This is a list of books that topped The New York Times best-seller list in 1940. When the list began in 1931 through 1941 it only reflected sales in the New York City area.[1]
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling fiction books.
The two most popular books that year were How Green Was My Valley, by Richard Llewellyn, which held on top of the list for 13 weeks, and Stars on the Sea by F. Van Wyck Mason, which was on top of the list for 10 weeks.[2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | The Nazarene | Sholem Asch |
| January 8 | ||
| January 15 | ||
| January 22 | ||
| January 29 | ||
| February 5 | Kitty Foyle | Christopher Morley |
| February 12 | The Nazarene | Sholem Asch |
| February 19 | Kitty Foyle | Christopher Morley |
| February 26 | ||
| March 4 | How Green Was My Valley | Richard Llewellyn |
| March 11 | ||
| March 18 | Native Son | Richard Wright |
| March 25 | How Green Was My Valley | Richard Llewellyn |
| April 1 | ||
| April 8 | ||
| April 15 | ||
| April 22 | ||
| April 29 | ||
| May 6 | ||
| May 13 | ||
| May 20 | ||
| May 27 | ||
| June 3 | ||
| June 10 | Stars on the Sea | F. Van Wyck Mason |
| June 17 | ||
| June 24 | ||
| July 1 | ||
| July 8 | ||
| July 15 | ||
| July 22 | ||
| July 29 | ||
| August 5 | ||
| August 12 | ||
| August 19 | Mrs. Miniver | Jan Struther |
| August 26 | ||
| September 2 | ||
| September 9 | The Beloved Returns | Thomas Mann |
| September 16 | ||
| September 23 | Mrs. Miniver | Jan Struther |
| September 30 | You Can't Go Home Again | Thomas Wolfe |
| October 7 | ||
| October 14 | Mrs. Miniver | Jan Struther |
| October 21 | ||
| October 28 | For Whom the Bell Tolls | Ernest Hemingway |
| November 4 | ||
| November 11 | ||
| November 18 | ||
| November 25 | ||
| December 2 | Oliver Wiswell | Kenneth Roberts |
| December 9 | ||
| December 16 | ||
| December 23 | ||
| December 30 |
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books.