David McCullough published 8 novels, 1 short story collection, 5 non-fiction books and 3 other books, beginning with The Great Bridge (1982). The best-known is John Adams (2001).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with David McCullough
Start here
John Adams
David McCullough's most-read book.
Shortest way in
Truman
One of the most-read, at about 1117 pages.
Standalone novels in order
The Path Between the Seas (1977)
Truman (Jun 1992)
What Ifs? of American History (2003), with Antony Beevor and Victor Davis Hanson
1776 (2005)
The Greater Journey (2011)
The Wright Brothers (2016)
The American Spirit (2017)
The Pioneers (2019)
Short story collections in order
Brave Companions: Portraits in History (1991)
Non-fiction in order
The Great Bridge (1982)
Mornings on Horseback (May 1982)
John Adams (2001)
The Johnstown Flood (2004)
History Matters (2025)
Other books in order
The Course of Human Events (2004)
McUllough (2006)
In the Dark Streets Shineth (2010)
Film and TV adaptations
- John AdamsTV · from John Adams
About David McCullough
David Gaub McCullough was an American popular historian, narrator, and author of American history. He was a two-time winner of both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. In 2006, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
David McCullough FAQ
- How many books has David McCullough written?
- David McCullough published 8 novels, 1 short story collection, 5 non-fiction books and 3 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read David McCullough's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with John Adams.
- What is David McCullough's last book?
- The Pioneers (2019).
- What is David McCullough's most famous book?
- John Adams (2001) is David McCullough's most widely read book.
- Which David McCullough books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including John Adams (TV).
Authors like David McCullough
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.