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Philosophy from every tradition, and the books members write and love, of every kind. Each has its own page: what it is, why read it, where to start, and what members thought. Put books on your shelf, rate what you have read, and add the books you think everyone should know.
Not sure where to begin? Each path is a few books in the order to read them, with where to start and how long each takes.
Beginner · 6 books
Beginner · 7 books
Beginner · 6 books
Beginner · 7 books
By kind: Philosophy · History · Essays · Fiction · Poetry · Self-development · Children & young adults · Memoir & biography · Politics & society · Reference & encyclopedia · Religion & spirituality · Science & technology
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Daodejing Laozi
Laozi · c. 4th–3rd century BCE
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Beginner Chinese
Evidential Commentary on the Meanings of Terms in the Mencius Dai Zhen
Dai Zhen · 1777
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Advanced Chinese
Han Feizi Han Fei (some chapters probably by other hands)
Han Fei (some chapters probably by other hands) · 3rd century BCE
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Intermediate Chinese
Instructions for Practical Living Wang Yangming (recorded by his disciples)
Wang Yangming (recorded by his disciples) · 16th century (first part published 1518)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Intermediate Chinese
Reflections on Things at Hand Zhu Xi and Lü Zuqian (compilers)
Zhu Xi and Lü Zuqian (compilers) · 1175
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Intermediate Chinese
Zhuangzi Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi · 4th–3rd century BCE
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Intermediate Chinese
Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy Bryan W. Van Norden
Bryan W. Van Norden · 2011
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.3 · 3 reviews
Beginner Chinese Editors’ pick
Analects Confucius
Confucius · 5th–3rd century BCE (compiled)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.0 · 1 review
Beginner Chinese
Balanced Inquiries (Lunheng) Wang Chong
Wang Chong · 1st century CE
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.0 · 2 reviews
Intermediate Chinese
The Art of War Attributed to Sunzi (Sun Wu)
Attributed to Sunzi (Sun Wu) · c. 5th–4th century BCE (compiled)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.0 · 2 reviews
Beginner Chinese
The Doctrine of the Mean (Focusing the Familiar) Traditionally attributed to Zisi, grandson of Confucius
Traditionally attributed to Zisi, grandson of Confucius · c. 3rd century BCE (date and authorship disputed)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.0 · 2 reviews
Intermediate Chinese
A Short History of Chinese Philosophy Feng Youlan (Fung Yu-lan)
Feng Youlan (Fung Yu-lan) · 1948
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
History Beginner Chinese
An Exposition of Benevolence (Renxue) Tan Sitong
Tan Sitong · c. 1896–1897; published 1899
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Advanced Chinese
Book of Changes (Yijing) Traditionally Fu Xi, King Wen and Confucius (anonymous layers)
Traditionally Fu Xi, King Wen and Confucius (anonymous layers) · core text c. 1000–750 BCE; commentaries c. 4th–2nd century BCE (dates debated)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Advanced Chinese
Commentary on the Laozi Wang Bi
Wang Bi · c. 240s CE
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Advanced Chinese
Correcting the Unenlightened (Zhengmeng) Zhang Zai
Zhang Zai · c. 1076
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Advanced Chinese
Gongsun Longzi (including the White Horse Dialogue) Gongsun Long
Gongsun Long · c. 3rd century BCE (authenticity of parts debated)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Advanced Chinese
Huainanzi Compiled under Liu An, King of Huainan
Compiled under Liu An, King of Huainan · 139 BCE (presented to the throne)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Advanced Chinese
Liezi Attributed to Lie Yukou
Attributed to Lie Yukou · c. 3rd–4th century CE (compiled; contains older material; dates debated)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Beginner Chinese
Luxuriant Gems of the Spring and Autumn (Chunqiu fanlu) Attributed to Dong Zhongshu
Attributed to Dong Zhongshu · Han dynasty, 2nd–1st century BCE (compiled over a long period; dates debated)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Advanced Chinese
Mencius (Mengzi) Mencius
Mencius · c. 4th–3rd century BCE (compiled by his followers)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Intermediate Chinese
Mozi Mozi (and the Mohist school)
Mozi (and the Mohist school) · c. 5th–3rd century BCE (compiled by later Mohists)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Intermediate Chinese
Nineteen Lectures on Chinese Philosophy Mou Zongsan
Mou Zongsan · 1983 (lectures given 1978)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Advanced Chinese
Taking Back Philosophy: A Multicultural Manifesto Bryan W. Van Norden
Bryan W. Van Norden · 2017
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Beginner Chinese
Books by members
Books our members have written, from their profiles.
The Coordinates of Thought
Syed Raheel Shahzad · 2026 · The Syed Group
Tomorrow Became a Country
Syed Raheel Shahzad · 2026
The Reality of Existence
Syed Raheel Shahzad · The Source of Truth System™, Stage 0
The Book
Syed Raheel Shahzad · The Source of Truth System™, Stage 0.5
ONE
Syed Raheel Shahzad · The Source of Truth System™, Stage 1
Other Gods
Syed Raheel Shahzad · The Source of Truth System™, Stage 1.5
Qadar
Syed Raheel Shahzad · The Source of Truth System™, Stage 2
The Reality of Life
Syed Raheel Shahzad · The Source of Truth System™, Stage 3
I, Undefined
Syed Raheel Shahzad · The Source of Truth System™, Stage 4
The Inner System
Syed Raheel Shahzad · The Source of Truth System™, Stage 5
Shajarah
Syed Raheel Shahzad · The Source of Truth System™, Stage 6
Haqooq
Syed Raheel Shahzad · The Source of Truth System™, Stage 7