J. D. Salinger books in order
American author
- Lived
- 1919–2010
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 9
J. D. Salinger published 5 novels, 1 novella, 2 short story collections and 1 non-fiction book, beginning with The Catcher in the Rye (1951).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with J. D. Salinger
Start here
The Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger's most-read book, rated by 402 Open Library readers.
Highest rated
Franny and Zooey
Rated 4.3 out of 5 by 28 readers.
Shortest way in
RISE HIGH the ROOF BEAMS and SEYMOUR
One of the most-read, at about 199 pages.
Standalone novels in order
The Catcher in the Rye (Jul 1951)
Seymour: An Introduction (Jun 1959)
Franny and Zooey (1961)
"Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction" (1963)
RISE HIGH the ROOF BEAMS and SEYMOUR (1963)
Novellas in order
Hapworth 16, 1924 (Jun 1965)
Short story collections in order
Nine Stories (Apr 1953)
Three Early Stories (2014)
Non-fiction in order
J. D. Salinger: The Last Interview (2016)
About J. D. Salinger
Jerome David Salinger was an American writer best known for his 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye. Salinger published several short stories in Story magazine in 1940, before serving in World War II. In 1948, his critically acclaimed story "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" appeared in The New Yorker, which published much of his later work.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
J. D. Salinger FAQ
- How many books has J. D. Salinger written?
- J. D. Salinger published 5 novels, 1 novella, 2 short story collections and 1 non-fiction book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read J. D. Salinger's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Catcher in the Rye.
- What is J. D. Salinger's last book?
- Hapworth 16, 1924 (1965).
- What is J. D. Salinger's most famous book?
- The Catcher in the Rye (1951) is J. D. Salinger's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.