John Steinbeck Reading Order
7 series · 63 books · Born 27 February 1902
John Steinbeck was a prominent American author recognized for his profound contributions to literature, with a focus on social issues and the human condition. Over his prolific career from 1929 to 2018, he penned 63 books across seven series, including recognized works such as *The Grapes of Wrath* and *Of Mice and Men*, as well as plays, short stories, and novellas. His impactful storytelling earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962, solidifying his legacy as a master of narrative.
Anthologies Series
Complete19 books (1941–2018)
Start with Twenty Grand: Great American Short Stories, the first of 19 books in the Anthologies series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Twenty Grand: Great American Short Stories 1941Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | Great Short Masterpieces of Mystery 1950Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  50 Great Short Stories 1952Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | Short Story Masterpieces: 35 Classic American and British Stories from the First Half of the 20th Century 1954Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 | This Was Your War 1960Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Editors on Editing 1962Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  50 Great American Short Stories 1963Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  21 Great Stories 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Unknown California 1985Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Pendragon Chronicles: Heroic Fantasy from the Time of King Arthur 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Short Story: 30 Masterpieces 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 | Win, Lose or Die 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 | 40 Short Stories: A Portable Anthology 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 | The Book of Spies: An Anthology of Literary Espionage 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  The Little Big Book of California 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 | Not To Be Read Until I Am Dead: And Other Stuff 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 | Letters to Change the World: From Pankhurst to Orwell 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 | Writers: Their Lives and Works 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
Cannery Row Series
Complete2 books (1945–1954)
Start with Cannery Row and read in order.
Collections Series
Complete4 books (1938–1989)
Start with The Long Valley, the first of 4 books in the Collections series.
Non-Fiction Series
Complete14 books (1936–2012)
Start with The Harvest Gypsies, the first of 14 books in the Non-Fiction series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Harvest Gypsies 1936Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Bombs Away 1942Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  A Russian Journal 1948Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Sea of Cortez 1951Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Log from the 'Sea of Cortez' 1951Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Once There Was a War 1958Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Travels with Charley 1962Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  America and Americans 1966Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  In Touch 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Journal of a Novel 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  On Writing 1988Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Working Days 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Of Men and Their Making 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 | Steinbeck in Vietnam 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
Plays Series
Complete2 books (1942–1975)
Start with The Moon is Down and read in order.
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete4 books (1938–2007)
Start with Flight, the first of 4 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.
Standalone Novels Series
Complete18 books (1929–1992)
Start with Cup of Gold, the first of 18 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Cup of Gold 1929Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Pastures of Heaven 1932Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The Red Pony 1933Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  To a God Unknown 1933Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Tortilla Flat 1935Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  In Dubious Battle 1936Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 | Nothing So Monstrous 1936Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Of Mice and Men 1937Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Grapes of Wrath 1939Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Forgotten Village 1941Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Pearl 1947Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 | The Wayward Bus 1947Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Burning Bright 1950Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  East of Eden 1952Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  The Short Reign of Pippin IV 1957Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  The Winter of Our Discontent 1961Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights 1976Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  The Gift 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has John Steinbeck written?
- John Steinbeck has written 63 books across 7 series. Their published works span from 1929 to 2018.
- What is the first book in each John Steinbeck series?
- Here are the first books in John Steinbeck's series: Anthologies: Twenty Grand: Great American Short Stories; Cannery Row: Cannery Row; Collections: The Long Valley; Non-Fiction: The Harvest Gypsies; Plays: The Moon is Down.
- What order should I read John Steinbeck's books?
- We recommend reading John Steinbeck's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are John Steinbeck's series complete?
- John Steinbeck has 7 completed series.