The Oxford PPE Reading List

Ah, the infamous Oxford PPE degree. The launcher of prime ministers, economists and journalists alike.

If you're drawn to this demanding (but rewarding) course, you're probably also drawn to the big questions: how societies work, why people make the choices they do, and what makes a fair world.

If you're still debating whether or not to apply for PPE, have a read of our blog post, Why Study PPE?

At Avalon Education, we’ve helped countless Oxford PPE hopefuls build the curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking skills that make Oxford tutors take notice. Get in touch today if you'd like us to guide you through everything you'll need for your application, beyond the PPE reading list.

You may be submitting your application this week, preparing in advance of next year's admissions cycles, or even starting your PPE course as we type. Wherever you are, consider this your ultimate guide. These are the must-read books for Oxford PPE applicants – ones to be read, savoured, and considered. Like the course itself, the reading list is split between the three subjects: Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Philosophy Reading List

“The value of philosophy is, in fact, to be sought largely in its very uncertainty.”

Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

1. Simon Blackburn – Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy

   “How you think about what you are doing affects how you do it, or whether you do it at all.”

   A great introduction to a number of philosophy topics, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and philosophy of religion. A perfect way to learn the basics of these topics, before reading further about those you find most interesting.

2. John Stuart Mill – Utilitarianism

   "Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness and wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness."

   The seminal work on a wildly influential ethical doctrine. It also happens to be a commonly set reading in first-year PPE courses, so will set you up well for your time at Oxford!

3. Michael Sandel – Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?

   “Markets leave their mark on social norms.”

   Accessible, contemporary, and endlessly debatable – Sandel’s moral philosophy helps bridge theory and the real world, especially for interview discussion.

Politics Reading List

1. Plato – The Republic

   “The heaviest penalty for declining to rule is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself.”

   Still the ultimate starting point for anyone interested in politics or ethics. Plato’s arguments on justice, governance, and the role of the philosopher set the stage for everything that follows in Western thought.

2. John Stuart Mill – On Liberty

   “Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.”

   Liberal philosophy at its finest. Mill’s writing remains startlingly relevant to modern debates on free speech, democracy, and individual rights.

3. Simone de Beauvoir – The Second Sex

   “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.”

   A certifiably unmissable seminal text. De Beauvoir centres the philosophical conversation on gender, identity, and social freedom. This is feminist canon, and the best place to start.

Economics Reading List

1. Adam Smith – The Wealth of Nations

   “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.”

   A must-read for the economics side of PPE. Even if the language is dense, the core ideas about markets, self-interest, and value underpin modern capitalism – and most Oxbridge interview questions.

2. Tim Harford – The Undercover Economist

   “There is much more to life than what gets measured in accounts. Even economists know that.”

   Why is coffee so expensive in train stations compared to the high street? Harford explains with wit and clarity, turning everyday annoyances into lessons in supply, demand, and hidden incentives.

3. Nassim Nicholas Taleb – The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable

   “Prediction, not narration, is the real test of our understanding of the world.”

   This influential, and wildly compelling book teaches us how to accept uncertainty, highlighting many of the problems with modern economics, and in turn, teaches us what we can predict about the future.

There's plenty of other really important PPE texts, so don't quote us. But these are some of the best places to start, and are sure to lead you down interesting intellectual paths.

How to think like a real PPE-ist

It's not quite enough to read like a PPE-ist. Try mixing up your preparation with resources that stretch your curiosity.

• Podcasts: Talking Politics, The Ezra Klein Show, Philosophy Bites – there's SO many political, philosophical, and economical podcasts out there.

• Publications: The Economist, Financial Times, London Review of Books, Novara Media – keeping up with current events will give you a better feel for modern politics and economics, as well as giving you knowledge that can be brought up in personal statements, essays, and interviews.

• Lectures and Debates: The Oxford Union YouTube channel is a great place to start.

Importantly, read across political lines. Read manifestos, not just manifestos you agree with – if only to evaluate, validate or confirm what you might feel. It'll help you express your arguments more clearly when you're sat in an Oxford PPE tutorial.

Prepare beyond the books

Some of the best Oxford PPE preparation happens off the page.

• Join or start a debate society – it sharpens your logic and forces you to defend ideas under pressure.

• Watch Oxford tutorials and Cambridge supervisions on YouTube to get a feel for the style of thinking expected.

• Try online short courses in economics or philosophy (Coursera and FutureLearn have great options).

And, most importantly, talk. Discuss, disagree, and defend your views. Argue with everything you read!

And if you'd like the personal, 1-1 support of Avalon Education's expert Oxford PPE tutors, you know where to find us.

Happy reading!