Below I’ll give you my selections for the best Confucius books by a few categories. I will cover these and other great books more in depth later.
- The Complete Confucius: The Analects, The Doctrine Of The Mean, and The Great Learning with an Introduction by Nicholas Tamblyn (2016)
- The Analects (Penguin Classics) (1979)
- Analects: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries (Hackett Classics) (2003)
- The Analects (Penguin Classics) (2014)
- The Analects (Oxford World’s Classics) (2008)
- 10-Minute Philosophy: From Buddhism to Stoicism, Confucius and Aristotle – Bite-Sized Wisdom From Some of History’s Greatest Thinkers (2019)
- The Analects (Translated by James Legge with an Introduction by Lionel Giles) (2017)
- The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation (Classics of Ancient China) (1999)
- Confucius from the Heart: Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World (2013)
- Confucius Lives Next Door: What Living in the East Teaches Us About Living in the West (2000)
The Complete Confucius: The Analects, The Doctrine Of The Mean, and The Great Learning with an Introduction by Nicholas Tamblyn (2016)
Confucius is one of our very best thinkers, a model for living a self-aware and virtuous life. “The Complete Confucius: The Analects, The Doctrine Of The Mean, and The Great Learning,” brings together the most important Confucian texts with an introduction by Nicholas Tamblyn, and is part of The Essential Series by Golding Books. Confucius lived from 551–479 BC. The principles he espoused largely reflected the values and traditions in China at the time.
The Analects (Penguin Classics) (1979)
The Analects are a collection of Confucius’s sayings brought together by his pupils shortly after his death in 497 BC. Together they express a philosophy, or a moral code, by which Confucius, one of the most humane thinkers of all time, believed everyone should live.
Analects: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries (Hackett Classics) (2003)
This edition goes beyond others that largely leave readers to their own devices in understanding this cryptic work, by providing an entrée into the text that parallels the traditional Chinese way of approaching it: alongside Slingerland’s exquisite rendering of the work are his translations of a selection of classic Chinese commentaries that shed light on difficult passages, provide historical and cultural context,…
The Analects (Penguin Classics) (2014)
The book that the Chinese have returned to repeatedly for reflection, renewal, and validation of their own views, The Analects was compiled by the disciples of Confucius, China’s earliest teacher and moral thinker, from his remarks and his conversations with rulers, political operators, and people he happened to meet.
The Analects (Oxford World’s Classics) (2008)
Few individuals have shaped their country’s civilization more profoundly than the Master Kong, better-known as Confucius (551-479 BC). His sayings and those of his disciples form the foundation of a distinct social, ethical, and intellectual system.
10-Minute Philosophy: From Buddhism to Stoicism, Confucius and Aristotle – Bite-Sized Wisdom From Some of History’s Greatest Thinkers (2019)
If we can cut through the difficult language and roundabout reasoning, we’ll find a treasure trove of knowledge and enlightenment. But don’t worry, . is your quick introduction to philosophy – 6 of the most influential philosophies in history, to be exact. You’ll get a taste of the complexities, but walk away with real, practical advice to improve your life. Philosophy doesn’t need to be an ambiguous thought exercise; this book seeks to make it educational and useful.
The Analects (Translated by James Legge with an Introduction by Lionel Giles) (2017)
Confucius was a Chinese teacher, statesman, and philosopher who lived in the 5th and 6th century BC. One of the most influential philosophers of all time, and still deeply regarded amongst the Chinese people, his ideology is one which emphasizes the importance of the family, as well as justice, sincerity, and morality in both personal and political matters. Confucius did not regard himself as an innovator, but as the conservator of ancient truth and ceremonial propriety.
The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation (Classics of Ancient China) (1999)
"To quietly persevere in storing up what is learned, to continue studying without respite, to instruct others without growing weary–is this not me?"–ConfuciusConfucius is recognized as China’s first and greatest teacher, and his ideas have been the fertile soil in which the Chinese cultural tradition has flourished.
Confucius from the Heart: Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World (2013)
As one of Chinas’s all-time bestsellers, “Confucius from the Heart” unveils the wisdom of “The Analects,” a major text of Confucian philosophy that has dominated Chinas’s intellectual and spiritual culture for more than two millenia. Yu Dan helps readers attain spiritual happiness and harmony. Her simple, conversational prose finally makes the ancient wisdom of Confucius accessible to all, ultimately unveiling the immense value of Confucian teachings.
Confucius Lives Next Door: What Living in the East Teaches Us About Living in the West (2000)
"Fascinatingclearly stated, interesting and provoking. A plainspoken account of living in Asia." –San Francisco ChronicleAnyone who has heard his weekly commentary on NPR knows that T. R.
Best Confucius Books That You Need
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Library Genesis and download some confucius books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
The Aura of Confucius: Relics and Representations of the Sage at the Kongzhai Shrine in Shanghai
Author(s): Julia K. Murray
ID: 3230764, Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Year: 2022, Size: 32 Mb, Format: pdf
Shu King: The Book of Documents
Author(s): Confucius
ID: 3590122, Publisher: Musaicum Books, Year: 2022, Size: 573 Kb, Format: epub
Confucius’ Courtyard: Architecture, Philosophy and the Good Life in China
Author(s): Xing Ruan
ID: 3437925, Publisher: Bloomsbury Visual Arts, Year: 2021, Size: 4 Mb, Format: pdf
Please note that this booklist is not final. Some books are absolutely chart-busters according to The Wall Street Journal, others are written by unknown writers. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant resources you could recommend? Leave a comment if you have any feedback on the list.