I want to start reading "Phenomenology of Spirit" but

>>8330617
Do NOT start just reading a Hegel book. It is better you read secondary sources about him, to get an understanding of his philosophy, before you plunge into nigh undecipherable texts. Also, it is repeated that you start by the Greeks. You don't have to read every book written by and about Greek philosophers, but to properly understand European philosophy of the vein of Hegel and Nietzsche, you need to know about Greek myths and philosophy. There must be books that give you what you have to know without needing to read primary sources.

You could start by reading Hegel, but it'll be difficult and you'll have huge gaps in your knowledge. Which you'll have to fill later by reading about the Greeks, etc.

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Read Kant instead, Hegel is esoteric mumbo-jumbo.

>>8330651
This. At least read "Critique of pure reason" and "Critique of practical reason" before trying Hegel.

You need to have an understanding of the philosophical canon preceeding to get anything out of Hegel. That means at least Plato, Aristotle, some Aquinas, Descartes, Locke/Hume, Kant. Hegel ties a knot around the philosophical tradition so to speak. Philosophers after him are all responding to him. Then Heidegger comes with his Destruktion of the whole tradition from presocratics to Hegel. Then everyone responds to him.

Start with the Greeks - work your way up. You don't have to know every philosophical argument in the history of western thinking, but there are essentials. Sophie's World is a nice digestible intro to philosophical thinking. Go for it.