If you are feeling the need to think about the world in a new way as a highly sensitive person, you might enjoy one of these books on philosophy.
Lately, I have been feeling this need to find meaning in what feels like a crazy world. So, I have asked around, researched and put together this list of philosophy books. I’ll probably not read all or even most of these, but I find that having a list is like having a reservoir to dip into.
A Little History of Philosophy.
Nigel Warburton’s A Little History of Philosophy has forty short chapters about forty major Western philosophers. It is supposed to have a casual, conversational style that should make it an accessible read. I like having the context of how things progress & love anything with the word “history” in the title! This one is high up on my list.
Big Ideas for Curious Minds.
Big Ideas for Curious Minds: An Introduction to Philosophy by The School of Life is a book for younger readers. I think children’s books are a great way in to a new subject. This seems like a wonderful book to get your feet wet.
Two Books by Soren Kierkegaard.
Fear and Trembling: Amazon, Bookshop
These are more “serious” books. A fellow author kindly explained the difference between Soren Kierkegaard and Jean-Paul Sartre. “Sartre didn’t believe there was a god, so he concluded that there was no basis on which people could build a soul. It was all through our own understanding of the world, of the reality we created for ourselves. For Kierkegaard, there was something at the bottom of the well of self upon which we each had to build our true souls. It was this foundational belief that differentiates Kierkegaard from Sartre as a Christian Existentialist, not simply an Existentialist.”
I don’t care if someone calls themselves an atheist (Lots of good people are atheists). But I definitely resonated with Kierkegaard. I too think that there is “something at the bottom of the well of self.” So, I am interesting in exploring him first.
Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts.
Someone told me about this fun series of books that relate popular culture (like T.V. shows, movies & books) to philosophy. There are 121 books with tantalizing titles like The Simpsons and Philosophy and Superheroes and Philosophy: Truth, Justice and the Socratic Way. Check out the entire list of these books here. Philosophy can sound dry and abstract, so this feels like a really fun series to read.
Confessions of a Philosopher.
Confessions of a Philosopher: A Personal Journey Through Western Philosophy from Plato to Popper by Bryan Magee tells the story of his own discovery of philosophy. I like books that approach subjects from a personal viewpoint. This is also a slightly more “advanced” book (even though it’s recommended for beginners), so it’s suggested that you get a good understanding of Western philosophy before reading it.
.Got here from Goodreads. Thank you for the list! It’s just like I like, curiosity with a twist of fun. I, too, have a possibility list and these books were added.
You’re most welcome! I am glad it connected. And thank you for the add — possibility lists are so wonderful.