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 3 | A Man in Full | Tom Wolfe |
| January 10 | ||
| January 17 | ||
| January 24 | ||
| January 31 | Southern Cross | Patricia Cornwell |
| February 7 | ||
| February 14 | ||
| February 21 | The Testament | John Grisham |
| February 28 | ||
| March 7 | ||
| March 14 | ||
| March 21 | ||
| March 28 | ||
| April 4 | ||
| April 11 | ||
| April 18 | ||
| April 25 | Bittersweet | Danielle Steel |
| May 2 | The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon | Stephen King |
| May 9 | We'll Meet Again | Mary Higgins Clark |
| May 16 | ||
| May 23 | Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace | Terry Brooks |
| May 30 | ||
| June 6 | ||
| June 13 | ||
| June 20 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | J. K. Rowling |
| June 27 | Hannibal | Thomas Harris |
| July 4 | ||
| July 11 | ||
| July 18 | ||
| July 25 | ||
| August 1 | ||
| August 8 | ||
| August 15 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | J. K. Rowling |
| August 22 | Black Notice | Patricia Cornwell |
| August 29 | ||
| September 5 | ||
| September 12 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | J. K. Rowling |
| September 19 | The Alibi | Sandra Brown |
| September 26 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | J. K. Rowling |
| October 3 | ||
| October 10 | ||
| October 17 | ||
| October 24 | ||
| October 31 | ||
| November 7 | ||
| November 14 | ||
| November 21 | ||
| November 28 | ||
| December 5 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | |
| December 12 | ||
| December 19 | ||
| December 26 |
The following list ranks the number-one best selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category. [2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 3 | The Greatest Generation | Tom Brokaw |
| January 10 | ||
| January 17 | ||
| January 24 | ||
| January 31 | ||
| February 7 | ||
| February 14 | ||
| February 21 | ||
| February 28 | ||
| March 7 | ||
| March 14 | ||
| March 21 | Monica's Story | Andrew Morton |
| March 28 | All Too Human | George Stephanopoulos |
| April 4 | ||
| April 11 | ||
| April 18 | ||
| April 25 | ||
| May 2 | The Greatest Generation | Tom Brokaw |
| May 9 | ||
| May 16 | ||
| May 23 | ||
| May 30 | ||
| June 6 | Every Man a Tiger | Tom Clancy with Chuck Horner |
| June 13 | The Greatest Generation | Tom Brokaw |
| June 20 | ||
| June 27 | ||
| July 4 | ||
| July 11 | Shadow | Bob Woodward |
| July 18 | ||
| July 25 | ||
| August 1 | ||
| August 8 | ||
| August 15 | Tuesdays with Morrie | Mitch Albom |
| August 22 | ||
| August 29 | ||
| September 5 | ||
| September 12 | ||
| September 19 | ||
| September 26 | ||
| October 3 | ||
| October 10 | 'Tis | Frank McCourt |
| October 17 | ||
| October 24 | ||
| October 31 | ||
| November 7 | ||
| November 14 | ||
| November 21 | ||
| November 28 | ||
| December 5 | Have a Nice Day! | Mick Foley |
| December 12 | Tuesdays with Morrie | Mitch Albom |
| December 19 | ||
| December 26 |