* The Jacksonian Era (1962): This book is considered a landmark study of Andrew Jackson's presidency and the political and social changes of the 1830s.
* Riches, Class, and Power Before the Civil War (1973): A major work that challenged conventional understandings of wealth distribution and social mobility in the antebellum South.
* The American Revolution (1977): Pessen argued that the American Revolution was not a radical upheaval, but a conservative movement that preserved existing social hierarchies.
* The Egalitarian Myth: Social Mobility in America, 1780-1860 (1984): This work further challenged the belief in widespread social mobility in early America.
* The Grand Transformation (1993): A detailed analysis of the changes in American society from the late 18th century to the early 20th century.
Pessen's work is characterized by its meticulous research and its willingness to challenge accepted historical narratives. He was a controversial figure, but his scholarship has had a lasting impact on the study of American history.