David Foster Wallace books in order
American fiction writer and essayist
- Lived
- 1962–2008
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 19
David Foster Wallace published 6 novels, 1 novella, 6 short story collections and 6 non-fiction books, beginning with The Broom of the System (1987). The best-known is Infinite Jest (1996).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with David Foster Wallace
Start here
Infinite Jest
David Foster Wallace's most-read book.
Shortest way in
The Pale King
One of the most-read, at about 592 pages.
Standalone novels in order
The Broom of the System (Jan 1987)
Signifying Rappers: Rap and Race in the Urban Present (Nov 1990)
Infinite Jest (Feb 1996)
Up, Simba! (2000)
The Pale King (Apr 2011)
Something to Do with Paying Attention (2021)
Novellas in order
String Theory (2014)
Short story collections in order
Girl with Curious Hair (1989)
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (May 1999)
Oblivion (2004)
Oblivion: Stories (Jun 2004)
This Is Water (Apr 2009)
The David Foster Wallace Reader (2014)
Non-fiction in order
A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again (Feb 1997)
Everything and More (Oct 2003)
Consider the Lobster (Dec 2005)
David Foster Wallace The Last Interview And Other Conversations (2012)
Both Flesh and Not (Nov 2012)
Quack This Way David Foster Wallace Bryan A Garner Talk Language And Writing (2013)
About David Foster Wallace
David Foster Wallace was an American writer and professor who published novels, short stories, and essays. He is best known for his second novel, Infinite Jest (1996). In 2008, David Ulin wrote in the Los Angeles Times that Wallace was "one of the most influential and innovative writers of the last twenty years".
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
David Foster Wallace FAQ
- How many books has David Foster Wallace written?
- David Foster Wallace published 6 novels, 1 novella, 6 short story collections and 6 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read David Foster Wallace's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Infinite Jest.
- What is David Foster Wallace's last book?
- This Is Water (2009).
- What is David Foster Wallace's most famous book?
- Infinite Jest (1996) is David Foster Wallace's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.