What is the best philosophy book to read?

 The "best" philosophy book to read can depend on your interests, background, and what you're hoping to gain from reading philosophy. That said, here are some great starting points across different themes and styles:

 1. For Beginners

Sophie's World" by Jostein Gaarder

A very great, storytelling-like introduction to the whole history of philosophy, including most of the major philosophers and ideas in an easy-to-understand way, hence very suitable for those who are new to the subject.

   "The Philosophy Book" (DK Big Ideas Simply Explained)

This book forms part of the DK series, whereby the work presents various philosophical terms, movements, and thinkers in simple and clear terms. It is an enlightening and at the same time easy way to familiarize oneself with the vast concepts of philosophy.

2. **For Foundational Classical Philosophy**

   -The Republic" by Plato

The work is among the most important in all of Western philosophy-it is on justice, the ideal society, and the nature of knowledge. It is essential reading to understand Platonic thought, and it forms the backbone of much political theory.

-Nicomachean Ethics" by Aristotle

If you're interested in ethics and virtue, Aristotle is one of the foundational works. Exploring the nature of happiness, moral virtues, and how we can lead a good life is precisely what his work delves into.

 3. **For Existential and Modern Philosophy**

Being and Nothingness" by Jean-Paul Sartre

For those interested in existentialism and phenomenology, Sartre's work is all about the freedom of the individual, bad faith, and what it means to exist. It's demanding, yet very influential.

Thus Spoke Zarathustra" by Friedrich Nietzsche

This is a philosophical novel for discussions about individualism, the will to power, and the "Übermensch" (overman or superman). Nietzsche's style is poetic and provocative.

4. **For Ethics and Moral Philosophy**

Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals" by Immanuel Kant

Kant's ethical philosophy is foundational to modern moral thought, focused as it is on duties, rights, and the categorical imperative-the rule that we should act according to universalizable maxims.

-Utilitarianism" by John Stuart Mill

This is a classic work in ethical theory that advances the greatest happiness principle-an ethical framework based on maximizing well-being for the greatest number of people.

5. **For Political Philosophy**

-The Social Contract" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau"

In these tenets, Rousseau developed an essential treatise on the nature of political authority, freedom, and democracy that is important in considering the philosophical underpinnings of modern political theory.

-A Theory of Justice" by John Rawls

A modern work that sets out Rawls's theory of justice as fairness. Generally considered one of the most important books of political philosophy of the 20th century.

6. **For Metaphysics and Epistemology**

Meditations on First Philosophy" by René Descartes

The root of any study of modern philosophy and epistemology is Descartes' examination of doubt, the mind-body problem, and the nature of existence.

- **"The Problems of Philosophy" by Bertrand Russell"**

     Easy-to-read overview of some of the central issues in metaphysics, epistemology, and the nature of knowledge by one of the 20th century's greatest thinkers.

7. **For Eastern Philosophy

-Tao Te Ching" by Laozi 

     This classic text of Taoism offers deep insights into the nature of balance, simplicity, and wisdom. Its poetic and aphoristic style can lead to great contemplation.

   - **"The Bhagavad Gita" (translated by Eknath Easwaran or others)

Gita, although an Indian philosophical text, debate on duty, self and paths of liberation, variously intermixes into an exposition of ethical, metaphysical and spiritual insights.

 8. **For Philosophy of Mind and Consciousness**

"Consciousness Explained" by Daniel Dennett

Interested in the philosophy of mind and the nature of consciousness, Dennett provides a scientifically grounded way to understand how consciousness might be a product or result of physical processes.

- The Mind's I" edited by Douglas Hofstadter and Daniel Dennett

A collection of essays, stories, and excerpts that demonstrate the nature of the self, consciousness, and personal identity from a vast array of philosophical and scientific standpoints.

 9. **For Contemporary Philosophy**

"Philosophical Investigations" by Ludwig Wittgenstein

A challenging but transformative read, this book explores the nature of language, meaning, and how we understand the world. The later work of Wittgenstein influenced philosophy of language and mind.

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" by Thomas S. Kuhn

If you're interested in the philosophy of science, this book is about how scientific paradigms shift and what that means for knowledge and progress in science.

**The best choice would depend on your interest: whether you want a general introduction to philosophy, detailed introductions to ethics or political thought, or a focused topic like metaphysics, epistemology, or philosophy of the mind. If you are a complete beginner, then something like *Sophie's World* or *The Philosophy Book* might be just what you need; if you have more of an idea of what area you're interested in, you may want to go straight into a text that covers that.