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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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The Character of Logic in India Bimal Krishna Matilal
Bimal Krishna Matilal · 1998
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.7 · 3 reviews
Intermediate Indian Editors’ pick
A Rasa Reader: Classical Indian Aesthetics Sheldon Pollock (translator and editor)
Sheldon Pollock (translator and editor) · 2016
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Intermediate Indian Editors’ pick
A Thousand Teachings Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara · c. 8th century CE
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Intermediate Indian
Epistemology, Logic, and Grammar in Indian Philosophical Analysis Bimal Krishna Matilal
Bimal Krishna Matilal · 1971
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Advanced Indian Editors’ pick
Mīmāṃsā Sūtra Attributed to Jaimini
Attributed to Jaimini · c. 300–100 BCE (dates uncertain)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Advanced Indian
Nāṭyaśāstra Attributed to Bharata
Attributed to Bharata · c. 200 BCE–200 CE (compiled over time)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Intermediate Indian
Nyāya Sūtra Attributed to Gautama (Akṣapāda)
Attributed to Gautama (Akṣapāda) · c. 2nd century CE (traditional date; compiled in layers)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Advanced Indian
Sāṃkhya Kārikā Īśvarakṛṣṇa
Īśvarakṛṣṇa · c. 4th–5th century CE
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Intermediate Indian
Tattvārtha Sūtra (That Which Is) Umāsvāti (Umāsvāmī in the Digambara tradition)
Umāsvāti (Umāsvāmī in the Digambara tradition) · c. 2nd–5th century CE (dates debated)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Intermediate Indian
The Aesthetic Experience According to Abhinavagupta Raniero Gnoli
Raniero Gnoli · 1956
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Advanced Indian Editors’ pick
The Upanishads (the principal Upanishads) Various anonymous Vedic teachers (dialogues feature Yājñavalkya, Uddālaka Āruṇi and others)
Various anonymous Vedic teachers (dialogues feature Yājñavalkya, Uddālaka Āruṇi and others) · c. 8th–3rd century BCE (dates debated)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Intermediate Indian
Vākyapadīya (On Sentence and Word) Bhartṛhari
Bhartṛhari · c. 5th century CE
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Advanced Indian
Yoga Sūtras Attributed to Patañjali
Attributed to Patañjali · c. 2nd century BCE–5th century CE (dates debated)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
Intermediate Indian
Bhagavad Gita Vyāsa (traditional attribution)
Vyāsa (traditional attribution) · c. 2nd century BCE (dates debated)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.3 · 3 reviews
Beginner Indian
Classical Indian Philosophy Peter Adamson and Jonardon Ganeri
Peter Adamson and Jonardon Ganeri · 2020
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.3 · 3 reviews
Beginner Indian
Annihilation of Caste B. R. Ambedkar
B. R. Ambedkar · 1936
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Beginner Indian
Arthaśāstra Attributed to Kauṭilya
Attributed to Kauṭilya · dates debated (traditionally 4th century BCE; many scholars date the text to c. 1st–2nd century CE)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Intermediate Indian
Commentary on the Brahma Sūtras (Brahmasūtrabhāṣya) Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara · c. 8th century CE
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Advanced Indian
Compendium of All Philosophies (Sarvadarśanasaṃgraha) Mādhava (traditionally identified with Vidyāraṇya)
Mādhava (traditionally identified with Vidyāraṇya) · 14th century CE
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Advanced Indian
Freedom from the Known Jiddu Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti · 1969
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Beginner Indian
Hind Swaraj Mohandas K. Gandhi
Mohandas K. Gandhi · 1909 (Gujarati); English translation 1910
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Beginner Indian
Indian Philosophy Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan · 1923–1927 (two volumes)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
History Intermediate Indian
Indian Philosophy: A Counter Perspective Daya Krishna
Daya Krishna · 1991; revised and enlarged 2006
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Essays Advanced Indian
Māṇḍūkya Kārikā Gauḍapāda
Gauḍapāda · c. 6th century CE (dates debated)
★★★★★ ★★★★★ No reviews yet
Advanced Indian
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