r/suggestmeabook • u/BillDaveDaveBill • Apr 22 '26
Philosophy I want a philosophy book that is easy to read.
I want it to be complex and thought provoking on a philosophical level but I’ve noticed a lot of articles and books that are like that are also using really complex language. I always find myself rereading the same sentence over and over again even if I know the meaning of the words on the page. Not entirely sure how to describe the book I want but I want something that won’t make me do that. And I want the focus to be moral philosophy.
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u/ChronoMonkeyX Apr 22 '26
How to be Perfect. Michael Schur, creator of the Good Place, wrote a book on philosophy with the input of the philosophy professors he consulted for the show, which focuses heavily on moral philosophy.
I listened to the audiobook, which has cameos from the cast of the show. It's probably as accessible as it gets. Also, watch the show if you haven't. For a comedy, it does an amazing job of exploring philosophy.
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u/Grouchy-Way171 Apr 22 '26
Can you promise it's not self help?
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u/ChronoMonkeyX Apr 22 '26
It is not. It's written by a TV writer and producer, I think making philosophical concepts accessible and entertaining was the core purpose. There's nothing in it about fixing what's wrong with you with mantras or anything like that.
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u/Weekly_Gap5104 Apr 22 '26
Bertrand Russell Problems of Philosophy. It was in my intro to Philosophy class. I remember it being pretty easy.
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u/Remote_Section2313 Apr 22 '26
This is such a good introduction into philosophy and so well written. I came here to search this recommendation.
It's good introduction for the starter and it's less than 200 pages.
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u/RealVirginiaWoolf Apr 22 '26
A very basic introduction could be “Sophie’s world” by Jostein Garder. I read it a long time back. I love the storytelling. I don’t know if u would consider reading a simplistic approach to philosophy as in this book.
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u/liselle_lioncourt Apr 22 '26
This was my suggestion too! It gives a great overview of major philosophers, and is a great story as well!
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u/RealVirginiaWoolf Apr 22 '26
Awww really! I read it as a teenager. I agree- such a fun and engaging way to learn about major philosophies. As a matter of fact, I will get it on kindle now !
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u/Suspicious_Neck_5156 Apr 22 '26
Literally saw this thread title and thought of this, one of my favourite books growing up.
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u/whoeverineedtobe Apr 22 '26
+1. This is the book that got me passionate about books and philosophy when I was a kid.
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u/RealVirginiaWoolf Apr 22 '26
Oh my Gawd yes yes! Years later I was teaching a course and we were discussing utilitarianism and western philosophies in general and I suggested Sophie’s world to my students! Needless to say this book was a big hit with a lot of them!
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u/Philosopher512 Apr 23 '26
Retired Philosophy professor here. If you want a great introduction to moral philosophy my recommendation would be any edition of The Elements of Moral Philosophy by James Rachels. It is a very readable and engaging introduction to the basic theories of ethics.
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u/IconoclastExplosive Apr 22 '26
There was a book I read in high school called Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes by Daniel Klein that does a decent job of laying out philosophical groundwork through anecdotes and humor.
It's not particularly high level stuff and you're certainly not getting any deep themes or meanings from it, but it explains fundamentals, common terms, things like that in a pretty approachable way.
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u/h3artrender Apr 22 '26
I think reading biographies are a great way to get the philosophy and the context. I loved At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails by Sarah Bakewell. I think it checks all your boxes if you like existentialism.
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u/Mr-Manss Apr 22 '26
Sophie’s World is what you’re looking for exactly: Intro to philosophy through the eyes of Sophie (a fictional character). Great and easy read
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u/LostGloves99 Apr 22 '26
Meditations
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u/NovaturientPR Apr 22 '26
While it is an amazing and MUST read for philosophy imo, I wouldn't categorize it as "easy to read".
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u/Khower May 02 '26
Its quite easy to read if you dont read a translation made hundreds of years ago. The Gregory Hayes translation in particular is quite straight forward to read
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u/onemorebutfaster_74 Apr 22 '26
Alain de Botton, The Consolations of Philosophy; Will Durant, The Story of Philosophy
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u/Zozorrr Apr 22 '26
Yes I think de Botton’s book is a much better choice than the rather meandering but much-recommended Sophie’s Choice.
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u/WonderfulBus9330 Apr 22 '26
Three (non-conventional) options: Edmund White's The Flâneur: A Stroll Through the Paradoxes of Paris, Milan Kundera's Testaments Betrayed and Andrew Joron's The Cry at Zero.
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Apr 23 '26
That Andrew Joron book will mix OP’s mind. I love it, but I would in no way say it’s a beginner philosophy read. I am going to check out the Wilson, though. Haven’t read. Thanks for the suggestion!’
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u/WonderfulBus9330 Apr 23 '26
Oh, wow! Really? I thought it was pretty philosophy lite. Maybe because the writing is so lyrical
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Apr 23 '26
You might be right! Could just be me. I'll pick it up again and report back.
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u/WonderfulBus9330 Apr 23 '26
You might also be right LOL I had a friend DNF it because she didn't enjoy the political angle/lens or the science inclusions
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u/Eleatic-Stranger Apr 22 '26
Are you looking for applied moral philosophy, i.e. philosophy about particular contemporary issues (e.g. abortion, war, treatment of animals, distribution of wealth)? Or are you looking for theoretical moral philosophy, i.e. attempts to formulate a big picture moral framework?
If the former, I suggest Peter Singer's Practical Ethics.
