Thomas Harriot published 3 non-fiction books, beginning with A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia (1590).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Thomas Harriot
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A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia
Thomas Harriot's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. of the Commodities and of the Nature and Manners of the Naturall Inhabitants (1590)
Narrative of the First English Plantation of Virginia (1893)
About Thomas Harriot
Thomas Harriot, also spelled Harriott, Hariot or Heriot, was an English astronomer, mathematician, ethnographer and translator to whom the theory of refraction is attributed. Thomas Harriot was also recognized for his contributions in navigational techniques, working closely with John White to create advanced maps for navigation. While Harriot worked extensively on numerous papers on the subjects of astronomy, mathematics and navigation, he remains obscure because he published little of it, namely only The Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia (1588). This book includes descriptions of English settlements and financial issues in Virginia at the time. He is sometimes credited with the introduction of the potato to the British Isles. Harriot invented binary notation and arithmetic several decades before Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, but this remained unknown until the 1920s. He was also the first person to make a drawing of the Moon through a telescope, on 5 August 1609, about four months before Galileo Galilei.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Thomas Harriot FAQ
- How many books has Thomas Harriot written?
- Thomas Harriot published 3 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Thomas Harriot's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia.
- What is Thomas Harriot's last book?
- A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. of the Commodities and of the Nature and Manners of the Naturall Inhabitants (1590).
- What is Thomas Harriot's most famous book?
- A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia (1590) is Thomas Harriot's most widely read book.
- Can I read Thomas Harriot's books for free?
- Yes. 1 book by Thomas Harriot is in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Thomas Harriot
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.