This is a list of books that topped The New York Times best-seller list in 1951.
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling fiction books. [1]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 7 | The Disenchanted | Budd Schulberg |
| January 14 | Joy Street | Frances Parkinson Keyes |
| January 21 | ||
| January 28 | ||
| February 4 | ||
| February 11 | ||
| February 18 | The Disenchanted | Budd Schulberg |
| February 25 | Joy Street | Frances Parkinson Keyes |
| March 4 | ||
| March 11 | The Disenchanted | Budd Schulberg |
| March 18 | Joy Street | Frances Parkinson Keyes |
| March 25 | From Here to Eternity | James Jones |
| April 1 | ||
| April 8 | ||
| April 15 | ||
| April 22 | ||
| April 29 | ||
| May 6 | ||
| May 13 | ||
| May 20 | ||
| May 27 | ||
| June 3 | ||
| June 10 | ||
| June 17 | ||
| June 24 | ||
| July 1 | ||
| July 8 | ||
| July 15 | ||
| July 22 | ||
| July 29 | ||
| August 5 | ||
| August 12 | The Caine Mutiny | Herman Wouk |
| August 19 | ||
| August 26 | ||
| September 2 | ||
| September 9 | ||
| September 16 | ||
| September 23 | ||
| September 30 | ||
| October 7 | ||
| October 14 | ||
| October 21 | ||
| October 28 | ||
| November 4 | ||
| November 11 | ||
| November 18 | ||
| November 25 | ||
| December 2 | ||
| December 9 | ||
| December 16 | ||
| December 23 | ||
| December 30 |
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books. [2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 7 | Kon-Tiki | Thor Heyerdahl |
| January 14 | ||
| January 21 | ||
| January 28 | ||
| February 4 | ||
| February 11 | ||
| February 18 | ||
| February 25 | ||
| March 4 | ||
| March 11 | ||
| March 18 | ||
| March 25 | ||
| April 1 | Washington Confidential | Jack Lait and Lee Mortimer |
| April 8 | ||
| April 15 | ||
| April 22 | ||
| April 29 | ||
| May 6 | ||
| May 13 | ||
| May 20 | ||
| May 27 | ||
| June 3 | ||
| June 10 | ||
| June 17 | ||
| June 24 | ||
| July 1 | Kon-Tiki | Thor Heyerdahl |
| July 8 | ||
| July 15 | ||
| July 22 | ||
| July 29 | ||
| August 5 | ||
| August 12 | ||
| August 19 | ||
| August 26 | ||
| September 2 | ||
| September 9 | The Sea Around Us | Rachel Carson |
| September 16 | ||
| September 23 | ||
| September 30 | ||
| October 7 | ||
| October 14 | ||
| October 21 | ||
| October 28 | ||
| November 4 | ||
| November 11 | ||
| November 18 | ||
| November 25 | ||
| December 2 | ||
| December 9 | ||
| December 16 | ||
| December 23 | ||
| December 30 |