Discover highly recommended philosophy books trending on Reddit. Handpicked and updated weekly by reddit community.
Back to All TopicsKurt Vonnegut
Explores themes of religion, science, and the end of the world through the perspective of a fictional religion.
Jonathan Haidt
Haidt combines ancient wisdom from different cultures with modern psychological studies to explore what truly makes us happy, addressing the complexities of modern life and how we can navigate them.
Frank Herbert
Set in the Dune universe, this sequel to Dune follows Paul Atreides as he navigates the complexities of power, prophecy, and the consequences of his actions after becoming Emperor.
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler
A compilation of insights and lessons learned from those who are approaching the end of their lives.
Terry Pratchett
A satirical take on religion, where the god Om is turned into a tortoise and must find faith in the modern world.
Mircea Cărtărescu
A story navigating the boundaries of reality and imagination, featuring a protagonist who encounters absurdities of life.
Jawaharlal Nehru
A reflective narrative on the evolution of Indian culture, philosophy, and identity by its first Prime Minister.
Fernando Pessoa
A semi-autobiographical work that reflects the fragmented thoughts of the author, depicting the life of a small city and its people, capturing the essence of Portuguese identity.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
A deep psychological exploration of the mind of an unnamed narrator who reflects on his life and the human condition in a society he feels disconnected from.
Simone de Beauvoir
A foundational text in feminist philosophy which critiques the historical treatment of women and examines the ways in which women have been subjugated by society.
Iris Murdoch
The story follows a retired theatre director who retreats to the seaside, where he reassesses his life and the relationships he left behind, exploring themes of existence and morality.
Dalai Lama, Howard Cutler
This book discusses the ways to achieve happiness through compassion, kindness, and a deep understanding of oneself.
Herman Melville
The narrative follows Ishmael's whaling voyage on the Pequod, commanded by the obsessed Captain Ahab, who is hell-bent on revenge against the giant white whale, Moby Dick.
Voltaire
Jostein Gaarder
A novel that serves as an introduction to Western philosophy through the story of a young girl, Sophie, who embarks on a philosophical journey as she receives mysterious letters from a philosopher.
Bertrand Russell
Russell presents fundamental philosophical problems and articulates his views and solutions concerning knowledge and reality.
Jacqueline Harpman
A woman wakes up in a post-apocalyptic world, questioning existence and humanity while navigating a male-dominated society.
Marcus Aurelius
A series of personal writings by the Roman Emperor, reflecting on his philosophy of life and the importance of rationality and virtue.
Charles K. Smith
This book covers the major philosophers of the 18th century and their contributions to modern thought, in a simplified manner for easy understanding.
Daniel Quinn
A philosophical novel about a telepathic gorilla who helps the narrator discover the fundamental problems of civilization.
Ayn Rand
A dystopian novel that explores a society where the government is oppressive, the economy is collapsing, and the most productive members of society disappear.
Ivan Turgenev
The story centers on the relationship between the father and son, highlighting the conflict between generations and the ideological turmoil in Russia during the 19th century.
Ursula K. Le Guin
An exploration of two contrasting worlds, one capitalist and one anarchist, through the eyes of a physicist who seeks to reconcile the differences and find a place where he truly belongs.
Thomas Mann
A young man named Hans Castorp visits a sanatorium and is drawn into the philosophical debates among its inhabitants while grappling with the concept of time.
Eric Barendt
Explores the idea of revolution as depicted through the lens of animals, providing insights into politics and human society.
Bill Bryson
This book explores scientific concepts and the history of our planet, presenting complex topics in an engaging way, aiming to make science accessible to the general reader, and ultimately reflecting on the nature of knowledge and understanding.
Carlo Rovelli
This book delves into the nature of time, presenting complex ideas of physics intertwined with philosophical reflections that challenge traditional perceptions of time.
Steven L. Peck
A thought-provoking narrative that explores the scale of the universe and the human condition, leaving readers with a lasting impact on their perception of life.
Thomas S. Kuhn
Jean-Paul Sartre
An introduction to existentialist thought, discussing the responsibilities of individuals and the freedom to define one's existence.
Olivie Blake
A tale of rivalry and ambition set against a backdrop of magical realism, exploring the complexities of human emotions and relationships.
Umberto Eco
Set in a medieval monastery, a Franciscan friar investigates a series of mysterious deaths amidst a backdrop of theological debates and historical intrigue. Eco's layered narrative blends fiction with actual historical events, presenting deep philosophical and cultural analyses.
Albert Camus
A man becomes involved in a senseless murder, leading him to confront the absurdity of life and the indifference of the universe.
Henry David Thoreau
A reflection on conservation and the beauty of nature, detailing Thoreau's explorations in the wilderness of Maine.
Cormac McCarthy
A nameless protagonist travels with a violent group of scalp hunters, encountering the brutal realities of savagery in the American West.
Viktor Frankl
A Holocaust survivor's reflections on the search for meaning in life, drawing on his experiences in concentration camps.
Ursula K. Le Guin
George Orr discovers that his dreams can alter reality, leading him to a conflict with a psychiatrist who seeks to control his abilities and reshape the world according to his own vision.
Naval Ravikant
A guide to personal and professional growth, emphasizing self-knowledge and the principles of wealth building, as outlined by entrepreneur Naval Ravikant.
Ursula K. Le Guin
A thought-provoking story about a utopian city where the happiness of the inhabitants is dependent on the suffering of a single child.
Natalie Babbitt
A young girl meets a family that has discovered the secret to eternal life and must decide its implications.
Fyodor Dostoevsky
The story of the Karamazov family and the moral dilemmas faced by its members, particularly surrounding the theme of faith and doubt.