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Nonfiction Books » Philosophy Books » Ancient Philosophy

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Ancient Philosophy

Last updated: September 25, 2024

Philosophy in the ancient world was not the exclusive preserve of the Greeks, although it is often presented as such. Our interviews on the subject put that right. Bryan van Norden chooses his best books on world philosophy, including two works of ancient Chinese philosophy, two from Europe and one from India. Michael Puett chooses his best books on Chinese philosophy, arguing that the philosophical enquiries of Confucius in China were driven by socio-economic changes that affected the whole Eurasian landmass at the end of the bronze age.

Peter Adamson talks about philosophy in the Islamic World and the interplay of the philosophical tradition in the Arabic-speaking world with the philosophy of ancient Greece.  He explains what was original in that tradition and why he thinks that Avicenna was the most important medieval philosopher of any religious persuasion.

MM McCabe talks about Socrates and Angela Hobbs discusses the Presocratics. Melissa Lane chooses her best books on Plato. Other interviewees point to the enduring appeal of ancient philosophy in finding a way to live. Edith Hall discusses how Aristotle helped her to develop a workable morality after losing her Christian faith as a teenager.  Massimo Pigliucci talks about how Stoicism is still a useful rule of life and Jules Evans, in his interview on ancient philosophy for modern life, explains how cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) was inspired by Socrates.

    The best books on Socrates, recommended by M M McCabe

  • Read
    The best books on Socrates - Apology by Plato

    1

    Apology
    by Plato

  • Read
    The best books on Socrates - The Clouds by Aristophanes

    2

    The Clouds
    by Aristophanes

  • Read
    The best books on Socrates - Theaetetus by Plato

    3

    Theaetetus
    by Plato

  • Read
    The best books on Socrates - Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher by Gregory Vlastos

    4

    Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher
    by Gregory Vlastos

  • Read
    The best books on Socrates - The Art of Living by Alexander Nehamas

    5

    The Art of Living
    by Alexander Nehamas

  • The classical Greek philosopher is credited with laying the foundation of Western philosophy – without ever having written a word. Here, the eminent scholar M M McCabe recommends the best books to read to understand Socrates and engage with the eternal question: How best to live?

  • The best books on Socrates - Apology by Plato
  • The best books on Socrates - The Clouds by Aristophanes
  • The best books on Socrates - Theaetetus by Plato
  • The best books on Socrates - Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher by Gregory Vlastos
  • The best books on Socrates - The Art of Living by Alexander Nehamas

The best books on Socrates, recommended by M M McCabe

The classical Greek philosopher is credited with laying the foundation of Western philosophy – without ever having written a word. Here, the eminent scholar M M McCabe recommends the best books to read to understand Socrates and engage with the eternal question: How best to live?

The best books on Socrates, recommended by M M McCabe

    The best books on The Presocratics, recommended by Angela Hobbs

  • Read
    The best books on The Presocratics - Early Greek Philosophy by Jonathan Barnes

    1

    Early Greek Philosophy
    by Jonathan Barnes

  • Read
    The best books on The Presocratics - The Sophistic Movement by G. B. Kerferd

    2

    The Sophistic Movement
    by G. B. Kerferd

  • Read
    The best books on The Presocratics - Theaetetus by Plato

    3

    Theaetetus
    by Plato

  • Read
    The best books on The Presocratics - Ecce Homo by Friedrich Nietzsche

    4

    Ecce Homo
    by Friedrich Nietzsche

  • Read
    The best books on The Presocratics - The Presocratic Philosophers by G. S. Kirk, J. E. Raven & M. Schofield

    5

    The Presocratic Philosophers
    by G. S. Kirk, J. E. Raven & M. Schofield

  • They were young, they were radical, they influenced everything from Nietzsche to The Sound of Music. Angela Hobbs introduces the best books on the Presocratics.

  • The best books on The Presocratics - Early Greek Philosophy by Jonathan Barnes
  • The best books on The Presocratics - The Sophistic Movement by G. B. Kerferd
  • The best books on The Presocratics - Theaetetus by Plato
  • The best books on The Presocratics - Ecce Homo by Friedrich Nietzsche
  • The best books on The Presocratics - The Presocratic Philosophers by G. S. Kirk, J. E. Raven & M. Schofield

The best books on The Presocratics, recommended by Angela Hobbs

They were young, they were radical, they influenced everything from Nietzsche to The Sound of Music. Angela Hobbs introduces the best books on the Presocratics.

