Alan Lightman

3 Book Series
24 Total Books

About Alan Lightman

Alan Lightman is an American physicist, essayist, novelist, educator, and social entrepreneur. He was born in 1948 and received his education while at Princeton as well as the California Institute of Technology. There he graduated and received his PhD in the field of theoretical physics. Alan also was able to receive five honorary doctoral degrees. The author has been able to serve on the faculties of both Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was also the first person at MIT to be able to get dual faculty appointments in both science and the humanities. He is a professor of the practice of the humanities at MIT. Alan has conducted scientific research in astrophysics that has had to do with everything from relativity theory to radiative processes, black holes, and the

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

7 books in series

Publication Order

  • Einstein's Dreams(1992)
  • Good Benito(1995)
  • The Diagnosis(2000)
  • Reunion(2003)
  • Ghost(2007)
  • Mr g About The Creation(2012)
  • Three Flames(2019)

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

15 books in series

Publication Order

  • Time Travel and Papa Joe's Pipe(1984)
  • A Modern-Day Yankee in a Connecticut Court and other essays on science(1986)
  • Ancient Light: Our Changing View of the Universe(1991)
  • Dance for Two: Essays(1996)
  • World Is Too Much with Me(2003)
  • A Sense of the Mysterious: Science and the Human Spirit(2005)
  • The Discoveries(2005)
  • Song of Two Worlds(2009)
  • The Accidental Universe: The World You Thought You Knew(2013)
  • Screening Room: Family Pictures(2015)
  • Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine(2018)
  • In Praise of Wasting Time(2018)
  • Probable Impossibilities(2021)
  • The Transcendent Brain(2023)
  • The Miraculous from the Material(2024)

Publication Order of Anthologies

2 books in series

Publication Order

  • The Best American Science Writing 2002(2002)
  • The Future of Spacetime(2002)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Alan Lightman?

Alan Lightman is a bestselling author known for 3 book series. Their work has captivated millions of readers worldwide with compelling characters and intricate plots.

What is the best Alan Lightman book series to start with?

We recommend starting with Publication Order of Standalone Novels as it is one of the most popular and longest-running series by this author.

How many books has Alan Lightman written?

Alan Lightman has written over 24 books across 3 different series, making them one of the most prolific authors in their genre.