50 Book Recommendations

*ALL BOOKS LINKED BELOW*

----------------------------THE BOOKS----------------------------

All the following links are Amazon affiliate links, meaning that by using them a small cut of the sale goes towards supporting the channel!

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TIMESTAMPS:
Introduction: 0:00
Peter Singer: 1:55
Animal Rights: 5:06
General Philosophy: 7:27
Memoir: 10:33
Philosophy of Death: 14:19
Fiction: 18:23
Books From My Degree: 21:03
Updates Since My Last Recommendations Video: 23:29
Books I Want to Read: 24:09
Books I Read to Challenge Myself: 26:27

-----------------------------CONNECT------------------------------

SOCIAL LINKS:

Snapchat: cosmicskeptic

----------------------------CONTACT-------------------------------

Or send me something:

Alex O'Connor
Po Box 1610
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[CosmicSkeptic]

All fifty books are linked in the description.


TIMESTAMPS:
Peter Singer: 1:55
Animal Rights: 5:06
General Philosophy: 7:27
Memoir: 10:33
Philosophy of Death: 14:19
Fiction: 18:23
Books From My Degree: 21:03
Updates Since My Last Recommendations Video: 23:29
Books I Want to Read: 24:09
Books I Read to Challenge Myself: 26:27


(Singer gets his own section because he has undoubtedly had the largest impact of any writer on my thinking over the past year.)

[ThatGuyWithHippyHair]

"I don't like reading, I like having read" - goddamn you put it into words. I love it.

[benediktk.]

I really like your point about not liking reading itself but to " like having read " and seeing it as something useful, intellectual exercise. I feel the same way but this was the first time i heard someone describing it in a satisfactory way.

[a.d.w]

I am new to atheism, science and philosophical theories. I am 26. Very late. Very hard and lonely as a black woman. Blacks love God. Lol. But I've been searching for answers for more than 10 years now. I have looked at many Christian sects, Islam and Eastern religions. And here I am. An agnostic atheist. I am new to vegan philosophy as well. Going to start as a pescatarian because my husband and children are not vegans and im broke. Love this channel. Subscribed.

[-ne]

I just cleaned my room to make space for a new book shelf! This was perfecting timing I’m so happy 😭

[pinecone]

You made me convert from vegetarianism to veganism. Thank you

[jasminelloyd]

I read the autobiography of Malcolm X when I was in high school. To this day, it's still one of the rawest and most honest book I've ever read. Reading about his journey and constant evolution was like walking next to him through a liberation and self-determination process. I miss him even don't I never met him.

[paulretallick]

When I was this guy’s age I hadn’t even read 50 books total!

[dddaamystuffhaha]

The moment you realize you're living in a Muslim country and you can't purchase pretty much ANY of these books...

[zog]

hey i watched your talk on veganism and when vegan overnight, thank you so much.

ive been reading a clockwork orange, not exactly philosophical or anything but an amazing book all the same x

[robolizzzrd]

I want you to know that you have helped me make up my mind about veganism. Thanks for that, I wish I could thank you personally.

[TheBartgry]

I’d love to see a book published by you

[leonamerclova]

Love this! Sapiens and Short History on Nearly Everything are the two crucial books I keep recommending to everyone.

[Travisharger]

I became a Christian mostly because of "Case for Christ" when I was a Junior in High School (2003) and even after a long many year deconversion process it was historical arguments that I often felt most compelling for Christianity, however many of the arguments from Strobel eventually fell flat when I began to really think about them. Also Bart Ehrman's "Forged" and "How Jesus Became God" really put a nail in that coffin.

[DZ-hhdw]

Orwell Essays. Highly underrated, great seeing those on the list

[brad]

“Better never to have been” by Benatar is a great shout. I found it extremely compelling, especially with the distinction he makes between a life worth “living” and a life worth “starting”.

[peterpehlivan]

You are literally the reason I've been vegan for the past few weeks :D you were the push I needed :3



EDIT: I just can't believe it. The way you described reading is exactly like how I see it! I've started reading a lot more as a teenager, but as a child I didn't exactly enjoy it.

[danefredy]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

00:00 📚 Cosmic Skeptic is sharing book recommendations, focusing on those he's read in the past year and key books that influenced his reading journey.
02:33 🐾 "Animal Liberation" by Peter Singer is a book that made Cosmic Skeptic go vegan, with its first chapter making a compelling philosophical case for equal moral consideration of animals.
03:41 📖 Peter Singer has other books like "Practical Ethics" and "Expanding Circle" that delve into ethical and evolutionary aspects.
05:21 🌱 "Animal Rights: The Abolitionist Approach" by Gary Francione and Anna Charlton presents an extremist case for veganism, challenging pet ownership and any form of animal exploitation.
05:49 🐓 "Eating Animals: Should We Stop?" by Jonathan Safran Foer explores factory farming and more relaxed approaches to animal ethics.
06:58 📚 "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows" by Melanie Joy introduces carnism, an ideology that tacitly supports animal consumption.
07:11 📚 "In Defense of Animals, " a collection edited by Peter Singer, features essays by various philosophers covering animal equality, factory farming, and animal testing.
07:54 🤔 Cosmic Skeptic is currently reading David Benatar's "Better Never to Have Been, " exploring the philosophy of antinatalism.
08:48 📜 AC Grayling's "The History of Philosophy" provides a comprehensive overview of key thinkers throughout history, including Eastern philosophy.
10:55 📖 Cosmic Skeptic recommends reading memoirs, such as "Mortality" by Christopher Hitchens, "When Breath Becomes Air, " and "Darkness Visible" by William Styron, to gain insights into the human experience.
13:56 🖋️ "Letters to a Young Contrarian" by Christopher Hitchens serves as a rallying cry for those interested in debate, argumentation, and Hitchens' worldview.
15:20 📖 Albert Camus' "The Myth of Sisyphus, " Arthur Schopenhauer's essays, and David Hume's essay on suicide are recommended for those interested in exploring philosophical perspectives on life and death.
17:25 📘 Matt Haig's "Reasons to Stay Alive" offers a modern perspective on dealing with anxiety and depression, providing insights into mental health.
18:34 📚 Reading fiction can be valuable for the lessons and experiences it offers, even if you don't enjoy the process.
18:49 📖 "Lolita" by Nabokov is beautifully written, disturbing, and hilariously funny, making it one of the favorite novels.
19:03 📚 Explored novels like Martin Amis' "The Rachel Papers" and Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov" during the year.
19:46 📖 Recommended starting with Dostoevsky's "Notes from the Underground" for those interested in his works.
20:25 📚 "The Catcher in the Rye" is one of the favorite novels, appreciated for its subtle humor and self-awareness of the author.
21:37 📖 "Nine Theories of Religion" by Daniel Pals is a valuable book introducing key thinkers in sociology and psychology of religion.
22:05 📚 Studying philosophy and theology, reading Galileo, Charles Darwin, and Isaac Newton's works, exploring their views on religion.
23:57 📖 Interested in reading "Justice" by Michael Sandel, "Dominion" by Tom Holland, and "Ordinary Men" on the psychology of Nazi death camp guards.
26:48 📚 Currently reading "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel, a journalistic exploration of the historicity of Jesus.
28:13 📖 Studying classic theological texts, like Augustine, Anselm, and Athanasius, to understand justifications for Christian doctrines.

[imangellau]

Thank you so much for giving out Animal Liberation and spreading the change!! 💚💚 Great activism you're doing!

[nooodleproductions]

I’m reading Sapiens right now! Really great read