1. The Theory of Island Biogeography, with Robert H. MacArthur (1967)
2. A Primer of Population Biology, with William H. Bossert (1971)
3. The Insect Societies (1971); finalist, National Book Award, 1972; 100 Top Science Books of Century, American Scientist, 1999
4. Sociobiology: The New Synthesis (1975); finalist, National Book Award, 1976; the abridged edition (1980)
5. On Human Nature (1978); Pulitzer Prize, General Non-Fiction, 1979
6. Caste and Ecology in the Social Insects, with George F. Oster (1978)
7. Genes, Mind, and Culture, with Charles J. Lumsden (1981)
8. Promethean Fire, with Charles J. Lumsden (1983)
9. Biophilia (1984)
10. The Ants, with Bert Hölldobler (1990); Pulitzer Prize, General Non-Fiction, 1991; No. 27 in "100 best nonfiction books written in English during the 20th century" (Modern Library)
11. Success and Dominance in Ecosystems: The Case of the Social Insects (1990)
12. The Diversity of Life (1992); finalist, National Book Critics Circle Award, 1993; finalist, Rhône-Poulenc Prize; Wildlife Society Book Award, 1993; 200 outstanding books of the Century, N.Y. Public Library, 1995; Reading for the Environment, Deutsche Umweltstiftung, book prize for the German edition, 1998
13. Journey to the Ants, with Bert Hölldobler (1994); finalist, Rhône-Poulenc Prize
14. Naturalist (1994); Los Angeles Times Book Award (Science), 1994; Books to Remember citation, N.Y. Public Library, 1995; Best 11 Books of 1994, N. Y. Times Book Review; finalist, National Book Critics Circle Award, 1995; Benjamin Franklin Award, Publishers Marketing Association, 1995; new edition, 2006.
15. In Search of Nature (1996)
16. Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge (1998)
17. Biological Diversity: The Oldest Human Heritage (1999) (New York State Museum, Albany)
18. The Future of Life (2002); Natural World Book Prize, Wildlife Trusts (2002)
19. Pheidole in the New World (2003)
20. Nature Revealed (2006)
21. The Creation (2006
