Ralph Barton Perry books in order
American philosopher
- Lived
- 1876–1957
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 18
Ralph Barton Perry published 10 non-fiction books and 8 other books, beginning with The Approach to Philosophy (1905). The best-known is The Thought and Character of William James (1936).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Ralph Barton Perry
Start here
The Thought and Character of William James
Ralph Barton Perry's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
The Approach to Philosophy (1905)
Present Philosophical Tendencies (1912)
The Present Conflict of Ideals (1918)
Present Philosophical Tendencies, a Critical Survey of Naturalism, Idealism, Pragmatism and Realism Together with a Synopsis of the Philosophy of William James (1919)
General Theory of Value (1926)
Philosophy of the Recent Past (1926)
A Defence of Philosophy (1931)
The Thought and Character of William James (1936)
In the Spirit of William James (1938)
Puritanism and Democracy (1944)
Other books in order
The Moral Economy (1909)
The Free Man And The Soldier (1916)
Annotated Bibliography of the Writings of William James (1920)
The Thought and Character of William James, as Revealed in Unpublished Correspondence and Notes, Together with His Published Writings (1935)
Our Side Is Right (1942)
Plea for an Age Movement (1942)
Characteristically American (1949)
Realms of Value (1954)
About Ralph Barton Perry
Ralph Barton Perry was an American philosopher. He was a strident moral idealist who stated in 1909 that, to him, idealism meant "to interpret life consistently with ethical, scientific, and metaphysical truth." Perry's viewpoints on religion stressed the notion that religious thinking possessed legitimacy should it exist within a framework accepting of human reason and social progress.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Ralph Barton Perry FAQ
- How many books has Ralph Barton Perry written?
- Ralph Barton Perry published 10 non-fiction books and 8 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Ralph Barton Perry's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Thought and Character of William James.
- What is Ralph Barton Perry's last book?
- Puritanism and Democracy (1944).
- What is Ralph Barton Perry's most famous book?
- The Thought and Character of William James (1936) is Ralph Barton Perry's most widely read book.
- Can I read Ralph Barton Perry's books for free?
- Yes. 2 books by Ralph Barton Perry are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Ralph Barton Perry
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.