Good and Evil: 12 Philosophers on How to Live

*Introduced by Rory Stewart*

What makes a person good? What does it mean to be evil? And what does it tell us about being human?

*Introduced by Rory Stewart*

What makes a person good? What does it mean to be evil? And what does it tell us about being human?

Philosophers have been grappling with these questions for thousands of years, and they remain as pressing as ever in our present moment. Here we explore twelve thrillingly different approaches to this fundamental human predicament, each written by a different world expert. From Hannah Arendt’s banality of evil to Nietzsche’s embrace of suffering, from John Stuart Mill’s happiness principle to the ruthless realism of Machiavelli and the generous, attentive spirit of Simone Weil, alongside less familiar thinkers, there is an answer for readers of all persuasions. This is the book for anyone trying to understand how humans can sometimes behave so badly, and how we can all be better.

© 2025 TLS Books (Audiobook): 9780008747213

Release date

Audiobook: November 20, 2025