The best books on The Presocratics, recommended by Angela Hobbs

    The best books on Ancient Philosophy for Modern Life, recommended by Jules Evans

  • Read
    The best books on Ancient Philosophy for Modern Life - The Philosophy of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy by Donald Robertson

    1

    The Philosophy of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
    by Donald Robertson

  • Read
    The best books on Ancient Philosophy for Modern Life - Philosophy as a Way of Life by Pierre Hadot

    2

    Philosophy as a Way of Life
    by Pierre Hadot

  • Read
    The best books on Ancient Philosophy for Modern Life - The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain de Botton

    3

    The Consolations of Philosophy
    by Alain de Botton

  • Read
    The best books on Ancient Philosophy for Modern Life - The Price of Civilization by Jeffrey D Sachs

    4

    The Price of Civilization
    by Jeffrey D Sachs

  • Read
    The best books on Ancient Philosophy for Modern Life - Cognitive Surplus by Clay Shirky

    5

    Cognitive Surplus
    by Clay Shirky

  • The human condition has not changed down the millennia, so it's no surprise that ancient philosophy has much to teach us about how to live our lives, argues Jules Evans. He picks the best books about ancient philosophy in modern life.

  • The best books on Ancient Philosophy for Modern Life - The Philosophy of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy by Donald Robertson
  • The best books on Ancient Philosophy for Modern Life - Philosophy as a Way of Life by Pierre Hadot
  • The best books on Ancient Philosophy for Modern Life - The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain de Botton
  • The best books on Ancient Philosophy for Modern Life - The Price of Civilization by Jeffrey D Sachs
  • The best books on Ancient Philosophy for Modern Life - Cognitive Surplus by Clay Shirky

The best books on Ancient Philosophy for Modern Life, recommended by Jules Evans

The human condition has not changed down the millennia, so it’s no surprise that ancient philosophy has much to teach us about how to live our lives, argues Jules Evans. He picks the best books about ancient philosophy in modern life.

The best books on Ancient Philosophy for Modern Life, recommended by Jules Evans

    The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World, recommended by Peter Adamson

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - Greek Thought, Arabic Culture by Dimitri Gutas

    1

    Greek Thought, Arabic Culture
    by Dimitri Gutas

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - Great Medieval Thinkers: Avicenna by Jon McGinnis

    2

    Great Medieval Thinkers: Avicenna
    by Jon McGinnis

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - Avicenna's 'De Anima' in the Latin West by Dag Nikolaus Hasse

    3

    Avicenna's 'De Anima' in the Latin West
    by Dag Nikolaus Hasse

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - Maimonides in His World: Portrait of a Mediterranean Thinker by Sarah Stroumsa

    4

    Maimonides in His World: Portrait of a Mediterranean Thinker
    by Sarah Stroumsa

  • Read
    The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - The Teleological Ethics of Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī by Ayman Shihadeh

    5

    The Teleological Ethics of Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī
    by Ayman Shihadeh

  • Arabic philosophy was hugely influential during the Islamic Golden Age; at one point, the Persian polymath Avicenna’s influence outstripped that of Aristotle. But a strong tradition has continued in the centuries since, explains Professor Peter Adamson, as he selects five of the best books on the subject.

  • The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - Greek Thought, Arabic Culture by Dimitri Gutas
  • The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - Great Medieval Thinkers: Avicenna by Jon McGinnis
  • The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - Avicenna's 'De Anima' in the Latin West by Dag Nikolaus Hasse
  • The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - Maimonides in His World: Portrait of a Mediterranean Thinker by Sarah Stroumsa
  • The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World - The Teleological Ethics of Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī by Ayman Shihadeh

The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World, recommended by Peter Adamson

Arabic philosophy was hugely influential during the Islamic Golden Age; at one point, the Persian polymath Avicenna’s influence outstripped that of Aristotle. But a strong tradition has continued in the centuries since, explains Professor Peter Adamson, as he selects five of the best books on the subject.

