This is a list of books that topped The New York Times best-seller list in 1938. When the list began in 1931 through 1941 it only reflected sales in the New York City area. [1]
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling fiction books.
The two most popular books that year were The Citadel , by A. J. Cronin, which held on top of the list for 16 weeks, and The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, which was on top of the list for 12 weeks. [2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 3 | The Citadel | A. J. Cronin |
| January 10 | ||
| January 17 | ||
| January 24 | ||
| January 31 | ||
| February 7 | The Prodigal Parents | Sinclair Lewis |
| February 14 | The Citadel | A. J. Cronin |
| February 21 | ||
| February 28 | ||
| March 7 | ||
| March 14 | ||
| March 21 | Action at Aquila | Hervey Allen |
| March 28 | The Citadel | A. J. Cronin |
| April 4 | Action at Aquila | Hervey Allen |
| April 11 | The Citadel | A. J. Cronin |
| April 18 | ||
| April 25 | ||
| May 2 | ||
| May 9 | ||
| May 16 | The Yearling | Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings |
| May 23 | ||
| May 30 | ||
| June 6 | ||
| June 13 | ||
| June 20 | ||
| June 27 | ||
| July 4 | ||
| July 11 | My Son, My Son! | Howard Spring |
| July 18 | ||
| July 25 | ||
| August 1 | ||
| August 8 | ||
| August 15 | ||
| August 22 | ||
| August 29 | The Yearling | Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings |
| September 5 | ||
| September 12 | ||
| September 19 | ||
| September 26 | My Son, My Son! | Howard Spring |
| October 3 | ||
| October 10 | ||
| October 17 | ||
| October 24 | Rebecca | Daphne du Maurier |
| October 31 | ||
| November 7 | ||
| November 14 | ||
| November 21 | ||
| November 28 | All This and Heaven Too | Rachel Field |
| December 5 | Rebecca | Daphne du Maurier |
| December 12 | ||
| December 19 | ||
| December 26 | All This and Heaven Too | Rachel Field |
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books.
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 3 | Madame Curie | Ève Curie |
| January 10 | ||
| January 17 | ||
| January 24 | ||
| January 31 | ||
| February 7 | ||
| February 14 | The Importance of Living | Lin Yutang |
| February 21 | Madame Curie | Ève Curie |
| February 28 | ||
| March 7 | ||
| March 14 | The Importance of Living | Lin Yutang |
| March 21 | ||
| March 28 | ||
| April 4 | ||
| April 11 | ||
| April 18 | ||
| April 25 | ||
| May 2 | ||
| May 9 | The Evolution of Physics | Albert Einstein and Leopold Infeld |
| May 16 | ||
| May 23 | ||
| May 30 | The Importance of Living | Lin Yutang |
| June 6 | ||
| June 13 | ||
| June 20 | ||
| June 27 | Madame Curie | Ève Curie |
| July 4 | ||
| July 11 | ||
| July 18 | The Importance of Living | Lin Yutang |
| July 25 | Fanny Kemble | Margaret Armstrong |
| August 1 | The Importance of Living | Lin Yutang |
| August 8 | ||
| August 15 | ||
| August 22 | ||
| August 29 | ||
| September 5 | With Malice Toward Some | Margaret Halsey |
| September 12 | ||
| September 19 | ||
| September 26 | The Horse and Buggy Doctor | Arthur E. Hertzler |
| October 3 | With Malice Toward Some | Margaret Halsey |
| October 10 | ||
| October 17 | ||
| October 24 | Listen! The Wind | Anne Morrow Lindbergh |
| October 31 | ||
| November 7 | ||
| November 14 | ||
| November 21 | ||
| November 28 | ||
| December 5 | ||
| December 12 | ||
| December 19 | ||
| December 26 |