The 20 Best Philosophy Books of All Time (2024)

Welcome to our Best Philosophy Books Collection. Here you’ll find summaries of the best philosophy books for beginners. Whether you want to explore the fundamental questions of existence or dive deep into the works of great philosophers, these must-read books on philosophy will surprise you with profound insights and ideas.

16 The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene is a self-help book that explains how powerful people have gained and maintained their control over the centuries. While controversial for its manipulative tactics, this book also shares eye-opening insights into history, strategy, and human nature.

"Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish." —Robert Greene

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17 As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

As a Man Thinketh says our thoughts set the course our life, not our circumstances. James Allen says thoughts are seeds for actions, so our mind is a garden where we must cultivate the right seeds. This short, inspiring book still influences many modern self-help teachers.

"Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are." —James Allen

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18 Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Thinking, Fast and Slow explains how people make decisions using two mental systems: "fast" thinking is instinctive and emotional, while "slow" thinking is deliberate and logical. Daniel Kahneman helps us understand our when our mind fall into common biases and irrational shortcuts, so we can make better decisions in the future.

"A reliable way to make people believe in falsehoods is frequent repetition, because familiarity is not easily distinguished from truth." —Daniel Kahneman

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19 Maps of Meaning by Jordan B Peterson

Maps of Meaning says that myths have a tremendous unseen value. They laid the foundation for large, stable and successful civilizations that lasted thousands of years. Myths also provide time-tested wisdom to help us eradicate evil in the social world, and move past unpredictable catastrophes in our personal lives.

"I don't think that you have any insight whatsoever into your capacity for good until you have some well-developed insight into your capacity for evil." —Jordan B Peterson

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20 The True Believer by Eric Hoffer

The True Believer shows how the same human frustrations drive all mass movements—whether social, political or religious. People join mass movements to escape their ineffectual and helpless individual self. Eric Hoffer wrote this book 70 years ago, but it's still frighteningly relevant today.

"Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for the lost faith in ourselves." —Eric Hoffer

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