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 1 | The Silmarillion | J. R. R. Tolkien |
| January 8 | ||
| January 15 | ||
| January 22 | ||
| January 29 | ||
| February 5 | ||
| February 12 | ||
| February 19 | ||
| February 26 | ||
| March 5 | ||
| March 12 | Bloodline | Sidney Sheldon |
| March 19 | ||
| March 26 | ||
| April 2 | ||
| April 9 | ||
| April 16 | ||
| April 23 | ||
| April 30 | ||
| May 7 | ||
| May 14 | ||
| May 21 | ||
| May 28 | ||
| June 4 | The Thorn Birds | Colleen McCullough |
| June 11 | Bloodline | Sidney Sheldon |
| June 18 | Scruples | Judith Krantz |
| June 25 | ||
| July 2 | ||
| July 9 | The Holcroft Covenant | Robert Ludlum |
| July 16 | Scruples | Judith Krantz |
| July 23 | Chesapeake | James Michener |
| July 30 | ||
| August 6 | ||
| August 13 | Not published due to 1978 New York City newspaper strike | |
| August 20 | ||
| August 27 | ||
| September 3 | ||
| September 10 | ||
| September 17 | ||
| September 24 | ||
| October 1 | ||
| October 8 | ||
| October 15 | ||
| October 22 | ||
| October 29 | ||
| November 5 | ||
| November 12 | War and Remembrance | Herman Wouk |
| November 19 | ||
| November 26 | ||
| December 3 | ||
| December 10 | ||
| December 17 | ||
| December 24 | Chesapeake | James Michener |
| December 31 | ||
The following list ranks the number-one best selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category. [2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | All Things Wise and Wonderful | James Herriot |
| January 8 | ||
| January 15 | ||
| January 22 | ||
| January 29 | ||
| February 5 | ||
| February 12 | ||
| February 19 | ||
| February 26 | The Complete Book of Running | James F. Fixx |
| March 5 | ||
| March 12 | ||
| March 19 | The Ends of Power | H. R. Haldeman with Joseph DiMona |
| March 26 | ||
| April 2 | The Complete Book of Running | James F. Fixx |
| April 9 | ||
| April 16 | ||
| April 23 | ||
| April 30 | ||
| May 7 | ||
| May 14 | ||
| May 21 | ||
| May 28 | If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? | Erma Bombeck |
| June 4 | ||
| June 11 | ||
| June 18 | ||
| June 25 | ||
| July 2 | ||
| July 9 | ||
| July 16 | ||
| July 23 | ||
| July 30 | ||
| August 6 | ||
| August 13 | Not published due to 1978 New York City newspaper strike | |
| August 20 | ||
| August 27 | ||
| September 3 | ||
| September 10 | ||
| September 17 | ||
| September 24 | ||
| October 1 | ||
| October 8 | ||
| October 15 | ||
| October 22 | ||
| October 29 | ||
| November 5 | ||
| November 12 | If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? | Erma Bombeck |
| November 19 | ||
| November 26 | Mommie Dearest | Christina Crawford |
| December 3 | ||
| December 10 | ||
| December 17 | ||
| December 24 | ||
| December 31 | ||