The American daily newspaper The New York Times publishes multiple weekly lists ranking the best-selling books in the United States.
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling fiction books, in the hardcover fiction category. [1]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 6 | The Talisman | Stephen King and Peter Straub |
| January 13 | ||
| January 20 | The Sicilian | Mario Puzo |
| January 27 | ||
| February 3 | If Tomorrow Comes | Sidney Sheldon |
| February 10 | ||
| February 17 | ||
| February 24 | ||
| March 3 | ||
| March 10 | ||
| March 17 | ||
| March 24 | ||
| March 31 | Family Album | Danielle Steel |
| April 7 | ||
| April 14 | ||
| April 21 | ||
| April 28 | Thinner | Richard Bachman (pseudonym for Stephen King) |
| May 5 | ||
| May 12 | ||
| May 19 | ||
| May 26 | If Tomorrow Comes | Sidney Sheldon |
| June 2 | Jubal Sackett | Louis L'Amour |
| June 9 | Hold the Dream | Barbara Taylor Bradford |
| June 16 | The Cider House Rules | John Irving |
| June 23 | Skeleton Crew | Stephen King |
| June 30 | ||
| July 7 | ||
| July 14 | ||
| July 21 | ||
| July 28 | ||
| August 4 | ||
| August 11 | ||
| August 18 | ||
| August 25 | ||
| September 1 | Lucky | Jackie Collins |
| September 8 | ||
| September 15 | Lake Wobegon Days | Garrison Keillor |
| September 22 | ||
| September 29 | ||
| October 6 | ||
| October 13 | Texas | James Michener |
| October 20 | ||
| October 27 | ||
| November 3 | ||
| November 10 | ||
| November 17 | ||
| November 24 | The Mammoth Hunters | Jean M. Auel |
| December 1 | ||
| December 8 | ||
| December 15 | ||
| December 22 | ||
| December 29 | Lake Wobegon Days | Garrison Keillor |
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category. [2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 6 | Iacocca: An Autobiography | Lee Iacocca with William Novak |
| January 13 | ||
| January 20 | ||
| January 27 | ||
| February 3 | ||
| February 10 | ||
| February 17 | ||
| February 24 | ||
| March 3 | ||
| March 10 | ||
| March 17 | ||
| March 24 | ||
| March 31 | ||
| April 7 | ||
| April 14 | ||
| April 21 | ||
| April 28 | ||
| May 5 | ||
| May 12 | ||
| May 19 | ||
| May 26 | ||
| June 2 | ||
| June 9 | A Passion for Excellence | Tom Peters and Nancy Austin |
| June 16 | Iacocca: An Autobiography | Lee Iacocca with William Novak |
| June 23 | ||
| June 30 | ||
| July 7 | ||
| July 14 | ||
| July 21 | Yeager: An Autobiography | Chuck Yeager and Leo Janos |
| July 28 | ||
| August 4 | ||
| August 11 | ||
| August 18 | ||
| August 25 | ||
| September 1 | ||
| September 8 | ||
| September 15 | ||
| September 22 | ||
| September 29 | Elvis and Me | Priscilla Beaulieu Presley with Sandra Harmon |
| October 6 | ||
| October 13 | ||
| October 20 | ||
| October 27 | ||
| November 3 | ||
| November 10 | ||
| November 17 | ||
| November 24 | ||
| December 1 | Yeager: An Autobiography | Chuck Yeager and Leo Janos |
| December 8 | ||
| December 15 | ||
| December 22 | ||
| December 29 |