Robert McNamara books in order
American businessman and Secretary of Defense
- Lived
- 1916–2009
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 10
Robert McNamara published 5 non-fiction books and 5 other books, beginning with In Retrospect (1995).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Robert McNamara
Start here
In Retrospect
Robert McNamara's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
The American College in Rome, 1855-1955 (1956)
The Essence of Security (1968)
One Hundred Countries, Two Billion People; the Dimensions of Development (1973)
Blundering into Disaster (1986)
In Retrospect (1995)
Other books in order
A Century of Grace (1948)
Address to the Board of Governors [World Bank Group] (1977)
The Challenges for Sub-Saharan Africa (1985)
Out of the Cold (1989)
Wilson's Ghost (2003)
About Robert McNamara
Robert Strange McNamara, also known by his initials RSM, was an American businessman and government official who served as the eighth United States secretary of defense from 1961 to 1968 under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson at the height of the Cold War. He remains the longest-serving secretary of defense, having remained in office over seven years. He played a major role in promoting the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. McNamara was responsible for the institution of systems analysis in public policy, which developed into the discipline known today as policy analysis.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Robert McNamara FAQ
- How many books has Robert McNamara written?
- Robert McNamara published 5 non-fiction books and 5 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Robert McNamara's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with In Retrospect.
- What is Robert McNamara's last book?
- In Retrospect (1995).
- What is Robert McNamara's most famous book?
- In Retrospect (1995) is Robert McNamara's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.