Are there some philosophers, philosophies, or philosophical issues you want to bone up on over the Summer? Hegel's Phenomenology of the Spirit probably isn't a very good choice to take to the beach, but there are a lot of readable, beach-friendly classics and non-classics to add philosophical depth to your Summer Reading. Ken and John discuss some of their favorites and pass on suggestions from Philosophy Talk guests.
Recommendations from John & Ken Fiction | ||
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 Blindness Jose Saramago |  Siddhartha Hermann Hesse |  The Brothers Karamazov Fyodor Dostoevsky |
 Changing Places David Lodge |  Small World David Lodge |  Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky |
| Non-Fiction | ||
 Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think George Lakoff | ||
| Philosophical | ||
 Why I Am Not a Christian Bertrand Russell |
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 The Gay Science Friedrich Nietzsche |  Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion David Hume | |
 The Story of Philosophy Will Durant | ||
Recommendations from Listeners Fiction | ||
 The Golden Compass Philip Pullman |  Memoirs of a Geisha Arthur Golden | |
 The Schopenhauer Cure Irv Yalom |  Anansi Boys Neil Gaiman | |
 Gilead Marilynne Robinson |  Dombey and Son Charles Dickens |  A Changed Man Francine Prose |
 The Duel and Other Stories Anton Chekhov |  Charlotte's Web E.B. White |  The Left Hand of Darkness Ursula K. Le Guin |
Non-Fiction | ||
 Woman: The Incredible Life of Yoko Ono Alan Clayson, Barb Jungr, and Robb Johnson |  The Essential Grizzly: The Mingled Fates of Men and Bears Doug & Andrea Peacock | |
 Of Water and Spirit Malidoma Some |  The Nine Nations of North America Joel Garreau |  Why We Love Helen Fisher |
 The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Edward Gibbon |  Surfing the Himalayas: A Spiritual Adventure Frederick Lenz | |
Philosophical | ||
 Nausea Jean-Paul Sartre |  Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing Jed McKenna |  The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith Marcus J. Borg |
 The Passions: Emotions and the Meaning of Life Robert C. Solomon |  The Joy of Philosophy: Thinking Thin versus the Passionate Life Robert C. Solomon | |
Recommendations from our guest Ashley Wallingford, Powell's Books Fiction | ||
 Seeing Jose Saramago |  The Snows of Yesteryear Gregory Von Rezzori |  Barabbas Par Lagerkvist |
| Non-Fiction | ||
 Endgame: Volume 1: The Problem of Civilization Derrick Jensen |  Elements of Refusal John Zerzan |  Landscape and Memory Simon Schama |
| Philosophical | ||
 The Portable Nietzsche Friedrich Nietzsche |  The End of Faith Sam Harris | |
Comments (1)
rayn
Sunday, March 2, 2025 -- 11:34 PM
Summer reading lists withSummer reading lists with philosophical themes are such a great way to dive into deep ideas while still enjoying a laid-back vibe. Exploring works that challenge how we think about the world or our place in it can be so inspiring, but it also opens up tons of questions. If you’re planning to turn some of those big ideas into a research project, things can get a little overwhelming with all the theories and perspectives to consider. That’s why research proposal help can be a game-changer—they’re great at helping you shape your ideas into a focused and compelling project without losing the creativity behind them.