This is a list of books that topped The New York Times best-seller list in 1946.
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling fiction books. The most popular title was The Hucksters which spent much of the latter half of the year (19 weeks) at the top of the list and a total of 35 weeks among the top 15. During its reign at the top, it was challenged, but never toppled, by two recognized classics, George Orwell's Animal Farm and Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men, neither of which ever reached the top spot.[1]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 6 | The Black Rose | Thomas Costain |
| January 13 | ||
| January 20 | ||
| January 27 | ||
| February 3 | The King's General | Daphne du Maurier |
| February 10 | ||
| February 17 | ||
| February 24 | ||
| March 3 | ||
| March 10 | Arch of Triumph | Erich Maria Remarque |
| March 17 | The King's General | Daphne du Maurier |
| March 24 | Arch of Triumph | Erich Maria Remarque |
| March 31 | ||
| April 7 | ||
| April 14 | ||
| April 21 | ||
| April 28 | ||
| May 5 | ||
| May 12 | This Side of Innocence | Taylor Caldwell |
| May 19 | ||
| May 26 | ||
| June 2 | ||
| June 9 | ||
| June 16 | ||
| June 23 | ||
| June 30 | ||
| July 7 | ||
| July 14 | The Hucksters | Frederic Wakeman |
| July 21 | ||
| July 28 | ||
| August 4 | ||
| August 11 | ||
| August 18 | ||
| August 25 | ||
| September 1 | ||
| September 8 | ||
| September 15 | ||
| September 22 | ||
| September 29 | ||
| October 6 | ||
| October 13 | ||
| October 20 | ||
| October 27 | ||
| November 3 | ||
| November 10 | ||
| November 17 | ||
| November 24 | East River | Sholem Asch |
| December 1 | B.F.'s Daughter | John P. Marquand |
| December 8 | ||
| December 15 | ||
| December 22 | ||
| December 29 |
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books.