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 2 | Space | James Michener |
| January 9 | ||
| January 16 | ||
| January 23 | ||
| January 30 | ||
| February 6 | ||
| February 13 | ||
| February 20 | Mistral's Daughter | Judith Krantz |
| February 27 | Space | James Michener |
| March 6 | ||
| March 13 | ||
| March 20 | The Little Drummer Girl | John le Carré |
| March 27 | ||
| April 3 | ||
| April 10 | ||
| April 17 | ||
| April 24 | ||
| May 1 | ||
| May 8 | ||
| May 15 | ||
| May 22 | ||
| May 29 | ||
| June 5 | ||
| June 12 | Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: The Storybook Based on the Movie | Joan D. Vinge |
| June 19 | ||
| June 26 | ||
| July 3 | ||
| July 10 | ||
| July 17 | ||
| July 24 | ||
| July 31 | ||
| August 7 | The Name of the Rose | Umberto Eco |
| August 14 | ||
| August 21 | ||
| August 28 | ||
| September 4 | ||
| September 11 | Poland | James Michener |
| September 18 | ||
| September 25 | ||
| October 2 | ||
| October 9 | ||
| October 16 | ||
| October 23 | ||
| October 30 | ||
| November 6 | ||
| November 13 | Pet Sematary | Stephen King |
| November 20 | ||
| November 27 | ||
| December 4 | ||
| December 11 | ||
| December 18 | ||
| December 25 | Poland | James Michener |
The following list ranks the number-one best selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category. [2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 2 | And More by Andy Rooney | Andrew A. Rooney |
| January 9 | ||
| January 16 | ||
| January 23 | Jane's Fonda Workout Book | Jane Fonda |
| January 30 | ||
| February 6 | ||
| February 13 | ||
| February 20 | ||
| February 27 | Megatrends | John Naisbitt |
| March 6 | Jane's Fonda Workout Book | Jane Fonda |
| March 13 | Megatrends | John Naisbitt |
| March 20 | ||
| March 27 | ||
| April 3 | ||
| April 10 | ||
| April 17 | ||
| April 24 | In Search of Excellence | Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman Jr |
| May 1 | ||
| May 8 | ||
| May 15 | ||
| May 22 | ||
| May 29 | ||
| June 5 | ||
| June 12 | ||
| June 19 | ||
| June 26 | ||
| July 3 | Megatrends | John Naisbitt |
| July 10 | In Search of Excellence | Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman Jr |
| July 17 | ||
| July 24 | ||
| July 31 | ||
| August 7 | ||
| August 14 | ||
| August 21 | ||
| August 28 | ||
| September 4 | ||
| September 11 | ||
| September 18 | ||
| September 25 | ||
| October 2 | ||
| October 9 | ||
| October 16 | ||
| October 23 | Motherhood: The Second Oldest Profession | Erma Bombeck |
| October 30 | ||
| November 6 | ||
| November 13 | ||
| November 20 | ||
| November 27 | ||
| December 4 | ||
| December 11 | ||
| December 18 | ||
| December 25 |