Here is a list of great books on the subjects of Philosophy and The Art of Living, which I hope will help illuminate your life towards self-improvement,  self-empowerment and wisdom.  Also included are free downloads of various eBooks and Audio Books on the same subjects.

Recommended books:

• Allen, James.  As A Man Thinketh (Philosophy, Psychology, Self-Help) – You can’t get anymore self-help than this, as Allen motivates us towards mastery of our thoughts and eventually of ourselves. Read review…
  
• Allen, James.  Selected Teachings of James Allen (Philosophy, Psychology, Self-Help) – A compilation of Allen’s teachings showing the power of positive thinking.
• Aurelius, Marcus.  Meditations (Ancient Philosophy, Stoicism) – Total wisdom here. So much so, that I have adopted this little gem to be my bible in my bedside drawer. Read review…
  
• Boethius, Anicius. Consolation of Philosophy (Philosophy) – Poetic wisdom from an imprisoned Boethius with only mistresses Philosophy and Truth to keep him company.
• Botton, de Alain. Status Anxiety (Philosophy, Society) – Alain de Botton gives a name to this universal condition and sets out to investigate both its origins and possible solutions.
• Botton, de Alain.  The Consolations of Philosophy (Philosophy) – An easily readable and self-help guide to the subject of philosophy.  Nice introduction for the layman who needs consoling during life’s troubles .
• Epictetus.  Discourses and Selected Writings (Ancient Philosophy, Stoicism) – This is very much in the same vein as ‘Meditations’, as Epictetus teaches Stoicism as a way to live.
• Fromm, Erich.  Man for Himself: An Enquiry into the Psychology of Ethics (Psychology, Philosophy) – Psycho-analyst, Erich Fromm shares his empirical knowledge as he encourages self-knowledge.
• Fromm, Erich.  The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness (Psychology) – Erich examines the human psyche trying to find answers to what makes us violent and why.
• Glover, Jonathan.  Humanity: The Moral History of the Twentieth Century (Society, Philosophy) – Great book! Years of research and interviews looking for answers to human conflict & why we commit such heinous violence against one another.
• Haanel, F. Charles. The Master Key System (Self-Help, Practical and Motivational, Positive Thinking) – Unlock your mind and use the power of thought to attract success in life in the forms of health, wealth and happiness.
• Hall, P. Manly. The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Philosophy, Ancient Wisdom, Esoteric Knowledge) – Like no other book of the twentieth century, Manly P. Hall’s legendary The Secret Teachings Of All Ages is a codex to the ancient occult and esoteric traditions of the world.
• Krishnamurti, Jiddu.  Think on These Things (Philosophy, Spirituality, Psychology) – Fantastic introduction to the spiritual and wise teachings of a man with an extraordinary brain.  Read review…
• Krishnamurti, Jiddu.  The Awakening of Intelligence (Philosophy, Spirituality, Psychology) – Selection of insightful and educational talks, interviews and lectures of Krishnamurti.
• Montaigne, de Michel.  The Complete Essays (Literature, Philosophy) – Michel reflects on every subject in life with honesty and great wisdom in this fantastic book.
• Nietzsche, Friedrich.  Human, All Too Human (Philosophy) – Here Nietzsche sets out his unsettling views in a series of 638 stunning aphorisms dealing with a range of subjects.
• Plato.  The Last Days of Socrates (Ancient Greek Philosophy) – Plato’s teacher and mouthpiece, the famous Socrates is put on trial by an intolerant Athens.
• Plato.  The Republic (Ancient Greek Philosophy) – Plato’s Utopian view of the perfect state governed by so called ‘Philosopher Kings’.  If only…
• Plato.  Complete Works (Ancient Greek Philosophy) – Classic philosophy! This monster of a book contains most, if not all Plato’s Socratic dialogues.
• Plutarch.  Essays (Literature, Ancient Philosophy) – One of the greatest essayists of the ancient world, Plutarch displays encyclopedic knowledge as he offers insights into moral subjects.
• Russell, Bertrand.  Quotable Bertrand Russell (Philosophy, Politics, Society, History) – Practical philosophy tinged with reason as Russell shares his most enlightening thoughts on every subject.
• Russell, Bertrand. Sceptical Essays (Philosophy) – More from a polemical Russell who is forever the sceptic on social issues that affects us all.
• Russell, Bertrand. History of Western Philosophy (Philosophy, History) – A great philosopher’s lucid and magisterial look at the history of his own subject, wonderfully readable and enlightening.
• Seneca, Lucius Annaeus.  Letters from a Stoic: Epistulae Morales AD Lucilium (Ancient Philosophy, Stoicism) – The tyrannical Roman Emperor’s (Nero) confidante Seneca, offers to a friend wisdom, consolation and advice in the form of letters.
• Seneca, Lucius Annaeus.  Dialogues and Letters (Ancient Philosophy, Stoicism) – More wise advice from the stoic Seneca.
• Tzu Lao.  Tao Te Ching (Ancient Philosophy) – Timeless wisdom from the Chinese sage who lays down a code of conduct to living. Read review…

Free eBooks for download:

• Allen, James.  As A Man Thinketh (1913) [PDF] [Full Text]
• Aurelius, Marcus.  Meditations (2001) [HTML]
• Boethius, Anicius. Consolation of Philosophy (1897) [PDF] [Full Text]
• Confucius. The Analects of Confucius [PDF]
• Epictetus. The Discourses of Epictetus (1890) [Full Text]
• Haanel, F. Charles. The Master Key System [PDF]
• Hall, P. Manly. The Secret Teachings of All Ages [ZIP]
• Montaigne, de Michel.  The Complete Essays (1877) [HTML]
• Plato.  The Republic (1968) [PDF]
• Plutarch.  Plutarch’s Morals (1883) [PDF] [Full Text]
• Russell, Bertrand.  Unpopular Essays (1950) [PDF] [Full Text]

Free Audio Books for download:

• Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations [ZIP]
• Boethius, Anicius. Consolation of Philosophy [HTML]
• Epictetus. The Enchiridion [Mp3]
• Nietzsche, Friedrich. Thus Spoke Zarathustra [HTML]
• Plato. Apology of Socrates [HTML]
• Seneca. His life, works and sayings [Mp3]
• Socrates. His life, works and sayings [Mp3]