Nathaniel Philbrick Non-Fiction books in order

Nathaniel Philbrick's non-fiction catalog spans eighteen books covering maritime disasters, the American Revolution, early settlement, and George Washington's presidency.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Passionate Sailor 1987 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
2 Away Off Shore 1993 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
3 Abram’s Eyes 1998 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
4 Second Wind 1999 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
5 In the Heart of the Sea 2000 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
6 Sea of Glory 2001 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
7 Revenge of the Whale 2002 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
8 Mayflower 2006 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
9 The Mayflower Papers 2007 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
10 The Mayflower and the Pilgrims’ New World 2008 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
11 The Last Stand 2010 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
12 Why Read Moby-Dick? 2010 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
13 Bunker Hill 2013 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
14 The First Thanksgiving 2013 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
15 Valiant Ambition 2016 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
16 Ben’s Revolution 2017 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
17 In the Hurricane’s Eye 2018 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy
18 Travels with George 2021 Nathaniel Philbrick Buy

Nathaniel Philbrick’s non-fiction catalog covers a broad range of American history, with a particular focus on maritime stories and the founding era of the United States. His early books, The Passionate Sailor (1987) and Away Off Shore (1993), established his interest in the sea and Nantucket’s history.

In the Heart of the Sea (2000) brought him national attention with its account of the Essex disaster. He followed it with Sea of Glory (2001), about a 19th-century naval expedition, and Revenge of the Whale (2002), a young readers’ adaptation of the Essex story. His American Revolution trilogy spans Bunker Hill (2013), Valiant Ambition (2016), and In the Hurricane’s Eye (2018), covering the war from its first major battle to the decisive naval campaign at Yorktown. Each book works on its own, so readers can pick up any title based on the subject that interests them most.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Nathaniel Philbrick Non-Fiction series?

There are eighteen books in the Nathaniel Philbrick Non-Fiction series, published between 1987 and 2021.

What is the first book in the Nathaniel Philbrick Non-Fiction series?

The first book in the Nathaniel Philbrick Non-Fiction series is The Passionate Sailor, published in 1987.

What is the best order to read Nathaniel Philbrick's books?

Philbrick’s books are standalone and can be read in any order. In the Heart of the Sea is his most popular and a natural starting point. Readers interested in the American Revolution might start with Bunker Hill, while those drawn to early American history could begin with Mayflower.

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