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 Plains of Passage | Jean M. Auel |
| January 13 | ||
| January 20 | The Secret Pilgrim | John le Carré |
| January 27 | ||
| February 3 | Cold Fire | Dean Koontz |
| February 10 | ||
| February 17 | ||
| February 24 | Heartbeat | Danielle Steel |
| March 3 | ||
| March 10 | ||
| March 17 | ||
| March 24 | ||
| March 31 | ||
| April 7 | ||
| April 14 | ||
| April 21 | The Seeress of Kell | David Eddings |
| April 28 | ||
| May 5 | ||
| May 12 | Loves Music, Loves to Dance | Mary Higgins Clark |
| May 19 | ||
| May 26 | ||
| June 2 | ||
| June 9 | ||
| June 16 | ||
| June 23 | Oh, the Places You'll Go! | Dr. Seuss |
| June 30 | Heir to the Empire | Timothy Zahn |
| July 7 | The Kitchen God's Wife | Amy Tan |
| July 14 | ||
| July 21 | ||
| July 28 | ||
| August 4 | ||
| August 11 | ||
| August 18 | ||
| August 25 | The Sum of All Fears | Tom Clancy |
| September 1 | ||
| September 8 | ||
| September 15 | ||
| September 22 | ||
| September 29 | ||
| October 6 | ||
| October 13 | Scarlett | Alexandra Ripley |
| October 20 | ||
| October 27 | ||
| November 3 | ||
| November 10 | ||
| November 17 | ||
| November 24 | ||
| December 1 | ||
| December 8 | ||
| December 15 | ||
| December 22 | ||
| December 29 |
The following list ranks the number-one best selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category.[2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 6 | A Life on the Road | Charles Kuralt |
| January 13 | ||
| January 20 | ||
| January 27 | Iron John | Robert Bly |
| February 3 | ||
| February 10 | The Prize | Daniel Yergin |
| February 17 | Iron John | Robert Bly |
| February 24 | ||
| March 3 | ||
| March 10 | ||
| March 17 | And the Sea Will Tell | Vincent Bugliosi with Bruce B. Henderson |
| March 24 | Iron John | Robert Bly |
| March 31 | ||
| April 7 | You'll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again | Julia Phillips |
| April 14 | ||
| April 21 | ||
| April 28 | Nancy Reagan | Kitty Kelley |
| May 5 | ||
| May 12 | ||
| May 19 | ||
| May 26 | ||
| June 2 | The Commanders | Bob Woodward |
| June 9 | ||
| June 16 | ||
| June 23 | ||
| June 30 | ||
| July 7 | Iron John | Robert Bly |
| July 14 | ||
| July 21 | Chutzpah | Alan M. Dershowitz |
| July 28 | ||
| August 4 | ||
| August 11 | Iron John | Robert Bly |
| August 18 | Chutzpah | Alan M. Dershowitz |
| August 25 | Parliament of Whores | P. J. O'Rourke |
| September 1 | When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It is Time to Go Home | Erma Bombeck |
| September 8 | Uh-Oh | Robert Fulghum |
| September 15 | ||
| September 22 | Katharine Hepburn | |
| September 29 | ||
| October 6 | ||
| October 13 | ||
| October 20 | ||
| October 27 | ||
| November 3 | Den of Thieves | James B. Stewart |
| November 10 | ||
| November 17 | ||
| November 24 | ||
| December 1 | Under Fire | Oliver L. North with William Novak |
| December 8 | Katharine Hepburn | |
| December 15 | ||
| December 22 | ||
| December 29 |