How To Get The Most Out of Philosophy Books

[@graydonpanzica330]

When I was a teenager, I worked at the Cafe in Barnes and Noble. There was a college professor who would come in almost every day and sit in the cafe, drinking coffee and reading philosophy. I still think about him. I never knew his name, but I admired him immensely for the questions he let himself explore.

[@dickityboof4144]

sucks that u were not able to talk to him , seems like a story out of a novel lol

[@graydonpanzica330]

@@dickityboof4144 Yeah, I was so shy as a teenager, the most conversation I could have with him was his coffee order and a "have a good day."

[@faaabi8]

How do you know he was a college professor

[@graydonpanzica330]

@@faaabi8 Just a guess. He appeared to be grading papers one time, and he just had a college professor vibe, tbh

[@Vanessa-xr6yj]

Him validating my confusion is everything ty I really like your content

[@dezukaful]

The biggest tip is to use philosophy as a tool. You have a situation or something you wanna know and you read what some people's solutions were. Philosophy is mainky about problem solving, it is crazy to even read certain philosophy books divorced from their original context and/or questions they were trying to tackle

[@goodbye3771]

fancy seeing u here (someone from sinegang ph)

[@danypenzza]

It’s so great to remember that I’m not the only confused reader struggling to discover and understand a piece of work. It brings energy for working towards a result. Thank you!

[@anarchistgigachad3426]

Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil has been sitting on my shelf forever, it's so intimidating. But I feel better about feeling dumb now, maybe I'll start it soon!

[@Thiagoo662]

I started reading the Nicomachean Ethics some time ago, my first philosophy book, and it's satisfying and frustrating at the same time lol I go from "wow, this book is awesome" to "damn, i'm too dumb to understand this"

[@RCWaldun]

Keep trying, you'll get there. :)

[@artisinventable]

I recommend reading a few contemporary papers along side (I wouldn't recommend straight up introductions, except the odd Stanford article if you feel truly lost) Also maybe it helps to remember the historical context of the Ethics: the most likely compilations of notes from students of Aristotle and not a planned an executed book. Sometimes things a confusing for that reason, sometimes because the society is fundamentally different from ours, sometimes because it is conceptually really hard and dense. And try to find people to talk to about the content. I read it a while ago in a small group and that helped a lot. And was in the end of it a truly transforming experience. If you want I can recommend you some papers/articles.

[@risingdawn5788]

Mortimer Adler wrote a book attempting to modernise Aristotle’s, but it’s good to challenge yourself with difficult books - kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3yWnmyXorx5a9Um25s

[@G-Tarun]

@@risingdawn5788 Mortimer Adler!? His How to Read a Book literally taught me to read-philosophy, history, literature, political and social theory, economics, and more! :)

[@Joseph_Mineo]

I also started Nicomachean ethics as my first classic philosophy book, and let me tell you you should be just fine. There is one point in the book on self control relating to universal and particular premises that took me a bit to understand, but other than that it should be a mostly straight forward read-except maybe book 1

[@super_heroes]

I just wanted to say thanks for uploading! You’re my favorite Book-Tuber

[@zahraali8060]

My literature teacher in Uni used to reiterate the point of reading by pointing out we need to bring the subconcious into the conscious and analyse. That's what I try to do with reading philosophy. Systematic approach works best for me when I'm sitting and underlining line by line to get to the thesis. It's a joy and a reward when it just clicks in during reading.

[@geminikid]

I've recently read "Philosophy: The basics" By Nigel Warburton. It basically grabs a bunch of the themes that are usually discussed in philosophy and separates them into schools of thought to then dissect them; Furthermore, every section comes with sources, so that's great. I am relatively new to all this so I found it super helpful, particularly if you are interested in more of a foundational understanding.

[@francisco-id9zg]

How are they separated

[@geminikid]

@@francisco-id9zg It's divided in Chapters such as idk "God" and within those chapters there's bullet points explaining the concept in relation to different philosophical theories. Is roughly 200 pages. I'd say read it, its a win-win situation.

[@shanmugeshwarimuthiah4911]

I've heard great reviews about that book. Apparently it's a good start for beginners

[@basalatbhat]

I am just here to be noticed.

[@joby8157]

Goal achieved

[@f.b.i9572]

You always have been young man.

[@graydonpanzica330]

Maybe you just haven't noticed all the people noticing you.

[@dhananjayrana1761]

lol peep❤

[@jesseymercado9628]

I see you.

[@marypavliuk8769]

Plato's dialogues is one more book that everyone should read

[@mariajohnson2294]

This is very true for reading in a foreign languages even at a high level.

[@t.j.johnsonthewriter]

It's definitely something people need to learn. I get a lot of people to ask me for my channel: "How do I write better?" and "How do I properly read Philosophy?" and all I can say is that there is none. Just do it to the best of your ability. I talk a lot about 'fast media' and how much I hate it (it almost comes up every episode) and how it has made people's minds to impatient mush. Everyone wants an answer now and not to put in the effort.

[@LuneFlaneuse]

I love philosophy. Makes one feel alive

[@CharlesCave]

When I was a university student in the late 1970s I bought my first philosophy book “Philosophy made simple” published as part of a series of books something like the Dummies guides or Idiot guides books of the last 20 years. The book had an orange and yellow cover and was great train reading for my commute to Sydney University. I was doing Bachelor of Science - pure maths and computer science and I had a thirst for knowledge of philosophy. It certainly opened my mind

[@ronin_amv5250]

For me, reading how to be a stoic. I do have to let go of things and values I hold close. I do have to remind myself to forget everything and throw myself into the lake even tho I don’t know how to swim just yet

[@jamespotts8197]

I've just recently stumbled upon your channel and feel as if I've found a very like minded spirit. My Intense passion for reading, literature as well all things writing has given me very little choice as far as interest's being covered. Looking forward to corasponding, discoursing the finer details of the greatest works of literature, reviews....... etc.

[@RCWaldun]

Welcome. :)

[@brunopeixegalego3927]

Sometimes , for me , that confusion comes from poor knowledge of language. Looking up some of the words that are making me confused in the dictionary helps

[@mares3841]

A teacher taught me, "think and think again!"

[@ambreenali.]

I had to write a paper on theatre of the absurd this semester so I got the chance to dig into existentialist philosophy and it blew away my mind. I still remember how I couldn't understand anything my professor said, it was all about meaninglessness, purposelessnes and nothingness that exists in this world and in our lives so I never paid much attention to it but when I read and re-read about it myself a few days before my assignment submission, I finally understood the greatness of it all and how it can make you think about your own life and the world you're living in. Philosophy takes some time to understand but it's worth it ❤️

[@evaennis8303]

thank you for this encouragement to keep at it!

[@derrickmashburn]

That’s really good advice. Thank you.

[@HoangNguyen-lc4bj]

One book I can recommend is "Meandering Sobriety". Although it's a philosophical book, it is a bit humorous and still thought-provoking. The book is a series of funny and thought-stimulating stories that will help you have a moment of escape from hustle reality to see and understand it deeper. Most importantly, it's short and can be completed in a day.

[@annakashchuk6619]

You are a poster child for #ADHD in a highly intelligent person. Love your content. PS. I’m curious how you would do in a conversation with a colleague from your course about these questions that are swirling like a blizzard in your mind.

[@johns123]

You have an awesome voice. You ever consider radio or podcasts? I bet you'd excel there

[@rafaelbaere1707]

Best way to get the most from philosophy books is to have good orientation from people who dedicate themselves to that. Until I joined university I had a very hard time understanding those books.

[@somestuffaboutstories3273]

This really reminded me of Adorno's Minima Moralia, Aphorism 146, Trader's Shop.

[@remyeid8471]

keep up the interesting videos and topics ..

[@hosein_zare_m]

great idea, tanx.

