Adam Johnson Reading Order
4 series · 17 books
Adam Johnson crafts literary fiction that spans both intimate short stories and expansive novels, earning major recognition including the Pulitzer Prize for his 2012 novel The Orphan Master's Son and the National Book Award for his 2015 story collection Fortune Smiles. His work demonstrates a keen eye for human complexity and often explores lives shaped by extraordinary circumstances and moral ambiguity. As a creative writing professor at Stanford University, Johnson brings both artistic vision and pedagogical insight to American letters.
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Anthologies Series
Likely Complete3 books (2005–2021)
Adam Johnson's three-book collection spans literary nonfiction and anthology contributions published between 2005 and 2021. The series is best read in publication order, beginning with The Creative Writing MFA Handbook, followed by Tin House: Summer Issue 2008, and concluding with Secret Santa. While the series appears to be complete, readers should note that these works represent a mix of instructional and anthology formats rather than a traditional connected narrative series.
Start with The Creative Writing MFA Handbook and read in order.
Start this series with The Creative Writing MFA Handbook
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Short Story Collections Series
Complete2 books (2002–2015)
Adam Johnson's literary fiction short story collections span from 2002 to 2015, comprising two complete books that should be read in publication order. Emporium was followed by Fortune Smiles, offering readers a selection of standalone stories that showcase Johnson's distinctive voice within the genre.
Start with Emporium and read in order.
Start this series with Emporium
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Standalone Novels Series
Ongoing3 books (2003–2025)
Adam Johnson has written three literary fiction novels published across two decades, beginning with Parasites Like Us in 2003 and continuing through The Orphan Master's Son and most recently The Wayfinder in 2025. Though presented as standalone works, these novels should be read in publication order to best appreciate Johnson's evolving literary voice. The series remains ongoing, suggesting more works may follow from this acclaimed author of literary fiction.
Start with Parasites Like Us and read in order.
Start this series with Parasites Like Us
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The Best American: Nonrequired Reading Series
Complete9 books (2011–2019)
The Best American: Nonrequired Reading is a complete nine-book anthology series curated by Adam Johnson, published annually from 2011 through 2019. Each volume collects outstanding short fiction, essays, and other literary pieces selected from the previous year's publications. Readers should follow the publication order to experience the series chronologically. This collection celebrates contemporary writing across diverse genres and styles, offering a yearly snapshot of American literary achievement.
Start with The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2011, the first of 9 books in the The Best American: Nonrequired Reading series.
Start this series with The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2011
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Adam Johnson written?
- Adam Johnson has written 17 books across 4 series. Their published works span from 2002 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each Adam Johnson series?
- Here are the first books in Adam Johnson's series: Anthologies: The Creative Writing MFA Handbook; Short Story Collections: Emporium; The Best American: Nonrequired Reading: The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2011.
- What order should I read Adam Johnson's books?
- We recommend reading Adam Johnson's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Adam Johnson still writing new books?
- Yes, Adam Johnson has 1 ongoing series: Standalone Novels.