Dave Barry has published 20 novels, 2 novellas, 9 non-fiction books, 5 children's books and 22 other books, beginning with Complete Guide to Guys (1995). 4 feature Peter Pan. The best-known is Peter and the Starcatchers (2004). The latest is Lessons From Lucy (2019).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Dave Barry
Start here
Peter and the Starcatchers
Dave Barry's most-read book.
Newest
Lessons From Lucy
Published 2019.
Standalone novels in order
Naked Came the Manatee (1996), with Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen
Dave Barry Is from Mars and Venus (1997)
Big Trouble (Sep 1999)
Tricky Business (2002)
Boogers Are My Beat (2003)
Money Secrets (2006)
History of the Millennium (So Far) (Aug 2007)
Blood Tide (2008)
I'll Mature When I'm Dead (2010)
The Bridge to Never Land (2011), with Ridley Pearson
Lunatics (2012)
Insane City (2013)
You Can Date Boys When You're Forty (2014)
Live Right and Find Happiness Although Beer Is Much Faster (2015)
Best. State. Ever (2016)
Lessons From Lucy (2019)
Novellas in order
Escape from the Carnivale (2006)
The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog (2006)
Non-fiction in order
Bad Habits (1985)
Stay Fit & Healthy Until You're Dead (1985)
Claw Your Way to the Top (1986)
Dave Barry Slept Here (1989)
Babies & Other Hazards of Sex (1991)
Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need (1991)
Dave Barry Does Japan (1992)
Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway (2001)
50 Essays (2004)
Children's books in order
The Missing Mermaid (2005)
Science Fair (2008)
Walt Disney's Peter Pan (2009)
The Worst Class Trip Ever (2015)
The Worst Night Ever (2016)
Other books in order
The Taming of the Screw (1983)
Guide to Marriage And/or Sex (1987)
Greatest Hits (1988)
Homes and Other Black Holes (1988)
Dave Barry Turns 40 (1990)
Dave Barry Talks Back (1991)
Guide to Life (1991)
Dave Barry Is Not Making This Up (1994)
Gift Guide to End All Gift Guides (1994)
The World According to Dave Barry (1994)
Complete Guide to Guys (1995)
Dave Barry (1996)
Dave Barry in Cyberspace (1996)
Book of Bad Songs (1997)
Dave Barry Turns 50 (1998)
"My Teenage Son's Goal in Life Is to Make Me Feel 3,500 Years Old" (2001)
"The Greatest Invention in the History of Mankind Is Beer" (2001)
All the Dave Barry You Could Ever Want (2001)
Dave Barry Collection (2004)
One Hundred Great Essays (2005)
The Compact Reader (2008)
Swamp Story (2023)
Film and TV adaptations
- Big Trouble (2002)Film · from Big Trouble
About Dave Barry
David McAlister Barry is an American author and columnist who wrote a nationally syndicated humor column for the Miami Herald from 1983 to 2005. He has written numerous books of humor and parody, as well as comic novels and children's novels. Barry's honors include the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary (1988) and the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism (2005).
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Dave Barry FAQ
- How many books has Dave Barry written?
- Dave Barry has published 20 novels, 2 novellas, 9 non-fiction books, 5 children's books and 22 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Dave Barry's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Peter and the Starcatchers.
- What is Dave Barry's latest book?
- Lessons From Lucy (2019).
- What is Dave Barry's most famous book?
- Peter and the Starcatchers (2004) is Dave Barry's most widely read book.
- Which Dave Barry books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Big Trouble (film, 2002).
Authors like Dave Barry
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.