Here you’ll find 93 Books that start with O, organized from “An Obedient Father” to “Oxygen”. The list includes fiction, nonfiction, classics, and contemporary titles useful for reading lists, research, and recommendations.

Books that start with O are titles whose initial letter is O, spanning genres and eras worldwide. A notable example is Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road”, a landmark Beat novel from 1957.

Below you’ll find the table with Title, Author, Year, and Genre.

Title: Shows the full book title so you can quickly locate or recognize the work in catalogs and searches.

Author: Lists the author so you can connect titles to creators and find more works by the same writer.

Year: Gives the original publication year or first edition year to help you place the book historically.

Genre: Notes the primary genre so you can filter by interest, mood, or curricular relevance quickly.

Books that start with O

TitleAuthorOriginal publication yearPrimary genre
Of Mice and MenSteinbeck, John1937Literary fiction
One Hundred Years of SolitudeGarcía Márquez, Gabriel1967Magical realism
On the RoadKerouac, Jack1957Literary fiction
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s NestKesey, Ken1962Literary fiction
Oliver TwistDickens, Charles1838Classic fiction
Oryx and CrakeAtwood, Margaret2003Science fiction
OutlanderGabaldon, Diana1991Historical fiction
On the Origin of SpeciesDarwin, Charles1859Non-fiction
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!Seuss, Dr.1990Children’s literature
Olive KitteridgeStrout, Elizabeth2008Literary fiction
Orlando: A BiographyWoolf, Virginia1928Modernist fiction
Outliers: The Story of SuccessGladwell, Malcolm2008Non-fiction
One of Us Is LyingMcManus, Karen M.2017Young adult
Oedipus RexSophoclesc. 429 BCEClassic drama
OthelloShakespeare, Williamc. 1603Classic drama
On Writing: A Memoir of the CraftKing, Stephen2000Memoir
Out of AfricaDinesen, Isak1937Memoir
O Pioneers!Cather, Willa1913Historical fiction
One Day in the Life of Ivan DenisovichSolzhenitsyn, Aleksandr1962Literary fiction
Oscar and LucindaCarey, Peter1988Historical fiction
Old Man’s WarScalzi, John2005Science fiction
On BeautySmith, Zadie2005Literary fiction
On Earth We’re Briefly GorgeousVuong, Ocean2019Literary fiction
OliviaFalconer, Ian2000Children’s literature
Our TownWilder, Thornton1938Classic drama
One for the MoneyEvanovich, Janet1994Mystery
OathbringerSanderson, Brandon2017Fantasy
On TyrannySnyder, Timothy2017Non-fiction
OriginBrown, Dan2017Thriller
OrientalismSaid, Edward W.1978Non-fiction
On the Come UpThomas, Angie2019Young adult
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue FishSeuss, Dr.1960Children’s literature
OmerosWalcott, Derek1990Poetry
On LibertyMill, John Stuart1859Philosophy
Olive, AgainStrout, Elizabeth2019Literary fiction
Open CityCole, Teju2011Literary fiction
Owl MoonYolen, Jane1987Children’s literature
Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First YearLamott, Anne1993Memoir
Ordinary MenBrowning, Christopher R.1992History
Our Souls at NightHaruf, Kent2015Literary fiction
Open SeasonBox, C. J.2001Mystery
Omon RaPelevin, Victor1992Satire
On PhotographySontag, Susan1977Non-fiction
Other Words for HomeWarga, Jasmine2019Young adult
On WarClausewitz, Carl von1832Non-fiction
Opposite of AlwaysReynolds, Justin A.2019Young adult
Once & FutureCapetta, A. R. & McCarthy, Cori2019Young adult
Officer Buckle and GloriaRathmann, Peggy1995Children’s literature
On the Social ContractRousseau, Jean-Jacques1762Philosophy
Over the Edge of the WorldBergreen, Laurence2003History
On Immunity: An InoculationBiss, Eula2014Non-fiction
October Country, TheBradbury, Ray1955Horror
Odd and the Frost GiantsGaiman, Neil2008Fantasy
ObasanKogawa, Joy1981Historical fiction
Once Were WarriorsDuff, Alan1990Literary fiction
Omensetter’s LuckGass, William H.1966Literary fiction
OutKirino, Natsuo1997Thriller
Of Human BondageMaugham, W. Somerset1915Literary fiction
Only RevolutionsDanielewski, Mark Z.2006Experimental fiction
Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South SeasMelville, Herman1847Adventure
Open Veins of Latin AmericaGaleano, Eduardo1971History
Okay for NowSchmidt, Gary D.2011Young adult
Otherwise Known as Sheila the GreatBlume, Judy1972Children’s literature
One of OursCather, Willa1922Historical fiction
Oroonoko: or, the Royal SlaveBehn, Aphra1688Classic fiction
Our Man in HavanaGreene, Graham1958Spy fiction
Outer DarkMcCarthy, Cormac1968Southern Gothic
Ovid’s MetamorphosesOvid8 ADPoetry
OblomovGoncharov, Ivan1859Literary fiction
Out of the DustHesse, Karen1997Young adult
Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920sAllen, Frederick Lewis1931History
Once Upon a RiverSetterfield, Diane2018Historical fiction
Oranges Are Not the Only FruitWinterson, Jeanette1985Literary fiction
On the Black HillChatwin, Bruce1982Literary fiction
Orphan TrainKline, Christina Baker2013Historical fiction
Out of the Silent PlanetLewis, C. S.1938Science fiction
Operation MincemeatMacintyre, Ben2010History
Of Love and Other DemonsGarcía Márquez, Gabriel1994Magical realism
Over Sea, Under StoneCooper, Susan1965Fantasy
Our Mutual FriendDickens, Charles1865Classic fiction
Olive’s OceanHenkes, Kevin2003Young adult
On the Banks of Plum CreekWilder, Laura Ingalls1937Children’s literature
Out of My MindDraper, Sharon M.2010Young adult
OutlineCusk, Rachel2014Literary fiction
Open WaterNelson, Caleb Azumah2021Literary fiction
Our Kind of Traitorle Carré, John2010Spy fiction
O CaledoniaBarker, Elspeth1991Literary fiction
OxygenMiller, Andrew2001Literary fiction
OptionsSheckley, Robert1975Science fiction
Once a RunnerParker, Jr., John L.1978Sports fiction
Ordinary GraceKrueger, William Kent2013Mystery
One, None and One Hundred ThousandPirandello, Luigi1926Literary fiction
An Obedient FatherSharma, Akhil2000Literary fiction

