Does It Matter?

Alan W. Watts

Watts wrote on comparative religion and Eastern philosophies for Western readers, especially Zen Buddhism. Recurring themes include personal identity, the nature of reality, higher consciousness, the meaning of life, concepts of God, and the non-material pursuit of happiness.

For an introduction to Zen, The Way of Zen is widely regarded as accessible. For his approach to living in the present, The Wisdom of Insecurity is a good starting point; The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are is useful for exploring identity.

Most of Watts' works are standalone books rather than a series, so there is no required reading order. You can read any title based on the topic that interests you—Zen, identity, psychology, or practical philosophy.

The Way of Zen is one of his best-known and most influential titles. Other frequently cited works include The Wisdom of Insecurity, The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are, The Meaning of Happiness, and collections like There Is Never Anything But The Present.

Yes. Watts published accessible popular books and lectures introducing Eastern thought, as well as more scholarly-leaning titles such as Psychotherapy East & West and essays collected in volumes like Does It Matter? and Nature, Man and Woman. He also wrote an autobiography, In My Own Way.