* "Tocqueville in America" (1938) - A detailed study of Alexis de Tocqueville's travels and observations in America, highlighting the intellectual and political context of Tocqueville's famous book "Democracy in America."
* "The Founding of the Republic: The Period 1689-1789" (1967) - A comprehensive history of the American colonies from the Glorious Revolution to the Constitution, focusing on the development of political institutions and ideas.
* "Thomas Jefferson and the American Experiment" (1968) - A biography of Thomas Jefferson, exploring his ideas and contributions to the American Revolution and the formation of the nation.
* "The New Cambridge Modern History, Volume 7: The Old Regime, 1713-1763" (1957) - A contribution to a multi-volume collaborative work on modern European history, focusing on the political and social changes leading up to the Age of Revolutions.
Pierson's work was characterized by a deep understanding of intellectual history, political thought, and the social and cultural contexts of the early American period. He was known for his elegant prose and his insightful interpretations of primary sources.
He was also a respected academic, serving as a professor at the University of Chicago and later at the University of California, Berkeley. He received numerous awards for his scholarly contributions, including the Pulitzer Prize for "Tocqueville in America."