Descriptions

Of Mice and Men
A classic novella about two migrant ranch workers, George and Lennie, chasing the American Dream during the Great Depression. A powerful story of friendship, loneliness, and tragedy.
One Hundred Years of Solitude
A landmark novel that chronicles seven generations of the Buendía family in the mythical town of Macondo, blending history with magical elements to define a genre.
On the Road
The defining work of the Beat Generation, this novel follows Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty on a cross-country journey of self-discovery, jazz, and restless energy.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Set in a psychiatric hospital, this novel is a powerful critique of institutional authority and a celebration of individualism, told through the eyes of Chief Bromden.
Oliver Twist
A famous social novel depicting an orphan’s miserable life in 19th-century London, exposing the cruel treatment of the poor and the realities of child labor.
Oryx and Crake
The first book in the MaddAddam trilogy, this dystopian novel is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a lone man recounts the events leading to humanity’s downfall.
Outlander
The first in a bestselling series, this novel blends history, romance, and fantasy, telling the story of a WWII nurse transported back to 18th-century Scotland.
On the Origin of Species
A foundational work of scientific literature, this book introduced the theory of evolution by natural selection, forever changing the field of biology and our understanding of life.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
A beloved and inspirational book that serves as a guide to navigating life’s ups and downs, encouraging readers of all ages to find success within themselves.
Olive Kitteridge
A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel-in-stories set in a small Maine town, centered on the complex, cantankerous, and deeply empathetic retired schoolteacher of the title.
Orlando: A Biography
A fantastical novel that follows an English nobleman who lives for centuries and mysteriously changes gender, exploring themes of identity, history, and literature.
Outliers: The Story of Success
A popular non-fiction book that explores the factors contributing to high levels of success, arguing that environment and opportunity matter as much as individual talent.
One of Us Is Lying
A bestselling YA mystery where five high school students walk into detention, but only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has a secret.
Oedipus Rex
A foundational work of Greek tragedy in which Oedipus, the King of Thebes, unknowingly fulfills a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother.
Othello
One of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, exploring themes of racism, love, jealousy, and betrayal through the story of a Venetian general tricked into suspecting his wife.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Part memoir, part style guide, this book offers the master storyteller’s practical advice on writing while sharing memories from his own life and career.
Out of Africa
A lyrical memoir recounting the author’s years living on a coffee plantation in Kenya, painting a vivid picture of her relationships with the land and its people.
O Pioneers!
The first novel of the Great Plains trilogy, it tells the story of Alexandra Bergson, a Swedish-American immigrant who tames the wild Nebraska prairie.
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
A groundbreaking novel that describes a single, grueling day in a Soviet labor camp (Gulag), offering a stark and powerful portrayal of Stalinist oppression.
Oscar and Lucinda
Winner of the Booker Prize, this novel is about a mismatched pair of gamblers in 19th-century Australia whose love story culminates in a bet to build a glass church.
Old Man’s War
A military sci-fi novel where 75-year-old humans are recruited to fight an interstellar war, given new, enhanced bodies to defend humanity’s colonies.
On Beauty
A comedic and moving novel about two feuding academic families that explores family life, race, culture, and the nature of beauty in the modern world.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous
An epistolary novel written as a letter from a son to his illiterate mother, exploring themes of race, class, and masculinity in a Vietnamese American family.
Olivia
A Caldecott Honor-winning picture book about a precocious and energetic young pig named Olivia, celebrated for its charming minimalist art and relatable family moments.
Our Town
A Pulitzer Prize-winning play about the everyday lives of citizens in a small American town, exploring universal themes of love, life, and death.
One for the Money
The first book in the popular Stephanie Plum series, introducing an unemployed lingerie buyer who becomes a bounty hunter to make ends meet in Trenton, New Jersey.
Oathbringer
The third book in the epic fantasy series The Stormlight Archive, continuing the story of the Knights Radiant as they face the cataclysmic return of the Voidbringers.
On Tyranny
A short, powerful book offering twenty historical lessons on resisting authoritarianism, drawing parallels between contemporary politics and 20th-century Europe.
Origin
The fifth book featuring symbologist Robert Langdon, this thriller combines science, religion, and art as Langdon races to uncover a world-changing discovery.
Orientalism
A highly influential academic book that critiques the historical and cultural representations of the Middle East and Asia by the West, introducing the concept of “Orientalism.”
On the Come Up
From the author of *The Hate U Give*, this novel follows a sixteen-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a rap star to lift her family out of poverty.
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
A classic beginner’s book known for its simple rhymes and whimsical creatures, designed to introduce young children to the joy of reading and basic concepts.
Omeros
An epic poem by the Nobel laureate that recasts characters from Homer’s epics as fishermen on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, blending classical and local traditions.
On Liberty
A foundational text of liberal political philosophy that argues for individual freedom and autonomy against the claims of the state and the “tyranny of the majority.”
Olive, Again
A sequel to *Olive Kitteridge*, this novel revisits the unforgettable title character as she navigates her later years with her signature blend of empathy and irascibility.
Open City
Following a young Nigerian-German psychiatrist as he wanders the streets of New York City, this meditative novel explores themes of identity, displacement, and history.
Owl Moon
A Caldecott Medal-winning picture book with poetic text and gentle illustrations about a young girl and her father who go owling on a silent, snowy winter night.
Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year
A witty, honest, and poignant journal documenting the author’s experience as a single mother during her son’s first year, filled with her trademark humor and faith.
Ordinary Men
A chilling historical study examining how a unit of middle-aged German reserve policemen became willing participants in the mass killings of Jews during the Holocaust.
Our Souls at Night
A quiet, gentle novel about two elderly neighbors in a small Colorado town who forge a connection to combat their loneliness, sparking gossip and disapproval.
Open Season
The first novel in the Joe Pickett series, introducing a Wyoming game warden who investigates the murder of a local outfitter, uncovering a dangerous conspiracy.
Omon Ra
A satirical novel that deconstructs Soviet mythology by following a young man’s dream to become a cosmonaut, only to discover the absurd truth behind the space program.
On Photography
A collection of essays that critically examines the role of photography in modern society, exploring how images have changed our relationship with reality, art, and truth.
Other Words for Home
A Newbery Honor-winning novel in verse about a young Syrian girl who flees the civil war with her mother and moves to Cincinnati, finding her voice in a new culture.
On War
A seminal and complex treatise on military strategy and the theory of war, famously defining war as “the continuation of politics by other means.”
Opposite of Always
A YA novel blending romance and science fiction, where a teen gets caught in a time loop, forced to relive the same few months to save the girl he loves.
Once & Future
A sci-fi retelling of King Arthur where Arthur is a teenage girl on a corporate-controlled planet, teaming up with Merlin to fight an evil government.
Officer Buckle and Gloria
Winner of the Caldecott Medal, this humorous picture book tells the story of a police officer whose safety talks are boring until he’s joined by his talented police dog, Gloria.
On the Social Contract
A major work of political philosophy that theorizes about the best way to establish a political community, introducing the concept of the “general will.”
Over the Edge of the World
A gripping historical narrative of Ferdinand Magellan’s dramatic and treacherous circumnavigation of the globe, detailing the voyage’s mutinies, discoveries, and disasters.
On Immunity: An Inoculation
A thoughtful exploration of vaccination, blending personal experience, cultural history, and scientific research to examine our fears and beliefs about immunity.
October Country, The
A collection of nineteen macabre short stories by Ray Bradbury, many of which are revised versions of tales from his earlier collection, *Dark Carnival*.
Odd and the Frost Giants
A short children’s novel inspired by Norse mythology, in which a young Viking boy named Odd embarks on a journey to Asgard to save the gods from the Frost Giants.
Obasan
A seminal work of Canadian literature that tells the story of the internment and persecution of Japanese-Canadians during World War II through the eyes of a young girl.
Once Were Warriors
A powerful and controversial novel about a contemporary Māori family living in urban New Zealand, grappling with issues of poverty, alcoholism, and domestic violence.
Omensetter’s Luck
An experimental and stylistically dense novel set in 19th-century Ohio, exploring the conflict between a man of natural goodness and a suspicious, jealous preacher.
Out
A dark Japanese crime novel about four women working the night shift at a factory who become entangled in a murder and its grisly cover-up.
Of Human Bondage
A semi-autobiographical novel that follows Philip Carey, an orphan with a clubfoot, through his difficult childhood, artistic ambitions, and obsessive love.
Only Revolutions
An experimental novel with a unique format; it tells a love story from two perspectives that must be read by flipping the book over every eight pages.
Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas
A sequel to Melville’s first book, *Typee*, this novel is a semi-autobiographical account of the author’s adventures as a sailor in Polynesia, particularly Tahiti.
Open Veins of Latin America
A classic analysis of the political and economic history of Latin America, detailing five centuries of exploitation by European and North American powers.
Okay for Now
This story follows Doug Swieteck as he moves to a new town in 1968, dealing with an abusive family and finding solace in the art of John James Audubon.
Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
A classic children’s novel about Sheila Tubman, who pretends to be brave and confident but is secretly afraid of dogs, swimming, and spiders.
One of Ours
A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that tells the story of Claude Wheeler, a young man from Nebraska who finds purpose and meaning fighting in World War I.
Oroonoko: or, the Royal Slave
One of the earliest English novels, this short work of prose fiction by a female author tells the tragic story of an enslaved African prince in Surinam.
Our Man in Havana
A satirical spy novel set in Cuba about a vacuum cleaner salesman who becomes a reluctant secret agent and invents his reports to please MI6.
Outer Dark
A dark and violent novel about a brother and sister in rural Appalachia who have a child together, leading to a harrowing journey of separation and despair.
Ovid’s Metamorphoses
A foundational epic poem of Western literature, retelling over 250 classical myths in a continuous narrative about transformations, from creation to the death of Caesar.
Oblomov
A classic Russian novel whose titular character is the ultimate symbol of laziness and inertia, a nobleman who spends most of his life in bed, unable to make decisions.
Out of the Dust
A Newbery Medal-winning novel written in free verse, telling the story of a young girl living in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl of the Great Depression.
Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s
A classic work of popular history that vividly chronicles the social, cultural, and political landscape of America during the Roaring Twenties.
Once Upon a River
A magical novel set along the River Thames in the 19th century, beginning when a wounded stranger brings a seemingly drowned girl back to life.
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
A semi-autobiographical novel about a young lesbian girl growing up in an English Pentecostal community, exploring themes of religion, love, and identity.
On the Black Hill
A novel that chronicles the lives of identical twin brothers over 80 years on a remote farm, exploring their deep, inseparable, and isolated bond.
Orphan Train
A bestselling novel about a troubled modern-day teen and an elderly woman who was one of the thousands of abandoned children sent west on “orphan trains.”
Out of the Silent Planet
The first book in the author’s Space Trilogy, this novel follows linguist Dr. Ransom as he is kidnapped and taken to the planet Malacandra (Mars).
Operation Mincemeat
A thrilling non-fiction account of a successful British deception operation during WWII that used a corpse to mislead German forces about the Allied invasion of Sicily.
Of Love and Other Demons
A novel set in 18th-century Colombia about a girl believed to be possessed after being bitten by a rabid dog, and the priest sent to exorcise her who falls in love.
Over Sea, Under Stone
The first book in *The Dark Is Rising* sequence, where three siblings on holiday in Cornwall discover an ancient map leading to an Arthurian grail.
Our Mutual Friend
The last complete novel by Dickens, this complex satire on wealth and class centers around a dust heap fortune and the lives it affects in Victorian London.
Olive’s Ocean
A Newbery Honor book about a 12-year-old who, after the death of a classmate, discovers the girl admired her and shared her dream of being a writer.
On the Banks of Plum Creek
The fourth book in the *Little House* series, it follows the Ingalls family as they move to Minnesota and live in a dugout home on the banks of a creek.
Out of My Mind
A powerful novel about an 11-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who cannot walk or talk but has a brilliant, photographic memory, and her fight to be heard.
Outline
The first novel in a critically acclaimed trilogy, this book follows a writer teaching a course in Athens, primarily consisting of the stories others tell her.
Open Water
A contemporary novel about two young Black British artists falling in and out of love in London, exploring themes of race, masculinity, and art in a poetic style.
Our Kind of Traitor
A thriller where an ordinary English couple on holiday gets entangled with a charismatic Russian money launderer, pulling them into the world of international espionage.
O Caledonia
A posthumously published cult classic of Scottish literature, this gothic coming-of-age novel follows the eccentric and isolated life of Janet growing up in a decaying castle.
Oxygen
Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, this novel intertwines the stories of two brothers caring for their dying mother with that of a Hungarian playwright facing his own mortality.
Options
A surreal and comedic sci-fi novel about a man whose spaceship breaks down on a strange planet, where he must navigate bizarre planetary customs to find a spare part.
Once a Runner
An iconic cult classic novel about the intense dedication and ascetic life of an elite collegiate distance runner, beloved by athletes for its authenticity.
Ordinary Grace
An Edgar Award-winning novel set in 1961 Minnesota, where a series of deaths shatters a small town’s peace, as told from a 13-year-old boy’s perspective.
One, None and One Hundred Thousand
A philosophical novel by the Nobel laureate exploring the fragmented nature of human identity through a man who realizes others’ perceptions of him are not his own.
An Obedient Father
Winner of the PEN/Hemingway Award, this novel provides a disturbing look into the life of a corrupt and morally bankrupt civil servant in Delhi, India.
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.