Once solely the province of ivory-tower professors and college classrooms, contemporary philosophy was finally emancipated from its academic closet in 2010, when “The Stone” was launched in the New York Times. First appearing as an online series, the column has since attracted millions of readers through its accessible examination of universal topics like the nature of science, consciousness, and morality, while also probing more contemporary issues such as the morality of drones, gun control, and the gender divide. Now collected for the first time in this beautifully designed volume, The Stone Reader presents 133 deeply influential pieces, placing nearly the entirety of modern philosophical discourse at a reader’s grasp. With an introduction that details the column’s founding and distinct editorial process, this collection promises to become an intellectual landmark and the centerpiece of discussions for years to come.