The best books on Philosophy in the Islamic World, recommended by Peter Adamson

    The Best Chinese Philosophy Books, recommended by Michael Puett

  • Read
    The Best Chinese Philosophy Books - Analects Confucius (trans. Edward Slingerland)

    1

    Analects
    Confucius (trans. Edward Slingerland)

  • Read
    The Best Chinese Philosophy Books - The Daodejing by Laozi

    2

    The Daodejing
    by Laozi

  • Read
    The Best Chinese Philosophy Books - Zhuangzi by Zhuangzi (aka Chuang Tzu)

    3

    Zhuangzi
    by Zhuangzi (aka Chuang Tzu)

  • Read
    The Best Chinese Philosophy Books - Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries by Mengzi

    4

    Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries
    by Mengzi

  • Read
    The Best Chinese Philosophy Books - Xunzi: The Complete Text

    5

    Xunzi: The Complete Text

  • What do the sages of ancient China have to teach us about living in the 21st century? The Harvard professor and author of The Path, Michael Puett, recommends the texts you need to read to find out. He picks the best Chinese philosophy books.

  • The Best Chinese Philosophy Books - Analects Confucius (trans. Edward Slingerland)
  • The Best Chinese Philosophy Books - The Daodejing by Laozi
  • The Best Chinese Philosophy Books - Zhuangzi by Zhuangzi (aka Chuang Tzu)
  • The Best Chinese Philosophy Books - Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries by Mengzi
  • The Best Chinese Philosophy Books - Xunzi: The Complete Text

The Best Chinese Philosophy Books, recommended by Michael Puett

What do the sages of ancient China have to teach us about living in the 21st century? The Harvard professor and author of The Path, Michael Puett, recommends the texts you need to read to find out. He picks the best Chinese philosophy books.

The Best Chinese Philosophy Books, recommended by Michael Puett

    The best books on Aristotle, recommended by Edith Hall

  • Read
    The best books on Aristotle - Aristotle: His Life and School by Carlo Natali

    1

    Aristotle: His Life and School
    by Carlo Natali

  • Read
    The best books on Aristotle - Aristotle's Children by Richard E Rubenstein

    2

    Aristotle's Children
    by Richard E Rubenstein

  • Read
    The best books on Aristotle - Ethics With Aristotle by Sarah Broadie

    3

    Ethics With Aristotle
    by Sarah Broadie

  • Read
    The best books on Aristotle - Aristotle: Political Philosophy by Richard Kraut

    4

    Aristotle: Political Philosophy
    by Richard Kraut

  • Read
    The best books on Aristotle - The Lagoon: How Aristotle Invented Science by Armand Marie Leroi

    5

    The Lagoon: How Aristotle Invented Science
    by Armand Marie Leroi

  • Aristotle was the most important intellectual who ever lived, argues author and classicist Edith Hall, making significant contributions to ethics, science and a variety of other disciplines. Here, she selects five books to further your understanding of the great philosopher's life and work.

  • The best books on Aristotle - Aristotle: His Life and School by Carlo Natali
  • The best books on Aristotle - Aristotle's Children by Richard E Rubenstein
  • The best books on Aristotle - Ethics With Aristotle by Sarah Broadie
  • The best books on Aristotle - Aristotle: Political Philosophy by Richard Kraut
  • The best books on Aristotle - The Lagoon: How Aristotle Invented Science by Armand Marie Leroi

The best books on Aristotle, recommended by Edith Hall

Aristotle was the most important intellectual who ever lived, argues author and classicist Edith Hall, making significant contributions to ethics, science and a variety of other disciplines. Here, she selects five books to further your understanding of the great philosopher’s life and work.

The best books on Aristotle, recommended by Edith Hall

    The best books on The Epicureans, recommended by James Warren

  • Read
    The best books on The Epicureans - Lives of the Eminent Philosophers Diogenes Laertius (ed. James Miller, trans. Pamela Mensch)

    1

    Lives of the Eminent Philosophers
    Diogenes Laertius (ed. James Miller, trans. Pamela Mensch)

  • Read
    The best books on The Epicureans - On the Nature of the Universe Lucretius (trans. Ronald Melville)

    2

    On the Nature of the Universe
    Lucretius (trans. Ronald Melville)

  • Read
    The best books on The Epicureans - The Library of the Villa Dei Papiri at Herculaneum by David Sider

    3

    The Library of the Villa Dei Papiri at Herculaneum
    by David Sider

  • Read
    The best books on The Epicureans - Epicureanism by Tim O'Keefe

    4

    Epicureanism
    by Tim O'Keefe

  • Read
    The best books on The Epicureans - The Morality of Happiness by Julia Annas

    5

    The Morality of Happiness
    by Julia Annas

  • For most of us, an Epicurean means someone devoted to pleasure and enjoying themselves. But the real Epicureans had a very different philosophy of how to live. Cambridge University professor James Warren talks us through the philosophy of Epicurus and explains how it’s still relevant today—particularly when it comes to facing death.

