William Osler books in order
Canadian physician and co-founder of Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Lived
- 1849–1919
- Country
- Canada
- Books
- 16
William Osler published 1 novel, 10 non-fiction books and 5 other books, beginning with On the Systolic Brain Murmur of Children (1880). The best-known is The Principles and Practice of Medicine (1892).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with William Osler
Start here
The Principles and Practice of Medicine
William Osler's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The Principles and Practice of Medicine (1892)
Non-fiction in order
Aequanimitas, with Other Addresses to Medical Students, Nurses and Practitioners of Medicine (1904)
Aequanimitas (1905)
Counsels and Ideals (1905)
Quakerism and Politics (1905)
An Alabama Student, and Other Biographical Essays (1908)
Man's Redemption of Man (1910)
A Way of Life (1913)
Sir William Osler, 1849-1919 (1982)
Other books in order
On the Systolic Brain Murmur of Children (1880)
The Cerebral Palsies of Children (1889)
Lectures on the Diagnosis of Abdominal Tumors (1895)
Lectures on Angina Pectoris and Allied States (1897)
Modern Medicine (1907)
About William Osler
Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet was a Canadian physician and one of the "Big Four" founding professors of Johns Hopkins Hospital. Osler created the first residency program for specialty training of physicians. He has frequently been described as the Father of Modern Medicine and one of the "greatest diagnosticians ever to wield a stethoscope". In addition to being a physician he was a bibliophile, historian, author, and renowned practical joker. He was passionate about medical libraries and medical history, having founded the History of Medicine Society, at the Royal Society of Medicine, London. He was also instrumental in founding the Medical Library Association of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Association of Medical Librarians along with three other people, including Margaret Charlton, the medical librarian of his alma mater, McGill University. He left his own large history of medicine library to McGill, where it became the Osler Library.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
William Osler FAQ
- How many books has William Osler written?
- William Osler published 1 novel, 10 non-fiction books and 5 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read William Osler's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Principles and Practice of Medicine.
- What is William Osler's last book?
- The Evolution of Modern Medicine (1921).
- What is William Osler's most famous book?
- The Principles and Practice of Medicine (1892) is William Osler's most widely read book.
- Can I read William Osler's books for free?
- Yes. 4 books by William Osler are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like William Osler
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.