Jared asked:

I am trying to drastically change my life and gain a better understanding of life in general. What
philosophical books have changed your life? I would prefer to read books that I can readily apply to
my social life.

============

Here is my own offering of the three most life changing books I have read — (1) Atlas Shruggedby
Ayn Rand; (2) The Selfish Geneby Richard Dawkins (and I recommend you follow this with The
Extended Phenotypeby the same author, in order to complete the story started in the first book); and
(3) Men are from Mars and Women are from Venusby Dr. John Grey. All are very readable, and
targeted at the average reader. They are not heavy philosophical works.

Once you have managed those, try these heavier philosophical works — Darwin's Dangerous Idea
and Consciousness Explainedby Daniel C. Dennett; The Wealth and Poverty of Nationsby David S.
Landes; Culture Mattersby Lawrence E. Harrison and Samuel P. Huntington.

Add to this list a good History of Western Philosophy. My own favorite is A History of Western
Philosophyby Bertrand Russell, but it is a little dated (first published in 1945), stops with William
James and John Dewey and the early Logical Positivists, and should be supplemented with a text
that covers the Twentieth Century. With this as a base, I think you will be well positioned to start your
own reading list.

Stuart Burns

76