Books in order
Aristotle Books in Order
by Aristotle
Start with The Ethics of Aristotle, whose questions about happiness and character offer a direct route into his thinking. The list below moves from familiar human concerns through literature and politics to more technical philosophy, ending with a focused historical study.
Updated
The books in order
Free to start one of the free gifts when you start
In order of publication
Every Aristotle book in our library, numbered by year of first publication; a book without a known year comes last.
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 350 BC | Ancient text | Free to startRead free | |
| 2 | 350 BC | Politics: A Treatise on GovernmentAristotleChallenging · 5–10 h An inquiry into how cities should govern themselves. | Ancient text | Free to startRead free |
| 3 | 350 BC | The CategoriesAristotleChallenging · Under 2 h Things and their attributes are sorted into ten categories. | Ancient text | Free to startRead free |
| 4 | 340 BC | The Ethics of AristotleAristotleChallenging · 5–10 h A good life depends on character, choice and reason. | Ancient text | Free to startRead free |
| 5 | 335 BC | The Poetics of AristotleAristotleChallenging · Under 2 h An account of how poetry and drama represent human action. | Ancient text | Free to startRead free |
| 6 | 330 BC | The Athenian ConstitutionAristotleChallenging · Under 2 h A study of how Athens developed and governed its democracy. | Ancient text | Free to startRead free |
Suggested reading order for a first-time reader
Our advice, not a required order: each line says why the book comes at that step.
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 340 BC | The Ethics of AristotleAristotleChallenging · 5–10 h Begin with familiar questions about happiness, character, and choosing how to live. | Ancient text | Free to startRead free |
| 2 | 335 BC | The Poetics of AristotleAristotleChallenging · Under 2 h Turn next to a compact discussion of storytelling, tragedy, and artistic representation. | Ancient text | Free to startRead free |
| 3 | 350 BC | Politics: A Treatise on GovernmentAristotleChallenging · 5–10 h Expand from individual character to communities, constitutions, and the purposes of government. | Ancient text | Free to startRead free |
| 4 | 350 BC | On the SoulAristotleMedium level · 2–5 h With those practical questions established, explore Aristotle’s more demanding account of life, perception, and thought. | Ancient text | Free to startRead free |
| 5 | 350 BC | The CategoriesAristotleChallenging · Under 2 h Now tackle a technical framework for distinguishing things, their attributes, and ways of describing them. | Ancient text | Free to startRead free |
| 6 | 330 BC | The Athenian ConstitutionAristotleChallenging · Under 2 h Finish with a focused historical study that gives concrete detail to the earlier political questions. | Ancient text | Free to startRead free |
Where to start
Start hereThe Ethics of AristotleAristotleChallenging · 5–10 hThe strongest general starting point, grounded in recognizable questions about happiness, habits, and good judgment.
Read free
Another way inThe Poetics of AristotleAristotleChallenging · Under 2 hA compact entry for readers drawn to literature, drama, and how stories affect an audience.
Read free
Or tryPolitics: A Treatise on GovernmentAristotleChallenging · 5–10 hStart here if citizenship, public life, and the organization of government are your main interests.
Read free
Questions
Where should I start with Aristotle?
Start with The Ethics of Aristotle, whose questions about happiness and character offer a direct route into his thinking. The list below moves from familiar human concerns through literature and politics to more technical philosophy, ending with a focused historical study.
What order should I read Aristotle's books in?
Read The Ethics of Aristotle, then The Poetics of Aristotle and Politics: A Treatise on Government. Continue with On the Soul and The Categories, then finish with The Athenian Constitution. This is a reader-friendly route, not a chronological sequence.
Which Aristotle book on this page came out first?
On the Soul (-350). The table above lists every Aristotle book we hold by year of first publication.
Updated
Read and hear all of them
Every book on this page, and 200,000+ more, as eBook, large-print eBook, audiobook and 15-minute summary, in 25 languages, and any book printed at cost as a paperback, hardcover or large print. 5 accounts for the price of one.
