understand more on the subject. Your preconceptions of philosophy might be that it seems difficult to understand, boring, and strange in places.
In this article I’ve shared some book recommendations that provide a great beginner’s guide to philosophy to get you started and feed your intrigue. Easier to understand than the more advanced texts of Plato and Socrates, they’ll provide a great introduction and will get you thinking more about the world around you in the search for truth.
What is philosophy?
Philosophy is literally the love of wisdom and has been studied for thousands of years, tracing back to ancient Greece. It’s about understanding your world, what gives it meaning and the nature of its reality; using a combination of logic and reasoning to better understand and find truth in it, ourselves and the relationship between the two.
Philosophy gets you thinking in ways you wouldn’t have thought before and questioning the basis of being: “Why do I feel what I feel?” and “Am I truly in charge of my own choices?” As a budding philosopher, you can begin by splitting the subject into three main pillars:
1. The metaphysical
To study the nature of reality including the world, the universe and everything in being.
2. The epistemological
The study of knowledge in the validation of the world around us - is everything as it seems? And how can we be certain?
3. The practical - divided into ethics and aesthetics
The study of human morals, how we conduct ourselves and what is deemed right and wrong. It is also the study of the nature of beauty; considering what it is and if it even exists.
Why can philosophy be difficult to understand?
Some people may find philosophy difficult to grasp because it involves trying to understand concepts that are often outside the realms of personal experience and sometimes trying to answer big questions such as:
What is the nature of reality?
What is knowledge?
What is the meaning of life?
Does God exist?
As you can see, huge questions that may never be answered. By setting your assumptions of the world aside and coming to it with a fresh mind set, you’ll be able to explore questions you’d have never thought to ask.
It also comes down to the fact that philosophy is meant to be difficult! It’s about trying to understand and reason the unknown and while it might be frustrating, it can also be enlightening.
Luckily these books offer a great introduction to the subject in understandable, engaging and intriguing ways…
Best Philosophy Books for Beginners
1 of 10At The Existentialist Café by Sarah Bakewell
This book effortless blends biography and philosophical ideas to serve up a novel filled with character and humour that is easy to understand. Three young philosophers meet at a cafe and, by the time they've finished their drinks, are inspired to a new way of thinking.Also available on Kindle
2 of 10Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
It may be aimed at teenagers, but this book is a great introduction to understanding the history of philosophy and how it shapes our modern world. When 14-year-old Sophie encounters a mysterious mentor who introduces her to philosophy, mysteries deepen in her own life and she has to use her new-found knowledge to find the truth. An addictive blend of mystery, philosophy and fantasy, Sophie's World is an international phenomenon which has sold more than 40 million copies.Also available on Kindle
3 of 10The Philosophy Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained by Will Buckingham
Easy to dip in and out of, this non-fiction book is great for philosophy 101. This book presents the complex ideas of philosophy but made easy in bite-sized explanations and diagrams. Begin with the philosophers in ancient Greece, and continue through history with over 100 thinkers, their ideas, approaches, and theories. Learn from the best by mastering the basics.Also available on Kindle
4 of 10The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain de Botton
Alain de Botton sets six of the finest minds in the history of philosophy to work on the problems of everyday life; from unpopularity to a broken heart, lack of money to the fear of failure."Witty, thoughful, entertaining ... a stylish book, which manages to make philosophy both enjoyable and relevant." Anthony Clare, Literary Review.Also available on Kindle
5 of 10The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russell
Written 90 years ago, this book remains as relevant as ever. Easily applicable to modern day, the book shows how thinking can help us deal with things in life we can't control and how you can change your approach to these situations in order to live a happier life. Russell lays out a wise prescription to remedy everyday issues.Also available on Kindle
6 of 10The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm
This book will get you philosophising over relationships and the meaning of love as it exists in real life, not its portrayal in films and fairytales. It talks about the different types of love you can experience making it relatable and understandable as a beginner."Perhaps the most important - and beautiful - book I've ever read... It's written for the layperson, and doesn't require any expertise." Amazon review by S.P. MeadAlso available on Kindle
7 of 10The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
This gripping, thought-provoking novel encompasses passion and philosophy, infidelity and ideas as you follow the lives of the characters as they navigate love, life and surprises. It'll leave you feeling melancholic and could change your thinking on the human condition when you've finished.Also available on Kindle
8 of 10What We Owe to Each Other by T.M. Scanlon
Popularised by the Netflix show 'The Good Place' , T.M. Scanlon seeks to answer similar questions surrounding what we can judge to be ethically right or wrong, and how society functions around morality. It's a slightly more difficult read to others on this list, but a great complimentary companion to the TV series if you're looking for a more visual interpretation.Also available on Kindle
9 of 10The Pig That Wants To Be Eaten: And 99 Other Thought Experiments by Julian Baggini
Not only does this book serve complicated philosophical and ethical ideas in bite-sized, easily digestible chunks, it puts YOU in the driving seat with 100 thought problems to ponder. These questions will leave you inspired, informed and scratching your head!Also available on Kindle
10 of 10Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy by Simon Blackburn
This is a book about the big questions in life: knowledge, consciousness, fate, God, truth, goodness, justice. It is for anyone who believes there are big questions out there, but doesn't know how to approach them. A great general introduction to some of the most important areas of philosophy that will give you a good grasp coming into the subject.Also available on Kindle
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