James Naismith books in order
Canadian-American coach; inventor of basketball
- Lived
- 1861–1939
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 2
James Naismith published 1 non-fiction book and 1 other book, beginning with Rules for Basket Ball (1892). The best-known is Basketball (1941).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with James Naismith
Start here
Basketball
James Naismith's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Basketball (1941)
Other books in order
Rules for Basket Ball (1892)
About James Naismith
James Naismith was a Canadian-American physical educator, physician, Christian chaplain, and sports coach, best known as the inventor of the game of basketball.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
James Naismith FAQ
- How many books has James Naismith written?
- James Naismith published 1 non-fiction book and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read James Naismith's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Basketball.
- What is James Naismith's last book?
- Basketball (1941).
- What is James Naismith's most famous book?
- Basketball (1941) is James Naismith's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.