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] Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, released in the spring of 2003, was the best seller for a second straight year, spending a cumulative 28 weeks at the top.
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 4 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| January 11 | ||
| January 18 | ||
| January 25 | ||
| February 1 | ||
| February 8 | ||
| February 15 | ||
| February 22 | The Last Juror | John Grisham |
| February 29 | ||
| March 7 | ||
| March 14 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| March 21 | 3rd Degree | James Patterson and Andrew Gross |
| March 28 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| April 4 | ||
| April 11 | ||
| April 18 | Glorious Appearing | Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins |
| April 25 | ||
| May 2 | ||
| May 9 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| May 16 | ||
| May 23 | ||
| May 30 | ||
| June 6 | ||
| June 13 | ||
| June 20 | ||
| June 27 | Song of Susannah | Stephen King |
| July 4 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| July 11 | Ten Big Ones | Janet Evanovich |
| July 18 | Sam's Letters to Jennifer | James Patterson |
| July 25 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| August 1 | "R" Is for Ricochet | Sue Grafton |
| August 8 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| August 15 | ||
| August 22 | ||
| August 29 | ||
| September 5 | ||
| September 12 | ||
| September 19 | ||
| September 26 | Trace | Patricia Cornwell |
| October 3 | ||
| October 10 | The Dark Tower | Stephen King |
| October 17 | ||
| October 24 | ||
| October 31 | Northern Lights | Nora Roberts |
| November 7 | ||
| November 14 | Hour Game | David Baldacci |
| November 21 | Metro Girl | Janet Evanovich |
| November 28 | London Bridges | James Patterson |
| December 5 | The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown |
| December 12 | Night Fall | Nelson DeMille |
| December 19 | The Five People You Meet in Heaven | Mitch Albom |
| December 26 |
The following list ranks the number-one best selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category.
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 4 | Who's Looking Out For You? | Bill O'Reilly |
| January 11 | ||
| January 18 | Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them | Al Franken |
| January 25 | My Prison Without Bars | Pete Rose with Rick Hill |
| February 1 | The Price of Loyalty | Ron Suskind |
| February 8 | ||
| February 15 | ||
| February 22 | ||
| February 29 | ||
| March 7 | Deliver Us from Evil | Sean Hannity |
| March 14 | ||
| March 21 | ||
| March 28 | ||
| April 4 | ||
| April 11 | Against All Enemies | Richard Clarke |
| April 18 | ||
| April 25 | ||
| May 2 | ||
| May 9 | Plan of Attack | Bob Woodward |
| May 16 | ||
| May 23 | ||
| May 30 | Eats, Shoots & Leaves | Lynne Truss |
| June 6 | ||
| June 13 | ||
| June 20 | Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim | David Sedaris |
| June 27 | ||
| July 4 | Big Russ and Me | Tim Russert |
| July 11 | My Life | Bill Clinton |
| July 18 | ||
| July 25 | ||
| August 1 | ||
| August 8 | ||
| August 15 | ||
| August 22 | American Soldier | Tommy Franks with Malcolm McConnell |
| August 29 | ||
| September 5 | Unfit for Command | John O'Neill with Jerome Corsi |
| September 12 | ||
| September 19 | ||
| September 26 | ||
| October 3 | The Family | Kitty Kelley |
| October 10 | Jon Stewart and The Daily Show writers | |
| October 17 | ||
| October 24 | ||
| October 31 | ||
| November 7 | ||
| November 14 | ||
| November 21 | ||
| November 28 | ||
| December 5 | ||
| December 12 | ||
| December 19 | ||
| December 26 |