William James books in order
American philosopher, psychologist, and pragmatist
- Lived
- 1842–1910
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 26
William James published 1 novel, 14 non-fiction books and 11 other books, beginning with The Principles of Psychology (1890).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with William James
Start here
The Principles of Psychology
William James's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Pluralistic Universe (1908)
Non-fiction in order
The Principles of Psychology (1890)
The Will to Believe (1897)
Talks to Teachers and Students (1900)
Talks to Teachers on Psychology and to Students on Some of Life's Ideals (1904)
Psychology (1908)
Memories and Studies (1911)
On Vital Reserves (1911)
Some Problems of Philosophy (1911)
Essays in Radical Empiricism (1912)
Selected Papers on Philosophy (1917)
Essay in Radical Empiricism. a Pluralistic Universe (1943)
William James on Psychical Research (1960)
Other books in order
Habit (1890)
Text-book of Psychology (1892)
Is Life Worth Living? (1896)
Human Immortality (1898)
On Some of Life's Ideals (1900)
Pragmatism (1907)
Pragmatism, a New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking (1907)
The Energies of Men (1907)
The Meaning of Truth (1909)
Essays on Faith and Morals (1947)
The Will to Believe, Human Immortality (1956)
Free to read
All free classics
About William James
William James was an American philosopher and psychologist. The first educator to offer a psychology course in the United States, he is considered to be one of the leading thinkers of the late 19th century, one of the most influential philosophers and is often dubbed the "father of American psychology".
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
William James FAQ
- How many books has William James written?
- William James published 1 novel, 14 non-fiction books and 11 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read William James's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Principles of Psychology.
- What is William James's last book?
- Essays in Radical Empiricism (1912).
- What is William James's most famous book?
- The Principles of Psychology (1890) is William James's most widely read book.
- Can I read William James's books for free?
- Yes. 13 books by William James are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like William James
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.