George Saunders has published 3 novels, 2 novellas, 5 short story collections and 3 other books, beginning with CivilWarLand in Bad Decline (1996). The best-known is Lincoln in the Bardo (2017). The latest is Liberation Day (2022).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with George Saunders
Start here
Lincoln in the Bardo
George Saunders's most-read book.
Shortest way in
The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil
One of the most-read, at about 132 pages.
Newest
Liberation Day
Published October 2022.
Standalone novels in order
The Braindead Megaphone (Sep 2007)
Tenth of December: Stories (Jan 2013)
Lincoln in the Bardo (Feb 2017)
Novellas in order
The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip (Aug 2000)
The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil (Sep 2005)
Short story collections in order
CivilWarLand in Bad Decline (Jan 1996)
Pastoralia (Jun 2000)
In Persuasion Nation (2006)
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain (2021)
Liberation Day (Oct 2022)
Other books in order
Congratulations, by the Way (2014)
Swim in the Pond in the Rain (2022)
Vigil (Jan 2026)
Film and TV adaptations
- Spiderhead (2022)Film · from Tenth of December: Stories
About George Saunders
George Saunders is an American writer. He is best known for his short stories and his novel Lincoln in the Bardo (2017), which won the Booker Prize. Saunders's short stories have been published in several collections, including CivilWarLand in Bad Decline (1996) and Tenth of December: Stories (2013).
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
George Saunders FAQ
- How many books has George Saunders written?
- George Saunders has published 3 novels, 2 novellas, 5 short story collections and 3 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read George Saunders's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Lincoln in the Bardo.
- What is George Saunders's latest book?
- Liberation Day (2022).
- What is George Saunders's most famous book?
- Lincoln in the Bardo (2017) is George Saunders's most widely read book.
- Which George Saunders books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Tenth of December: Stories (as Spiderhead, film, 2022).
Authors like George Saunders
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.