Ananda Coomaraswamy books in order
Sri Lankan Tamil metaphysician
- Lived
- 1877–1947
- Country
- British Ceylon
- Books
- 25
Ananda Coomaraswamy published 14 non-fiction books and 11 other books, beginning with The Village Community and Modern Progress (1908). The best-known is Hinduism and Buddhism (1943).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Ananda Coomaraswamy
Start here
Hinduism and Buddhism
Ananda Coomaraswamy's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Essays in National Idealism (1909)
Message of the East (1909)
The Arts & Crafts of India & Ceylon (1913)
History of Indian and Indonesian Art (1927)
The Transformation of Nature in Art (1934)
Elements of Buddhist Iconography (1935)
Spiritual Authority and Temporal Power in the Indian Theory of Government (1942)
Figures of Speech or Figures of Thought? (1946)
Am I My Brother's Keeper? (1947)
Time and Eternity (1947)
The Living Thoughts of Gotama the Buddha (1948)
The Dance of Shiva (1956)
Coomaraswamy (1977)
Metaphysics (1987)
Other books in order
The Village Community and Modern Progress (1908)
Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1913)
Buddha and the Gospel of Buddhism (1916)
Rajput Painting (1916)
The Dance of Siva (1918)
Hinduism and Buddhism (1943)
Christian and Oriental Philosophy of Art (1956)
The Origin of the Buddha Image (1972)
Essays in Early Indian Architecture (1992)
Yaksas (1993)
Mediaeval Sinhalese Art (2003)
About Ananda Coomaraswamy
Ananda Kentish Muthu Coomaraswamy was a Ceylonese metaphysician, historian and a philosopher of Indian art who was an early interpreter of Indian culture to the West. He has been described as "the groundbreaking theorist who was largely responsible for introducing ancient Indian art to the West".
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Ananda Coomaraswamy FAQ
- How many books has Ananda Coomaraswamy written?
- Ananda Coomaraswamy published 14 non-fiction books and 11 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Ananda Coomaraswamy's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Hinduism and Buddhism.
- What is Ananda Coomaraswamy's last book?
- The Living Thoughts of Gotama the Buddha (1948).
- What is Ananda Coomaraswamy's most famous book?
- Hinduism and Buddhism (1943) is Ananda Coomaraswamy's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.