Edward Abbey Non-Fiction books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Edward Abbey Non-Fiction series?"

"There are fifteen books in the Edward Abbey Non-Fiction series, published between 1968 and 2006."

Q: "What is the first book in the Edward Abbey Non-Fiction series?"

"The first book in the Edward Abbey Non-Fiction series is Desert Solitaire, published in 1968."

Q: "Why is Desert Solitaire considered an important work of nature writing?"

"Desert Solitaire, published in 1968, is based on Abbey's journals from two seasons as a park ranger at Arches National Monument in Utah during 1956 and 1957. The book mixes close observation of the canyon country -- its geology, weather, plants, and animals -- with arguments against road-building and tourism development in national parks. It was not a bestseller when first published, but it found a growing audience through the 1970s and is now regularly compared to Thoreau's Walden as one of the defining American nature books."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Desert Solitaire	1968	Edward Abbey	Buy
2	Appalachian Wilderness	1970	Edward Abbey	Buy
3	Beyond the Wall	1971	Edward Abbey	Buy
4	Slickrock	1971	Edward Abbey	Buy
5	Cactus Country	1973	Edward Abbey	Buy
6	The Journey Home	1977	Edward Abbey	Buy
7	The Hidden Canyon	1977	Edward Abbey	Buy
8	Desert Images	1979	Edward Abbey	Buy
9	Abbey’s Road	1979	Edward Abbey	Buy
10	Down the River	1982	Edward Abbey	Buy
11	One Life at a Time, Please	1987	Edward Abbey	Buy
12	Freedom and Wildness	1987	Edward Abbey	Buy
13	A Voice Crying in the Wilderness	1989	Edward Abbey	Buy
14	Confessions of a Barbarian	1994	Edward Abbey	Buy
15	Postcards from Ed	2006	Edward Abbey	Buy

Edward Abbey’s non-fiction is where his reputation rests most firmly. Desert Solitaire (1968), drawn from his time as a seasonal ranger at Arches National Monument, is widely considered one of the essential American nature books. His essay collections – The Journey Home, Abbey’s Road, Down the River, and One Life at a Time, Please – mix backcountry travel writing with arguments about public land management, industrial development, and personal freedom.

The later and posthumous works offer different perspectives. A Voice Crying in the Wilderness (1989) collects aphorisms and short observations. Confessions of a Barbarian (1994) draws from decades of private journals, and Postcards from Ed (2006) gathers his letters and postcards to friends, editors, and critics. His collaborations with photographers – Appalachian Wilderness, Slickrock, Cactus Country, Desert Images, and The Hidden Canyon – pair his prose with landscape photography of the regions he wrote about most.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Edward Abbey Non-Fiction series?

There are fifteen books in the Edward Abbey Non-Fiction series, published between 1968 and 2006.

What is the first book in the Edward Abbey Non-Fiction series?

The first book in the Edward Abbey Non-Fiction series is Desert Solitaire, published in 1968.

Why is Desert Solitaire considered an important work of nature writing?

Desert Solitaire, published in 1968, is based on Abbey’s journals from two seasons as a park ranger at Arches National Monument in Utah during 1956 and 1957. The book mixes close observation of the canyon country – its geology, weather, plants, and animals – with arguments against road-building and tourism development in national parks. It was not a bestseller when first published, but it found a growing audience through the 1970s and is now regularly compared to Thoreau’s Walden as one of the defining American nature books.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order