Ferdinand Tönnies books in order
German sociologist, economist and philosopher
- Lived
- 1855–1936
- Country
- Germany
- Books
- 6
Ferdinand Tönnies published 3 non-fiction books and 3 other books, beginning with Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft (1912).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Ferdinand Tönnies
Start here
Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft
Ferdinand Tönnies's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft (1912)
The Elements of Law, Natural & Politic (1928)
On Social Ideas and Ideologies (1974)
Other books in order
Warlike England as Seen by Herself (1915)
Community and Association (1955)
Custom (1961)
About Ferdinand Tönnies
Ferdinand Tönnies was a German sociologist, economist, and philosopher. He was a significant contributor to sociological theory and field studies, best known for distinguishing between two types of social groups, Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft. He co-founded the German Sociological Association together with Max Weber and Georg Simmel and many other founders. He was president of the society from 1909 to 1933, after which he was ousted for having criticized the Nazis. Tönnies was regarded as the first proper German sociologist and published over 900 works, contributing to many areas of sociology and philosophy. Tönnies, Max Weber, and Georg Simmel are considered the founding fathers of classical German sociology. Though there has been a resurgence of interest in Weber and Simmel, Tönnies has not drawn as much attention.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Ferdinand Tönnies FAQ
- How many books has Ferdinand Tönnies written?
- Ferdinand Tönnies published 3 non-fiction books and 3 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Ferdinand Tönnies's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft.
- What is Ferdinand Tönnies's last book?
- The Elements of Law, Natural & Politic (1928).
- What is Ferdinand Tönnies's most famous book?
- Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft (1912) is Ferdinand Tönnies's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.