Useful reading for those new to philosophy and others

Simon Blackburn Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy (Oxford Paperbacks) A clear introduction to the questions philosophy covers: knowledge, consciousness, fate, God, truth, goodness, justice. You can read the chapter on knowledge at http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0192854259/ref=sib_rdr_dp

Simon Blackburn Being Good: A Short Introduction to Ethics (Oxford Paperbacks)
- discusses scepticism about ethics, themes of birth, death, happiness, desire and freedom, and arguments on the foundations of ethics. You can “search inside”  at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Being-Good-Short-Introduction-Ethics/dp/0192853775/ref=pd_sim_b_title_1

Edward Craig  Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford Very Short Introductions, Paperback, 2002)) How ought we to live? What really exists? How do we know? This book introduces important themes in ethics, knowledge, and the self, via readings from Plato, Hume, Descartes, Hegel, Darwin, and Buddhist writers. It emphasizes throughout the point of doing philosophy, explains how different areas of philosophy are related, and explores the contexts in which philosophy was and is done. You can read the first few pages here. It opens: "Anyone reading this book is to some extent a philosopher already ..."

Thomas Nagel What Does It All Mean?: A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy (Paperback, Oxford University Press)
Very readable, for absolute beginners, with a particularly good introduction to the mind/body question.

Nigel Warburton Philosophy: The Basics (Routledge Paperback)
A clear introduction to the topics and arguments studied in A Level Philosophy: You can read the Introduction at http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0415146941/ref=sib_rdr_dp  

Nigel Warburton What is Philosophy? (Open University Department of Philosophy) http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/philos/whatis.htm
An introduction, with some useful links to other philosophy sites.

The Art of Living series (Acumen)
"Because life is not a problem to be solved but a puzzle to be lived"
"From Plato to Bertrand Russell philosophers have engaged wide audiences on matters of life and death. The Art of Living series aims to open up philosophy's riches to a wider public once again. Taking its lead from the concerns of the ancient Greek philosophers, the series asks the question, 'How should we live?'" September 2008 topics include: illness, sport, hunger, well-being, pets, work, fame, deception, clothes. 

The Philosophers’ Magazine
A quarterly, now published in book format – proper philosophy for the general reader, with articles on popular philosophical themes, philosophy-related news, reviews, features and interviews with famous philosophers. See www.philosophersnet.com/.

"Philosophy in a Nutshell" - some useful definitions from the magazine Philosophy Now.