It is always a pleasure when I am asked for direction on good books about Kierkegaard, or how to break in and start reading Kierkegaard for one’s self. It is also difficult to give the right kind of guidance. No surprise, much depends on both a person’s background and his or her reason for interest in the dear Dane. Add to this a long and glorious tradition of rampantly divergent interpretations of Kierkegaard, which stem as far back as when the author was himself alive (1813-1855; Kierkegaard often bemoans in his personal journals how misunderstood he felt by his contemporaries), and you can see how an advisor might pause.
For reasons of simplicity, I have followed a ‘5 titles only’ rule (when applicable) for these advisory lists. This helps hone the advise, too—what are truly the best books to prioritize, given the limited time most of us have? I have placed the lists under the headings “Books on Kierkegaard” and “Reading Kierkegaard” to help the advise-seeker quickly find what they need. And I have not agonized over how to “fairly” represent Kierkegaard in my recommendations—the books under “Books on Kierkegaard” are shamelessly my personal opinion on who presents Kierkegaard best.
I realize that some of these titles or editions are harder to get than others, and can also be expensive. It is my hope that between your local library’s participation in InterLibrary loans, the Internet Archive (many of Kierkegaard’s works appear there for free), Google Books, Abebooks and BookFinder dot com, you will be able to find what you are looking for.
I consider this post a “living” one, and will edit, add, and make changes as time goes by. For a downloadable PDF version of this post as it originally appeared (and for much cleaner formatting), click here.
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The List of Lists—What You Will Find Below
Books on Kierkegaard:
1. Best Entry Level Introductions to Kierkegaard’s Life and Thought
2. Best Intermediate-Advanced Introductions to Kierkegaard’s Life and Thought
Reading Kierkegaard:
3. Kierkegaard’s Core Theological Writings
4. Kierkegaard’s Core Philosophical Writings
5. Interpreting Kierkegaard, According to Kierkegaard
6. Kierkegaard’s Main Publications and Notable Writings in Chronological Order
7. Translations of Kierkegaard in English
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Books on Kierkegaard
The definitive biography on Kierkegaard has yet to be written, which is owing mainly to a biographer’s own guiding reasons for approaching Kierkegaard. Kierkegaard’s relationship with Christendom and his sometimes contested Christian faith automatically divides biographers. Myths about Kierkegaard, some of which were started by contemporary enemies of Kierkegaard’s, have also been slow and difficult for biographers to recognize, in part due to the limited number of scholars who command 19th century Danish.
Though numbered, these two lists are not presented in a descending order of recommendation; they are merely “top 5” lists.
1. Best Entry Level Introductions to Kierkegaard’s Life and Thought:
1. Kierkegaard: A Single Life, by Stephen Backhouse (Zondervan, 2016)
2. Kierkegaard: An Introduction, by C. Stephen Evans (Cambridge UP, 2009)
3. A Short Life of Kierkegaard, by Walter Lowrie (reprinted by Princeton Univerity Press, 2013; original published in 1942, based off of Lowrie’s original Kierkegaard (Oxford 1938), which contained long excerpts from Kierkegaard’s writing).
4. Kierkegaard and the Crisis of Faith, by George Pattison (Wipf & Stock, 2013. medium difficulty, rather than true beginner)
5. the introductions to translations of Kierkegaard’s work, especially Alistair Hannay’s, Howard and Edna Hong’s, Sylvia Walsh’s, and M.G. Piety’s translations of Kierkegaard
2. Best Intermediate-Advanced Introductions to Kierkegaard’s Life and Thought:
1. The Joy of Kierkegaard, by Hugh Pyper (Equinox, 2011)
2. The Freedom to Become a Christian, by Andrew B. Torrance (T&T Clark, 2016)
3. Kierkegaard on the Truth, by Paul L. Holmer (Wipf & Stock, 2012)
4. Søren Kierkegaard: Subjectivity, Irony, and the Crisis of Modernity, by Jon Stewart (Oxford University Press, 2015)
5. Meditations from Kierkegaard, ed by T.H. Croxall (Plimpton Press, 1955 — this is on the advanced list because it is an obscure, out-of-print book. But Croxall is little remembered, and I think was one of the first to strike the right balance with Kierkegaard in the English speaking world—as both a Christian and a philosopher who wished to bring Christianity to Christians)
Reading Kierkegaard
3. Kierkegaard’s Core Theological Writings
For Kierkegaard’s most explicit theological and religious works, read:
