Philosophy
Read Philosophy Classics in English
15 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 Zones of the Spirit: A Book of Thoughts, Zadig; Or, The Book of Fate and Youth and Life. 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.
- 15
- books
| Title | Chapters | Level |
|---|---|---|
| This Simian World | 1 | B2 |
| Their Yesterdays | 15 | B2 |
| The Philosopher's Joke | 1 | B2 |
| The Hour Glass | 1 | B2 |
| The Ethical Way | 1 | B2 |
| The Apology | 3 | B2 |
| Man Made | 1 | B2 |
| Lay Morals, and Other Papers | 39 | B2 |
| Heretics | 21 | B2 |
| God's Country: The Trail to Happiness | 6 | B2 |
| Every-day heroism | 1 | B2 |
| Born Again | 1 | B2 |
| Allegories of Life | 24 | B2 |
| Adventures in Friendship | 14 | B2 |
| A little philosophy of life | 1 | B2 |
Level B2PhilosophyThis Simian WorldExplore a world where humanity's simian ancestry shapes civilization's quirks and limitations, as two friends ponder the evolutionary forces that forged our species and the curious…
Level B2RomanceTheir YesterdaysA young man faces the loss of his childhood home and the weight of growing into manhood, while a woman similarly revisits her past.
Level B2PhilosophyThe Philosopher's JokeSix friends share a mysterious experience so strange that each doubts its reality—yet together, the memory insists on returning.
Level B2PhilosophyThe Hour GlassIn a dialogue between a wise man and a fool, ancient wisdom clashes with lived experience, revealing hidden angels and unseen worlds beyond scholarly knowledge.
Level B2Science FictionThe Ethical WayIn a future where humans are rescued from self-destruction to become slaves for a galactic race, ethical debates clash with profit and survival.
Level B2HistoricalThe ApologySocrates faces trial with unwavering conviction, defending a life spent in pursuit of justice and truth while embracing death as preferable to a decline into senility.
Level B2Science FictionMan MadeA veteran astronaut with prosthetic limbs shares his extraordinary life spanning centuries, exploring distant planets and confronting the challenges of advanced synthetic body part…
Level B2PhilosophyLay Morals, and Other PapersExplore profound reflections on courage, compassion, and humanity as a traveler confronts the harsh realities of leprosy in remote islands, challenging societal fears and embracing…
Level B2PhilosophyHereticsExplore a provocative critique of modern society’s shifting values, where being “heretical” means clarity and courage, and “orthodoxy” implies error.
Level B2PhilosophyGod's Country: The Trail to HappinessAlone in a remote wilderness cabin, a man reflects on humanity’s restless search for spiritual truth amid a world torn by doubt and division, as he prepares to share his personal d…
Level B2PhilosophyEvery-day heroismA young boy battles a day filled with setbacks and frustration, learning from his mother that true heroism lies in conquering inner struggles and mastering self-control amidst life…
Level B2PhilosophyBorn AgainA man reflects on an act of selfless kindness witnessed on a Detroit street, inspiring a life story filled with travel, conflict, and a quest for truth beyond conventional beliefs.
Level B2PhilosophyAllegories of LifeIn a quiet valley, a set of church bells grows restless, yearning for change and new purpose beyond their familiar chimes—while a dying boy longs to hear their Christmas music one…
Level B2PhilosophyAdventures in FriendshipA chance encounter with a friendly stranger sparks a reflective journey into the true meaning of fellowship and belonging beyond secret societies.
Level B2PhilosophyA little philosophy of lifeExplore timeless reflections on life’s fleeting nature, the wisdom found in love, and the lessons shaped by adversity, all woven through the tender bond between generations discove…