Philosophy
Read Philosophy Classics in English
17 philosophy books at CEFR A2 to C2 — learn English by reading the stories worth reading. Select any word for an instant translation, listen to the narration read the page aloud, and save the vocabulary you meet. Pick your level and start with a free sample.
What are the best philosophy classics to read in English as a learner?
The best philosophy classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with The Brothers Karamazov, The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2) and Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Each one is labelled with a CEFR level, any word you do not know is one selection away from a translation, and the narration reads the page aloud while it highlights the words.
- 17
- books
| Title | Chapters | Level |
|---|---|---|
| The Brothers Karamazov | 96 | C2 |
| The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2) | 44 | C2 |
| Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin | 19 | C1–C2 |
| Beyond Good and Evil | 9 | C2 |
| Biographia Literaria | 27 | C2 |
| Crime and Punishment | 39 | C1–C2 |
| Eloisa : $b or, A series of original letters | 164 | C2 |
| Leviathan | 47 | C2 |
| On Liberty | 5 | C2 |
| The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare | 15 | C1–C2 |
| The Picture of Dorian Gray | 20 | C1–C2 |
| The Prince | 26 | C2 |
| The City of God, Volume I | 13 | C2 |
| Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None | 81 | C2 |
| The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana: Translated From the Sanscrit in Seven Parts With Preface, Introduction and Concluding Remarks | 40 | C1–C2 |
| Ecce Homo: Complete Works, Volume Seventeen | 10 | C2 |
| Hegel's Lectures on the History of Philosophy: Volume 3 (of 3) | 10 | C2 |
Level C2ClassicsThe Brothers KaramazovThe classic classics novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Level C2PhilosophyThe Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2)The classic historical novel by George Gillespie.
Level C1–C2HistoricalAutobiography of Benjamin FranklinThe classic historical novel by Benjamin Franklin.
Level C2PhilosophyBeyond Good and EvilThe classic philosophy novel by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.
Level C2PhilosophyBiographia LiterariaThe classic philosophy novel by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Level C1–C2ClassicsCrime and PunishmentThe classic mystery novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Level C2RomanceEloisa : $b or, A series of original lettersThe classic romance novel by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Level C2PhilosophyLeviathanThe classic historical novel by Thomas Hobbes.
Level C2PhilosophyOn LibertyThe classic philosophy novel by John Stuart Mill.
Level C1–C2MysteryThe Man Who Was Thursday: A NightmareThe classic mystery novel by G.
Level C1–C2GothicThe Picture of Dorian GrayA portrait ages while its beautiful owner does not — Wilde’s only novel.
Level C2PhilosophyThe PrinceThe classic historical novel by Niccolò Machiavelli.
Level C2PhilosophyThe City of God, Volume IThe classic work of philosophy and theology by Saint Augustine of Hippo.
Level C2PhilosophyThus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and NoneThe classic philosophy novel by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.
Level C1–C2PhilosophyThe Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana: Translated From the Sanscrit in Seven Parts With Preface, Introduction and Concluding RemarksThe classic romance novel by Vatsyayana.
Level C2PhilosophyEcce Homo: Complete Works, Volume SeventeenThe classic philosophy novel by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.
Level C2PhilosophyHegel's Lectures on the History of Philosophy: Volume 3 (of 3)The classic historical novel by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.