Philosophy Books: Classic & Modern

Our life is what our thoughts make it. The extraordinary writings of Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180), the only Roman emperor to have also been a stoic philosopher, have for centuries been praised for their wisdom, insight and guidanc…

This compilation of 365 daily lessons on Stoic philosophy is designed to be started at any point in the year. The teachings of Stoic philosophy began and thrived in the Greek and Roman world until the 3rd century AD, and has since…

Solnit maps the extraordinary revolution of ideas and rights that we've experienced over the last fifty years, which has profoundly changed our world. In recognising the interdependent and symbiotic relationships in nature and amo…

In a world often marked by chaos and uncertainty, it's easy to feel unmoored, as if the ground beneath you is always shifting. This book is here to serve as your compass: a steady reminder that even when the way forward seems uncl…

There’s more to Stoicism than shrugging your shoulders and getting on with it, as Tom Hodgkinson discovers in this witty and enlightening book. Stoicism is an enduring and ancient philosophy that can help you with everything from …

In this essay written during the worst of the London blitz, Orwell discusses socialism, patriotism, an English revolution and how to make the country a better place. His passionate argument about the need for class consciousness a…

What is truth? How can I lead an ethical life? Do I have free will? Questions such as these have plagued world-famous philosophers since ancient times. Find out how they have sought to answer them and more in this captivating guid…

Philosophy: 100 Essential Thinkers: The Ideas That Have Shaped Our World is an A-to-Z format covering the ideas of history's most influential thinkers, from Thales of Miletus to contemporary philosophers such as Wittgenstein and P…

In Beyond Good and Evil, Friedrich Nietzsche dismantles traditional notions of morality, religion, and truth, challenging readers to question inherited values and think beyond binary oppositions. With provocative aphorisms and pie…

Discover the pillars of philosophy and stoke your philosophical spirit with this accessible hardback guide, featuring informative diagrams, helpful text boxes, and captivating full-color images.From Aristotle to Kant, the great th…

Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution.They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted…

In this profound and moving philosophical statement, Camus poses the fundamental question: If human existence has no meaning, is life worth living?'What I touch, what resists me - that is what I understand'As Camus argues, if ther…

Millions have already benefited from the wisdom dispensed in The Courage to Be Disliked, its simple yet profound advice showing us how to harness our inner power to become the person we would like to be.A philosopher and a student…

How can Stoicism inspire us to lead more enjoyable lives?In the past few years, Stoicism has been making a comeback. But what exactly did the Stoics believe? In Lessons in Stoicism, philosopher John Sellars weaves together the key…

From the UK's foremost literary psychoanalyst, a dazzling new book on the universal urge to change our lives.We live in a world in which we are invited to change to become our best selves through politics, or fitness, or diet, or …

From acclaimed psychoanalyst Adam Phillips, a meditation on what we must give up to feel more alive.To give up or not to give up?The question can feel inescapable but the answer is never simple.Giving up our supposed vices is one …

A bold, provocative reckoning with our current political delusions and dysfunctions.Ever since its publication in 1651, Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan has unsettled and challenged how we understand the world. Condemned and vilified by …

As the world's superpowers and corporations jostle for control in space, A. C. Grayling asks: who really owns our planet?'Grayling brings satisfying order to daunting subjects.' STEVEN PINKERSilicon for microchips; manganese for b…

"The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran is a timeless spiritual and philosophical classic that explores profound truths about the human experience. Originally published in 1923, the book is a collection of poetic essays delivered by a wise…

The Art of War By Sun Tzu Discover the strategic genius of Sun Tzu in The Art of War, translated and annotated by Lionel Giles. This ancient Chinese military classic, written over 2,500 years ago, offers timeless wisdom on strateg…

The prophet Almustafa is leaving the city of Orphalese to return to his native island. The citizens, distraught at his departure, gather for the prophet's farewell address, in which he speaks great truths related to love, marriage…

Written during the height of second-wave feminism, Sontag's essays remain strikingly relevant to our contemporary conversations. At times powerfully in sync and at others powerfully at odds with them, they are always characteristi…

The Prophet represents the acme of Kahlil Gibran's achievement. Writing in English, Gibran adopted the tone and cadence of King James I's Bible, fusing his personalised Christian philosophy with a spirit and oriental wisdom that d…

In a series of 50 accessible essays, Adam Fleming introduces and explains the history, key ideas and tools of democracy developed by some of the world's greatest thinkers - spanning from the ancient Greeks to the present day. From…

In a series of 50 accessible essays, Ben Dupré introduces and explains the central ideas of politics, philosophy, religion, economics, science, and the arts that have engaged key thinkers and leaders, from Plato to the present day…

In a series of 50 accessible essays, Ben Dupré introduces and explains the fundamental concepts of politics including political theory, ideologies and the machinery of politics. From revolution to feminism, monarchy to poli…

Written in Greek by the only Roman emperor who was also a philosopher, without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a remarkable series of challenging spiritual reflections and exercises developed…

If you are reading this, you may already be a humanist. Even if you don't know it.Do you love literature and the arts? Do you have a strong moral compass despite not being formally religious? Do you simply believe that individual …

Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution.   They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comfor…

A bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom - are these rooms all that make a home? Not at all, argues Emanuele Coccia. The buildings we inhabit are of immense psychological and cultural significance. They play a decisive role in human flour…