Matt Ridley books in order
British author and journalist
- Born
- 1958
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 11
Matt Ridley has published 8 novels, 1 non-fiction book and 2 other books, beginning with The Red Queen (1993). The best-known is The Rational Optimist (2010). The latest is Viral (2021).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Matt Ridley
Start here
The Rational Optimist
Matt Ridley's most-read book.
Shortest way in
Genome
One of the most-read, at about 344 pages.
Newest
Viral
Published November 2021.
Standalone novels in order
The Red Queen (1993)
The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature (1993)
Genome (1999)
Nature Via Nurture (2003)
Nature Via Nurture: Genes, Experience, & What Makes Us Human (2003)
The Agile Gene (2004)
The Rational Optimist (2010)
Viral (Nov 2021)
Non-fiction in order
The Origins of Virtue (1996)
Other books in order
Genome..the Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters (1999)
The Future of Disease (1999)
About Matt Ridley
Matthew White Ridley, 5th Viscount Ridley, commonly known as Matt Ridley, is a British science writer, journalist and businessman. He writes on science, the environment and economics, and has been a regular contributor to The Times newspaper. Ridley was chairman of the UK bank Northern Rock from 2004 to 2007, during which period it experienced the first run on a British bank in 130 years. He resigned, and the bank was bailed out by the UK government; this led to its nationalisation.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Matt Ridley FAQ
- How many books has Matt Ridley written?
- Matt Ridley has published 8 novels, 1 non-fiction book and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Matt Ridley's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Rational Optimist.
- What is Matt Ridley's latest book?
- Viral (2021).
- What is Matt Ridley's most famous book?
- The Rational Optimist (2010) is Matt Ridley's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.