  • The best books on The Epicureans - Lives of the Eminent Philosophers Diogenes Laertius (ed. James Miller, trans. Pamela Mensch)
  • The best books on The Epicureans - On the Nature of the Universe Lucretius (trans. Ronald Melville)
  • The best books on The Epicureans - The Library of the Villa Dei Papiri at Herculaneum by David Sider
  • The best books on The Epicureans - Epicureanism by Tim O'Keefe
  • The best books on The Epicureans - The Morality of Happiness by Julia Annas

The best books on The Epicureans, recommended by James Warren

For most of us, an Epicurean means someone devoted to pleasure and enjoying themselves. But the real Epicureans had a very different philosophy of how to live. Cambridge University professor James Warren talks us through the philosophy of Epicurus and explains how it’s still relevant today—particularly when it comes to facing death.

The best books on The Epicureans, recommended by James Warren

    The best books on Confucius, recommended by Daniel A. Bell

  • Read
    The best books on Confucius - Analects Confucius (trans. Edward Slingerland)

    1

    Analects
    Confucius (trans. Edward Slingerland)

  • Read
    The best books on Confucius - Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries by Mengzi

    2

    Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries
    by Mengzi

  • Read
    The best books on Confucius - Xunzi: The Complete Text

    3

    Xunzi: The Complete Text

  • Read
    The best books on Confucius - The Li Chi or Book of Rites, Part II of II (Forgotten Books) by K'ung-fu Tzu

    4

    The Li Chi or Book of Rites, Part II of II (Forgotten Books)
    by K'ung-fu Tzu

  • Read
    The best books on Confucius - Thinking Through Confucius by David L. Hall, Roger T. Ames

    5

    Thinking Through Confucius
    by David L. Hall, Roger T. Ames

  • As Confucianism makes a comeback in China, Daniel A. Bell, a professor of philosophy at Tsinghua University in Beijing, lists which books to read for an understanding of Confucius and his legacy.

  • The best books on Confucius - Analects Confucius (trans. Edward Slingerland)
  • The best books on Confucius - Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries by Mengzi
  • The best books on Confucius - Xunzi: The Complete Text
  • The best books on Confucius - The Li Chi or Book of Rites, Part II of II (Forgotten Books) by K'ung-fu Tzu
  • The best books on Confucius - Thinking Through Confucius by David L. Hall, Roger T. Ames

The best books on Confucius, recommended by Daniel A. Bell

As Confucianism makes a comeback in China, Daniel A. Bell, a professor of philosophy at Tsinghua University in Beijing, lists which books to read for an understanding of Confucius and his legacy.

The best books on Confucius, recommended by Daniel A. Bell

    The Best Plato Books, recommended by Melissa Lane

  • Read
    The Best Plato Books - Political Dissent in Democratic Athens by Josiah Ober

    1

    Political Dissent in Democratic Athens
    by Josiah Ober

  • Read
    The Best Plato Books - Republic by Plato

    2

    Republic
    by Plato

  • Read
    The Best Plato Books - Why Plato Wrote by Danielle Allen

    3

    Why Plato Wrote
    by Danielle Allen

  • Read
    The Best Plato Books - Preface to Plato by Eric A Havelock

    4

    Preface to Plato
    by Eric A Havelock

  • Read
    The Best Plato Books - Statesman by Plato

    5

    Statesman
    by Plato

  • Plato came from a politically active family, but renounced politics to become a philosopher. Or did he? Professor Melissa Lane of Princeton University recommends the best books to get a better understanding of the Greek philosopher Plato, including his most famous work, the Republic.

  • The Best Plato Books - Political Dissent in Democratic Athens by Josiah Ober
  • The Best Plato Books - Republic by Plato
  • The Best Plato Books - Why Plato Wrote by Danielle Allen
  • The Best Plato Books - Preface to Plato by Eric A Havelock
  • The Best Plato Books - Statesman by Plato

The Best Plato Books, recommended by Melissa Lane

Plato came from a politically active family, but renounced politics to become a philosopher. Or did he? Professor Melissa Lane of Princeton University recommends the best books to get a better understanding of the Greek philosopher Plato, including his most famous work, the Republic.

The Best Plato Books, recommended by Melissa Lane

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We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview.

This site has an archive of more than one thousand seven hundred interviews, or eight thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week.

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