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6 Philosophy Books to Read in 2016

Philosophy Tube | December 12, 2025



Here’s some books from my reading list on philosophy, economics, terrorism, feminism, and trans rights! Full list below the fold.
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Recommended Reading:
Paul Mason – Postcapitalism
Sherene Razack – Casting Out
Falguni Sheth – Toward a Political Philosophy of Race
Julia Serano – Whipping Girl
Louise Richardson – What Terrorists Want
Karl Marx – Das Kapital

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Comments

This post currently has 50 comments.

  1. @kissfan7

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    I don’t get why post-colonial academics don’t look at Islam and Arab states outside the Arabian peninsula as colonial.

    North Africa and the Levant are pretty much the OG settler-colonies.

  2. @agiar2000

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    So, when I first started watching this channel, it already came across to me as a pretty strongly left-wing channel, which I liked quite a lot, though I was curious why it was called "Philosophy Tube". I decided to start watching the videos again from the beginning, and I immediately became aware of how the channel began with a primary focus on philosophy in general, not so much on leftism specifically. I decided to start watching each video in the order in which it was published until I could find the point at which that transition from general philosophy to leftism seemed to occur, and this video gave me quite a big grin in that regard.

    You've done such an amazing job, Abi, and I am very grateful to you for leaving public all of your old videos! I am greatly enjoying continuing to go through them!

  6. @davidbrandes4999

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    I recently started getting into reading philosophy on my own. Do you think it’s important that I read more about political economics before reading Das Capital, or just go right into it?

  8. @arronwilson642

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    Readers should give this site “fetching lobon only” (Google it) an attempt. All types of subjects are found here. Some of the subject matter include medicine, history and modern literature. I simply like it!! Among the best website I have seen. It also has all the materials my son needs to start reading. It helps a lot.

  9. @adrianjohnson1449

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    I`ve always been a fan of this book subscription “fetching lobon only” (Google it) from the start. Every single genre contains several wonderful books that are only exclusive to this specific subscription service. The portal is packed with subject related to novels, study, and a lot more. Simple to find the necessary books / documents.

  10. @carmenrodriguez4087

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    This is among the best place ever for you to read any books you want, “fetching lobon only” (Google it). After searching for free books online, I finally found them all in one place, enabling me to save cash from purchasing a new book. A wonderful way to learn, grow, and imagine at work, in the vehicle, and at home! I truly enjoy all the audio books as well.

  11. @zacneymar

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    do you know any books how to increase the sharpness of the mind ie with decisions and contemplating what is right to do in certain circumstances ?I've got medititons and The Prince on their way now

  15. @otherpill7008

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    Hello. I'm searching for videos where someone might suggest in which order I should read the works of major philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Nietzsche,Kiekegaard, Kant, Schopenhauer, Hegel,Derrida, Wittgenstein, etc etc.
    Could you refer anything like that?

  21. @randyham273

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    There's a book called "Ishmael- An Adventure of the Mind And Spirit" by Daniel Quinn. Don't let the cheesy Deepak Chopra-sounding title fool you- it's actually very fascinating. I read it for an environmental policy class and I've read it several times again since then. It's about a telepathic socratic-style seminar between a human and a gorilla, and it goes into the history of human cultures, tribal ethics, and environmental issues.

  25. @willg-r3269

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    Since you specifically mention wanting to incorporate more work by transgender authors into your reading list, you might want to check out the work of economist Dierdre (formerly Donald) McCloskey, who was a member in good standing of the University of Chicago economics department during the '70s (with all the baggage that implies) but got more heterodox from the '80s onward after diving into postmodern philosophy and comparative literature. Probably the first book to add to the list would be *The Rhetoric of Economics*, which among other things takes quite a few swings at scientism and "physics envy" both among economists and in general.

  28. @RusoVietico

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    Hello! Which do you think are the best and most meaningful books you have read in your life?
    I am personally searching books on consciousness and greek philosophy, yet i am quite new and unimformed when it comes to reading books.

  29. @divinuminfernum

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    A book i got which i am reading now and recommend is 'The Free Development of Each' by Allen Wood -its really fantastic work on the topics of rights, freedom and ethics in the philosophy of Kant, Hegel, Fichte, Herder and Marx too even -i recommend it greatly for those interested in German classical philosophy and so much of it is as relevant today as ever
    Also David Harvey's 2 volume Companion to Marx's Capital is really helpful as well,

  30. @imaginareality

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    Yeah, as soon as I win the lottery, I'll buy and read all of these books…
    Seriously, I live in a small town in Germany and I have no idea how I could get my hands on these books (in the original english version) which is frustrating, but I guess I'll just put them on my birthday-/christmas wishlist every year
    They all sound super interesting!

  31. @hankonfire

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    Your need to "defend" your decision to read Marx speaks volumes about the brainwashing westerners are subjected to.The fact that the wealthiest 64 individuals now control more wealth than the bottom 3.5 BILLION pretty much confirms that Marx's critic of capitalism was correct.

  32. @bobsobol

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    Olly, I see the full veil is in the new lately as UK authorities are criticizing its' use in schools (both by staff and pupils) as being counter-productive to education. I'm quite conflicted on this matter, and not only in its' use in schools.

    It's a matter of religious freedom, and freedom of expression. For Muslim women it is a matter of womens' rights and freedom from male oppression, but for non-Muslim women it is a sign of male oppression. It is essential for a Muslim womans' dignity, and impossible to justify the need to forbid ski masks / balaclava helmets, cycle helmets, hoodies and baseball caps from public spaces where they may be used to conceal the identity of criminals from security cameras and officials while preserving this right of concealment for (supposed) Muslim women. (ie. how does a security camera know that the person behind that veil is an innocent a Muslim woman, and not a criminal posing as one?)

    I would love to consider it a matter of personal preference, but I cannot consider it as such while society can ban more revealing clothing in public for it's "deviant" ability to conceal identity. In other situations we'd just say "Muslim women can wear the veil in the comfort of their own home, but must remove it in public", but it's only in public (rather, mixed gender spaces) where it is required.

    I just can't see any resolution to this conflict. At least, not short of insisting Muslim women who feel the need to wear the veil in public carry a suitably "difficult to steal or forge" identity card / papers or such with them which security officials can check at will. (far too police state for my liking) And what do you compare such documents to? Not a passport photo, clearly. Signature? Fingerprints or DNA? And surely we'd have to allow young men who "feel the need" to wear a hoodie or baseball cap the same "liberty"? (as oppressive as it sounds)

    Can philosophy shed any light on this issue? At least, the matter of whether it empowers, or demeans a womans rights and liberty? Bearing in mind that, ignoring religion, the confidence and security a young Muslim woman feels from its' use probably isn't much different from that which a spotty young man feels from wearing his hoodie up in public. I can be proud of my veil, my hoodie, my plastered on makeup, or my long, comb over, emo hair even if I'm ashamed of my actual face. This is common for young people, and almost an adolescent equivalent of a comfort blanket. (ie. most of us have been there, or will be there when we reach adolescence XD)

    Would a translucent veil be a reasonable compromise? Or can it be argued that makeup, hair and hoodies are equally self-deprecating? I've certainly seen feminists argue that they feel oppressed by the social norm of putting makeup on.

  33. @One4Thought

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    I'm personally looking for books that are written by more modern day philosophers. I recently got the book Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein (haven't read it yet since I'm finishing other books). So any suggestions would be great.

  35. @jayzeepoh8652

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    I find your videos highly entertaining and thought-provoking, however, it is also beyond my grasp. Is there another channel/book or any form of media you can recommend for me ease into philosophy?

  37. @megancerys7260

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    If you are interested in postcolonial feminist perspectives then 'Re-orienting Western Feminisms: Women's Diversity in a Postcolonial World' by Chilla Bulbeck is a good one, as she examines western notions in feminism and applies it to a wide range of cultures including Islam/Arab but also, for example, aboriginal communities in Australia. It's very wide ranging and is quite easy going.

  40. @jamesbermingham1194

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    Hi Olly, I was wondering if Georg Lukacs's History & Class Consciousness is on your reading list, or if you've read it, what you thought?

    Lukacs takes queue from Marx, especially the section of chapter 1 on the Commodity Fetish, and theorises the limits of consciousness within capitalist society, especially in his chapter on Reification and the Consciousness of the Proletariat. I think his critique of scientific consciousness and 'bourgeois philosophy' is a must-read for anyone into theory, Marxism, continental philosophy, history of ideas, whatever.

    Cheers. I enjoy the videos!

  43. @Mentisia

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    Can I suggest inserting an image of the book in the video when you mention it? In the case of first few books you physically had the books but this wasn't the case with a few of them. I know this is literally asking to be able to judge a book by its cover but it makes it easier to remember the title since you can reread it while you talk about it. Thanks.

  44. @cactusdeus6019

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    I've noticed you sometimes say that pre-modern philosophers have misogynistic or homophobic ideas and well its not cool. But if "ought implies can" then morally they are not to be blamed, because the ideas of fair treatment and respect for women and many different groups are rather new. Or do you think that these ideas are intuitive? Super interested in you're opinion! Love the channel!!

  45. @FullOfUselessContent

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    What are your thoughts on Hegel? And Marx's dialectic, now that you have encountered Das Kapital?
    After reading Hegel (namely, The Science of Logic): the underlying dialectic at play in Das Kapital becomes luminous! Hegel began with 'Being', Marx began with the 'commodity'. All of 19th Century capitalism's implicit contradictions become explicit from the analysis of the 'commodity'. It is so succinct and compelling a read!

  48. @dirty_diver

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    It's very short and easy read – I recommend Sex at the Margins: Migration, Labour Markets and the Rescue Industry
    http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Margins-Migration-Markets-Industry/dp/1842778609
    Just because it combines post colonialism, sexism, racism, feminism and sexuality as well as migration, human rights of marginalised communities all in one book. – Kind of highlights how we haven't changed much in terms of how we treat marginalised communities since Victorian times. eg. Magdalene Laundries. .. scary stuff.

  49. @boulderpusher4997

    December 12, 2025 at 8:31 pm

    I'd recommend Herman Melville's Moby Dick to everyone and anyone. The narration and plot can be strange and loose, but it's worth it. I think of it as a philosophy book disguised as a novel.

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