This list includes 50 Books that start with U, from “Uglies” to “Utopia for Realists”. It features fiction and nonfiction titles useful for discovery, library catalogs, teaching, and SEO-driven lists.
Books that start with U are titles whose initial letter is U, spanning genres and eras. Examples range from Scott Westerfeld’s “Uglies” to Rutger Bregman’s “Utopia for Realists”.
Below you’ll find the table with Title, Author, Year and Genre.
Title: Shows each book’s full title so you can quickly identify works that begin with U.
Author: Lists the credited author to help you find editions, author collections, and related works by the same writer.
Year: Gives the original publication year so you can place works in historical context and filter by era.
Genre: Indicates the primary genre so you can narrow searches, plan reading lists, or categorize library holdings.
Books that start with U
| Title | Author | Year | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ulysses | James Joyce | 1922 | Modernist Fiction |
| Uncle Tom’s Cabin | Harriet Beecher Stowe | 1852 | Historical Fiction |
| Utopia | Thomas More | 1516 | Philosophy |
| Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption | Laura Hillenbrand | 2010 | Biography |
| Up From Slavery | Booker T. Washington | 1901 | Memoir |
| Under the Volcano | Malcolm Lowry | 1947 | Modernist Fiction |
| Underworld | Don DeLillo | 1997 | Contemporary Fiction |
| Uglies | Scott Westerfeld | 2005 | YA Dystopian |
| Untamed | Glennon Doyle | 2020 | Memoir |
| Under the Tuscan Sun | Frances Mayes | 1996 | Memoir |
| Unaccustomed Earth | Jhumpa Lahiri | 2008 | Short Stories |
| Unwind | Neal Shusterman | 2007 | YA Dystopian |
| Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art | Scott McCloud | 1993 | Graphic Nonfiction |
| Unless | Carol Shields | 2002 | Contemporary Fiction |
| Upstream: Selected Essays | Mary Oliver | 2016 | Essays |
| Unseen Academicals | Terry Pratchett | 2009 | Fantasy |
| Up in the Air | Walter Kirn | 2001 | Fiction |
| Uncanny Valley | Anna Wiener | 2020 | Memoir |
| Uprooted | Naomi Novik | 2015 | Fantasy |
| Use of Weapons | Iain M. Banks | 1990 | Science Fiction |
| Us | David Nicholls | 2014 | Contemporary Fiction |
| Uncle Vanya | Anton Chekhov | 1898 | Play |
| Under Milk Wood | Dylan Thomas | 1954 | Play |
| Undermajordomo Minor | Patrick deWitt | 2015 | Fiction |
| Uncommon Type: Some Stories | Tom Hanks | 2017 | Short Stories |
| Unbowed: A Memoir | Wangari Maathai | 2006 | Memoir |
| Universal Harvester | John Darnielle | 2017 | Horror |
| Umbrella | Will Self | 2012 | Modernist Fiction |
| Under a Pole Star | Stef Penney | 2016 | Historical Fiction |
| Until I Find You | John Irving | 2005 | Fiction |
| Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague 1941-1968 | Heda Margolius Kovály | 1986 | Memoir |
| Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth | J.R.R. Tolkien | 1980 | Fantasy |
| Useful Work versus Useless Toil | William Morris | 1884 | Essay |
| Unveiled | Cheryl L. Bruno et al. | 2021 | History |
| Under the Net | Iris Murdoch | 1954 | Philosophical Fiction |
| Upon the Head of the Goat: A Childhood in Hungary 1939-1944 | Aranka Siegal | 1981 | Memoir |
| Up Country | Nelson DeMille | 2002 | Thriller |
| Uther | Jack Whyte | 1999 | Historical Fiction |
| Unmaking a Murder: The Mysterious Death of Anna-Jane Cheney | Graham Archer | 2018 | True Crime |
| Unreliable Memoirs | Clive James | 1980 | Memoir |
| Under an Emerald Sky | Olwynne Cade | 2018 | Historical Romance |
| Unsheltered | Barbara Kingsolver | 2018 | Contemporary Fiction |
| Under a Painted Sky | Stacey Lee | 2015 | YA Historical Fiction |
| Utopia for Realists | Rutger Bregman | 2017 | Nonfiction |
| Unsouled | Will Wight | 2016 | Progression Fantasy |
| Under the Pendulum Sun | Jeannette Ng | 2017 | Gothic Fantasy |
| Upright Women Wanted | Sarah Gailey | 2020 | Sci-Fi Western |
| Unforgiving Years | Victor Serge | 2008 | Fiction |
| Upon a Burning Throne | Ashok K. Banker | 2019 | Fantasy |
| Under the Skin | Michel Faber | 2000 | Science Fiction |
Descriptions
Ulysses
A landmark of modernism following Leopold Bloom through a single day in Dublin. Famously complex and innovative, it’s considered one of the most important novels of the 20th century.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
An anti-slavery novel that had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the U.S. It was the bestselling novel of the 19th century.
Utopia
A work of fiction and political philosophy depicting a fictional island society with political, religious, and social customs that differ from those of European society.
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
The incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner whose bomber crashed in the Pacific during WWII, leading to a harrowing tale of survival over 47 days at sea and in a POW camp.
Up From Slavery
The autobiography of the influential African-American educator and leader, detailing his personal experience of rising from slavery to become a leading voice for his people.
Under the Volcano
A semi-autobiographical novel telling the story of an alcoholic British consul in a small Mexican town on the Day of the Dead in 1938. It is a powerful exploration of self-destruction.
Underworld
A sprawling postmodern novel that weaves together American life during the second half of the 20th century, beginning with a famous 1951 baseball game.
Uglies
In a future where everyone undergoes extreme cosmetic surgery at 16 to become “pretties,” Tally Youngblood uncovers a dark side to the seemingly perfect world. A very popular YA series starter.
Untamed
A bestselling memoir about finding happiness by listening to one’s inner voice. It encourages women to abandon societal expectations and trust themselves.
Under the Tuscan Sun
A memoir about an American writer who buys and restores an abandoned villa in the Tuscan countryside, filled with lush descriptions of Italian life, culture, and food.
Unaccustomed Earth
A collection of eight short stories that explore the lives of Indian-American characters, navigating the complexities of family, identity, and cultural displacement. Won the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award.
Unwind
In a society where unwanted teens are “unwound”—their bodies salvaged for parts—three runaways fight for their lives. The first book in a thought-provoking and popular series.
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
A seminal work that explores the definition, history, vocabulary, and methods of the comics medium, all presented in comic book form. Essential reading for fans of graphic storytelling.
Unless
A novelist grapples with her eldest daughter’s decision to drop out of college and live on a Toronto street corner, holding a sign that says “Goodness.” A moving exploration of family and despair.
Upstream: Selected Essays
A collection of luminous essays from the beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. Oliver reflects on her love for the natural world, her passion for literature, and the craft of writing.
Unseen Academicals
The 37th novel in the Discworld series, this book hilariously satirizes university life and the world of football (soccer) as the wizards of Unseen University are forced to field a team.
Up in the Air
The story of Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing expert whose life of constant, detached air travel is threatened by a new hire and a new romance. It was adapted into an acclaimed film.
Uncanny Valley
A revealing and beautifully written memoir about the author’s time working in the optimistic, surreal, and often unsettling world of Silicon Valley tech startups.
Uprooted
A standalone fantasy novel inspired by Polish folklore, where a young woman is chosen to serve a mysterious wizard known as the Dragon. Winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel.
Use of Weapons
A complex and critically acclaimed novel in the Culture series, following a special agent as he undertakes missions for the utopian society. It’s known for its non-linear structure.
Us
A man’s attempt to save his 20-year marriage by taking his wife and teenage son on a “Grand Tour” of Europe, with poignant and humorous results. Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
Uncle Vanya
A classic play revolving around an elderly professor and his young wife visiting their rural estate, which disrupts the lives of the residents. A masterpiece of theatrical realism.
Under Milk Wood
A “play for voices” depicting the dreams and inner thoughts of the inhabitants of a fictional small Welsh fishing village, Llareggub. Celebrated for its lyrical, imaginative language.
Undermajordomo Minor
A quirky, gothic fairytale-like novel about Lucien Minor, who takes a job at a remote, mysterious castle and gets entangled in love, theft, and madness.
Uncommon Type: Some Stories
A collection of 17 short stories from the beloved actor, each one featuring a typewriter in some way. The stories are surprisingly heartfelt, wise, and imaginative.
Unbowed: A Memoir
The autobiography of the Kenyan environmental and political activist who became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her work founding the Green Belt Movement.
Universal Harvester
A literary horror novel set in a 1990s Iowa video store, where an employee discovers disturbing footage spliced into family-friendly movies, leading him to a dark local secret.
Umbrella
A challenging, stream-of-consciousness novel about a psychiatrist treating patients with encephalitis lethargica. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, it’s a dense but rewarding read.
Under a Pole Star
A gripping story of a female geologist’s expedition to Greenland in the 1890s, where she finds both scientific discovery and a passionate, complicated love affair.
Until I Find You
A sprawling novel about an actor’s life, from his bizarre childhood searching for his tattoo-artist mother and his lost father, to his troubled relationships and rise to fame in Hollywood.
Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague 1941-1968
A powerful memoir by a Czech Holocaust survivor detailing her escape from a concentration camp and her subsequent life under the oppressive Communist regime in post-war Czechoslovakia.
Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth
A collection of stories and essays edited by Christopher Tolkien that were never completed by his father. It expands on the lore of Middle-earth, providing deeper context to The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings.
Useful Work versus Useless Toil
A foundational text of the Arts and Crafts movement, this influential essay argues for a socialist society where all labor is creative, pleasurable, and beneficial to the community.
Unveiled
A comprehensive history of the practice of polygamy within the early Latter Day Saint movement, offering new scholarship and insights into a controversial aspect of the faith’s origins.
Under the Net
The debut novel from the acclaimed British philosopher and writer. It follows a charming but aimless writer through a series of picaresque adventures in London and Paris.
Upon the Head of the Goat: A Childhood in Hungary 1939-1944
A powerful memoir of a young Jewish girl’s childhood in Hungary, which is shattered by the horrors of the Holocaust. A Newbery Honor and Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner.
Up Country
Retired Army investigator Paul Brenner is sent back to Vietnam to investigate a 30-year-old murder, uncovering a web of secrets and danger. A #1 New York Times bestseller.
Uther
Part of the Camulod Chronicles series, this novel reimagines the legend of King Arthur’s father, Uther Pendragon, grounding the myth in the historical reality of Roman Britain’s collapse.
Unmaking a Murder: The Mysterious Death of Anna-Jane Cheney
A deep-dive investigation into the controversial conviction of Henry Keogh for the 1994 murder of his fiancée in Adelaide, Australia, raising serious questions about the justice system.
Unreliable Memoirs
The first volume of the celebrated critic and humorist’s autobiography. It’s a hilariously witty account of his post-war childhood in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia.
Under an Emerald Sky
Set during the 1913 Dublin Lockout, this novel follows the romance between a determined young woman from the tenements and a charming, idealistic socialist, against a backdrop of social upheaval.
Unsheltered
A novel that alternates between the 21st century and the 19th, connecting two families who lived in the same dilapidated house in Vineland, New Jersey, and faced similarly tumultuous times.
Under a Painted Sky
In 1849 Missouri, a Chinese-American girl and an escaped slave disguise themselves as boys and flee along the Oregon Trail, forming a powerful friendship while facing immense danger.
Utopia for Realists
A hopeful and evidence-based argument for progressive ideas once considered utopian, such as a universal basic income, a 15-hour workweek, and open borders.
Unsouled
The first book in the immensely popular, self-published Cradle series. It introduces Lindon, a young man scorned for his weak spirit, who sets out to prove his worth in a world of sacred arts.
Under the Pendulum Sun
A Victorian missionary travels to Arcadia, the land of the Fae, to find her brother. What follows is a strange, unsettling, and brilliant gothic novel that subverts fantasy tropes.
Upright Women Wanted
In a dystopian future American West, a young woman stows away with the Librarians, a group of queer, itinerant book distributors who are more than they seem. A short, powerful novella.
Unforgiving Years
Published posthumously, this novel from the Russian revolutionary writer follows two anti-Stalinist agents through the chaos of 1940s Europe, capturing the despair and disillusionment of the era.
Upon a Burning Throne
The first book in a new epic fantasy series inspired by the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, featuring a vast cast of characters, political intrigue, and immense magical power.
Under the Skin
A strange and unsettling novel about a mysterious woman who drives around the Scottish Highlands picking up male hitchhikers for a very sinister purpose. It defies easy categorization.