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 | Jailbird | Kurt Vonnegut |
| January 13 | ||
| January 20 | Smiley's People | John le Carré |
| January 27 | ||
| February 3 | ||
| February 10 | ||
| February 17 | Princess Daisy | Judith Krantz |
| February 24 | ||
| March 2 | ||
| March 9 | ||
| March 16 | ||
| March 23 | The Bourne Identity | Robert Ludlum |
| March 30 | ||
| April 6 | ||
| April 13 | ||
| April 20 | ||
| April 27 | ||
| May 4 | ||
| May 11 | ||
| May 18 | ||
| May 25 | ||
| June 1 | ||
| June 8 | ||
| June 15 | ||
| June 22 | ||
| June 29 | ||
| July 6 | ||
| July 13 | Rage of Angels | Sidney Sheldon |
| July 20 | ||
| July 27 | ||
| August 3 | ||
| August 10 | ||
| August 17 | ||
| August 24 | ||
| August 31 | ||
| September 7 | ||
| September 14 | ||
| September 21 | ||
| September 28 | Firestarter | Stephen King |
| October 5 | ||
| October 12 | ||
| October 19 | The Key to Rebecca | Ken Follett |
| October 26 | ||
| November 2 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| November 9 | ||
| November 16 | ||
| November 23 | ||
| November 30 | ||
| December 7 | ||
| December 14 | ||
| December 21 | ||
| December 28 |
The following list ranks the number-one best selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category. [2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 6 | Aunt Erma's Cope Book | Erma Bombeck |
| January 13 | ||
| January 20 | ||
| January 27 | The Brethren | Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong |
| February 3 | ||
| February 10 | ||
| February 17 | ||
| February 24 | ||
| March 2 | ||
| March 9 | ||
| March 16 | ||
| March 23 | Donahue | Phil Donahue |
| March 30 | ||
| April 6 | Free to Choose | Milton Friedman and Rose Friedman |
| April 13 | ||
| April 20 | ||
| April 27 | ||
| May 4 | ||
| May 11 | ||
| May 18 | Men in Love | Nancy Friday |
| May 25 | Thy Neighbor's Wife | Nancy Friday |
| June 1 | ||
| June 8 | ||
| June 15 | ||
| June 22 | ||
| June 29 | ||
| July 6 | ||
| July 13 | ||
| July 20 | ||
| July 27 | ||
| August 3 | Shelley: Also known as Shirley | Shelley Winters |
| August 10 | ||
| August 17 | ||
| August 24 | ||
| August 31 | ||
| September 7 | ||
| September 14 | ||
| September 21 | Crisis Investing | Doug R. Casey |
| September 28 | ||
| October 5 | ||
| October 12 | ||
| October 19 | ||
| October 26 | ||
| November 2 | ||
| November 9 | Cosmos | Carl Sagan |
| November 16 | ||
| November 23 | ||
| November 30 | ||
| December 7 | ||
| December 14 | ||
| December 21 | ||
| December 28 |