patrikos.psl
Transplanted English Aristocrat
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INTRODUCTION
If you've spent any amount of time on the internet, you're bound to come across pseudo-intellectuals, especially on places like TikTok, Reddit, and even here sometimes. Most of the time, they're performing the act of knowing something (or being an expert in it). Take, for example, the Modal Logic "trend" on TikTok, where theists and atheists create edits using formal logic to disprove (or prove) the existence of God. These are often people who have never read anything on the mathematics of language, the history of linguistics, or other subjects involving formal symbolism.
I've included books that I've read and enjoyed, books that my friends have read and enjoyed, and even books that I'd recommend to almost anyone.
Some of these books (which I've labeled accordingly) may be above your current reading level, so if you've never read anything akin to philosophy before, I'd suggest starting with the beginner section. If not, feel free to jump wherever you'd like. It never stopped me from reading above my own level.
Absolute Beginner / Entry-Level Books
I'd say that without trying to offend most people on here that they belong in this category, this is no way trying to offend you. But I do think that most of you belong here. This is the category associated with general high school reading level, or just "muh average age" Anyways, I've laid out some introductory philosophy and novelia that would be somewhat Impressive to read at this category, as I believe you'd only be reading to impress women.
(Difficulty scale: 1/10 = normal 12th-grade fiction novel, 10/10 = Wittgenstein’s Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus)
1. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
Difficulty: 2/10
A simple philosophical novel about a man’s search for enlightenment, meaning, and self-understanding.
2. The Stranger by Albert Camus
Difficulty: 1.5/10
A short introduction to existentialism and absurdism through the story of a man who challenges society’s ideas about meaning and morality.
3. Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Difficulty: 2/10
A beginner philosophical essay about nature, individualism, and learning to think independently.
4. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Difficulty: 3.6/10
A medieval story exploring honor, courage, morality, and human flaws through the journey of a knight.
5. Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse
Difficulty: 3.1/10
A psychological novel about identity, loneliness, and the conflict between reason and human desires.
Intermediate Reader / Undergraduate Level
This category is for those who have moved past introductory philosophy and are ready for more serious philosophical writing. Much of advanced literature and philosophy is built upon Ancient Greek thought, especially the ideas of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle etc, so I would recommend watching an introduction to Ancient Greek philosophy before starting this section. Good starting points are The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization (PBS), Genius of the Ancient World: Socrates (BBC), and The Ancient Greeks (BBC).I.e "I'm ready for the larp" ← this should be your mentality going in
1. Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle
Difficulty: 5.5/10
I read this as one of the best introductions to formal ethics, focusing on virtue, happiness, and what it means to live a good life.
2. The Republic by Plato
Difficulty: 6/10
A foundational philosophical dialogue covering justice, politics, knowledge, and the ideal society.
3. Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche
Difficulty: 7/10
Nietzsche challenges traditional morality and examines where human values, beliefs, and philosophies come from.
4. The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
Difficulty: 7.5/10
Camus explores absurdism and the struggle of finding meaning in a world without clear answers.
5. Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant
Difficulty: 8/10
Kant analyzes human knowledge, perception, and the limits of what reason can understand.
6. Phenomenology of Spirit by G.W.F. Hegel
Difficulty: 8.5/10
Hegel explores consciousness, history, and the development of human thought through a highly abstract philosophical system.
Advanced Philosopher-Reader / Post-Graduate Level
This category is (mainly) for readers who have developed a interest in philosophy and are ready to engage with texts involving formal logic, metaphysics, epistemology, linguistics, mathematics, (you get the idea) Personally, I moved into this level very quickly after becoming interested in philosophy, and I found that reading above my level did not negatively affect my understanding; It pushed me to learn more and return to difficult ideas with better context. These books are challenging, but you do not need to wait until you are an "expert" to approach them.Though I would suggest a very good lecture series on Youtube I watched while on vacation:
1. Being and Time by Martin Heidegger
Difficulty: 8.7/10
Heidegger explores existence, consciousness, and human experience through a complex philosophical framework that requires slow and careful reading.
2. Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein ← Still reading this, so far very complex, I'd take notes and watch explanations.
Difficulty: 10/10
Wittgenstein examines the relationship between language, logic, and reality through an extremely condensed system of philosophical analysis.
3. Principia Mathematica by Bertrand Russell and Alfred North Whitehead
Difficulty: 10/10
A technical attempt to establish the foundations of mathematics through formal logic and symbolic reasoning.
4. Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein
Difficulty: 9/10
Wittgenstein examines how language works in everyday life and challenges traditional ideas about meaning and communication.
5. The Logic of Scientific Discovery by Karl Popper
Difficulty: 8.5/10
Popper analyzes scientific reasoning and explains why testing and falsification are central to understanding scientific knowledge.
6. A Theory of Justice by John Rawls
Difficulty: 8/10
Detailed theory of justice, fairness, and political philosophy through carefully structured arguments.
7. Difference and Repetition by Gilles Deleuze
Difficulty: 9/10
Identity, difference, time, and metaphysics through a highly abstract philosophical system influenced by earlier thinkers.
CONCLUSION
At the end of the day, you do not have to read philosophy or literature if you genuinely have no interest in it, and that is a perfectly reasonable choice. However, if you are interested in becoming more articulate, expanding your knowledge, or simply being someone who can hold deeper conversations, reading is one of the easiest ways to develop those skills. Personally, I think there is value in reading even if you start for less serious reasons; whether you want to understand philosophy, improve your intelligence, etc, the benefits usually follow naturally.
And yes, if your goal is to personalitymaxx and become more interesting socially, reading actually helps. Being well-read gives you more topics to discuss, improves your communication skills, and helps you connect with people who value ideas and intellectual curiosity.
TL;DR
Reading is strongly associated with higher verbal intelligence, broader knowledge, and better communication skills. Even if you start just to improve your image or larpmaxx, you will probably end up gaining real knowledge along the way.
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