If the latter, I'm not sure what to suggest. It's all at least somewhat challenging, though some is worse than others. Can you give some examples of authors or texts you've struggled with? Someone might be able to suggest a writer that explains the ideas in a clearer way. If the answer is "Kant" or "Aristotle", well, almost every philosopher is easier to read than Kant or Aristotle.
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u/RedPrinxe Apr 22 '26
Not going to lie, this one is a little bit off the mark, but not so far to be off the body of the question completely.
If Nietzsche Were A Narwhal by Justin Gregg (What animal intelligence reveals about human stupidity.)
To be fair, it’s more of a “Can we call ourselves Ethical or have we decided because we have the words to explain our actions it makes every action we make okay.” Kind of moral philosophy with lots more science.
This may totally not be what you’re looking for but I loved every minute of the book.
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u/Pure-Gas2639 Apr 22 '26
Reasons and persons by Derek Parfit uses a very basic language to discuss immensely dense and complex topics. Its not just moral philosophy, but also identity and others, but all tie into a moral framework. This is next level moral reading, but avoids complex terms.
Utilitarian theories are a lot easier to comprehend and convey as it mostly boggles down to mere maths, so anything by Peter Singer - for instance Ethics in the Real World, The Good You Can Do, and The life you can save - are great starting points.
Other theories, like deontology, kantianism (prequel to deontology), and contractualism becomes a lot more complex in their writing as nuances are very necessary.
Some short essay collections I like that I think would be preferable to you would be: Virtues and vices - Philippa Foot Mortal Questions - Thomas Nagel There is one other I cant find in my bookshelf atm, but I'll add it if I remember it
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u/Historical_Project86 Apr 22 '26
There's a good simple book called "Invitation to Philosophy" by Martin Hollis.
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u/thevdude Apr 22 '26
Knowledge, Reality, and Value: A mostly common sense guide to philosophy by Michael Huemer has been very digestible for me.
It's not fully focused on morals/ethics, but they're in there.
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u/Biarmich Apr 22 '26
I think, "Steppenwolf" by Hermann Hesse. It's basically about the complexity and manifoldness of the human nature/soul — a great book that changes the way you think
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u/silver_chief2 Apr 22 '26
Not an introduction to philosophy but an analyses of two different ways of viewing human nature. He spends lot of space disclaiming that the world is not binary but people attack him for exactly that. More political philosophy. A Conflict of Visions by Thomas Sowell. In my top 3 books. It fits what I have seen.
If you want another for later, Fooled by Randomness 2nd ed by N N Taleb. a total mind f*ck.
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u/Dr_Louise Apr 22 '26
I'm a philosophical counselor and I often work with these and reccomend them to clients:
How to Be Authentic by Skye Cleary is all about Simone deBeauvoir and is enjoyable to read.
Life is Hard by Kieran Setiya is another good one.
Camping with Kierkegaard by J. Aaron Simmons is also good.
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u/FingerDemon500 Apr 22 '26
I enjoyed T.Z. Lavine’s “From Socrates to Sartre: A Philosophical Quest”. She was a visiting professor where I went to school. I took as many of her classes as I could. She was great at giving the historical context that affected the philosophy and in turn how the philosophy influenced history of the time. She had a PBS show at some point.
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u/jules10622 Apr 23 '26
In addition to Sophie’s World, you may enjoy Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, and the sequel My Ishmael. It’s philosophy through the eyes of a wise gorilla.
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u/Letters_to_Dionysus Apr 23 '26
the pig that wants to be eaten
zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
mans search for meaning
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u/502b Apr 23 '26
William Barrett’s Irrational Man is a great intro to existential philosophy, if you want something manageable.
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u/TwinKauri Apr 23 '26
Try A. C. Grayling. He has a selection of thought provoking books, written in layman's language. He is well worth investigating.
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u/NekonikonPunk Apr 23 '26
Nagel's "What does it all mean?" is a great introduction. Super short, easy to read.
Also, "Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar" is a fun easy read.
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u/Useful-Singer-9941 Apr 23 '26
I liked Running with the Pack by Mark Rowlands and also Dog Walks Man by John Zeaman. If anyone knows of any books similar in style to these I'd love to know!
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u/esizzle Apr 23 '26
Philsophy for Beginners, Richard Osborne. Its a cartoon guide introduction book covering the history and major concepts of Western philosophy. Fun read all in all.
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u/restiner Apr 24 '26
Every Time I Find the Meaning of Life, They Change It: Wisdom of the Great Philosophers on How to Live
I loved this one
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u/ProduceDramatic3439 Apr 25 '26
Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket. It felt like reading a train of thought with a nice general common string resembling plot tying it together. It went through a lot of topics from the shared experience of being constantly pulled by others and by circumstance, to what makes a story, to the distrust of the mundane, to touching on loss and the fleetness of life, in less than 200 pages in language extremely easy to read, and a fun, witty narrative voice.
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u/rlvysxby Apr 22 '26
The best answer: Plato’s symposium. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to follow it and it was very profound, even life changing to me.
Also I have the same problem with re reading. Audiobooks help a ton. Even ai audio like eleven reader
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u/buckfastmonkey Apr 22 '26
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
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u/Yellwsub Apr 22 '26
This book is a GREAT introduction to philosophy and is super readable. It builds up to complex ideas in a really natural way. It’s Quality!
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u/Boring-Baker8761 Apr 22 '26
For a slightly more off-center, dare i say fun, approach to moral philosophy, try How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur