Affiliate Disclosure: Links on this page may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate policy

The William E. Massey Sr. Lectures Books in Order

18
Books
1986
First Book
2013
Latest Book
28
Years

Below you'll find the complete list of The William E. Massey Sr. Lectures books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.

Reading order verified: March 2026

Quick Answer

What order should I read the The William E. Massey Sr. Lectures series? Start with "The American Newness (By: Irving Howe)" (1986) and follow publication order through all 18 books.

The complete The William E. Massey Sr. Lectures reading order is listed below in publication sequence.

Publication Order

1
The American Newness (By: Irving Howe) cover

The American Newness (By: Irving Howe)

Buy on Amazon

1986

2
Highbrow/Lowbrow (By: Lawrence W. Levine) cover

Highbrow/Lowbrow (By: Lawrence W. Levine)

Buy on Amazon

1988

3
Revolutions (By: David Brion Davis) cover

Revolutions (By: David Brion Davis)

Buy on Amazon

1990

4
Playing in the Dark (By: Toni Morrison) cover

Playing in the Dark (By: Toni Morrison)

Buy on Amazon

1992

5
The Southern Tradition (By: Eugene D. Genovese) cover

The Southern Tradition (By: Eugene D. Genovese)

Buy on Amazon

1994

6
Writing Was Everything (By: Alfred Kazin) cover

Writing Was Everything (By: Alfred Kazin)

Buy on Amazon

1998

7
The Dissent of the Governed cover

The Dissent of the Governed

Buy on Amazon

1998

8
Achieving Our Country (By: Richard M. Rorty) cover

Achieving Our Country (By: Richard M. Rorty)

Buy on Amazon

1999

9
The Real American Dream (By: Andrew Delbanco) cover

The Real American Dream (By: Andrew Delbanco)

Buy on Amazon

1999

10
To Be the Poet (By: Maxine Hong Kingston) cover

To Be the Poet (By: Maxine Hong Kingston)

Buy on Amazon

2002

11
Reporting the Universe (By: E.L. Doctorow) cover

Reporting the Universe (By: E.L. Doctorow)

Buy on Amazon

2003

12
Circles and Lines (By: John Putnam Demos) cover

Circles and Lines (By: John Putnam Demos)

Buy on Amazon

2004

13
Architecture as Signs and Systems (By: Robert Venturi) cover

Architecture as Signs and Systems (By: Robert Venturi)

Buy on Amazon

2004

14
Reshaping the Work-Family Debate (By: Joan C. Williams) cover

Reshaping the Work-Family Debate (By: Joan C. Williams)

Buy on Amazon

2010

15
Tiger Writing (By: Gish Jen) cover

Tiger Writing (By: Gish Jen)

Buy on Amazon

2013

16
Three Songs, Three Singers, Three Nations (By: Greil Marcus) cover

Three Songs, Three Singers, Three Nations (By: Greil Marcus)

Buy on Amazon

2015

17
Just a Journalist (By: Linda Greenhouse) cover

Just a Journalist (By: Linda Greenhouse)

Buy on Amazon

2017

18
Inherit the Dead cover

Inherit the Dead

Buy on Amazon

2013

Affiliate Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, Reading Order Books earns from qualifying purchases. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us maintain the site and continue providing reading order guides. Read our full disclosure