Mary Midgley books in order
British philosopher and ethicist
- Lived
- 1919–2018
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 21
Mary Midgley published 18 non-fiction books, 1 poetry collection and 2 other books, beginning with Beast and Man (1978). The best-known is Wisdom, Information, and Wonder (1989).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Mary Midgley
Start here
Wisdom, Information, and Wonder
Mary Midgley's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Beast and Man (1978)
Heart and Mind (1981)
Animals and Why They Matter (1983)
Women's Choices (1983)
Wickedness (1984)
Evolution as a Religion (1985)
Wisdom, Information, and Wonder (1989)
Science as Salvation (1992)
The Ethical Primate (1994)
Utopias, Dolphins, and Computers (1996)
Gaia (2001)
The Myths We Live by (2003)
The Essential Mary Midgley (2005)
The Owl of Minerva (2005)
Are You an Illusion (2014)
Solitary Self (2014)
Science and the Self: Animals, Evolution, and Ethics (2015)
What Is Philosophy For? (2018)
Poetry in order
Science and Poetry (2002)
Other books in order
Can't We Make Moral Judgements? (1991)
Earthy Realism (2007)
About Mary Midgley
Mary Beatrice Midgley was a British philosopher. A senior lecturer in philosophy at Newcastle University, she was known for her work on science, ethics and animal rights. She wrote her first book, Beast and Man (1978), when she was in her late fifties, and went on to write over 15 more, including Animals and Why They Matter (1983), Wickedness (1984), The Ethical Primate (1994), Evolution as a Religion (1985), and Science as Salvation (1992). She was awarded honorary doctorates by Durham and Newcastle universities. Her autobiography, The Owl of Minerva, was published in 2005.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Mary Midgley FAQ
- How many books has Mary Midgley written?
- Mary Midgley published 18 non-fiction books, 1 poetry collection and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Mary Midgley's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Wisdom, Information, and Wonder.
- What is Mary Midgley's last book?
- What Is Philosophy For? (2018).
- What is Mary Midgley's most famous book?
- Wisdom, Information, and Wonder (1989) is Mary Midgley's most widely read book.
Authors like Mary Midgley
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.