A reading list for Sanchi

Now, I didn’t forget my friend’s Sanchi’s birthday. I just got the date wrong. This isn’t my way of saying happy birthday, I did call her and wish her. However, it’s a start to a proper apology.

Recently she asked me for a reading list on philosophy, so I thought I might as well share a list of books and collection of essays about philosophy or ideas that can gives you an opportunity to think philosophically. Hopefully, people will be willing to add to it:

• Meno – Plato
• The End of Power – Moisés Naím
• The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically – Peter Singer
• On Liberty – JS Mills
• We – Yevgeny Zamyatin
• Anger and Forgiveness – Martha Nussbaum
• Home Fire – Kamila Shamsie
• Eichmann in Jerusalem – Hannah Ardent
• Candide – Voltaire
• The Myth of Sisyphus – Albert Camus
• The Ethics of Ambiguity – Simone de Beauvoir
• Adele – Leila Slimani
• Democracy Kill- Humphrey Hawksley
• Causing Death and Saving Lives – Johnthan Glover

Now, I’m not saying that this your complete list, but its a starting point. Take Adele, which is about women who constantly cheats on her partner. While it is not strictly about philosophy, I don’t think we spend much time rooting for a cheater and how my eyes were opened by looking at this view point and exploring how someone thinks. I’m not a continental philosopher, but I do find value in understanding various points of view more in depth. It allows me to challenge my own views better, which is a key tool in refining one’s thought. Plus, it’s a very good book nevertheless.

What do you think?