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 | An Indecent Obsession | Colleen McCullough |
| January 10 | ||
| January 17 | ||
| January 24 | ||
| January 31 | ||
| February 7 | ||
| February 14 | The Hotel New Hampshire | John Irving |
| February 21 | An Indecent Obsession | Colleen McCullough |
| February 28 | North and South | John Jakes |
| March 7 | ||
| March 14 | ||
| March 21 | The Parsifal Mosaic | Robert Ludlum |
| March 28 | ||
| April 4 | ||
| April 11 | ||
| April 18 | ||
| April 25 | ||
| May 2 | ||
| May 9 | ||
| May 16 | ||
| May 23 | ||
| May 30 | ||
| June 6 | The Man from St. Petersburg | Ken Follett |
| June 13 | The Parsifal Mosaic | Robert Ludlum |
| June 20 | ||
| June 27 | ||
| July 4 | The Prodigal Daughter | Jeffrey Archer |
| July 11 | The Parsifal Mosaic | Robert Ludlum |
| July 18 | ||
| July 25 | The Prodigal Daughter | Jeffrey Archer |
| August 1 | ||
| August 8 | ||
| August 15 | Different Seasons | Stephen King |
| August 22 | The Prodigal Daughter | Jeffrey Archer |
| August 29 | Different Seasons | Stephen King |
| September 5 | ||
| September 12 | Master of the Game | Sidney Sheldon |
| September 19 | ||
| September 26 | ||
| October 3 | ||
| October 10 | Space | James Michener |
| October 17 | ||
| October 24 | ||
| October 31 | ||
| November 7 | ||
| November 14 | ||
| November 21 | ||
| November 28 | ||
| December 5 | ||
| 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 | A Light in the Attic | Shel Silverstein |
| January 10 | ||
| January 17 | ||
| January 24 | ||
| January 31 | ||
| February 7 | ||
| February 14 | ||
| February 21 | ||
| February 28 | ||
| March 7 | A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney | Andrew A. Rooney |
| March 14 | Jane Fonda's Workout Book | Jane Fonda |
| March 21 | ||
| March 28 | ||
| April 4 | ||
| April 11 | ||
| April 18 | ||
| April 25 | ||
| May 2 | ||
| May 9 | ||
| May 16 | ||
| May 23 | ||
| May 30 | ||
| June 6 | Living Loving and Learning | Leo Buscaglia |
| June 13 | Jane Fonda's Workout Book | Jane Fonda |
| June 20 | ||
| June 27 | ||
| July 4 | ||
| July 11 | ||
| July 18 | ||
| July 25 | ||
| August 1 | ||
| August 8 | Life Extension | Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw |
| August 15 | ||
| August 22 | Jane Fonda's Workout Book | Jane Fonda |
| August 29 | Life Extension | Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw |
| September 5 | ||
| September 12 | Jane Fonda's Workout Book | Jane Fonda |
| September 19 | ||
| September 26 | ||
| October 3 | ||
| October 10 | Life Extension | Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw |
| October 17 | ||
| October 24 | ||
| October 31 | Jane Fonda's Workout Book | Jane Fonda |
| November 7 | ||
| November 14 | ||
| November 21 | And More by Andy Rooney | Andrew A. Rooney |
| November 28 | ||
| December 5 | ||
| December 12 | ||
| December 19 | ||
| December 26 |