What order should I read Ken Kesey's books in?

Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

What is Ken Kesey's most famous book?

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1962) is Ken Kesey's most widely read book.

Which Ken Kesey books have been adapted?

2 books have been adapted for film or TV, including One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film, 1975) and Sometimes a Great Notion (film, 1971).

Ken Kesey books in order

American novelist

Lived: 1935–2001
Country: United States
Books: 14

Literary fiction

Ken Kesey published 10 novels, 1 short story collection, 1 non-fiction book and 2 children's books, beginning with One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1962).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with Ken Kesey

Start here
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Ken Kesey's most-read book.

Standalone novels in order

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1962)
311 pages★ 4.2 (31 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
Sometimes a Great Notion (Jul 1964)
628 pages★ 4.3 (7 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
Garage Sale (1973)
238 pages
Buy
Kesey (1977)
197 pages
Buy
Caverns (1989)
Buy
The Further Inquiry (1990)
215 pages
Buy
Sailor Song (1992)
535 pages
Buy
Last Go Round (1994)
272 pages
Buy
High Times Presents Paul Krassner's Pot Stories for the Soul (1999)
184 pages
Buy
The "Idler" (1999)
320 pages
Buy

Short story collections in order

Demon Box (1986)
384 pages
Buy

Non-fiction in order

The Realist Presents: The Last Supplement to the Whole Earth Catalog (1971)
128 pages
Buy

Children's books in order

Little Tricker the Squirrel Meets Big Double the Bear (1990)
Buy
The Sea Lion (1991)
47 pages
Buy

Film and TV adaptations

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)Film · from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
RatchedTV · from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Sometimes a Great Notion (1971)Film · from Sometimes a Great Notion

About Ken Kesey

Kenneth Elton Kesey was an American novelist, essayist, and countercultural figure. He considered himself a link between the Beat Generation of the 1950s and the hippies of the 1960s.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Ken Kesey FAQ

How many books has Ken Kesey written?: Ken Kesey published 10 novels, 1 short story collection, 1 non-fiction book and 2 children's books that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Ken Kesey's books in?: Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
What is Ken Kesey's last book?: The "Idler" (1999).
What is Ken Kesey's most famous book?: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1962) is Ken Kesey's most widely read book.
Which Ken Kesey books have been adapted?: 2 books have been adapted for film or TV, including One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film, 1975) and Sometimes a Great Notion (film, 1971).