Philosophy asks and analyzes the questions that have pressed on humankind for centuries: What does it mean to be human? Why are we here? How should we relate to each other? From ancient to contemporary times, these questions have been answered with varying, and sometimes contradictory, schools of thought. Our picks below span centuries and subjects, and draw parallels across time to embolden listeners to dive deep into questions about the fundamental nature of our reality on macro and micro levels alike.
A classic Socratic dialogue, Plato’s Republic is one of the most influential works of philosophy and political theory. Asking questions about justice, community and government, art, and the nature of thought, Republic is presented as a series of engaging back-and-forth arguments between Socrates and other characters. Narrator Ray Childs brings great vibrancy and joy to these discussions, drawing us in by using distinctive voices and fully committing to the conversational nature of the work. His clear familiarity with Republic is evident in the pitch-perfect emphasis and clarity with which he delivers every line, and the addition of background voices cheering and laughing at just the right moments makes the listening experience truly transporting.
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor weaves together three threads—biographical content on Marcus Aurelius, summaries of his Stoic philosophy from his famous The Meditations, and information about cognitive behavioral therapy approaches that complement the practice of Stoicism—to craft a compelling listen. Psychotherapist Donald Robertson narrates his own work, and his even, understated delivery makes this intensive look at philosophy, psychology, and history engaging and easy to follow. The figure of Marcus Aurelius looms large in history, and Robertson does his life and work justice with this comprehensive introduction. Neither losing the listener in the halls of history nor forcing tenets of Stoicism to fit contemporary times, the author manages to make the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius immediate and personal.
Ryan Holiday brings together many schools of philosophical thought to find a central truth: stillness enables success. Contrary to popular belief in our over-stimulated age, productivity is not the way forward. Instead, Holiday advocates pulling back and finding moments of inner steadiness in our constantly spinning world. Holiday’s narration of his own research into the history of Stoic and Buddhist philosophy is filled with personality and candid anecdotes that relate his modern life to the ancient texts he examines. Showcasing figures like pitcher Sadaharu Oh and Winston Churchill, both of whom utilized stillness to their great advantage, Stillness Is the Key is at once a richly meditative work and an energizing listen.
Most listeners will be familiar with The Prince's most famous question: Is it better to be feared or to be loved? But Niccolo Machiavelli’s classic text on power is so much more than that. Accompanied by a cunning, crisp narrative performance from Grover Gardner, Machiavelli’s insights into strategy, the nature of the politically powerful, and what it takes to remain at the top are as bold and fresh today as they were when first published in 1532. Against the backdrop of morally corrupt Renaissance Italy, The Prince—named for Lorenzo de Medici, ruling Florentine prince at the time—attempts to shed light on the reality of government. This version is particularly informative because it first places the title in historical context with an introduction that dives deep into Machiavelli’s world and relationships.
Kris Dyer’s clear, elegant narration of A Little History of Philosophy is a perfect fit for Nigel Warburton’s introduction to the subject—an appealing blend of approachable and ambitious. In less than eight hours, listeners work their way from ancient Greece to modern times, visiting with the eminent philosophers of every age, from Aristotle to Nietzsche to Russell. Though the selection advances chronologically, Warburton takes care to draw parallels and links between these varied schools of thought—comparing and contrasting certain ideas and explaining the evolution and transformation of others. This audiobook offers an easy way to expand your knowledge in the fundamentals of philosophy while encouraging listeners to respond to each school of thought with continued, in-depth study.
While Stoicism may have begun with thinkers like Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus in ancient Rome, its techniques and benefits are easily translated to the present. William B. Irvine introduces listeners to enduring Stoic ideas through the lens of everyday challenges. He tells listeners—through the soothing, pensive voice of James Patrick Cronin—how he’s taken the concept of self-observation and delayed reflection and applied it to minimize worry and unhealthy attachments in his life. Though routinely criticized for being a bleak, harsh philosophy, Irvine shows that Stoicism is actually an alleviating balm for the always busy, often overwhelming nature of our lives. A Guide to the Good Life is a philosophy audiobook that's direct, honest, and, above all, genuinely helpful.
Understanding consciousness has been the work of philosophers, scientists, and psychologists for ages, yet there still seems to be no full agreement on what consciousness is and what it means to possess it. Annaka Harris invites listeners to probe myriad arguments on the nature of consciousness—including theories on what it means to be able to think about consciousness at all—and provides a clear and helpful guide to this complex subject. Harris also proves her narration prowess. Her comforting voice puts the listener at ease with intense questions of awareness, making everyone feel welcomed into the debate. The result is a concise title that packs a cognitive punch.
