Alan Watts was a British philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known for his interpretation and introduction of Eastern philosophy to Western audiences. Born in 1915 in Chislehurst, England, Watts began his career as a scholar of comparative religion at the age of 20 and soon moved to the United States. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he gained a wide following through his lectures on Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu philosophy, including extensive work on Zen, which he frequently discussed in his books and public talks. Watts’s approach blended academic rigor with a conversational style, making complex philosophical concepts accessible and relevant to the contemporary Western lifestyle.
❝This is the real secret of life—to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.❞ — Alan Watts
Watts had an insatiable intellectual curiosity, and his works display a profound engagement with a broad spectrum of ideas, cultures, and texts. He was known for reading widely and deeply across diverse subjects, which enriched his philosophical discourses and writings. His fondness for reading helped him synthesize Eastern and Western thought in innovative ways, influencing the countercultural movements of the 1960s and beyond. Watts’s books and lectures continue to be influential, offering insights into the nature of reality, consciousness, and personal identity.
Alan Watts' Favorite Books
Last Updated: July 2024
The Way of Chuang Tzu
Author: Thomas Merton
Publisher: Shambhala
Date: Mar 9th, 2004
Merton's interpretation of the teachings of Chuang Tzu presents the ancient Taoist sage's wisdom in a modern, poetic format, emphasizing simplicity, spontaneity, and harmony with the Tao.
Man on Earth: A Preliminary Evaluation of the Ecology of Man
Author: S P R Charter
Publisher: Literary Licensing, LLC
Date: Sep 28th, 2013
Charter's work offers an early exploration of human ecology, examining the complex relationships between humans and their environments and the impact of human activities on ecological systems.
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Nature, Man and Woman
Author: Alan W. Watts
Publisher: Pantheon
Date: Oct 8th, 2024
Watts explores the interconnectedness of nature, human beings, and gender, proposing a harmonious relationship with the natural world and a more integrated understanding of sexuality and spirituality.
An Introduction to Zen Buddhism
Author: Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki
Publisher: Waking Lion Press
Date: May 31st, 2021
Suzuki's influential work introduces the fundamental concepts and practices of Zen Buddhism, offering insights into its philosophy and the path to enlightenment.
Zen in English Literature and Oriental Classics
Author: R H Blyth
Publisher: Angelico Press
Date: Jun 15th, 2016
Blyth explores the intersection of Zen Buddhism and English literature, illustrating how Zen principles are reflected in Western classics and their themes of simplicity, directness, and nature.
The Laws of Human Nature
Author: Robert Greene
Publisher: Viking
Date: Oct 23rd, 2018
Greene examines the complexities of human behavior and psychology, offering strategies for understanding and mastering one's own nature and the behaviors of others.
The Principal Upanishads
Author: Swami Nikhilananda
Publisher: Dover Publications
Date: Jul 17th, 2013
Nikhilananda's translation and commentary on the Upanishads, key philosophical texts of Hinduism, provide accessible explanations of their profound teachings on the nature of reality and the self.
Life Against Death: The Psychoanalytical Meaning of History
Author: Norman O. Brown
Publisher: Wesleyan University Press
Date: Jan 1st, 1985
Brown's seminal work integrates psychoanalysis and history, arguing that human civilization is driven by a repressive denial of death and advocating for a more liberated understanding of human desires and creativity.
The Bhagavad Gita
Author: Eknath Easwaran
Publisher: Nilgiri Press
Date: Feb 12th, 2019
Easwaran's translation and commentary present this ancient Indian scripture, which dialogues between Prince Arjuna and the god Krishna, exploring profound spiritual and philosophical teachings on duty, righteousness, and the path to self-realization.
Watchers on the Hill
Author: Stephanie Grace Whitson
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Date: Sep 18th, 2014
Whitson's historical novel weaves a tale of faith, resilience, and community through the lives of women in a small Midwestern town in the late 19th century.
