I have been posed this question numerous times: What are good works to read in philosophy for a beginner? Below are some of what I consider to be essential reading which are yet suitable for beginners. I hope this helps you. Time is short and hence we need to prioritise our reading since reading takes (a lot of) time. Other than the first work, the rest appear in no particular order.
Plato – The Republic – My list starts with what may be the foundational text of western philosophy and a must-read in the canon. His style is dialogical (that is, it uses the format of a dialogue) so it reads like a play and lays out some important ideas not just in political philosophy but also other domains of philosophy.
Plato - Apologia - Short and light, Socrates presents his defence, which is enlightening and deeply moving.
Sartre, Jean Paul - Existentialism is a Humanism - A lecture given by Sartre aimed at the layman, it lays out important aspects of his existentialist philosophy and its implication to life - highly recommended. It is easy going also.
Cartwright, Nancy - How the Laws of Physics Lies - Funny and insightful, this is a good read for those who think that scientific laws actually are laws.
Kuhn, Thomas S. - The Structure of Scientific Revolution - For those who think science progresses in a linear way, it doesn't. It goes in fits and starts, and in its revolutions, it overthrows previous theories completely.
Machiavelli - The Prince - Short and light, this work is not just read in political philosophy but also in MBA courses.
Marx, Karl – The Communist Manifesto - Short and well, it changed the world. The Manifesto is worth reading especially if all you know about Marx is his bad press.
Russell, Bertrand - A History of Western Philosophy – A sweeping overview, Russell’s history offers a good introduction to philosophy, written by a great thinker.
Plato- Euthyphro - Plato answers the question of whether there is/can be morality without religion. Spoiler alert: the answer is yes.
Boethius - The Consolations of Philosophy - Those interested in Stoicism will do no worse than to begin here. Boethius has a conversation with Lady Philosophy lamenting his persecution.
Seneca - Letters from a Stoic – These are letters he wrote to his son, full of fatherly wisdom.
Nietzsche, Friedrich - Beyond Good and Evil - Disclaimer: not the easiest read, but at points rather funny. He does lay out his ideas quite clearly, though if you are looking for "proof" of his assertions, Nietzsche is too great to bother to provide them.
Camus - The Myth of Sisyphus - Easy to read because Camus is a good writer, but puzzling (or you may say thought-provoking) in its conclusion. For those interested in Existentialism.
Fanon, Frantz – The Wretched of the Earth
Fanon, Frantz – White Skin, Black Masks – Exhilarating reads and essential if you wish to understand some philosophy on race issues. Fanon presents a first-person insight. Both are easy to read but because what he writes about is so visceral in his lived experience, it can at points be painful to read because it just hits so close to home especially if you are not a white person (whom I am not).
Frankl, Viktor – Man’s Search for Meaning – Another visceral read where he pens down his experience and lessons from his experience in a concentration camp.
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