Confucius
READING LIST

Confucius The Best 5 Books to Read

Confucianism is a philosophical tradition based on the teachings of ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius (551 BCE - 479 BCE), who is considered to be one of the most significant thinkers in East Asian history.

In the 2,500 years since Confucius offered his teachings, many interpretations and schools have arisen from his thought — some of which have been key guiding principles for various Chinese dynasties over the centuries.

However, the core idea that draws the diverse tradition of Confucianism together is that living a good life depends on the quality of our social relations. The core Confucian texts of Confucius, Mengzi, and Xunzi encourage us to question and reflect on the roles we occupy, as well as the obligations we have in those roles — to friends, family, social communities, and even the global population.

Philosophies for Living: the Ultimate Guide to Enriching Your Personal Philosophy

★★★★★ (50+ reviews)

Enhance your approach to life by exploring 7 of the world’s wisest and most influential philosophies for living — including Confucianism, Buddhism, and Stoicism.

Sign Up Now

This reading list consists of the best books of and about Confucianism. From introductions to core Confucian texts, after reading the books on this list, you’ll understand exactly why this great philosophical tradition remains so influential today. Let’s jump in!

1. Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction, by Daniel K. Gardner

Published in 2014, Confucian specialist and professor Daniel K. Gardner’s Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction is a brilliant starting place for anyone with a budding interest in the subject. Gardner offers a compelling survey of the philosophy and history of Confucianism, illuminating its answers to the questions of what makes a good person, as well as what makes a good government. Gardner examines how the answers offered by Confucius shaped, and continue to shape, Chinese culture and society. Coming in at an accessible 152 pages, this is a very nice entry point to Confucian philosophy.

Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction, by Daniel K. Gardner

2. Thinking Through Confucius, by David L. Hall and Roger Ames

For a more in-depth and academic examination of the philosophy behind Confucian thinking, look no further than David L. Hall and Roger Ames’s 1987 Thinking Through Confucius. In their rich analysis, Hall and Ames attempt to build a bridge between Western philosophy and Confucianism, investigating what philosophy as practiced by both traditions even means. A more demanding and challenging read, enthusiastic students of Confucianism will derive much value from this work.

Thinking Through Confucius, by David L. Hall & Roger Ames

3. The Analects, by Confucius

Turning from introductions to primary Confucian texts, where better to start than with the most accessible collection of aphorisms and verses attributed to Confucius himself? The Analects — here translated, contextualized, and introduced by famed Chinese professor and author D. C. Lau — are a collection of Confucius’s sayings brought together by his pupils shortly after his death in 497 BCE. Together, they express the Confucian code for living according to virtue. If you’re interested in Confucian philosophy, this beautiful work belongs on your bookshelf.

The Analects, by Confucius

4. Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries, by Mengzi

Mengzi was a Confucian philosopher who lived just one century after Confucius. His deeply influential interpretation and expansion of Confucian thought — based on the judgment that people are generally good — is translated and contextualized brilliantly by Bryan Van Norden in Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries. This edition is also accompanied by selected passages from the classic commentary of Zhu Xi, a Chinese philosopher who lived from 1130 to 1200. This essential primary work will augment the understanding of any Confucian student.

Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries, by Mengzi

5. Xunzi: The Complete Text, by Xunzi

Xunzi was a Confucian philosopher who lived two centuries after Confucius. In contrast to Mengzi, Xunzi’s interpretation and expansion of Confucian thought was based on the judgment that people are inherently bad. In Xunzi: The Complete Text, beautifully translated by Eric L. Hutton, Xunzi presents a sophisticated vision for Confucian ethics, politics, warfare, language, ritual, human nature, and more. This edition includes helpful contextual and exploratory notes, making this an essential work for any serious student of Confucian philosophy.

Xunzi: The Complete Text, by Xunzi

Further reading

Are there any other books you think should be on this list? Let us know via email or drop us a message on Twitter or Instagram.

In the meantime, why not explore more of our reading lists on the best philosophy books:

philosophy bookshop
READING LISTS

View All Reading Lists

Essential Philosophy Books by Subject

Philosophy Break

COMING SOON


COURSE & COMMUNITY

Philosophies for Living: the Ultimate Guide to Enriching Your Personal Philosophy

Enhance your approach to life by exploring 7 of the world’s wisest and most influential philosophies for living — including Stoicism, Buddhism, and Existentialism. Register your interest now:

Stay notified on when the course is ready and secure a launch discount.

★★★★★ (50+ reviews for our courses)

NEW!


6-DAY COURSE

NEW!

6-DAY COURSE

Your Myth-Busting Guide to Nietzsche & His 5 Greatest Ideas

Introduction to Nietzsche

Learn everything you need to know about Nietzsche in just six 30-minute daily chapters. This course distills his best and most misunderstood ideas, from God is dead to the Übermensch.

★★★★★ (12 reviews)

Learn More about Course
Introduction to Nietzsche

Latest Course Reviews:

★★★★★  Amazing

This course is amazing! You can agree or not with Nietzsche’s views, but the professionalism, the methodology, the clarity, and deepness of the investigation is really comprehensive. I totally advise philosophy fans to do this course.

VERIFIED BUYER

  Elsa V. on 6 December 2022

★★★★★  Very informative

Very good and informative. Written with easy and comprehensible language. Enjoyed throughout - every line of the course was a delight. Keep doing what you're doing!

VERIFIED BUYER

  Milad A. on 24 November 2022

★★★★★  Excellent

The course was interesting and challenging and exceeded my expectations. The content was excellent, stimulating, and well written. A lot of depth was shared on each topic. There is much to learn from this great thinker. Thank you for the opportunities.

VERIFIED BUYER

  Robert J. on 19 July 2022

See All Course Reviews

Life's Big Questions

Latest Course Reviews:

★★★★★  Great

The course is a very well-written, interesting overview of the main ideas in philosophy. It’s a concise, yet not superficial, exploration of the big questions, written in a way that challenges you to reframe your understanding on life. My favorite chapter was the Descartes and Matrix one (#2?). Thanks for this - it was great!

VERIFIED BUYER

  Terence B. on 10 March 2023

★★★★★  Endlessly fascinating

Awesome, endlessly fascinating course experience. The content was very interesting and easy to understand, and made me want to dive deeper into the topics. My favorite chapter was chapter 5: 'How should we approach life?'. It was so fascinating that after reading it I was reflecting for like 2 hours!

VERIFIED BUYER

  Alex K. on 18 December 2022

★★★★★  Very good starting point

Easy to understand, entertaining and thought-provoking and has given me some new approaches that I’ll continue to think about. The first and last chapters were my favorites. I find the question 'why is there anything at all?' is a mind blower. And the last chapter (especially about absurdity) relates to that. Thanks!

VERIFIED BUYER

  Mario H. on 26 November 2022

See All Course Reviews

Latest Breaks

Each philosophy break takes only a few minutes to read, and is crafted to expand your mind and spark your curiosity.

Landscape of Ancient Greece, by Pierre Henri de Valenciennes
The Garden of Epicurus
Aristotle with a Bust of Homer, Rembrandt
Fear of Black Consciousness, by Lewis Gordon

View All Breaks

START LEARNING

Discover exactly what philosophy is and how it can improve your life with just 1 email per day for 3 days

Philosophy Basics

What is philosophy? Why is it important? How can it improve your life? Discover the answers to all these questions and more with our free, 3-lesson introductory email course:

★★★★★ (50+ reviews for our courses). Unsubscribe any time.

Philosophy Basics