25 great thinkers everyone should read

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Western Philosophers

Western universities understandably tend to focus on Western philosophers and thinkers. Check out the works from these masters of Western philosophical thought.

1. Ralph Waldo Emerson: Emerson was an influential figure in the first recognized American school of philosophical thought. 
2. John Stuart Mill: One of Britain's most famous political philosophers
3. Immanuel Kant: Kant's work on the limitations and structure of reason shaped and influenced philosophical thought throughout the twentieth century. 
4. Soren Kierkegaard: This Danish philosopher is one of the leading thinkers responsible for existentialism.
5. Niccolo Machiavelli: A must for aspiring politicians and wannabe despots, Machiavelli's "The Prince" is the original guide to ruling an empire or corporate boardroom.

Eastern Thinkers

Eastern philosophies have proven influential on figures throughout history from Marco Polo to the Beatles. The sage wisdom offered by these Eastern thinkers still resonates with audiences separate by culture and time.

6. Confucius: A Chinese thinker and social philosopher, Confucius emphasized personal and institutional morality as well as justice and proper social relationships.
7. Avicenna: This Persian mathematician is perhaps one of the most widely known Muslim philosophers.
8. Laozi: The philosophy espoused by this ancient Chinese philosopher eventually became the Taoist religion. 
9. Siddhartha Gautama: Siddhartha was a price who gave away all his possessions to find a deeper meaning from life. After extensive fasting and meditation he achieved enlightenment becoming known as the Buddha.
   
10. D.T. Suzuki: One of the few modern members on this list, Suzuki is largely responsible for introducing Western audiences to Eastern religions such as Zen Buddhism.

Statesman

Polls show few people trust politicians. History tells a different story as great statesmen inspire courage and selfless action. These politicians are some of history's great thinkers, speakers and individuals.

11. Winston Churchill: In his nation's darkest hour, Winston Churchill served as a beacon of inspiration and support
12. Thomas Jefferson: Despite many hypocrisies from his actual life, Jefferson's writings are beautiful tributes to the power of freedom.
13. Ataturk: The powerful, infamous Turkish leader responsible for ushering his nation into a modern era, Ataturk is a highly regarded figure from Muslim and Turkish history.
14. Mao Zedong: The leader of the Communist revolution in China, Chairman Mao's impact on history is on increasing with time.
15. Nelson Mandela: After surviving 27 years as a political prisoner, Mandela became South Africa's first black president beginning the healing process from decades of apartheid.

Writers and Artists

The creative representation of life presented by artists can be more truthful than anything presented by real life. These master writers and artists use characters, brilliant technique and artistic vision to boldly explore timeless questions. 

16. Mark Twain: A genuinely clever wit, Mark Twain is best known for penning the classic, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." 
17. George Orwell: Modern audiences are often frightened by the remarkable foresight Orwell demonstrates in his writing. Indispensible phrases such as "big brother" and "doublespeak" were created by Orwell and are perfectly suited to modern society.
18. Gabriel Garcia Marquez: This Colombian writer focuses on themes of third world poverty and fantasy.
19. Albert Camus: This French author brilliantly executed complicated existential philosophies into compelling narratives.
20. Khalil Gibran: This Lebanese philosopher, writer and painter was educated in the US before returning to his native land.
21. Kurt Vonnegut: Zany, sharp and always funny, Vonnegut was one of the truly great science fiction writers of the 20th century.
22. Gunter Grass: A German writer who won the 1999 Noble prize for literature, Grass writes literature exploring complex moral issues.
23. Marcel Proust: A brilliant French novelist, Proust's most famous work contains over some 3,000 pages.
24. Issac Asimov: One of the reasons for the popularity of science fiction during the 20th century, Asimov is best known for writing the "I, Robot" series.
25. Arthur Rimbaud: Rimbaud was a French philosopher that influenced the Beat Generation of American writers such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Something of a prodigy, Rimbaud produced his best known works in his late teens before giving up writing all together at 21.