1. Works of Love (medium difficulty)
2. Practice in Christianity (medium/easy level of difficulty)
3. Sickness Unto Death (high level of difficulty)
4. Christian Discourses (medium/easy level of difficulty)
5. For Self-Examination and Judge for Yourself! (easier level of difficulty. Both were written and completed around the same time, though Kierkegaard only published FSE; JFY! was posthumously published)
(*also of theological import):
⁃ Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses
⁃ The Unchangeableness of God (delivered as a sermon in 1851; published in 1855)
⁃ Discourses at the Communion on Fridays (all of Kierkegaard’s discourses and sermons for Eucharist services found in one binding, by translator Sylvia Walsh)
For Kierkegaard’s philosophical theology, read:
1. Philosophical Fragments (medium difficulty)
2. Concluding Unscientific Postscript to Philosophical Fragments (high level of difficulty)
3. Fear and Trembling (medium difficulty)
4. Two Ethical-Religious Essays (easy/medium level of difficulty)
5. Sickness Unto Death (high level of difficulty)
4. Kierkegaard’s Core Philosophical Writings
This list’s title is in truth a trick statement, as all of Kierkegaard’s writings cover philosophical subjects, and most engage in some form of philosophy themselves. Yet oftentimes when speaking of Kierkegaard’s “philosophical” writings, many think of the books he wrote towards the beginning of his writing career (1843-1846), half of which are called “the pseudonymous works” in Kierkegaard scholarship.
The pseudonymous works were, you guessed it, written by creatively named pseudonyms whose names were designed to contribute to the interpretation of each book. The pseudonymous works are therefore perhaps the most layered (and most fun?) of all of Kierkegaard’s writing, while also being some of the most challenging.
Kierkegaard, quite idealistically, desired that people would read his books in relationship to one other, and this is important to remember when reading him, even if you don’t follow suit. This design is called “dialectics,” and Kierkegaard utilized dialectics with the hope of presenting his readers with experiences that would induce personal reflection, rather than present isolated treatises that make it easier to leave the reading experience unchallenged or unchanged. Kierkegaard’s pseudonyms are pitted against himself, yet also share some core agreements with him and amongst themselves.
I have presented Kierkegaard’s pseudonymous works, popularly recognized as his most philosophical writings, with the correlating books he would have wished his readers to be aware of (called his “signed” writings because Kierkegaard published them under his own name). Philosophical subjects present in this list include ontology, anthropology, ethics, aesthetics, divine revelation, and epistemology.
1. Either/Or vs Two Upbuilding Discourses (1843)
2. Fear and Trembling vs Three Upbuilding Discourses (1843)
3. The Concept of Anxiety vs Three and Four Upbuilding Discourses (1844)
4. Stages on Life’s Way vs Three Discourses on Imagined Occasions (1845)
5. Philosophical Fragments and/or Concluding Unscientific Postscript (PF can pair with Two and Three Upbuilding Discourses (1844); CUP was published in early 1846, and is the capstone to the entire authorship at the time. Subsequently, it can be read as a stand-alone work, even though it is designed as a postscript to PF.)
5. Interpreting Kierkegaard, According to Kierkegaard
Kierkegaard provided explanations and clarification to his writing over the course of his life, which I thought would be helpful to list here. While nothing should discourage someone from picking up Kierkegaard and just reading him, these resources might help clarify what Kierkegaard is getting on about. They do stand as material that scholars must contend with, acting as delineations between “what Kierkegaard thinks” and what is “Kierkegaardian.”
1. read the front matter Kierkegaard provides to his books, especially the prefaces, introductions, and prayers.
2. read On My Work as an Author, which is Kierkegaard’s most succinct and clear stand-alone explanation as to why he writes, and how he writes (found most easily in Princeton’s comprehensive edition, The Point of View).
3. read Kierkegaard’s “First and Last Explanation” found at the end of Concluding Unscientific Postscript. This is an earlier, and shorter, account of how Kierkegaard regards his authorship taken as a whole.
4. read Kierkegaard’s finished but unpublished The Point of View for My Work as an Author, which is the longest accounting Kierkegaard wrote of himself, and therefore provides the most detail (also found in Princeton’s The Point of View).
