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 7 | Chesapeake | James Michener | |
| January 14 | |||
| January 21 | |||
| January 28 | |||
| February 4 | |||
| February 11 | |||
| February 18 | War and Remembrance | Herman Wouk | |
| February 25 | Overload | Arthur Hailey | |
| March 4 | Chesapeake | James Michener | |
| March 11 | |||
| March 18 | Overload | Arthur Hailey | |
| March 25 | War and Remembrance | Herman Wouk | |
| April 1 | |||
| April 8 | The Matarese Circle | Robert Ludlum | |
| April 15 | Good as Gold | Joseph Heller | |
| April 22 | |||
| April 29 | The Matarese Circle | Robert Ludlum | |
| May 6 | |||
| May 13 | |||
| May 20 | |||
| May 27 | |||
| June 3 | |||
| June 10 | |||
| June 17 | |||
| June 24 | |||
| July 1 | |||
| July 8 | |||
| July 15 | |||
| July 22 | Sophie's Choice | William Styron | |
| July 29 | |||
| August 5 | The Matarese Circle | Robert Ludlum | |
| August 12 | Sophie's Choice | William Styron | |
| August 19 | |||
| August 26 | |||
| September 2 | |||
| September 9 | The Last Enchantment | Mary Stewart | |
| September 16 | |||
| September 23 | |||
| September 30 | |||
| October 7 | Jailbird | Kurt Vonnegut | |
| October 14 | The Dead Zone | Stephen King | |
| October 21 | |||
| October 28 | The Establishment | Howard Fast | |
| November 4 | Jailbird | Kurt Vonnegut | |
| November 11 | The Establishment | Howard Fast | |
| November 18 | |||
| November 25 | |||
| December 2 | |||
| December 9 | Triple | Ken Follett | |
| December 16 | |||
| December 23 | The Establishment | Howard Fast | |
| December 30 | Jailbird | Kurt Vonnegut |
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category.[2]
| Date | Book | Author | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 7 | Mommie Dearest | Christina Crawford | |
| January 14 | Gnomes | text by Wil Huygen, illustrated by Rien Poortvliet | |
| January 21 | Mommie Dearest | Christina Crawford | |
| January 28 | |||
| February 4 | |||
| February 11 | Lauren Bacall by Myself | Lauren Bacall | |
| February 18 | |||
| February 25 | |||
| March 4 | |||
| March 11 | |||
| March 18 | |||
| March 25 | |||
| April 1 | The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet | Herman Tarnower, M.D. and Samm Sinclair Baker | |
| April 8 | |||
| April 15 | |||
| April 22 | |||
| April 29 | |||
| May 6 | |||
| May 13 | |||
| May 20 | |||
| May 27 | |||
| June 3 | |||
| June 10 | |||
| June 17 | |||
| June 24 | |||
| July 1 | |||
| July 8 | |||
| July 15 | |||
| July 22 | Cruel Shoes | Steve Martin | |
| July 29 | The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet | Herman Tarnower, M.D. and Samm Sinclair Baker | |
| August 5 | |||
| August 12 | |||
| August 19 | |||
| August 26 | |||
| September 2 | |||
| September 9 | |||
| September 16 | |||
| September 23 | |||
| September 30 | |||
| October 7 | |||
| October 14 | |||
| October 21 | |||
| October 28 | Aunt Erma's Cope Book | Erma Bombeck | |
| November 4 | The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet | Herman Tarnower, M.D. and Samm Sinclair Baker | |
| November 11 | |||
| November 18 | Aunt Erma's Cope Book | Erma Bombeck | |
| November 25 | |||
| December 2 | |||
| December 9 | |||
| December 16 | |||
| December 23 | |||
| December 30 | The Brethren | Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong |