Most influential books on human nature and ethics

Authors, History, Human nature & Ethics

  • The Epic of Gilgamesh (c 2000 BCE): This ancient Mesopotamian poem tells the story of Gilgamesh, a king who is searching for immortality. The poem explores themes of human nature, such as the nature of good and evil, the meaning of life, and the importance of friendship.
  • The Tao Te Ching by Laozi (c 500 BCE): This Chinese philosophical text is attributed to Laozi, a legendary figure who is said to have been the founder of Taoism. The Tao Te Ching explores the nature of reality and the way to live a good life.
  • The Analects by Confucius (551-479 BCE): The Analects is a collection of sayings and ideas attributed to Confucius, one of the most influential philosophers in Chinese history. It is a foundational text of Confucianism.
  • The Upanishads (c 700-500 BCE): These Hindu scriptures are a collection of philosophical and religious texts that explore the nature of the soul, the meaning of life, and the afterlife.
  • The Dhammapada by Siddhartha Gautama Buddha Shakyamuni, (c 563-483): This Buddhist text is a collection of sayings and teachings of the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The Dhammapada deals with many aspects of human nature, including the nature of suffering, the importance of compassion, and the path to enlightenment.
  • The Republic by Plato (c 375 BCE): a Socratic dialogue in which Socrates and his companions explore the nature of justice. In the dialogue, Socrates argues that justice is not simply a matter of following the laws, but is also a matter of living in accordance with reason. He also argues that the just society is one in which everyone is assigned to their proper place, based on their natural abilities.
  • The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle (c 340 BCE): argues that the highest good for humans is eudaimonia, which he defines as “activity of the soul in accordance with virtue.” He then goes on to discuss the various virtues, such as courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom, and how they can be cultivated.
  • The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (c 171-175): a collection of personal writings by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, and it includes his thoughts on human nature.
  • The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli (1532): a treatise on political philosophy, and it includes Machiavelli’s thoughts on human nature.
  • The Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes (1651): a treatise on political philosophy, and it includes Hobbes’s thoughts on human nature.
  • Ethics by Baruch Spinoza (c 1664-1675): views humans as rational and ethical agents capable of achieving true freedom through the understanding of their own nature and the laws of the universe.
  • An Essay Concerning Human Understanding by John Locke (1689): explores the nature of human knowledge, perception, and the formation of ideas, shaping the foundations of modern empiricism.
  • The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1762): treatise on political philosophy, and it includes Rousseau’s thoughts on human nature.
  • The Theory of Modern Sentiments by Adam Smith (1759): a philosophical treatise by Adam Smith that explores the nature of human morality and the role of sympathy and social interaction in shaping ethical behavior.
  • Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 by Karl Marx (1844): explores the intersection of economics, philosophy, and social critique.
  • Descent of Man by Charles Darwin (1871): presents his theory of human evolution and natural selection.
  • On the Genealogy of Morality by Friedrich Nietzsche (1887): examines the origins, development, and implications of moral concepts and values.
  • Being and Time by Martin Heidegger (1927): philosophical treatise on the nature of being, and it includes Heidegger’s thoughts on human nature.
  • Existentialism is Humanism by Jean-Paul Sartre (1945): in which he argues that human beings are free and responsible for creating their own meanings and values in a meaningless world.
  • The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir (1949): feminist work that explores the nature of women, and it includes de Beauvoir’s thoughts on human nature.
  • The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt (1958): philosophical treatise on the nature of human action, and it includes Arendt’s thoughts on human nature.
  • The Construction of Reality by Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann (1966): sociological treatise on the nature of reality, and it includes Berger and Luckmann’s thoughts on human nature.
  • The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker (1973): This book is a psychological study of the fear of death, and it includes Becker’s thoughts on human nature.
  • The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (1976): This book argues that genes are the unit of selection in evolution. It argues that natural selection is not about the survival of the fittest individual, but about the survival of the fittest genes.
  • Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge by Jean-François Lyotard (1979): This book is a philosophical treatise on the nature of knowledge in the postmodern world, and it includes Lyotard’s thoughts on human nature.
  • Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1990): This book explores the concept of flow, a state of intense concentration and enjoyment that people often experience when they are doing something they are good at.
  • The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan (1995): This book argues that science is a powerful tool for understanding the world. It examines the role of science in society and argues that science is essential for solving the problems we face today.
  • Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman (1995): This book popularized the concept of emotional intelligence and argued that it is just as important as IQ for success in life.
  • Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond (1997): This book argues that the geography of a region is the primary factor that determines its success or failure. It examines the role of geography in the rise and fall of civilizations.
  • The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz (1997): This book is a guide to living a more peaceful and fulfilling life by following four simple agreements.
  • The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle (1997): This book is a guide to living in the present moment and finding peace and happiness.
  • The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler (1998): This book is a guide to finding happiness and living a more fulfilling life.
  • The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell (2000): This book explores the science of social epidemics, and argues that small changes can have a big impact on society.
  • The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature by Steven Pinker (2002): This book argues that humans are not blank slates, but that we are born with certain innate traits, such as the ability to learn language and the capacity for empathy.
  • The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values by Sam Harris (2004): This book argues that there are objective moral truths, and that science can be used to determine them.
  • The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz (2004): This book argues that too much choice can be paralyzing and lead to unhappiness.
  • A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle (2005): This book is a guide to finding your purpose in life and living a more meaningful life.
  • Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond (2005): This book explores the factors that lead to the collapse of civilizations. It examines the collapse of Easter Island, the Maya, and the Roman Empire.
  • Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar (2006): This book is a practical guide to happiness, based on the latest scientific research.
  • The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt (2006): This book explores the science of happiness, and argues that there are three main paths to happiness: pleasure, meaning, and connection.
  • Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert (2006): This book explores the science of human happiness, and argues that we are often bad at predicting what will make us happy.
  • The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (2006): This book argues that there is no evidence for the existence of God. It examines the arguments for and against the existence of God and concludes that the evidence does not support the existence of God.
  • The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science by Norman Doidge (2007): This book explores the science of neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and adapt throughout life.
  • Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein (2008): This book explores the use of “nudges” to help people make better decisions.
  • The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer (2007): This book is a guide to finding your true self and living a more fulfilling life.
  • Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely (2008): This book explores the ways in which our brains are wired to make irrational decisions.
  • The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want by Sonja Lyubomirsky (2008): This book explores the science of happiness and offers practical advice on how to increase your own happiness.
  • The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande (2009): This book argues that checklists can help us to avoid errors and improve our performance.
  • The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined by Stephen Pinker (2011). About the history of violence and how it has declined over time. Pinker argues that violence is not inevitable, and that we can create a more peaceful world.
  • Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari (2011): This book explores the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the present day. It argues that humans are not inherently good or evil, but are shaped by their environment and culture.
  • The Happiness Track: How to Apply the Science of Happiness to Your Life by Sonja Lyubomirsky (2011): This book is a practical guide to using the latest scientific research on happiness to improve your own life.
  • The Art of Thinking Clearly: Why Flawed Logic Puts Us All at Risk and How Critical Thinking Can Save the World by Rolf Dobelli (2011): This book is a guide to critical thinking and how to avoid making irrational decisions.
  • The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt (2012): This book argues that there are two systems of morality, one based on reason and the other on emotion, and that these two systems often conflict with each other.
  • The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg (2012): This book explores the science of habit formation, and argues that we can change our habits by understanding how they work.
  • The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Habits by Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff (2013): This book is a practical guide to developing self-compassion, a key ingredient to a happy and fulfilling life.
  • The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk (2014): This book explores the science of trauma and its impact on the brain, mind, and body.
  • The Upside of Stress: Why Stress is Good for You and How to Get More of It by Kelly McGonigal (2015): This book argues that stress can be good for you, and offers practical advice on how to use stress to your advantage.
  • Humankind: A Hopeful History by Dutch historian Rutger Bregman (2020) argues that humans are fundamentally decent and that more recognition of this view would likely benefit everyone. He draws on history, psychology, and economics to support his argument.
  • The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber and David Wengrow (2021): This book is a historical study of the nature of human society, and it includes Graeber and Wengrow’s thoughts on human nature.