Philosophy Now Forum

what are the most common or most popular books about philosophy ?

I don't know for sure but if you are starting out a good introduction to some of the main themes is to be found in Nigel Warburton's Philosophy: The Basics and Philosophy: The Classics, both Routledge.

To know a bit about how a modern philosopher lived his life you can read Bryan Magee's Confessions of a Philosopher, a journey through Western philosophy (Phoenix).

Nothing beats the real thing and I found useful the anthology Western Philosophy, edited by Cottingham, Blackwell - divided into themes and chronologically with short intro's.

Others may disagree - but that's philosophy.

Russel's History of Western Philosophy is an essential reading too.

I think you need to be careful when reading Russell now. No book is free from bias but, with his bias toward English-speaking analytical philosophy, Russell's treatment of continental thinkers like Husserl and the American pragmatists is, at best, naive and, at worst, just plain daft. A beautifully wrritten and important historical document no doubt but a wonky introduction to modern philosophy.

He had his faults, I know, but HWP is an excellent reference book nonetheless...

And we should be careful when reading EVERY author...

I think I said this in my post. My point is that there are better introductions to philosophy available. The problem with Russell's book is that it's a polemic masquerading as an introduction.

Cite other good introductions to Philosophy that you know then...

Think by Simon Blackburn.

The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant

A good introduction to the other side...

An Introduction to Continental Philosophy by David West