The foundation for philosophical and religious Taoism, the Tao Te Ching is believed to have originated in China in the 6th century BC. It’s organized in a poetic structure with no clear narrative—moment after moment of penetrating vision and wisdom flow together to create a short, affecting spiritual and philosophical listen. The Tao Te Ching teaches lessons on knowing the self, positively relating to others and one’s surroundings, and, above all, the inevitability of constant change and the need to let things go. Dr. Jacob Needleman, a professor of philosophy who has studied the lessons of the Tao for years, adds invaluable commentary at the end of this audiobook. The addition makes the entire listening experience feel like a fascinating university lecture that reveals something new upon each new listen.
Audie Award winner Jonathan Davis narrates Matthew Ward’s translation of The Stranger by Albert Camus in this selection, and the experience is nothing short of excellent. His take on Camus’s seminal story makes for an ideal audio experience that showcases the author’s original genius while adding subtle modern commentary to a classic work. In The Stranger, listeners meet Meursault, a young Algerian imprisoned and tried for murder—but this isn’t your typical tale of crime and punishment. Meursault is actually more on trial for his amorality and existentialism than for killing a man—he believes that every individual gives meaning to their own life, that the past and future do not matter, and, as a result, neither do individuals. In studies on Nihilism and Existentialism, The Stranger is indispensable.
Psychiatrist Viktor E. Frankl wrote Man’s Search for Meaning as he reflected on his years as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, a harrowing experience during which he bore witness to appalling acts against humanity. In thinking back on those traumatic times, Frankl refined his theory of logotherapy, a psychological approach that considers humankind’s primary motivator as the search for meaning. Simon Vance’s Audie Award-winning voice is perfectly cast for all facets of this extraordinary account—the heartbreaking moments in the camps and the academic, introspective moments alike. Vance’s expertise helps bring to life what is more than simply a survival memoir and more than simply a philosophical treatise—Man’s Search for Meaning is one of the most poignant audiobooks in the genre.
Dan Carlin is no stranger to long-form audio on complex subjects—his popular, acclaimed podcast Hardcore History has explored everything from Genghis Khan to World War II. In The End Is Always Near, Carlin explores questions about the end of the world—what would happen to human society and individual humans in the darkest of times? Carlin uses his trademark thoroughness and engaging personality to look at end-of-the-world scenarios throughout history, analyzing the way people have reacted to the threat of extinction. Not only does he tie together various themes from his podcast and connect the past and future in captivating ways, but he also does it with humor and contagious excitement that makes ruminating on our reaction to the apocalypse surprisingly fun.
From The Great Courses—a project founded by Tom Rollins that focuses on the power of great lecturers to educate listeners on the subject matters in which they’re experts—comes Professor Robert C. Solomon’s course on existentialism. An engaging and talented lecturer, Solomon focuses on five philosophers—Sartre, Heidegger, Camus, Nietzsche, and Kierkegaard—during 24 lectures that are roughly a half hour each, making them as easily digestible as they are enlightening. Professor Solomon describes Existentialism as "the most exciting and important philosophical movement of the past century and a half," and its wide variety of philosophers means there’s a lot to explore. This audiobook offers a comprehensive study of Existentialism that doesn’t compromise on entertainment.
This Audie Award-winning title was on the New York Times bestseller list for nearly a year, and after just a few minutes of listening, it becomes clear why. In The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff hypothesizes that the beloved bear perfectly exemplifies Taoist teachings because he simply is, and the evidence Hoff presents is both convincing and adorable. He engages listeners in the teaching of the Tao through storytelling, using an extended metaphor with characters in the Hundred Acre Wood. Hall of Fame narrator Simon Vance’s tone and pacing are exquisite. With Vance narrating, every character comes to life while maintaining the clarity of Hoff’s philosophical case—making the wisdom of the Tao as accessible (and enticing!) to listeners as honey is to Pooh.
Pedagogy of the Oppressed was first published in 1968, but its insights and observations are more relevant now than ever. Paulo Freire proposes an empowering theory of philosophy and education that, instead of dividing student and teacher, makes students co-creators of the learning process. Narrated with crispness and gravitas by Dennis Kleinman, this 50th anniversary edition includes an updated introduction and afterword, plus new interviews with formative educators and experts in their fields like Noam Chomsky and Ramon Flecha. This audiobook asks listeners to look closely at some integral philosophical questions: What should we teach? To whom are we teaching? What is the purpose of education?
The history of philosophy is dominated by men, but Simone de Beauvoir, author of The Second Sex and wife of Jean-Paul Sartre, stands out as one of the preeminent Existentialists with a diverse and feminist approach. Her impact on feminist and philosophical theory is invaluable, and this selection by Ladelle McWhorter explores her life and contributions in enthralling detail. Part of a series, World of Philosophy, this title is gorgeously narrated by Oscar nominee Lynn Redgrave, who voices McWhorter’s work with skill and enthusiasm. This listen explores, with special emphasis, some of de Beauvoir’s more complicated lines of thought so that listeners can benefit from the work’s biographical and philosophical elements in tandem.
Professor Daniel N. Robinson presents more than 2,000 years of philosophy in this listen, another Great Courses entry. Starting with the ancient Greeks and taking listeners through to the most popular philosophies of the 21st century, he displays a passion and talent for teaching philosophy that keeps the course's entire 30 hours engaging. His anecdotal approach to historical context and philosophical complexities makes the course feel like one long, fascinating story. While other selections on our list are excellent introductions to philosophy, Professor Robinson’s course is best suited for those with a slightly more advanced background. Beginning your listening with a basic understanding of the philosophies mentioned makes this title all the more enlightening.
Contemporary philosopher and distinguished Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago, Martha C. Nussbaum turns her attention to the aftermath of the 2016 US presidential election. Performed in a direct, personal tone by Amanda Carlin, The Monarchy of Fear speaks to listeners about the divisiveness of the years since 2016, the philosophy of morality, how conflicts arise from threats to our identity, and whether the two sides of the aisle can meet in the middle. Especially interesting to unravel are the sections exploring what ancient philosophers might think about society’s current political climate. Tying together the historical and contemporary with acute and revelatory insights, Nussbaum has crafted a selection that acts as both a balm and a cautionary tale.
In Between Past and Future, Hannah Arendt synthesizes centuries of political and philosophical thought to shed light on concepts we routinely reference but may not truly understand. Broken down into eight exercises, the book focuses on the meaning of political keywords. For one, the author dives into how the essence of words like "justice" and "virtue" have been corrupted over years of crises—and how valuable finding our way back to their core definition could be. Performed by Bernadette Dunne, whose meditative voice complements Arendt’s stylized writing, this listen feels more like a personal reflection than a philosophy lesson. In each exercise, listeners are encouraged to exercise their own cognitive limits as well, make new connections between past and present, and consider meaning more intentionally.
Author of the bestselling memoir Kaffir Boy, Mark Mathabane became familiar with government-sanctioned racism while growing up in Apartheid South Africa. In The Lessons of Ubuntu, he focuses on overcoming racism in his adopted home: the United States. JD Jackson’s steady and calming narration immediately puts listeners at ease, opening minds to taking a deep look at our own roles in the current state of racial tensions. In a stunning examination of the language we use to talk about race, Mathabane suggests embracing the language of Ubuntu, a Zulu word for common humanity, to focus on healing racial divides. Citing the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, Mathabane shows how language has the power to overcome stereotypes, bridge divides, and bring us closer to unity—a moving message that speaks directly to our times.
Sick of wondering what to believe? In today’s media landscape, misinformation, embellishment, and exaggeration are the order of the day. Enter Calling Bullshit, a field guide for testing so-called facts against scientific reasoning. While they're not philosophers, data scientists Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West are committed to the quest for truth. Along with advocating healthy skepticism, the authors equip listeners with crucial tools to identify selection bias, distinguish between correlation and causality, and sift through all of the muck that we find online. Featuring some very clear and snappy narration from Patrick Zeller, this listen is as enjoyable as it is essential.
Think of Enlightenment Now, which Bill Gates once called his “new favorite book of all time,” as a manifesto for human progress. In the midst of global hunger, climate change, human rights crises, war, and just about any other societal ill, this compelling listen calls for optimism, tenacity, compassion, and logic. Throughout, cognitive scientist Steven Pinker pulls on the threads of Enlightenment-era philosophy to make the case that humanity both wants to and will move forward, backed by reason and science. With a strong performance by Arthur Morey, this title begs the listener to cut through all of today’s divisive politics and ignorance to get a clearer look at the problems in today's world as the first step to solving them.
Unlike the other titles on this list, Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie’s World is a novel. This story stars the titular Sophie, a 14-year-old girl who finds herself in a philosophical quandary. Coming home from school one day, she opens the mailbox to find two notes, one asking, “Who are you?” and the other raising the question, “Where does the world come from?” This intriguing beginning is followed by a deep dive into Western philosophy, from the classic era to more modern schools of thought. Narrated brilliantly by the talented Simon Vance, this listen is not only informative, but also emotionally resonant and entertaining.
Cat lovers rejoice! In this title, philosopher John Gray takes a close look at behavior in cats of all kinds to form a cohesive life philosophy. By extensively studying our feline friends, Gray sees a form of independence, self-assurance, and an utter lack of self-consciousness that is key to their nature. Gray believes that these ideas can be applied to the comparatively arrogant, insecure, and perpetually vulnerable condition that most humans find themselves in. With another stellar performance by the legendary Simon Vance, Feline Philosophy is a purr-fect listen for anyone, and especially for the cat lover in all of us.