John Burroughs published 21 non-fiction books, 1 children's book, 2 poetry collections and 6 other books, beginning with Sharp Eyes and Other Papers (1875). The best-known is The Oxford Book of American Essays (1914).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with John Burroughs

Start here
The Oxford Book of American Essays
John Burroughs's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order

Sharp Eyes and Other Papers (1875)

Wake-Robin (1876)

Winter Sunshine (1876)

Birds and Bees, Essays (1879)

Pepacton (1885)

Riverby (1894)

Fresh Fields (1895)

Signs and Seasons (1895)

A Year in the Fields (1896)

Birds and Bees and Other Studies in Nature (1896)

Whitman (1896)

Locusts and Wild Honey (1900)

The Light of Day (1900)

Indoor Studies (1901)



Studies in Nature and Literature (1908)

The Oxford Book of American Essays (1914)

Under the Apple Trees (1916)

Accepting the Universe (1920)

John Burroughs' America (1951)
Children's books in order
Poetry in order

Songs of Nature (1901)

Bird and Bough (1906)
Other books in order

Birds and Poets (1895)
Complete Writings (1895)


Ways of Nature (1905)

Camping And Tramping With Roosevelt (1907)

Bird Stories from Burroughs (1911)
Free to read
All free classicsAbout John Burroughs
John Burroughs was an American naturalist and nature essayist, active in the conservation movement in the United States. The first of his essay collections was Wake-Robin in 1871.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
John Burroughs FAQ
- How many books has John Burroughs written?
- John Burroughs published 21 non-fiction books, 1 children's book, 2 poetry collections and 6 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read John Burroughs's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Oxford Book of American Essays.
- What is John Burroughs's last book?
- Accepting the Universe (1920).
- What is John Burroughs's most famous book?
- The Oxford Book of American Essays (1914) is John Burroughs's most widely read book.
- Can I read John Burroughs's books for free?
- Yes. 25 books by John Burroughs are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like John Burroughs
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.










