Bernhard Grzimek books in order
German zoo director and author
- Lived
- 1909–1987
- Country
- Germany
- Books
- 4
Bernhard Grzimek published 1 non-fiction book and 3 other books, beginning with Serengeti Shall Not Die (1959). The best-known is Animal Life Encyclopedia (1971).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Bernhard Grzimek

Start here
Animal Life Encyclopedia
Bernhard Grzimek's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order

He and I and the Elephants (1967)
Other books in order

Serengeti Shall Not Die (1959)

Rhinos Belong to Everybody (1962)

Animal Life Encyclopedia (1971)
About Bernhard Grzimek
Bernhard Klemens Maria Hoffbauer Pius Grzimek was a German zoo director, zoologist, book author, editor, and animal conservationist in postwar West Germany. During the Third Reich, he served as a veterinarian in the army. After World War II, he popularized the study of animals and created an interest in wildlife in Germany, becoming the public face of Frankfurt Zoo, producing a popular German magazine called Das Tier, giving radio talks and appearing on a popular television series Ein Platz für Tiere [A place for animals] in the 1950s and 60s, apart from producing a multi-volume encyclopedia on animals. He wrote another book Kein Platz für wilde Tiere [No Place for Wild Animals] (1954) which was later produced as a documentary dealing with the problems of African wildlife. Along with his son Michael Grzimek he produced a documentary Serengeti Shall Not Die which won an Oscar. He was involved in popularizing African wildlife and in wildlife conservation in Africa, particularly in the Serengeti. He served as a government advisor on conservation and campaigned against the use of animal furs for fashion. He sometimes wrote under the pseudonym "Clemens Hoffbauer".
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Bernhard Grzimek FAQ
- How many books has Bernhard Grzimek written?
- Bernhard Grzimek published 1 non-fiction book and 3 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Bernhard Grzimek's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Animal Life Encyclopedia.
- What is Bernhard Grzimek's last book?
- He and I and the Elephants (1967).
- What is Bernhard Grzimek's most famous book?
- Animal Life Encyclopedia (1971) is Bernhard Grzimek's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.