Subscribe to my newsletter for tips on close reading, detailed note-taking, and applying bookish wisdom to your life. I talk about fiction and non-fiction, interview literary experts, and host The Read Well Podcast. Subscribe today and build better reading habits.
Why Reading Philosophy Is the Ultimate Brain Workout
Published 15 days ago • 3 min read
9 Books That Will Make You Smarter (and Think Harder)
Hello Reader,
In Behave, Robert Sapolsky makes a powerful case that what you do with your brain changes your brain. Neurons rewire. Habits remap synapses. Your focus carves new mental pathways. That means reading—especially deep, challenging reading—isn’t just informative. It’s transformative.
This is why I keep returning to philosophy. It forces me to slow down, think hard, and stretch my mind. If you’re new to the genre or ready to go deeper, here are 9 books I recommend for reshaping how you read and how you think:
Hiking with Nietzsche by John Kaag A modern memoir meets philosophy. Kaag revisits Nietzsche not just intellectually but physically—by hiking the trails Nietzsche once walked. A powerful introduction to existentialism through lived experience.
The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday Perfect for beginners interested in Stoicism, this book shows how reframing struggle can reshape your mental outlook—and your brain’s response to adversity.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig A novel/meditation on quality. This one is a mind-bender, but Pirsig makes big questions accessible. It’s a gateway to understanding dualism, reason, and values.
The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius Written from prison in the 6th century, this one blends Roman Stoicism and Christian thought. Boethius makes sense of suffering and fate—questions we all wrestle with.
Discourse on the Method by René Descartes Where the famous “I think, therefore I am” comes from. Descartes lays out the foundation of rationalist philosophy. Short, dense, and crucial for understanding Western thought.
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus Camus asks: if life is absurd, why keep living? His answer—embodied in the figure of Sisyphus—is to find meaning in the work. A crash course in existentialism and absurdism.
Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion by David Hume Through a fictional conversation, Hume tackles faith, reason, and the nature of God. It’s philosophical argumentation at its best—and a lesson in how to think, not what to think.
How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh Surprisingly philosophical, this tiny book turns a basic act—eating—into a lesson in mindfulness. A gentle introduction to Buddhist thought and the art of present awareness.
Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder A novel that’s secretly a history of philosophy. Perfect for beginners, this book walks you through major thinkers from Socrates to Sartre in a captivating narrative form.
Each of these books will give you a bit of a workout. Each has the power to help you remap your brain—just by reading more deeply and more intentionally.
P.S. Let me know which one you pick up first. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
👋 Until next time, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.
-Eddy
New This Week:
What We're Reading in Book Club
Behave by Robert Sapolsky
Watch the Show
How to Read and Write Like a Best-Selling Author 📚✍🏽🎉
Listen to the Podcast
How Books Help Us Make Sense of Real Life | EP 97
Watch the Show
How to Read and Write Like a Best-Selling Author 📚✍🏽🎉
Writing a novel is a long road, and no one knows that better than Piers Torday, Andrea Stewart, and L.R. Lam. In this live interview, they share what writing looks like on a daily basis, how they help new writers at The Novelry, and how reading with a writer’s mind can change the way you experience books. I think you’ll find their insight helpful whether you’re working on a manuscript or just trying to understand your favorite novels more deeply.
In this episode, I sit down with Binnie Kirshenbaum to talk about her new novel, Counting Backwards—a story about love, aging, and the slow disappearance of memory. We talk about how books can help us wrestle with what it means to be human, and how reading deeply—without rushing—can be one of the most powerful ways to stay present in our own lives.
Feel free to respond to this email. Let me know how I can make your experience in our reading community better, or if you have questions, I'm all ears.
As always, read slowly - take notes - apply the ideas.
-Eddy
Got Questions?
Reply to this email with your questions. I respond to each and sometimes make a podcast or video to answer your bookish questions.
Weekly Newsletter on Great Books, Reading Habits, and Literary Appreciation.
Subscribe to my newsletter for tips on close reading, detailed note-taking, and applying bookish wisdom to your life. I talk about fiction and non-fiction, interview literary experts, and host The Read Well Podcast. Subscribe today and build better reading habits.