David Brewster books in order
Scottish astronomer and mathematician
- Lived
- 1781–1868
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 6
David Brewster published 4 non-fiction books and 2 other books, beginning with Treatise on the Kaleidoscope (1819). The best-known is Letters on Natural Magic (1832).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with David Brewster
Non-fiction in order
The Life of Sir Isaac Newton (1831)
Letters on Natural Magic (1832)
The Martyrs of Science (1841)
Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton (1855)
Other books in order
Treatise on the Kaleidoscope (1819)
A Treatise on Optics (1831)
Free to read
All free classics
About David Brewster
Sir David Brewster was a British scientist, inventor, author, and academic administrator. In science he is principally remembered for his experimental work in physical optics, mostly concerned with the study of the polarization of light and including the discovery of Brewster's angle. He studied the birefringence of crystals under compression and discovered photoelasticity, thereby creating the field of optical mineralogy. For this work, William Whewell dubbed him the "father of modern experimental optics" and "the Johannes Kepler of optics."
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
David Brewster FAQ
- How many books has David Brewster written?
- David Brewster published 4 non-fiction books and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read David Brewster's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Letters on Natural Magic.
- What is David Brewster's last book?
- Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton (1855).
- What is David Brewster's most famous book?
- Letters on Natural Magic (1832) is David Brewster's most widely read book.
- Can I read David Brewster's books for free?
- Yes. 5 books by David Brewster are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like David Brewster
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.