What order should I read Will Durant's books in?

Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Story of Philosophy.

What is Will Durant's most famous book?

The Story of Philosophy (1926) is Will Durant's most widely read book.

Will Durant books in order

American historian, philosopher and writer

Lived: 1885–1981
Country: United States
Books: 38

History

Will Durant published 2 novels, 24 non-fiction books, 1 children's book and 11 other books, beginning with The Story of Philosophy (1926).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with Will Durant

Start here
The Story of Philosophy
Will Durant's most-read book.

Standalone novels in order

The Story of Philosophy (1926)
543 pages★ 4.3 (24 ratings)
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The Story of Civilization (1935), with Ariel Durant
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Non-fiction in order

Philosophy and The Social Problem (1927)
272 pages
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Transition (1927)
352 pages
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The Mansions of Philosophy (1929)
704 pages
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The Case for India (1930)
230 pages
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Great Men of Literature (1931)
315 pages
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On the Meaning of Life (1932)
130 pages
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The Tragedy of Russia (1933)
164 pages
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Caesar and Christ (1944)
751 pages
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The Age of Faith (1950)
1196 pages
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The Renaissance (1953)
776 pages
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The Reformation (1957)
1025 pages
Buy
The Age of Reason Begins (1961)
729 pages
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Outlines of Philosophy (1962)
471 pages
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Our Oriental Heritage (1963)
1049 pages
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The Age of Louis Xiv (1963)
802 pages
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The Life of Greece (1964)
755 pages
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The Age of Voltaire (1965)
945 pages
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Rousseau and Revolution (1967)
1141 pages
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The Lessons of History (1968), with Ariel Durant
117 pages★ 3.9 (7 ratings)
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The Age of Napoleon (1975)
876 pages
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A Dual Autobiography (1977)
420 pages
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Heroes of History (2001)
355 pages
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The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time (2002)
136 pages★ 3.6 (5 ratings)
Buy
FALLEN LEAVES: LAST WORDS on LIFE, LOVE, WAR, and GOD (2014)
208 pages
Buy

Children's books in order

Interpretations of Life (1970)
384 pages
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Other books in order

A Guide to Aristotle (1923)
95 pages
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The Story of Aristotle's Philosophy (1923)
64 pages
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The Philosophy of Immanuel Kant (1924)
96 pages
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Anatole France (1925)
64 pages
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Contemporary American Philosophers (1925)
64 pages
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Contemporary European Philosophers (1925)
64 pages
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The Philosophy of Herbert Spencer (1925)
64 pages
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The Story of Schopenhauer's Philosophy (1927)
64 pages
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Are We Machines? (1928)
65 pages
Buy
Adventures in Genius (1931)
426 pages
Buy
Caesar and Christ Part 1 of 2 (1994)
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About Will Durant

William James Durant was an American historian and philosopher, best known for his eleven-volume work, The Story of Civilization, which contains and details the history of Eastern and Western civilizations. It was written in collaboration with his wife, Ariel Durant, and published between 1935 and 1975. He was earlier noted for The Story of Philosophy (1926), described as "a groundbreaking work that helped to popularize philosophy".

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Will Durant FAQ

How many books has Will Durant written?: Will Durant published 2 novels, 24 non-fiction books, 1 children's book and 11 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Will Durant's books in?: Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Story of Philosophy.
What is Will Durant's last book?: A Dual Autobiography (1977).
What is Will Durant's most famous book?: The Story of Philosophy (1926) is Will Durant's most widely read book.