Steinbeck in 1948, reading back issues of Salinas Index/Salinas Californian, doing research for East of Eden.

(For other bibliographical resources in the study of Steinbeck's life and works, search the Secondary Bibliography )

• Benson, Jackson J. Looking for Steinbeck's Ghost. Norman: U of Oklahoma P, 1988. Rpt. in Reno: U of Nevada P, 2002.
• The True Adventures of John Steinbeck, Writer: A Biography. New York: Viking, 1984. Republished as John Steinbeck, Writer. New York: Penguin, 1990.
• DeMott, Robert J. John Steinbeck: A Checklist of Books By and About. Bradenton, Florida: Opuscula, 1987.

• Ditsky, John. John Steinbeck Life, Work and Criticism. Fredericton, Canada: York Press, 1985.
• French, Warren. John Steinbeck's Fiction Revisited. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1994.
• John Steinbeck's Nonfiction Revisited. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1996.
• Owens, Louis. John Steinbeck's Re-Vision of America. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1985.
• Parini, Jay. John Steinbeck: A Biography. New York: Henry Holt, 1995.
• Simmonds, Roy. John Steinbeck: The War Years, 1939-1945. Lewisburg: Bucknell University Press, 1996.
• Steinbeck, Elaine and Robert Wallsten. Steinbeck: A Life in Letters. London: Pan Books, 1979.
• Timmerman, John H. The Dramatic Landscape of Steinbeck's Short Stories. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1990.
• Kiernan, Thomas.  The Intricate Music: A Biography of John Steinbeck.  Boston: Litltle, Brown, & Co., 1979.
• St. Pierre, Brian.  John Steinbeck: The California Years. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1983.
• Valjean, Nelson.  John Steinbeck: The Errant Knight.  San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1975.