The most recommended existentialism books

Who picked these books? Meet our 84 experts.

84 authors created a book list connected to existentialism, and here are their favorite existentialism books.
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Book cover of Ashes To Admin: Tales from the Caseload of a Council Funeral Officer

Louise Willingham Author Of Not Quite Out

From Louise's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Caring Funeral assistant Day-dreamer Passionate

Louise's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Louise Willingham Why did Louise love this book?

This book is a deeply honest and vulnerable account of the funeral industry from the unique viewpoint of a council funeral officer. I read this book before I started working in funeral care and found Evie King’s experiences to be both inspiring and reassuring: the human capacity for caring for strangers is absolutely limitless.

It’s a beautiful and informative book for anyone in the industry or just interested in what goes on!

By Evie King,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Ashes To Admin as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'I've a body out the back for you...'

Imagine having that sentence said to you. And then imagine it actually being pertinent. Welcome to Evie King's world.

What happens if you die without family or money? The answer to this very three-in-the-morning question is that Evie, or someone like her, will step in and arrange your funeral.

Evie is a local council worker charged with carrying out Section 46 funerals under the Public Health Act. Or to put it in less cold, legislative language; funerals for those with nobody around, willing or able to bury or cremate them.

Ashes to…


Book cover of Humanly Possible: Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Inquiry, and Hope

Friederike Otto Author Of Angry Weather: Heat Waves, Floods, Storms, and the New Science of Climate Change

From my list on starting to think about the much abused idea of freedom.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a physicist who ended up doing their PhD in philosophy, because the “so what” question for me always was more interesting to answer than finding out how the physical world is changing. Working as a climate scientist I see how climate change and extreme weather devastate livelihoods on a daily basis. It makes me very aware I know nothing, but also that the philosophical and humanist ideas we build our societies upon are much more important to solve the climate crisis than physics and technology. One of the most important ones is to reclaim freedom and actually allow people to live good lives.

Friederike's book list on starting to think about the much abused idea of freedom

Friederike Otto Why did Friederike love this book?

This book shocked me. It shouldn’t have, I knew that humanist ideas have been oppressed and their advocates killed and persecuted.

But reading about it in the course of history and how much of these ideas seem the most natural to me, are continuing to be challenged by official authorities and more subtle lobbies that shape social narratives was very eye opening.

Fighting for freedom will never be easy, but always be the most important thing we can do. 

By Sarah Bakewell,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Humanly Possible as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Seven hundred years of heroic humanists (and their enemies), from the acclaimed author of How to Live and At The Existentialist Cafe

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

***AS READ ON RADIO 4***

The bestselling, prizewinning author of How to Live and At the Existentialist Cafe explores 700 years of writers, thinkers, scientists and artists, all trying to understand what it means to be truly human.

'I can't imagine a better history' PHILIP PULLMAN * 'Fascinating, moving, funny' OLIVER BURKEMAN

If you are reading this, it's likely you already have some affinity with humanism, even if you don't think of yourself…


Book cover of Ashes To Admin: Tales from the Caseload of a Council Funeral Officer
Book cover of Humanly Possible: Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Inquiry, and Hope

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