any suggestions on philosophy books to read ??

Question

well i am in high school and i dont really read much i just read a book it was called the anthem by ayn rand this is like the first book i have read in like a year or two
well i really liked it and i would like to read more books
i only like books about philosophy any suggestions also i dont want the book to be real long so yea

Answer 1

"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand is good, although it is very long.
"The Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff is amusing.

Answer 2

Well it sounds like you want to stick with philosophical novels, not philosophy texts, right? You want something philosophical, but with a story.

I'd recommend "Illusions" by Richard Bach (about metaphysical idealism) or anything by C.S. Lewis for Christian philosophy/theology. Euripedes' plays and Homer's Iliad and Odyssey are also a good preparation for studying ancient Greek philosophy (Plato and Aristotle most prominently). Those are the only ones I know of offhand that are stories and not just philosophical works.

If you'd like to venture into non-fiction as well, the options are endless. If you want stuff that's not too long and not too advanced, John Searle and Bertrand Russel are both very easy to follow writers, they'd be a good introduction to philosophical reading.

It's great that you've taken an interest in philosophy, it's a great discipline! Good luck!!

Answer 3

For introductions, I like some philosophy oriented fiction. 1) Sophie's World. - Philosophy explained to a little girl. 2) The Brother's Karamazov - Does God exist? 3) Atlas Shrugged - Capitalism! 4) The Sandman Series - a series of graphic novels on various topics, but mostly about freedom. 5) The Lord of the Flies - Existentialism. 6) Animal Farm - Communism fails.

Answer 4

Blue Like Jazz : Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality - by Donald Miller

It's a very philosophical way of looking at Christianity apart from organized religion. It's an engaging read.

Answer 5

Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-air by Francis J. Beckwith and Gregory Koukl is a short and easy to read book critiquing moral relativism and arguing for moral objectivism.

An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume is very interesting and thought-provoking. It's about epistemology. Hume defends a skeptical point of view about empiricle knowledge.

MIracles by C.S. Lewis. All of Lewis' stuff is well-articulated and easy to read. His book on miracles addresses the philosophical arguments for and against miracles, including Hume's argument against rational belief in miracles in the book I mentioned above. He also makes an interesting argument for the existence of the soul.

Answer 6

The Tao According to Pooh and the Te According to Piglet. both are little tiny books and will change your view of life quite a lot. Pax - C

Answer 7

if you want good philosophy ayn rand is the wrong way to go. she's a complete and total moron.

if you want political philosophy, try peter kropotkin, mikhail bakunin, rudolf rocker, anton pannekoek, nestor mahkno, alexander berkman, errico malatesta, or emma goldman.

i'd also recommend kierkegaard, camus, nietszche, sartre, kafka, or perhaps some descartes.

Answer 8

Bookyards has over 375 free ebooks on Philosophy at http://www.bookyards.com/categories.html?type=books&category_id=599

I am sure that you will find something of interest there.

In addition, there is a list of free online libraries that specialize on philosophy at http://www.bookyards.com/search_results.html?type=links&category_id=1796

Bookyards is a free online library and education portal at http://www.bookyards.com

Answer 9

may i suggest any books by eagleton?