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 5 | Scarlett | Alexandra Ripley |
| January 12 | ||
| January 19 | ||
| January 26 | ||
| February 2 | Hideaway | Dean Koontz |
| February 9 | ||
| February 16 | ||
| February 23 | ||
| March 1 | Rising Sun | Michael Crichton |
| March 8 | ||
| March 15 | The Pelican Brief | John Grisham |
| March 22 | ||
| March 29 | ||
| April 5 | ||
| April 12 | ||
| April 19 | ||
| April 26 | ||
| May 3 | ||
| May 10 | ||
| May 17 | Jewels | Danielle Steel |
| May 24 | ||
| May 31 | ||
| June 7 | ||
| June 14 | Oh, the Places You'll Go! | Dr. Seuss |
| June 21 | ||
| June 28 | ||
| July 5 | The Pelican Brief | John Grisham |
| July 12 | ||
| July 19 | Gerald's Game | Stephen King |
| July 26 | ||
| August 2 | ||
| August 9 | ||
| August 16 | ||
| August 23 | ||
| August 30 | ||
| September 6 | ||
| September 13 | ||
| September 20 | Where Is Joe Merchant? | Jimmy Buffett |
| September 27 | The Pelican Brief | John Grisham |
| October 4 | Where Is Joe Merchant? | Jimmy Buffett |
| October 11 | ||
| October 18 | The Stars Shine Down | Sidney Sheldon |
| October 25 | The Tale of the Body Thief | Anne Rice |
| November 1 | ||
| November 8 | ||
| November 15 | ||
| November 22 | Mixed Blessings | Danielle Steel |
| November 29 | ||
| December 6 | Dolores Claiborne | Stephen King |
| December 13 | ||
| December 20 | ||
| December 27 |
The following list ranks the number-one best selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category.[2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 5 | Katharine Hepburn | |
| January 12 | ||
| January 19 | Den of Thieves | James B. Stewart |
| January 26 | ||
| February 2 | ||
| February 9 | Revolution from Within | Gloria Steinem |
| February 16 | ||
| February 23 | ||
| March 1 | ||
| March 8 | ||
| March 15 | ||
| March 22 | ||
| March 29 | ||
| April 5 | ||
| April 12 | ||
| April 19 | ||
| April 26 | ||
| May 3 | ||
| May 10 | Give War a Chance | P. J. O'Rourke |
| May 17 | ||
| May 24 | Revolution from Within | Gloria Steinem |
| May 31 | Give War a Chance | P. J. O'Rourke |
| June 7 | The Silent Passage | Gail Sheehy |
| June 14 | ||
| June 21 | ||
| June 28 | ||
| July 5 | Diana: Her True Story | Andrew Morton |
| July 12 | ||
| July 19 | ||
| July 26 | ||
| August 2 | ||
| August 9 | ||
| August 16 | ||
| August 23 | The Silent Passage | Gail Sheehy |
| August 30 | ||
| September 6 | ||
| September 13 | Every Living Thing | James Herriot |
| September 20 | ||
| September 27 | The Way Things Ought to Be | Rush H. Limbaugh |
| October 4 | ||
| October 11 | ||
| October 18 | ||
| October 25 | ||
| November 1 | ||
| November 8 | Sex | Madonna |
| November 15 | ||
| November 22 | ||
| November 29 | The Way Things Ought to Be | Rush H. Limbaugh |
| December 6 | ||
| December 13 | ||
| December 20 | ||
| December 27 |