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 7 | Chesapeake | James Michener |
| January 14 | ||
| January 21 | ||
| January 28 | ||
| February 4 | ||
| February 11 | ||
| February 18 | War and Remembrance | Herman Wouk |
| February 25 | Overload | Arthur Hailey |
| March 4 | Chesapeake | James Michener |
| March 11 | ||
| March 18 | Overload | Arthur Hailey |
| March 25 | War and Remembrance | Herman Wouk |
| April 1 | ||
| April 8 | The Matarese Circle | Robert Ludlum |
| April 15 | Good as Gold | Joseph Heller |
| April 22 | ||
| April 29 | The Matarese Circle | Robert Ludlum |
| May 6 | ||
| May 13 | ||
| May 20 | ||
| May 27 | ||
| June 3 | ||
| June 10 | ||
| June 17 | ||
| June 24 | ||
| July 1 | ||
| July 8 | ||
| July 15 | ||
| July 22 | Sophie's Choice | William Styron |
| July 29 | ||
| August 5 | The Matarese Circle | Robert Ludlum |
| August 12 | Sophie's Choice | William Styron |
| August 19 | ||
| August 26 | ||
| September 2 | ||
| September 9 | The Last Enchantment | Mary Stewart |
| September 16 | ||
| September 23 | ||
| September 30 | ||
| October 7 | Jailbird | Kurt Vonnegut |
| October 14 | The Dead Zone | Stephen King |
| October 21 | ||
| October 28 | The Establishment | Howard Fast |
| November 4 | Jailbird | Kurt Vonnegut |
| November 11 | The Establishment | Howard Fast |
| November 18 | ||
| November 25 | ||
| December 2 | ||
| December 9 | Triple | Ken Follett |
| December 16 | ||
| December 23 | The Establishment | Howard Fast |
| December 30 | Jailbird | Kurt Vonnegut |
The following list ranks the number-one best selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category. [2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 7 | Mommie Dearest | Christina Crawford |
| January 14 | Gnomes | text by Wil Huygen, illustrated by Rien Poortvliet |
| January 21 | Mommie Dearest | Christina Crawford |
| January 28 | ||
| February 4 | ||
| February 11 | Lauren Bacall by Myself | Lauren Bacall |
| February 18 | ||
| February 25 | ||
| March 4 | ||
| March 11 | ||
| March 18 | ||
| March 25 | ||
| April 1 | The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet | Herman Tarnower, M.D. and Samm Sinclair Baker |
| 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 | Cruel Shoes | Steve Martin |
| July 29 | The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet | Herman Tarnower, M.D. and Samm Sinclair Baker |
| August 5 | ||
| August 12 | ||
| August 19 | ||
| August 26 | ||
| September 2 | ||
| September 9 | ||
| September 16 | ||
| September 23 | ||
| September 30 | ||
| October 7 | ||
| October 14 | ||
| October 21 | ||
| October 28 | Aunt Erma's Cope Book | Erma Bombeck |
| November 4 | The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet | Herman Tarnower, M.D. and Samm Sinclair Baker |
| November 11 | ||
| November 18 | Aunt Erma's Cope Book | Erma Bombeck |
| November 25 | ||
| December 2 | ||
| December 9 | ||
| December 16 | ||
| December 23 | ||
| December 30 | The Brethren | Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong |