Susan Orlean Reading Order
10 series · 28 books
Susan Orlean is a renowned American journalist and author known for her captivating storytelling and insightful explorations of various subjects. With a prolific career spanning from 1987 to 2025, she has penned 28 books across 10 series, including notable works in history, gardening, animals, and children's literature. Her acclaimed titles, such as The Orchid Thief and The Library Book, have solidified her status as a leading voice in contemporary non-fiction.
Anthologies Series
Complete7 books (2000–2014)
Start with Life Stories, the first of 7 books in the Anthologies series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Life Stories 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Best American Magazine Writing 2004 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The Best American Essays 2005 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | Secret Ingredients 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  All That Glitters 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 | Cornbread Nation 7: The Best of Southern Food Writing 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 | Never Can Say Goodbye: Writers on Their Unshakable Love for New York 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
Children's Series
Complete1 book (2008–2008)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Lazy Little Loafers 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
Funny Women Write from the Road Series
Complete5 books (2003–2007)
Start with Sand in My Bra and Other Misadventures(By: Jennifer L. Leo,Jessica Maxwell), the first of 5 books in the Funny Women Write from the Road series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sand in My Bra and Other Misadventures(By: Jennifer L. Leo,Jessica Maxwell) 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Whose Panties Are These?(By: Jennifer L. Leo,James O'Reilly,Larry Habegger) 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 | The Thong Also Rises(With: Jill Conner Browne,Laurie Notaro,Jennifer L. Leo,Jennifer Cox,Ayun Halliday,Tamara Sheward,Ellen Sussman) 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  What Color Is Your Jockstrap?(By: Jennifer L. Leo) 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  More Sand in My Bra(By: Janna Cawrse Esarey,Julia Weiler,Jennifer L. Leo) 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
History Series
Complete3 books (1987–1992)
Start with Red Sox and Bluefish and Other Things That Make New England New England and read in order.
Library Science Series
Complete1 book (2018–2018)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Library Book 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Complete1 book (2025–2025)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2025(With: Jaime Green) 2025Buy 🇺🇸 |
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete1 book (2021–2021)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | You Are Ready For Takeoff: A Short Trip 2021Buy 🇺🇸 |
Susan Orlean Animal Series
Likely Complete3 books (2011–2021)
Start with Animalish and read in order.
Susan Orlean Biographies Series
Ongoing4 books (2001–2025)
Start with The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup: My Encounters with Extraordinary People, the first of 4 books in the Susan Orlean Biographies series.
Susan Orlean Gardening Series
Complete2 books (1998–2016)
Start with The Orchid Thief and read in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Susan Orlean written?
- Susan Orlean has written 28 books across 10 series. Their published works span from 1987 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each Susan Orlean series?
- Here are the first books in Susan Orlean's series: Anthologies: Life Stories; Funny Women Write from the Road: Sand in My Bra and Other Misadventures(By: Jennifer L. Leo,Jessica Maxwell); History: Red Sox and Bluefish and Other Things That Make New England New England; Susan Orlean Animal: Animalish; Susan Orlean Biographies: The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup: My Encounters with Extraordinary People.
- What order should I read Susan Orlean's books?
- We recommend reading Susan Orlean's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Susan Orlean still writing new books?
- Yes, Susan Orlean has 1 ongoing series: Susan Orlean Biographies.