An Introduction to Philosophy The Best 5 Books to Read
Philosophy literally means ‘love of wisdom’, but defining it beyond this becomes a little tricky. In a nutshell, philosophy concerns itself with deep, fundamental questions: from how best we should live our lives, to the basic nature of the worlds we live in.
But within this nutshell resides a whole universe of feeling, reason, and meaning (for a fuller exploration, see my quick explainers on what philosophy is and why philosophy is important today). Considering such mammoth subject matter, it's difficult to know where to start.
But fear not! This reading list contains the best general introductions to philosophy. Each book discusses the enduring questions philosophers have tackled throughout history – questions you have probably wondered about yourself. You know the ones. Why does anything exist? What's the right thing to do? Is the world around us ‘real’?
The aim of philosophy is not necessarily to give you the answers to these questions, but rather to equip you with the right tools to perform your own investigation – and discover the answers for yourself. By introducing the approaches of philosophy's best minds, the books on this list set you on that path.
Thomas Nagel is the brilliant contemporary philosopher behind Mortal Questions and The View From Nowhere. Written in 1987, Nagel’s What Does It All Mean? is a lucid and accessible introduction to philosophy, setting forth the central problems of philosophical inquiry for beginners.
A slim book at just over 100 pages, Nagel covers free will, right and wrong, death, language, the meaning of life and other core topics in clear, illuminating language that anyone interested in philosophy would strongly benefit from reading.
2. The Problems of Philosophy, by Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell was a towering figure of the 20th century. Though The History of Western Philosophy is perhaps his better-known work for the general reader, Russell wrote The Problems of Philosophy in 1912 as a short, accessible introduction to the subject. He presents philosophy in engaging and relevant ways that ignite the curiosity of the reader.
The Problems of Philosophy can be enjoyed in an evening, and – spoiler alert – you’ll never look at tables the same way again.
3. The Philosophy Prescription: Lessons from Big Thinkers for Every Stage of Life, by Jack Maden
The Philosophy Prescription matches key ideas from ancient and contemporary thinkers to 16 common life stages. From being someone’s child and experiencing first love, to navigating friendships, families, careers, money, memory, ennui, grief, and impermanence: what guidance can philosophers from Socrates and Confucius, to Nietzsche and Iris Murdoch, offer us?
Of course, I’m a little biased, as this is actually my book! But I wrote it very much as an introduction to the philosophical ideas I think are the most important and life-enhancing for people looking to get into (or expand their knowledge of) the subject.
As I declared in this interview about The Philosophy Prescription, “I hope my book serves as a welcoming gateway, replete with a bounty of philosophical goodies, for people to then journey onward and discover the wisdom of philosophy for themselves.”
4. Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy, by Simon Blackburn
Published in 1999, this wonderfully-written book begins with contemporary philosopher Simon Blackburn's rallying cry for the study of philosophy, before diving into discussion of the key philosophical themes and thinkers throughout history.
Each chapter of Think acts as a self-contained guide on subjects ranging from skepticism and ethics, to self-identity and God. You can thus take it all in in bitesize chunks, issue by issue, chapter by chapter.
Nigel Warburton’s Philosophy: The Basics is ideal for a general overview of the main arguments in philosophy.
First published in 1992, and now in its fifth edition, Warburton’s book gently eases the reader into the world of philosophy, touching all the big issues like God, science, art, and morality through easy-to-understand and powerful analogies.
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:
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