Elizabeth Gilbert has built a remarkable literary career defined not by staying in one lane, but by fearlessly shifting between them. Elizabeth Gilbert books range from short stories to bestselling memoirs, richly researched historical fiction, and empowering works of creative philosophy.
Elizabeth Gilbert books trace the path of a writer who is constantly reinventing both her craft and herself. Gilbert’s voice remains unmistakable across genres (intimate, curious, emotionally honest) but each stage of her writing journey reveals a new facet of how she sees the world.
Her breakout memoir Eat, Pray, Love introduced millions to her blend of vulnerability and spiritual seeking, but long before that global success, Gilbert had already established herself as a bold and observant storyteller.
She moved fluidly from fiction to nonfiction, biography to personal narrative, and eventually toward works that explore creativity itself. In recent years, she has returned once again to memoir, this time with deeper maturity and emotional complexity.
Whether you’re discovering her for the first time or revisiting her work through a new lens, exploring Elizabeth Gilbert books in order reveals a writer continually evolving yet always anchored in a profound desire to understand what drives us as humans.
Below, you’ll find a complete list of Elizabeth Gilbert books in order of publication, along with a short synopsis of each one and notes on their genre. This chronological overview highlights not just the stories she tells, but the shifts in perspective and craft that have shaped her extraordinary writing life.
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Elizabeth Gilbert books in order
Here is the Elizabeth Gilbert books list in order of publication:
Pilgrims and Other Stories (1997)
Type: Short story collection
Synopsis: Pilgrims is the first of the Elizabeth Gilbert books. It’s a collection of 12 short stories exploring a variety of characters, often on the fringes of conventional life. The stories touch on themes of travel, longing, disconnection, and self-discovery.
Stern Men (2000)
Type: Novel
Synopsis: Stern Men is set on two remote lobster-fishing islands off the coast of Maine. The novel follows Ruth Thomas, whose life is shaped by a long-standing rivalry between the islands.
The Last American Man (2002)
Type: Nonfiction/biography
Synopsis: Gilbert profiles Eustace Conway, a man who left “conventional” life as a teenager to live in the Appalachian wilderness. For decades, Conway has lived off-grid, and Gilbert uses his story to reflect on masculinity, idealism, and the tension between modern life and nature.
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia (2006)
Type: Memoir
Synopsis: In this hugely popular memoir, Gilbert recounts a year of her life after a difficult divorce. She travels to Italy (for pleasure), India (for spiritual growth), and Indonesia (for balance), in pursuit of a deeper understanding of what she truly wants in life.
Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage (2009)
Type: Memoir
Synopsis: This book is a follow-up to Eat, Pray, Love. Gilbert examines the institution of marriage through her own experience. She and her partner Felipe decide to marry to allow him to stay in the U.S., despite both having previously sworn off marriage.
She investigates what marriage really means (historically, socially, spiritually) and tries to reconcile her skepticism with her love.
The Signature of All Things (2013)
Type: Novel
Synopsis: The Signature of All Things is a sweeping historical novel that follows Alma Whittaker, born in the 19th century to a wealthy explorer, as she develops a deep passion for botany.
Through her scientific and spiritual journey, Gilbert explores evolution and the natural world.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (2015)
Type: Nonfiction/ Self-help
Synopsis: In Big Magic, Gilbert delves into creativity: what it is, how to live a creative life, and how to overcome fear. She frames ideas as living entities and encourages readers to follow curiosity over passion and be brave even when the outcome is unknown.
City of Girls (2019)
Type: Novel
Synopsis: Set in New York City in the 1940s, this novel follows 19-year-old Vivian Morris, who is kicked out of college and sent to live with her eccentric Aunt Peg, the owner of a theater.
Vivian is swept into a bold, bohemian world of showgirls and free-spirited characters. As she navigates love, scandal, and self-discovery, she learns what kind of life she truly wants.
All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation (2025)
Type: Memoir
Synopsis: Gilbert returns to deeply personal writing in this memoir about her relationship with her late partner Rayya Elias, exploring love, enabling, addiction, grief, and spiritual awakening. It chronicles the intensity and complexity of their bond, and ultimately, Gilbert’s journey toward healing.
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