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings
Author: Paul Reps
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Date: Jan 3rd, 2023
This collection presents classic Zen texts and teachings, including the Gateless Gate and 10 Bulls, offering readers an accessible introduction to Zen philosophy and practice.
Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus: Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus
Author: Ludwig Wittgenstein
Publisher: Routledge
Date: May 18th, 2001
Wittgenstein's seminal work outlines a philosophy of language, logic, and reality, proposing that the structure of language mirrors the structure of the world and that what can be spoken of meaningfully must be expressed clearly, while what cannot be spoken of must be passed over in silence.
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Commentaries on Living (First Series)
Author: J Krishnamurti
Publisher: Quest Books
Date: Jan 1st, 1956
This collection of Krishnamurti's reflections and discussions offers profound insights into everyday life, consciousness, and the nature of human thought, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and inner transformation.
Knowing and the Known
Author: John Dewey
Publisher: Praeger
Date: Jan 7th, 1976
Dewey and Bentley explore the relationship between knowledge and the knower, advocating for a pragmatic approach to epistemology that emphasizes the interaction between the observer and the observed.
A Taoist Classic: Chuang-Tzu
Author: Chuang Tzu
Publisher: Foreign Languages Pr
Date: Dec 1st, 1989
This foundational Taoist text, attributed to the philosopher Chuang Tzu, offers profound insights into the nature of reality, the self, and the art of living in harmony with the flow of life.
Laws of Form
Author: george-spencer-brown
Publisher: Bohmeier
Date: Oct 8th, 2024
Spencer-Brown's groundbreaking work introduces a mathematical system that explores the nature of boundaries and distinctions, offering insights into logic, philosophy, and the structure of reality.
Introduction to the Study of the Hindu Doctrines
Author: Rene Guenon
Publisher: Sophia Perennis et Universalis
Date: Nov 1st, 2001
Guénon's foundational work provides a comprehensive overview of Hindu philosophical systems, exploring their metaphysical principles and their contrast with Western thought.
Secret of the Golden Flower: A Chinese Book of Life
Author: Richard Wilhelm
Publisher: Routledge & Kegan Paul
Date: Oct 8th, 1962
This ancient Chinese text, translated by Wilhelm, presents Taoist and Buddhist teachings on meditation and inner alchemy, aiming to harmonize mind, body, and spirit.
Doubt and Certainty in Science: A Biologist's Reflections on the Brain
Author: John Zachary Young
Publisher: Praeger
Date: Mar 4th, 1982
Young reflects on the nature of scientific inquiry, the functioning of the brain, and the balance between skepticism and certainty in the pursuit of knowledge.
The Secret Oral Teachings in Tibetan Buddhist Sects
Author: Alexandra David-Neel
Publisher: Martino Fine Books
Date: Feb 14th, 2017
David-Neel's book reveals the esoteric teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, based on her extensive travels and studies in Tibet, offering insights into the mystical and practical aspects of these secret doctrines.
Cosmic Consciousness
Author: M D Richard Maurice Bucke
Publisher: White Crow Books
Date: Mar 11th, 2011
Bucke's influential book posits that certain individuals throughout history have achieved a higher state of awareness or "cosmic consciousness," representing the next stage in human evolution.
Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation
Author: Ian Stevenson
Publisher: University Press of Virginia
Date: Oct 8th, 1974
Stevenson investigates twenty cases from around the world that suggest the possibility of reincarnation, providing detailed accounts and analyses of individuals who recall past lives.
Zen in the Art of Archery
Author: Eugen Herrigel
Publisher: GENERAL PRESS
Date: Sep 20th, 2021
Herrigel recounts his experience of learning Zen through the practice of Japanese archery, illustrating how the principles of Zen can be applied to mastering a skill and achieving spiritual enlightenment.
Science and Man's Behavior
Author: Trigiant Burrow
Publisher: Philosophical Library
Date: Jan 1st, 1953
Burrow examines the implications of scientific discoveries on human behavior and society, advocating for a holistic approach to understanding the human psyche and interpersonal relationships.