While there are a number of good books available to assist with understanding Aristotle’s works and thought, I am listing three titles that I highly recommend.
Aristotle for Everybody by Mortimer J. Adler is the ideal book for the beginner, though the advanced student will certainly benefit from Adler's insights. Read a description of this book at Amazon.
A History of Philosophy, Vol. 1: Greece and Rome From the Pre-Socratics to Plotinus, by Frederick Copleston, S.J. Perhaps the best history of philosophy in the English language, this first volume contains an excellent exposition of Aristotle's thought, as well as the philosophical thinking leading up to Aristotle's time. A background in pre-Socratic and Platonic thought is essential to the study of Aristotle. Read a description of this book at Amazon.
Aristotle, by Sir David Ross is a thorough exposition of Aristotle's thought by an eminent Aristotelian scholar. While this is an exemplary work there are a couple of problematic areas I should mention. First, the section on ethics contains no mention of the good versus the apparent good, which is a key concept for understanding ethical theory. I have no explanation for such an omission by this first-rate scholar. Second, Sir Ross is critical of Aquinas' view that each angel is a unique species. The question Ross raises in this regard reveals that he has not fully understood Aquinas' position. But it is not uncommon for writers to misunderstand Aquinas on this subject. The key to understanding the issue pertains to the specific meaning of Aquinas' analogical use of "species" in regard to the angelic forms. Nonetheless, I have been using Ross' book profitably for many years. Read a description of this book at Amazon.
If the price of this book is a concern, one can save money by purchasing a used copy of an early edition (1959). This is the edition I own: Aristotle: A Complete Exposition of His Works and Thought