[@cookingwiththehaitiantwist]

And that state of non-understanding is valid for any aspect of life, even in scientific matters. The more aware that you are of what you don’t know or understand, the more likely you are to learn, think critically, and be creative. I think one of the reasons why we don't accept this situation is because we are scared to confront the fact that we are not as “smart/knowledgeable” as we thought we were. Many students can't learn because I that very fact and I, myself, had fallen into that trap as well. We want to believe that we are really intelligent, but in reality, we don't and can't know everything about the world and life. I think once we find something that challenges us, that is when we should dedicate the lost effort to dissect that very thing to find the mystery behind it.

[@sol_mental]

I guess on this it really comes to what my teacher always says to me: "if you want some of my tea, first go empty your cup". You can't accept a new idea through the prism of another one. A new idea is a new idea, it must be constructed from the ground up, and sometimes... this is really hard to do, even with someone explaining it to you.

[@TheEternalOuroboros]

Or just watch Ahead of the Curve's reviews.

[@farhanzia6569]

I enjoy your videos greatly..

[@thore2910]

Hegel & Satre is my goal.

[@janinekaidecastro5493]

Thanks for rhis!!

[@pauls4711]

What would be your suggestion for the top 10 philosophy books to read for beginners?

[@wiredayan9719]

How a about a list to books you recommend?

[@t.j.johnsonthewriter]

What's the camera you use?

[@asofiad]

As someone who's just had the interest on reading philosophy books (i just started reading some philosopher's contemporary book and i honestly was amazed and hookes with it), anything you can recommend for a beginner like me? Which/What philosophy books should I start?

[@wiphatme2027]

Thank you for the video. I’d like to suggest another interested book. “Seeing with the Eye of Dhamma The Comprehensive Teaching of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu” By Buddhadasa Bhikkhu.

[@msnickelodeongirl]

you missed some sort of confusion/Confucius pun

[@RCWaldun]

I'm well aware of it. 😂

[@graydonpanzica330]

The link to the article isn't working :(

[@mohammadabbas4076]

You sound like owen Wilson..

[@leoBrofoski23]

What a good Video! Do you support our great PM, Scott Morrison?

[@rhysholdaway]

My advice is to cheat... Pick up a copy of The Oxford Companion to Philosophy.

[@misao7746]

I thought bell hooks was still more close to feminism... I dibide my reading list into two stages, now Im nearly finished with the first stage, all important feminism books, and then comes philosophy.

[@amandacollantes9221]

we can consider feminist theory to be a part of philosophy! :)

[@f.b.i9572]

I had read some of Nietzsche and shopenhour books ... A week back i started reading critique of pure reason ... I was confident that I could understand at least some of it... But fuck it's just gibberish...

[@Phicxtion]

I don’t actually know how to read.

[@TheEternalOuroboros]

I love philosophy and read it exclusively, and I must say, Spinoza's Ethics is a disgusting read. Nietzsche is where it's at.

[@jackr4507]

Horrific take wtf

[@TheEternalOuroboros]

@@jackr4507 Do you actually read philosophy? Btw, i’m not saying Spinoza’s bad content wise, but from a literary perspective it’s not fun, whereas Nietzsche’s books is a series of bombshells.

[@jackr4507]

@@TheEternalOuroboros I’d agree N is probably the better writer but Ethics is such an amazing read if you persevere

[@TheEternalOuroboros]

@@jackr4507 👍✌️

[@Gabriel-bk3lm]

I love you deeply Waldun but truth above all this video's a filler

[@ezup69]

"If you dont read the wrong books then the right books read you"

[@malakm8143]

Sorry but I didn't get it?

[@ezup69]

@@malakm8143 "read more quotes to understand other quotes" lol I'm jus playin' stay fresh

[@malakm8143]

@@ezup69 okay I can understand this, but about the wrong and right book I just didn't get

[@clari_fairy]

@@malakm8143 I tried to look the quote up and it appears to not mean anything. Lol. Google couldn’t find any results, which implies that no one has said it so I’m not sure what’s going on here either

[@ezup69]

It was a quote I made up whilst drunk. It's most basic interpreted meaning being "the right books speak to you"

[@hanskung3278]

If you believe in God then your not into science? isn't that sterio typing?