Timothy Smith, the PBPF archivist, found this recommended reading list that PB created during the period he was writing books, traveling, and teaching (i.e. sometime between 1934 and 1952). Timothy thought that this list might be something that would interest people, since PB found these books to be of value.The following is written by PB:
The enquiry is often made by those who wish to study more widely and more deeply as to what books we recommend which will contribute to a fuller understanding of these tenets. Unfortunately there is not in existence a single book which treats in a modern way of them as a whole from the special standpoint which we have adopted. However, there are other excellent studies of individual tenets, albeit from other standpoints. If their limitations are firmly kept in mind, these studies may profitably be considered and will undoubtedly be helpful in contributing to build up the picture of our system. The recommended titles are as follows:
Biographical, Autobiographical, and Travel
STARR DAILY: Release and Love can open Prison Doors
CYRIL SCOTT: The Initiate and The Initiate in the New World
DAVID-NEEL: With Mystics and Magicians in Tibet
W. YEATS BROWN: Lives of a Bengal Lancer
Devotional
SRI AUROBINDO: Lights on Yoga
H.P.BLAVATSKY: Voice of the Silence and Key to Theosophy
BUDDHA: Dhammapada
BUNYAN: Pilgrim’s Progress
ARNOLD: The Song Celestial and Light of Asia
ANNIE BESANT: The Outer Court (For beginners as it deals with preparatory purification for the path. Stage continued farther in her complementary The Path of Discipleship.)
W.Q. JUDGE: Translations of Bhagavad Gita
Fiction
L.ADAM BECK: The Garden of Vision and House of Fulfilment
TALBOT MUNDY: OM
WILL L. GARVER: Brother of the Third Degree
RUDYARD KIPLING: Kim
SOMERSET MAUGHAM: The Razor’s Edge
JAMES HILTON: Lost Horizon
RICHARD SALE: Not too narrow, not too deep
E. BULWER LYTTON: Zanoni
Metaphysical
BERTRAND RUSSELL: Our Knowledge of the External World
ARTHUR K. ROGERS: Introduction to Philosophy
MAY SINCLAIR: A Defence of Idealism
J.G. FICHTE: Works
I.M.E. McTAGGART: Human Immortality and Pre-existence
R.F.A. HOERNLE: Studies in Contemporary Metaphysics and Idealism
PAULSEN: Introduction to Philosophy
PAUL DEUSSEN: Philosophy of the Upanishads and Philosophy of the Vedanta
BERTRAND RUSSELL: Problem of Philosophy
WILL DURANT: Story of Philosophy
L.ADAM BECK: Story of Oriental Philosophy
YOGI RAMACHARAKA: Gnani Yoga
Moral
ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER: Selected Essays and Wisdom of Life and Counsels and Maxims
MABEL COLLINS: Light on the Path
WILDE: De Profundis
P.G. BOWEN: The Occult Way
YOGI RAMACHARAKA: 14 Lessons in Yogi Philosophy
Mystical
THOREAU: Walden
EMERSON: Essay on the Oversoul
EVELYN UNDERHILL: Mysticism and Practical Mysticism
SWAMI VIVEKANADA’s Works.
SRI RAMAKRISHNAN: Sayings
ANNIE BESANT: Introduction to Mysticism
OUSPENSKY: Tertium Organum
BROTHER LAWRENCE: Practice of the Presence of God
BUCKE: Cosmic Consciousness
TAGORE: Sadhana
BOEHME: Way to Christ and Dialogue on Supersensual Life
SCHREINER: Dreams
EVELYN UNDERHILL: Essentials of Mysticism and Life of the Spirit
YOGI RAMACHARAKA: Advanced Course in Yogi Philosophy
THE SUN CENTER: The Impersonal Life
Scientific
GUSTAF STROMBERG: The Soul of the Universe
W.F.G. SWANN: The Architecture of the Universe
R.S. LILLIE: Philosophy of Silence.
KARL PEARSON: The Grammar of Science
THOMAS H. HUXLEY: Hume and Evolution and Ethics
