John Herschel books in order
English polymath, mathematician, astronomer, chemist, inventor and photographer
- Lived
- 1792–1871
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 8
John Herschel published 2 novels, 3 non-fiction books and 3 other books, beginning with Light (1828).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with John Herschel
Start here
Light
John Herschel's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
A Manual of Scientific Enquiry: Prepared for the Use of Her Majesty's Navy and Adapted for Travellers in General (1849), with Charles Darwin and Richard Owen
General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars (1864)
Non-fiction in order
A Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy (1831)
A Manual of Scientific Enquiry (1859)
Familiar Lectures on Scientific Subjects (1866)
Other books in order
Light (1828)
A Treatise on Astronomy (1838)
Outlines of Astronomy (1849)
About John Herschel
Sir John Frederick William Herschel, 1st Baronet was an English polymath active as a mathematician, astronomer, chemist, inventor and experimental photographer who invented the blueprint and did botanical work.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
John Herschel FAQ
- How many books has John Herschel written?
- John Herschel published 2 novels, 3 non-fiction books and 3 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read John Herschel's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Light.
- What is John Herschel's last book?
- Familiar Lectures on Scientific Subjects (1866).
- What is John Herschel's most famous book?
- Light (1828) is John Herschel's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.