Trending philosophy Books on Reddit

Discover highly recommended philosophy books trending on Reddit. Handpicked and updated weekly by reddit community.

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Cover of Cat’s Cradle

Cat’s Cradle

Kurt Vonnegut

Explores themes of religion, science, and the end of the world through the perspective of a fictional religion.

Science FictionSatirePhilosophy
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Cover of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

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.

PhilosophyPsychologyHappiness
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Cover of Dune Messiah

Dune Messiah

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.

Science FictionSpace OperaPhilosophyPolitics
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Cover of Life Lessons: Two Experts on Death and Dying Teach Us About the Gifts of Life

Life Lessons: Two Experts on Death and Dying Teach Us About the Gifts of Life

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler

A compilation of insights and lessons learned from those who are approaching the end of their lives.

Life LessonsSelf-HelpPhilosophy
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Cover of Small Gods

Small Gods

Terry Pratchett

A satirical take on religion, where the god Om is turned into a tortoise and must find faith in the modern world.

philosophyreligionsatire
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Cover of Solenoid

Solenoid

Mircea Cărtărescu

A story navigating the boundaries of reality and imagination, featuring a protagonist who encounters absurdities of life.

surrealismexistentialismphilosophy
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Cover of The Discovery of India

The Discovery of India

Jawaharlal Nehru

A reflective narrative on the evolution of Indian culture, philosophy, and identity by its first Prime Minister.

Cultural HistoryPhilosophyIndian Identity
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Cover of The Book of Disquiet

The Book of Disquiet

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.

Portuguese LiteraturePhilosophyExistentialism
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Cover of Notes from the Underground

Notes from the Underground

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.

philosophyexistentialismsociety
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Cover of The Second Sex

The Second Sex

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.

ExistentialismFeminismPhilosophy
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Cover of The Sea, The Sea

The Sea, The Sea

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.

PhilosophyPsychological FictionExistentialism
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Cover of The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living

The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living

Dalai Lama, Howard Cutler

This book discusses the ways to achieve happiness through compassion, kindness, and a deep understanding of oneself.

HappinessPhilosophyWellness
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Cover of Moby-Dick

Moby-Dick

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.

AdventureSeafaringPhilosophy
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Cover of Candide

Candide

Voltaire

Classic LiteratureSatirePhilosophy
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Cover of Sophie's World

Sophie's World

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.

PhilosophyFictionHistory of Philosophy
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Cover of The Problems of Philosophy

The Problems of Philosophy

Bertrand Russell

Russell presents fundamental philosophical problems and articulates his views and solutions concerning knowledge and reality.

PhilosophyEpistemologyEthics
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Cover of I Who Have Never Known Men

I Who Have Never Known Men

Jacqueline Harpman

A woman wakes up in a post-apocalyptic world, questioning existence and humanity while navigating a male-dominated society.

feminismpost-apocalypticphilosophy
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Cover of Meditations

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

A series of personal writings by the Roman Emperor, reflecting on his philosophy of life and the importance of rationality and virtue.

StoicismSelf-ReflectionPhilosophy
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Cover of The Age of Enlightenment: The 18th Century Philosophers

The Age of Enlightenment: The 18th Century Philosophers

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.

philosophyhistoryenlightenment
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Cover of Ishmael

Ishmael

Daniel Quinn

A philosophical novel about a telepathic gorilla who helps the narrator discover the fundamental problems of civilization.

PhilosophyEnvironmentalism
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Cover of Atlas Shrugged

Atlas Shrugged

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.

PhilosophyCapitalism
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Cover of Fathers and Sons

Fathers and Sons

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.

FamilyGenerational ConflictPhilosophy
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Cover of The Dispossessed

The Dispossessed

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.

dystopiansocietal structuresphilosophyhope
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Cover of The Magic Mountain

The Magic Mountain

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.

modernist literaturephilosophyhealth and illness
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Cover of Animal Farm: A Short History of a Revolutionary Idea

Animal Farm: A Short History of a Revolutionary Idea

Eric Barendt

Explores the idea of revolution as depicted through the lens of animals, providing insights into politics and human society.

animalspoliticsphilosophysocial science
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Cover of A Short History of Nearly Everything

A Short History of Nearly Everything

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.

ScienceHistoryPhilosophy
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Cover of The Order of Time

The Order of Time

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.

philosophyphysicstime
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Cover of A Short Stay in Hell

A Short Stay in Hell

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.

philosophyuniverseperspective
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Cover of The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

Thomas S. Kuhn

PhilosophyScience
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Cover of Existentialism Is a Humanism

Existentialism Is a Humanism

Jean-Paul Sartre

An introduction to existentialist thought, discussing the responsibilities of individuals and the freedom to define one's existence.

PhilosophyExistentialismHumanism
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Cover of One for My Enemy

One for My Enemy

Olivie Blake

A tale of rivalry and ambition set against a backdrop of magical realism, exploring the complexities of human emotions and relationships.

PhilosophyDramaFantasy
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Cover of The Name of the Rose

The Name of the Rose

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.

historical fictionmysteryphilosophy
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Cover of The Stranger

The Stranger

Albert Camus

A man becomes involved in a senseless murder, leading him to confront the absurdity of life and the indifference of the universe.

ExistentialismAbsurdismPhilosophy
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Cover of The Maine Woods

The Maine Woods

Henry David Thoreau

A reflection on conservation and the beauty of nature, detailing Thoreau's explorations in the wilderness of Maine.

NaturePhilosophyAdventure
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Cover of Blood Meridian

Blood Meridian

Cormac McCarthy

A nameless protagonist travels with a violent group of scalp hunters, encountering the brutal realities of savagery in the American West.

ViolenceAmerican WestPhilosophyExistentialism
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Cover of Man’s Search For Meaning

Man’s Search For Meaning

Viktor Frankl

A Holocaust survivor's reflections on the search for meaning in life, drawing on his experiences in concentration camps.

psychologyphilosophymemoir
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Cover of The Lathe of Heaven

The Lathe of Heaven

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.

Science FictionPhilosophyPsychological
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Cover of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

Naval Ravikant

A guide to personal and professional growth, emphasizing self-knowledge and the principles of wealth building, as outlined by entrepreneur Naval Ravikant.

Self-ImprovementWealth CreationPhilosophy
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Cover of The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas

The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas

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.

philosophyethicssocial justice
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Cover of Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting

Natalie Babbitt

A young girl meets a family that has discovered the secret to eternal life and must decide its implications.

lifeimmortalityphilosophy
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Cover of The Brothers Karamazov

The Brothers Karamazov

Fyodor Dostoevsky

The story of the Karamazov family and the moral dilemmas faced by its members, particularly surrounding the theme of faith and doubt.

philosophymoralityfamily dynamics
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