The American daily newspaper The New York Times publishes multiple weekly lists ranking the best selling books in the United States. The lists are split in three genres—fiction, nonfiction and children's books. Both the fiction and nonfiction lists are further split into multiple lists.
The following list ranks the number-one best selling fiction books, in the hardcover fiction category.[1] The Da Vinci Code dominated the year, spending a cumulative 20 weeks at the top. Sales continued strong into 2004.
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 5 | Prey | Michael Crichton |
| January 12 | The Lovely Bones | Alice Sebold |
| January 19 | ||
| January 26 | Crossroads of Twilight | Robert Jordan |
| February 2 | ||
| February 9 | The Lovely Bones | Alice Sebold |
| February 16 | ||
| February 23 | The King of Torts | John Grisham |
| March 2 | ||
| March 9 | ||
| March 16 | ||
| March 23 | The Jester | James Patterson and Andrew Gross |
| March 30 | The King of Torts | John Grisham |
| April 6 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| April 13 | ||
| April 20 | Birthright | Nora Roberts |
| April 27 | Armageddon | Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins |
| May 4 | ||
| May 11 | ||
| May 18 | ||
| May 25 | ||
| June 1 | Naked Prey | John Sandford |
| June 8 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| June 15 | ||
| June 22 | ||
| June 29 | The Lake House | James Patterson |
| July 6 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| July 13 | ||
| July 20 | Johnny Angel | Danielle Steel |
| July 27 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| August 3 | To the Nines | Janet Evanovich |
| August 10 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| August 17 | ||
| August 24 | ||
| August 31 | The Teeth of the Tiger | Tom Clancy |
| September 7 | ||
| September 14 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| September 21 | ||
| September 28 | Bleachers | John Grisham |
| October 5 | ||
| October 12 | The Five People You Meet in Heaven | Mitch Albom |
| October 19 | ||
| October 26 | ||
| November 2 | Blow Fly | Patricia Cornwell |
| November 9 | The Five People You Meet in Heaven | Mitch Albom |
| November 16 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| November 23 | ||
| November 30 | ||
| December 7 | ||
| December 14 | ||
| December 21 | ||
| December 28 |
The following list ranks the number-one best selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category.
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 5 | Bush at War | Bob Woodward |
| January 12 | ||
| January 19 | Portrait of a Killer | Patricia Cornwell |
| January 26 | Bush at War | Bob Woodward |
| February 2 | The Savage Nation | Michael Savage |
| February 9 | ||
| February 16 | What Should I Do with My Life? | Po Bronson |
| February 23 | The Savage Nation | Michael Savage |
| March 2 | ||
| March 9 | Stupid White Men | Michael Moore |
| March 16 | ||
| March 23 | Devil in the White City | Erik Larson |
| March 30 | The Savage Nation | Michael Savage |
| April 6 | Stupid White Men | Michael Moore |
| April 13 | Leap of Faith | Queen Noor |
| April 20 | ||
| April 27 | What Should I Do with My Life? | Po Bronson |
| May 4 | Leap of Faith | Queen Noor |
| May 11 | ||
| May 18 | ||
| May 25 | ||
| June 1 | An Unfinished Life | Robert Dallek |
| June 8 | ||
| June 15 | ||
| June 22 | ||
| June 29 | Living History | Hillary Rodham Clinton |
| July 6 | ||
| July 13 | ||
| July 20 | ||
| July 27 | ||
| August 3 | Kate Remembered | A. Scott Berg |
| August 10 | ||
| August 17 | ||
| August 24 | ||
| August 31 | ||
| September 7 | Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them | Al Franken |
| September 14 | ||
| September 21 | ||
| September 28 | ||
| October 5 | ||
| October 12 | Who's Looking Out For You? | Bill O'Reilly |
| October 19 | Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them | Al Franken |
| October 26 | Dude, Where's My Country? | Michael Moore |
| November 2 | ||
| November 9 | ||
| November 16 | A Royal Duty | Paul Burrell |
| November 23 | Dude, Where's My Country? | Michael Moore |
| November 30 | I Am a Soldier Too | Rick Bragg |
| December 7 | Dude, Where's My Country? | Michael Moore |
| December 14 | ||
| December 21 | Who's Looking Out For You? | Bill O'Reilly |
| December 28 |