Gary Snyder has published 2 novels, 2 non-fiction books, 12 poetry collections and 4 other books, beginning with Myths & Texts (1960). The best-known is Turtle Island (1974). The latest is The Selected Letters of Allen Ginsberg and Gary Snyder, 1956-1991 (2009).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Gary Snyder
Start here
Turtle Island
Gary Snyder's most-read book.
Newest
The Selected Letters of Allen Ginsberg and Gary Snyder, 1956-1991
Published 2009.
Standalone novels in order
Practice of the Wild (1990)
The Selected Letters of Allen Ginsberg and Gary Snyder, 1956-1991 (2009)
Non-fiction in order
A Place in Space (1995)
Look Out (2002)
Poetry in order
Myths & Texts (1960)
A Range of Poems (1966)
Regarding Wave (1970)
Turtle Island (1974)
Axe Handles (1982)
Left Out in the Rain (1986)
No Nature (1992)
Mountains and Rivers Without End (1996)
The Gary Snyder Reader (1999)
The High Sierra of California (2000)
Riprap & Cold Mountain Poems (2003)
Danger on Peaks (2004)
Other books in order
The Back Country (1967)
Earth House Hold (1969)
Back on the Fire (2007)
Distant Neighbors (2014)
About Gary Snyder
Gary Sherman Snyder is an American poet, essayist, lecturer, and environmental activist. His early poetry has been associated with the Beat Generation and the San Francisco Renaissance and he has been described as the "poet laureate of Deep Ecology".
Snyder is a winner of a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the American Book Award. His work, in his various roles, reflects an immersion in both Buddhist spirituality and nature. He has translated literature into English from ancient Chinese and modern Japanese. For many years, Snyder was an academic at the University of California, Davis, and for a time served as a member of the California Arts Council.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Gary Snyder FAQ
- How many books has Gary Snyder written?
- Gary Snyder has published 2 novels, 2 non-fiction books, 12 poetry collections and 4 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Gary Snyder's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Turtle Island.
- What is Gary Snyder's latest book?
- The Selected Letters of Allen Ginsberg and Gary Snyder, 1956-1991 (2009).
- What is Gary Snyder's most famous book?
- Turtle Island (1974) is Gary Snyder's most widely read book.
Authors like Gary Snyder
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.