Western Philosophy
READING LIST

The History of Western Philosophy The Best 5 Books to Read

Reading a book on the history of Western philosophy in its entirety might seem foreboding – but imagine writing one! Thankfully, a number of authors have stepped up to the Herculean task, providing us with a complete overview of how Western philosophy has unfolded over the last two and a half thousand years.

The following reading list contains the best of such books. With each, you'll be taken on an illuminating journey from the pre-Socratic philosophers of Ancient Greece, through medieval times and the ideas of the Enlightenment, right up to the analytic and continental philosophy of today. Fasten your seat belts!

1. The History of Western Philosophy, by Bertrand Russell

The History of Western Philosophy, by Bertrand Russell

Where better to start on the history of Western philosophy than with the perspective of one of the subject's greats? Bertrand Russell was a towering figure in 20th-century thought. Originally published in 1945, The History of Western Philosophy is Russell's brilliant, if slightly biased, look back at all prominent thinkers that came before him. It's a very accessible and enjoyable read.

2. A New History of Western Philosophy, by Anthony Kenny

A New History of Western Philosophy, by Anthony Kenny

Anthony Kenny, a highly thought of philosopher in his own right, is the first person since Russell to attempt a complete, single-authored history of Western philosophy. A New History of Western Philosophy, first published in 2007, is epic in scope and lauded as one of the strongest and best-researched introductions to the subject. Kenny combines rich biographical context with academic rigour to create a wonderfully lucid account of philosophy's development. It's an essential book to have on the shelf for anyone interested in philosophy.

3. A Brief History of Western Philosophy, by Anthony Kenny

A Brief History of Western Philosophy, by Anthony Kenny

It's that man Kenny again! Slightly less epic than his New History, Anthony Kenny's A Brief History of Western Philosophy, published in 1996, is no less enlightening. If you're looking for a more manageable read on Western philosophy's history that still covers all the bases in thoughtful fashion, this is the book for you.

4. The Columbia History of Western Philosophy, by Richard Popkin

The Columbia History of Western Philosophy, by Richard Popkin

You might think assembling 63 separate scholars to contribute toward a complete history of Western philosophy would lead to a mess of conflicting styles, interpretations, and opinions. Not so: enter Richard Popkin. In The Columbia History of Western Philosophy, published in 2006, Popkin weaves the contributions together with impressive editorial skill, providing a single compelling narrative. The end result is another essential for the bookshelf.

5. The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy, by Bryan Magee

The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy, by Bryan Magee

A little lighter than other entries on this list, Bryan Magee's The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy, published in 1987, is a must for two reasons. Firstly, it offers an exciting account of Western philosophy's greatest thinkers. Secondly, it does so through interviews with some of the most important philosophers of the late 20th century, granting insight into their thoughts, ideas, and personalities too. This approach leads to a thoroughly engaging overview for anyone interested in Western philosophy.

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 intro

A great overview and motivating for further study. Course delivery worked great - one-a-day was just right and I was left excited for the next day's delivery. I liked the way the context was set and particularly liked the fact that guidance was given - major topics, easy explanation of each. Overall a great intro to get started and I particularly appreciate the recommended reading lists for each, too.

VERIFIED BUYER

  Antony H. on 4 June 2023

★★★★★  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

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.

Monte Civetta, by Elijah Walton (1867)
The Buddha in Bhutan
Landscape of Ancient Greece, by Pierre Henri de Valenciennes
The Garden of Epicurus

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