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 | The Tommyknockers | Stephen King |
| January 10 | ||
| January 17 | ||
| January 24 | The Bonfire of the Vanities | Tom Wolfe |
| January 31 | ||
| February 7 | ||
| February 14 | ||
| February 21 | ||
| February 28 | ||
| March 6 | ||
| March 13 | ||
| March 20 | The Icarus Agenda | Robert Ludlum |
| March 27 | ||
| April 3 | ||
| April 10 | ||
| April 17 | ||
| April 24 | ||
| May 1 | ||
| May 8 | ||
| May 15 | Zoya | Danielle Steel |
| May 22 | ||
| May 29 | ||
| June 5 | ||
| June 12 | ||
| June 19 | ||
| June 26 | ||
| July 3 | Alaska | James Michener |
| July 10 | ||
| July 17 | ||
| July 24 | ||
| July 31 | ||
| August 7 | The Cardinal of the Kremlin | Tom Clancy |
| August 14 | ||
| August 21 | ||
| August 28 | ||
| September 4 | ||
| September 11 | ||
| September 18 | ||
| September 25 | ||
| October 2 | ||
| October 9 | ||
| October 16 | ||
| October 23 | ||
| October 30 | The Queen of the Damned | Anne Rice |
| November 6 | ||
| November 13 | ||
| November 20 | The Sands of Time | Sidney Sheldon |
| November 27 | ||
| December 4 | ||
| December 11 | ||
| December 18 | ||
| December 25 |
The following list ranks the number-one best selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category. [2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 3 | Time Flies | Bill Cosby |
| January 10 | ||
| January 17 | Trump: The Art of the Deal | Donald J. Trump with Tony Schwartz |
| January 24 | ||
| January 31 | ||
| February 7 | ||
| February 14 | ||
| February 21 | ||
| February 28 | ||
| March 6 | ||
| March 13 | ||
| March 20 | ||
| March 27 | ||
| April 3 | ||
| April 10 | Love, Medicine and Miracles | Bernie S. Siegel |
| April 17 | Trump: The Art of the Deal | Donald J. Trump with Tony Schwartz |
| April 24 | Love, Medicine and Miracles | Bernie S. Siegel |
| May 1 | ||
| May 8 | ||
| May 15 | Moonwalk | Michael Jackson |
| May 22 | ||
| May 29 | For The Record | Donald T. Regan |
| June 5 | ||
| June 12 | ||
| June 19 | ||
| June 26 | A Brief History of Time | Stephen W. Hawking |
| July 3 | Talking Straight | Lee Iacocca with Sonny Kleinfield |
| July 10 | ||
| July 17 | A Brief History of Time | Stephen W. Hawking |
| 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 | ||
| October 30 | ||
| November 6 | ||
| November 13 | ||
| November 20 | The Last Lion | William Manchester |
| November 27 | ||
| December 4 | Gracie | George Burns |
| December 11 | ||
| December 18 | ||
| December 25 |