Thomas Nagel

What Does It All Mean? A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy

Hannah Yang

I think everyone who wants to study philosophy or enjoys thinking should read What Does It All Mean? at least once. I'd also recommend it to people who think that they don't like philosophy, or who think philosophy is uninteresting or difficult to understand. Although many of the concepts introduced in the book were already familiar to me, it was a well-presented, easy-to-read refresher, and I wish I had read it earlier. 

Nagel discusses nine interesting and popular philosophical questions in a surprising amount of depth for the length of this book, guiding readers through the assumptions and logic behind different claims and commonly-held viewpoints about each question. The language is accessible and abstract concepts are grounded in fun examples. Overall, the book is exactly what it promises: a very short introduction to philosophy.

Omar AlHashmi

Really nice starting point for philosophy. Gives out some important questions in philosophy and provides some of the popular theories around them. Hopefully this book is able to allow me to enter into the world of philosophy easier.

In this cogent and accessible introduction to philosophy, the distinguished author of Mortal Questions and The View From Nowhere sets forth the central problems of philosophical inquiry for the beginning student.

What Does It All Mean? A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy

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