Henri Nouwen books in order
Dutch priest and writer
- Lived
- 1932–1996
- Country
- Netherlands
- Books
- 75
Henri Nouwen published 1 novel, 6 novellas, 28 non-fiction books and 40 other books, beginning with The Genesee Diary (1976). The best-known is The Return of the Prodigal Son (1992).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Henri Nouwen
Start here
The Return of the Prodigal Son
Henri Nouwen's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Bread for the Journey (1996)
Novellas in order
The Living Reminder (1977)
Making All Things New (1981)
A Letter of Consolation (1982)
Our Greatest Gift (1994)
Clowning in Rome (1997)
Home Tonight (2008)
Non-fiction in order
Intimacy (1969)
With Open Hands (1972)
Aging (1974)
Gracias (1983)
Reaching Out (1985)
Lifesigns (1986)
Peacework (1988)
The Road to Daybreak (1988)
Beyond the Mirror (1990)
The Return of the Prodigal Son (1992)
Here and Now (1994)
With Burning Hearts (1994)
The Path of Freedom (1995)
The Path of Waiting (1995)
The Inner Voice of Love (1996)
Adam, God's Beloved (1997)
Jesus and Mary (1997)
Sabbatical Journey (1998)
The Road to Peace (1998)
Finding My Way Home (2001)
Jesus (2001)
Turn My Mourning into Dancing (2001)
The Heart of Henri Nouwen (2003)
Beloved (2007)
The Selfless Way of Christ (2007)
Love, Henri (2016)
Spirituality of Fundraising Workbook Edition (2019)
Wisdom of Henri Nouwen (2021)
Other books in order
Pray to Live (1970)
The Genesee Diary (1976)
Creative Ministry (1978)
The Wounded Healer (1979)
In Memoriam (1980)
A Cry for Mercy (1981)
The Way of the Heart (1981)
Out of Solitude (1984)
Behold the Beauty of the Lord (1987)
Circles of Love (1988)
Letters to Marc About Jesus (1988)
Heart Speaks to Heart (1989)
In the Name of Jesus (1989)
Letter of Consolation, a - Reissue (1990)
Life of the Beloved (1992)
Show Me the Way (1992)
A Pilgrim's Report (1994)
Prayer (1994)
The Lonely Search for God (1995)
Can You Drink the Cup? (1996)
Seeds of Hope (1997)
Walk with Jesus (1997)
From Fear to Love (1998)
Henri Nouwen (1998)
The Only Necessary Thing (2001)
A Retreat with Henri Nouwen (2003)
Encounters with Merton (2004)
The Spirituality of Fund-raising (2004)
Lent And Easter Wisdom (2005)
Spiritual Direction (2006)
The Dance of Life (2006)
Adam (2007)
Restless Soul (2008)
Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit (2010)
A Spirituality of Living (2012)
Discernment (2013)
You Are the Beloved (2016)
You Are Beloved (2017)
Following Jesus (2019)
Flying, Falling, Catching (2022)
About Henri Nouwen
Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen was a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian. His interests were rooted primarily in psychology, pastoral ministry, spirituality, social justice and community. Over the course of his life, Nouwen was heavily influenced by the work of Anton Boisen, Thomas Merton, Rembrandt, Vincent van Gogh, and Jean Vanier.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Henri Nouwen FAQ
- How many books has Henri Nouwen written?
- Henri Nouwen published 1 novel, 6 novellas, 28 non-fiction books and 40 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Henri Nouwen's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Return of the Prodigal Son.
- What is Henri Nouwen's last book?
- The Road to Peace (1998).
- What is Henri Nouwen's most famous book?
- The Return of the Prodigal Son (1992) is Henri Nouwen's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.