TOPIC · 15 BOOKS

Philosophy and ideas

Books I have read about philosophy and ideas, brought together across genres, periods and countries.

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Cover of The Art of Being RightVery good

The Art of Being Right

Arthur SchopenhauerA very brief and very useful book to recognize the pitfalls we use when discussing. Rather than teaching us to be right, it serves to understand why so many conversations become such an absurd competition. I've read it several times and always come up with something new.
Cover of The LawExcellent

The Law

Frédéric BastiatA very brief and powerful text on what the law should be used for and what happens when it is used to distribute privileges or take them away for the benefit of others.
Cover of Biography of SilenceVery good

Biography of Silence

Pablo d'OrsA short book about meditation, silence and the difficulty of staying still with yourself. I liked how simple it is and why some ideas can be applied without turning it into something mystical.
Cover of The Philosophy of WineMeh

The Philosophy of Wine

Béla HamvasA book about wine and women, believers and atheists, with touches of humour. Reading it left me salivating at the thought of good food and plenty of wine.
Cover of Sobre la vejez / Discurso sobre la vejezVery good

Sobre la vejez / Discurso sobre la vejez

Cicerón / Jacob GrimmI loved it, particularly Cicero’s text. It explores the advantages of growing older and offers advice on reaching old age well. Very interesting and thoroughly enjoyable.
Cover of AwarenessVery good

Awareness

De MelloIt's a book you don't read quietly, it's like a preacher is constantly lecturing you while yelling at you.
Cover of The Almanack of Naval RavikantExcellent

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

Eric JorgensonAlthough it makes a couple of references to Osho (), recommends Herman Hess's Siddharta () and being sometimes a little paulocoelhista (), it is one of the best books I have read lately thanks to the simple life lessons on how to be free creating your heritage and how little it takes to be happy (tip: it depends on you).
Cover of A Mathematician's ApologyVery good

A Mathematician's Apology

G.H. HardyMy dream has always been to pursue a career in mathematics, and this book reminded me why. It's a 1940 book that explains why mathematics is important and beautiful.
Cover of Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy LifeGood

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

Héctor García y Francesc MirallesIt's basically a reminder of how important it is to move and exercise, eat well and meditate, in order to have a longer and fuller life.
Cover of The Dehumanization of ArtGood

The Dehumanization of Art

José Ortega y GassetInteresting, sometimes funny, sometimes provocative and sometimes boring, I have some items left in this collection that don't contribute to the whole.
Cover of La revolución interiorVery good

La revolución interior

Lev Tolstói / Stefan ZweigIt is interesting to see how Christianity leads him to become anarchist, to abhor private property and the state, and how at this stage he writes more moralist texts.
Cover of MeditationsExcellent

Meditations

Marco AurelioI like to read these classics because it's the source of the messages that are now constantly repeating all those gurus on networks. I was summing it up in two paragraphs, but ChatGPT has done it for me in one sentence: Life is fleeting, so focus on the essential and act with virtue; control your thoughts and emotions to find inner peace and wisdom.
Cover of Conspiracy TheoriesVery good

Conspiracy Theories

Quassim CassamWhy people believe in conspiracy theories, share them, profile those people, and how these theories usually respond to the political agenda of radical ideologies.
Cover of Sobre la felicidad / Sobre la brevedad de la vidaExcellent

Sobre la felicidad / Sobre la brevedad de la vida

SénecaTwo books in one. It's made me think a lot, besides learning and understanding much better the value of time, where to invest it, and controlling human instincts to be happier.
Cover of MontaigneExcellent

Montaigne

Stefan ZweigAnother book by Zweig. A brief biography of Montaigne that ends up being also a book about freedom, self-reflection and how to stay out of fanaticism in an era dominated by wars and intolerance.