Anne Lamott Reading Order

10 books (1999–2020)

This series comprises ten nonfiction anthologies edited by Anne Lamott, published between 1999 and 2020. The collections cover diverse topics including parenting, motherhood, essays, and writing, with contributions from various authors. The series is complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Between Mothers and Sons: Women Writers Talk about Having Sons and Raising Men.

Start with Between Mothers and Sons: Women Writers Talk about Having Sons and Raising Men, the first of 10 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	Between Mothers and Sons: Women Writers Talk about Having Sons and Raising Men 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Mothers Who Think: Tales of Real-Life Parenthood 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Imagine: What America Could Be in the 21st Century 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	40 Model Essays 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Scoot Over, Skinny: The Fat Nonfiction Anthology 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Maternal Is Political 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	By the Book 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Days Like This 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Life Is Short – Art Is Shorter: In Praise of Brevity 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Shattering Glass 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

16 books (1993–2026)

Anne Lamott's non-fiction essay collection spans sixteen books published between 1993 and 2026, with the series still ongoing. These works should be read in publication order, beginning with Operating Instructions, as Lamott's reflections build across her lifetime of writing on faith, motherhood, recovery, and daily life. The collection includes titles such as Bird by Bird, Traveling Mercies, Plan B, Grace, and her most recent works exploring themes of hope, renewal, and spiritual awakening.

Start with Operating Instructions, the first of 16 books in the Non-Fiction series.

#	Title
1	Operating Instructions 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Bird by Bird 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Traveling Mercies 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Word by Word 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Plan B 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Grace 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Help Thanks Wow 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Some Assembly Required 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Stitches 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Small Victories 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	The Hope and Renewal Collection 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Hallelujah Anyway 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Almost Everything 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Somehow: Thoughts on Love 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Good Writing(With: Neal Allen) 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

7 books (1979–2010)

Anne Lamott's collection of seven standalone novels spans from 1979 to 2010 and should be read in publication order, beginning with Hard Laughter. The series is now complete and includes Rosie, Joe Jones, All New People, Crooked Little Heart, Blue Shoe, and Imperfect Birds. Though marketed as standalone entries, reading these novels chronologically reveals the evolution of Lamott's distinctive narrative voice across three decades.

Start with Hard Laughter, the first of 7 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	Hard Laughter 1979Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Rosie 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Joe Jones 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	All New People 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Crooked Little Heart 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Blue Shoe 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Imperfect Birds 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible