The Essential Books of Human History – Vol. 1

We all have that romantic idea of having one library that not only decorates, but also represents the best of human thought. A collection of essential books, those that have marked entire generations, have changed history or have advanced the way we understand the world.

But of course… where to start?

In order not to improvise, I decided to ask for help from Artificial Intelligence, which provides us with all the information, and not with a superficial query, but with a in-depth research, which collected the most influential works in the history of humanity, commented on and selected with care.

Thus we began the construction of a Essential Library, and this first section is dedicated to philosophy, from Antiquity to the Enlightenment. A true journey through the texts that have shaped universal thought.

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🧠 Category: Philosophy

🔹 Analects of Confucius (5th century BC)

The first of the essential books. This compilation of the teachings of the wise Confucius, compiled by his disciples after his death, is the founding text of Confucianism. Its pages contain reflections on virtue, human conduct, the family, politics, and social order.

Its importance has transcended the centuries, becoming a cornerstone of Chinese and Asian culture. It is not a systematic treatise, but rather a collection of maxims, dialogues, and anecdotes that invite ethical reflection and self-cultivation.

📖 Recommended edition: Simon Leys (Ed. Herder, 2010), with a clear translation and enriching historical context.

🔹 Tao Te Ching – Lao-Tzu (6th–4th centuries BC)

One of the most enigmatic and poetic texts in Eastern philosophy. Attributed to the sage Lao Tzu, this work is composed of 81 brief but profound aphorisms that offer a worldview based on balance, simplicity, non-intervention (wu wei), and harmony with nature.

Unlike philosophies that seek to impose order, Taoism flows with life itself. The Tao is the path that cannot be named, yet it is everywhere.

📖 Recommended edition: Iñaki Preciado Idoeta (Trotta, 2009), bilingual Chinese-Spanish and recognized for its fidelity to the original.

🔹 The Republic – Plato (ca. 380 BC)

This philosophical dialogue is probably Plato's most influential work and one of the fundamental texts of all Western philosophy. Through the words of Socrates, Plato explores what justice is, how an ideal city should be organized, and what role education, truth, and knowledge should play.

The famous "allegory of the cave," included in Book VII, is one of the most powerful metaphors ever written about the perception of reality and ignorance. How could this book not be essential?

📖 Recommended edition: Translation by Manuel Fernández-Galiano, in the Biblioteca Clásica Gredos, bilingual edition with detailed explanatory notes.

🔹 Nicomachean Ethics – Aristotle (4th century BC)

In this work, addressed to his son Nicomachus, Aristotle lays the foundations of Western ethics. It is not just a reflection on good and evil, but a guide on how to achieve authentic happiness (eudaimonia) through the practice of virtue. His approach seeks balance: the golden mean between excesses. From courage to generosity, the Greek philosopher analyzes virtues that remain relevant today.

📖 Recommended edition: José L. Calvo (Alianza, 2014), with comments that contextualize his thinking.

🔹 Meditations – Marcus Aurelius (2nd century AD)

One of my essential books. This philosophical diary, written by an emperor in the midst of wars and imperial responsibilities, is a gem of Stoicism. Far from rhetoric or dogma, the Meditations They are intimate thoughts, where Marcus Aurelius reflects on duty, death, self-control and acceptance of fate.

It is a deeply human work, showing that even the most powerful men face doubts and seek inner serenity.

📖 Recommended edition: Agustín Blázquez (Edaf, 2004), for its fidelity to the original meditative tone.

🔹 Confessions – Saint Augustine (397 AD)

Considered one of the first autobiographies in Western literature, Confessions It narrates the personal journey of Saint Augustine from a youth full of passions to a life of faith and Christian philosophy.

It is not only a spiritual testimony, but also a profound psychological examination of the human condition, memory, sin, and the search for truth. It combines literary beauty with theological depth and has influenced both religious and secular thinkers for centuries.

📖 Recommended edition: Translation by Agustín Uñas (Ed. Tecnos), with introductory study and critical apparatus.

🔹 Guide for the Perplexed – Maimonides (1190)

A masterpiece of medieval Jewish philosophy, written for believers who feel trapped between their faith and reason. Maimonides attempts to reconcile the two through Aristotelian thought, interpreting biblical passages allegorically and defending a rational vision of the universe.

This work was not only influential within Judaism, but also had a profound impact on Christian and Islamic scholasticism.

📖 Recommended editions: Obelisco Editions.

🔹 Discourse on the method – René Descartes (1637)

With this work, modern philosophy officially begins. In a clear, almost autobiographical style, Descartes sets forth his famous method for achieving knowledge through methodical doubt. His conclusion, "I think, therefore I am," became a landmark in the history of thought.

The book not only revolutionizes philosophy, but also influences modern science, proposing a path to thinking rigorously and without prejudice.

📖 Recommended edition: Risiero Frondizi (Ed. Alianza), which includes the original text in French.

🔹 Critique of Pure Reason – Immanuel Kant (1781)

One of the most challenging and influential texts ever written. Kant set out to answer the question of how knowledge is possible, and to do so, he constructed a complex and profound philosophical architecture. He introduces the distinction between what we can perceive (phenomena) and what exists independently of us (noumena).

The Critique of Pure Reason It marked a before and after in metaphysics, epistemology and modern philosophy in general.

📖 Recommended edition: Translation by Manuel García Morente revised by EO Onieva (Ed. Porrúa), with an introduction that guides the reader through its key concepts.

📝 Other works recommended for advanced collectors:

• Consolation of Philosophy – Boethius (6th century): bridge between classical tradition and medieval thought.
• Suma vs. Gentiles – Thomas Aquinas (1264): rational defense of Christianity directed at those who do not share the faith.

Some of you may think there are titles missing, but we're doing it slowly. More volumes on philosophy, science, politics, and much more are missing.

And you? How many of the books we've mentioned do you own?