This is a list of books that topped The New York Times Best Seller list in 1950.
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling fiction books. [1] Henry Morton Robinson's The Cardinal dominated the list for 24 weeks and Ernest Hemingway had his only Number 1 bestseller that year. [2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | The Egyptian | Mika Waltari |
| January 8 | ||
| January 15 | ||
| January 22 | ||
| January 29 | ||
| February 5 | ||
| February 12 | ||
| February 19 | The Parasites | Daphne du Maurier |
| February 26 | ||
| March 5 | ||
| March 12 | ||
| March 19 | ||
| March 26 | The Wall | John Hersey |
| April 2 | ||
| April 9 | ||
| April 16 | ||
| April 23 | ||
| April 30 | The Cardinal | Henry Morton Robinson |
| May 7 | ||
| May 14 | ||
| May 21 | ||
| May 28 | ||
| June 4 | ||
| June 11 | ||
| June 18 | ||
| June 25 | ||
| July 2 | ||
| July 9 | ||
| July 16 | ||
| July 23 | ||
| July 30 | ||
| August 6 | ||
| August 13 | ||
| August 20 | ||
| August 27 | ||
| September 3 | ||
| September 10 | ||
| September 17 | ||
| September 24 | ||
| October 1 | ||
| October 8 | ||
| October 15 | Across the River and into the Trees | Ernest Hemingway |
| October 22 | ||
| October 29 | ||
| November 5 | ||
| November 12 | ||
| November 19 | ||
| November 26 | ||
| December 3 | The Disenchanted | Budd Schulberg |
| December 10 | ||
| December 17 | ||
| December 24 | ||
| December 31 |
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books. [3]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | White Collar Zoo | Clare Barnes Jr. |
| January 8 | ||
| January 15 | This I Remember | Eleanor Roosevelt |
| January 22 | ||
| January 29 | ||
| February 5 | ||
| February 12 | ||
| February 19 | ||
| February 26 | ||
| March 5 | The Mature Mind | Harry Allen Overstreet |
| March 12 | ||
| March 19 | ||
| March 26 | ||
| April 2 | ||
| April 9 | ||
| April 16 | ||
| April 23 | ||
| April 30 | ||
| May 7 | Worlds in Collision | Immanuel Velikovsky |
| May 14 | ||
| May 21 | ||
| May 28 | ||
| June 4 | ||
| June 11 | ||
| June 18 | ||
| June 25 | ||
| July 2 | ||
| July 9 | Roosevelt in Retrospect | John Gunther |
| July 16 | Worlds in Collision | Immanuel Velikovsky |
| July 23 | Roosevelt in Retrospect | John Gunther |
| July 30 | ||
| August 6 | ||
| August 13 | ||
| August 20 | Worlds in Collision | Immanuel Velikovsky |
| August 27 | Courtroom | Quentin Reynolds |
| September 3 | The Little Princesses | Marion Crawford |
| September 10 | Courtroom | Quentin Reynolds |
| September 17 | ||
| September 24 | The Little Princesses | Marion Crawford |
| October 1 | Courtroom | Quentin Reynolds |
| October 8 | Kon-Tiki | Thor Heyerdahl |
| October 15 | Look Younger, Live Longer | Gayelord Hauser |
| October 22 | Kon-Tiki | Thor Heyerdahl |
| October 29 | ||
| November 5 | ||
| November 12 | ||
| November 19 | ||
| November 26 | ||
| December 3 | ||
| December 10 | ||
| December 17 | ||
| December 24 | ||
| December 31 |