6. Kierkegaard’s Main Publications and Notable Writings in Chronological Order
1. Either/Or, by the pseudonym Victor Eremita (February 20, 1843)
2. Two Upbuilding Discourses (May 16, 1843) — first published as is, and then within Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses (remaindered by P.G. Philipson in 1845)
3. Repetition, by the pseudonym Constantin Constantius (October 16, 1843)
4. Fear and Trembling, by the pseudonym Johannes de silentio (October 16, 1843)
5. Three Upbuilding Discourses (October 16, 1843) — first published as is, and then within Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses (remaindered by P.G. Philipson in 1845)
6. Four Upbuilding Discourses (December 6, 1843) — first published as is, and then within Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses (remaindered by P.G. Philipson in 1845)
7. Two Upbuilding Discourses (March 5, 1844) — first published as is, and then within Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses (remaindered by P.G. Philipson in 1845)
8. Philosophical Fragments, by the pseudonym Johannes Climacus (June 13, 1844)
9. Three Upbuilding Discourses (June 8, 1844) — first published as is, and then within Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses (remaindered by P.G. Philipson in 1845)
10. The Concept of Anxiety, by the pseudonym Vigilius Haufniensis (June 17, 1844)
11. Prefaces, by the pseudonym Nicolaus Notabene (June 17, 1844)
12. Four Upbuilding Discourses (August 31, 1844) — first published as is, and then within Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses (remaindered by P.G. Philipson in 1845)
13. Three Discourses on Imagined Occasions (April 29, 1845)
14. Stages on Life’s Way, published by the pseudonym Hilarius Bookbinder (April 30, 1845)
15. Concluding Unscientific Postscript, by the pseudonym Johannes Climacus (February 28, 1846)
16. Two Ages: A Literary Review (March 30, 1846)
17. Upbuilding Discourses in Various Spirits (March 13, 1847)
18. Works of Love (September 29, 1847)
19. Christian Discourses (April 26, 1848)
20. The Lily in the Field and the Bird of the Air (May 14, 1849)
21. Two Ethical-Religious Essays, by the pseudonym H.H. (May 19, 1849)
22. The Sickness Unto Death, by the pseudonym Anti-Climacus (July 30, 1849)
23. Three Discourses at the Communion on Fridays: “The High Priest,” “The Tax Collector,” “The Woman Who Was a Sinner” (November 14, 1849)
24. Practice in Christianity, by the pseudonym Anti-Climacus (September 25, 1850)
25. An Upbuilding Discourse (December 20, 1850)
26. Two Discourses at the Communion on Fridays (August 7, 1851)
27. On My Work as An Author (August 7, 1851)
28. For Self-Examination (September 10, 1851)
29. The Unchangeableness of God (September 3, 1855)
30. The Point of View for My Work as an Author (published posthumously in 1859, written primarily in 1848)
31. The Book on Adler (published posthumously in 1872)
32. Judge for Yourself! published posthumously in 1876)
7. Translations of Kierkegaard in English
Just as there is no definitive biography of Kierkegaard, there is no definitive translation of him either, even though scholars almost exclusively use the Hongs’ translation of Kierkegaard’s complete works, published by Princeton University Press. For “the best” translation of Kierkegaard, much depends upon the work in question and the motivations that drove the translator. For example, the Hongs prioritized literal word accuracy for Kierkegaard’s Danish, while the Swensons prioritized Kierkegaard’s flow and syntax; the Hongs approached Kierkegaard as a genius philosopher, while the Swensons approached Kierkegaard as a literary master with devotional aims.
For a reader who wishes to simply enjoy Kierkegaard, any of these translations will serve as a start. For the more motivated reader of Kierkegaard, I recommend having at least two translations on hand to compare against—oftentimes an obscure passage in one rendering will be clearer, or at least different enough, to help make out Kierkegaard’s meaning. For the budding Kierkegaard scholar, I recommend and direct you to M.G. Piety’s blog and resource page for untangling translations.
This list has been broken into three parts: the first effort to translate Kierkegaard into English in the early to mid 20th century, Princeton University’s presentation of Kierkegaard’s total works from the mid to late 20th century, and translations of Kierkegaard that have appeared since Princeton’s translations in the 21st century. If anything is missing or needs to be added, please let me know!
Kierkegaard’s first appearance into English became a collected effort between many publishers, partially interrupted by WWII, from 1937-1958. You will notice a few repeat titles, and that is not an error—a few of Kierkegaard’s books were translated more than once, sometimes because translators weren’t aware of others’ efforts (Kierkegaard’s “Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing,” extracted out of Upbuilding Discourses in Various Spirits, is one such example). Find some of these titles digitalized and free on Internet Archive, or keep an eye out for used copies through BookFinder (or your local used book shop!).
