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 6 | The Talisman | Stephen King and Peter Straub | |
| January 13 | |||
| January 20 | The Sicilian | Mario Puzo | |
| January 27 | |||
| February 3 | If Tomorrow Comes | Sidney Sheldon | |
| February 10 | |||
| February 17 | |||
| February 24 | |||
| March 3 | |||
| March 10 | |||
| March 17 | |||
| March 24 | |||
| March 31 | Family Album | Danielle Steel | |
| April 7 | |||
| April 14 | |||
| April 21 | |||
| April 28 | Thinner | Richard Bachman (pseudonym for Stephen King) | |
| May 5 | |||
| May 12 | |||
| May 19 | |||
| May 26 | If Tomorrow Comes | Sidney Sheldon | |
| June 2 | Jubal Sackett | Louis L'Amour | |
| June 9 | Hold the Dream | Barbara Taylor Bradford | |
| June 16 | The Cider House Rules | John Irving | |
| June 23 | Skeleton Crew | Stephen King | |
| June 30 | |||
| July 7 | |||
| July 14 | |||
| July 21 | |||
| July 28 | |||
| August 4 | |||
| August 11 | |||
| August 18 | |||
| August 25 | |||
| September 1 | Lucky | Jackie Collins | |
| September 8 | |||
| September 15 | Lake Wobegon Days | Garrison Keillor | |
| September 22 | |||
| September 29 | |||
| October 6 | |||
| October 13 | Texas | James Michener | |
| October 20 | |||
| October 27 | |||
| November 3 | |||
| November 10 | |||
| November 17 | |||
| November 24 | The Mammoth Hunters | Jean M. Auel | |
| December 1 | |||
| December 8 | |||
| December 15 | |||
| December 22 | |||
| December 29 | Lake Wobegon Days | Garrison Keillor |
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category.[2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 6 | Lee Iacocca with William Novak | |
| January 13 | ||
| January 20 | ||
| January 27 | ||
| February 3 | ||
| February 10 | ||
| February 17 | ||
| February 24 | ||
| March 3 | ||
| March 10 | ||
| March 17 | ||
| March 24 | ||
| March 31 | ||
| April 7 | ||
| April 14 | ||
| April 21 | ||
| April 28 | ||
| May 5 | ||
| May 12 | ||
| May 19 | ||
| May 26 | ||
| June 2 | ||
| June 9 | A Passion for Excellence | Tom Peters and Nancy Austin |
| June 16 | Lee Iacocca with William Novak | |
| June 23 | ||
| June 30 | ||
| July 7 | ||
| July 14 | ||
| July 21 | Chuck Yeager and Leo Janos | |
| July 28 | ||
| August 4 | ||
| August 11 | ||
| August 18 | ||
| August 25 | ||
| September 1 | ||
| September 8 | ||
| September 15 | ||
| September 22 | ||
| September 29 | Elvis and Me | Priscilla Beaulieu Presley with Sandra Harmon |
| October 6 | ||
| October 13 | ||
| October 20 | ||
| October 27 | ||
| November 3 | ||
| November 10 | ||
| November 17 | ||
| November 24 | ||
| December 1 | Chuck Yeager and Leo Janos | |
| December 8 | ||
| December 15 | ||
| December 22 | ||
| December 29 |