Oxford University Press (translators Alexander Dru, Robert Payne, Walter Lowrie)
1. The Journals of Søren Kierkegaard (Selections)
2. Fear and Trembling
3. The Concept of Dread
4. in one volume, The Present Age and Two Minor Ethico-Religious Treatises
5. in one volume: Christian Discourses, Three Discourses at the Communion on Fridays, and Discourses about the Lilies and the Birds
6. The Point of View for My Work as an Author
7. in one volume: Training in Christianity and An Edifying Discourse
8. in one volume: For Self-Examination, Two Discourses at the Communion on Fridays, Judge for Yourself!, and The Unchangeableness of God
Augsburg Publishing House (translators David and Lillian Swenson, Howard and Edna Hong)
1. Edifying Discourses, Vols I-IV
2. Three Discourses on Imagined Occasions
3. The Gospel of Suffering and The Lilies of the Field (Parts III and II of Upbuilding Discourses in Various Spirits)
4. For Self-Examination
The American Scandinavian Society (translators David and Lillian Swenson, Walter Lowrie)
1. Philosophical Fragments
2. Concluding Unscientific Postscript
Princeton University Press (translators Walter Lowrie, David and Lillian Swenson)
1. Either/Or, Volume I
2. Either/Or, Volume II
3. Repetition
4. Fear and Trembling
5. Stages on Life’s Way
6. Sickness Unto Death
Harper Torchbooks (translators Douglas V. Steere, Howard and Edna Hong)
1. Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing (Part I of Upbuilding Discourses in Various Spirits)
2. Works of Love
Stanford University Press (translator T.H. Croxall)
1. Johannes Climacus: De Omnibus Dubitandum Est and A Sermon
The C. W. Daniel Company, London (translators A.S. Aldworth and W.S. Ferrie)
1. Purify Your Hearts!: A Discourse for a Special Occasion, the first of three parts in Edifying Discourses in a Different Vein
2. Consider the Lilies, the second part in Edifying Discourses in a Different Vein
3. The Gospel of Sufferings, the third part in Edifying Discourses in a Different Vein
*Earlier fragmentary translations of Kierkegaard into English:
1. Selections From the Writings of Kierkeggard, trans. L. M. Hollander (University of Texas Bulletin, No. 2326: July 8, 1923).
Kierkegaard’s second appearance into English was completed by Princeton University Press, contributed to by the translators Howard and Edna Hong, Julia Watkin, Todd Nichol, Reidar Thomte, Albert Anderson, and Henrik Rosenmeier. The project was overseen by Howard and Edna Hong. You can find them all here.
Other translations of Kierkegaard into English, published during or after the publication of Princeton’s editions:
1. Penguin Classics (all translated by Alistair Hannay):
1. Either/Or
2. Fear and Trembling
3. Two Ages: A Literary Review
4. Sickness Unto Death
5. Papers and Journals: A Selection
2. Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy:
1. Concluding Unscientific Postscript, translated by Alistair Hannay
2. Fear and Trembling, translated by C. Stephen Evans and Sylvia Walsh
3. Oxford World Classics:
1. Repetition and Philosophical Crumbs, translated by M.G. Piety
4. Liveright Publishing:
1. Fear and Trembling, translated by Bruce H. Kirmmse
2. The Sickness Unto Death, translated by Bruce H. Kirmmse
3. Works of Love, translated by Bruce H. Kirmmse (coming July 15, 2025)
4. The Concept of Anxiety, translated by Alistair Hannay
5. Princeton University Press:
1. The Lily of the Field and the Bird of the Air: Three Godly Discourses, translated by Bruce H. Kirmmse
6. Indiana University Press:
1. Discourses at the Communion on Fridays, translated by Sylvia Walsh
Includes: first part of Christian Discourses, Three Discourses at the Communion on Fridays (1849), No. III from the third part of Practice in Christianity, and Two Discourses at the Communion on Fridays (1851).
7. Harper Press:
1. Spiritual Writings: Gift, Creation, Love—Selections from the Upbuilding Discourses, translated and selected by George Pattison
Pattison presents six discourses from Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses, two discourses from Christian Discourses, all of the second part of Upbuilding Discourses in Various Spirits, all three parts of The Lily of the Field and the Bird of the Air (1849), one communion discourse from Three Discourses at the Communion on Fridays (1849), An Upbuilding Discourse (1850), and the entirety of Two Discourses at the Communion on Fridays (1851).
8. Paulist Press:
This was very helpful. Hoping to tackle some Kierkegaard in 2025. Thank you for this resource.
Incredibly thoughtful & comprehensive; I’m bookmarking it for future folks I have Kierkegaard conversations with. Well done!