Since 1931, the country's best-selling books have appeared on an authoritative weekly list in the New York Times, a list that has transformed into a resource for readers and booksellers alike. Read on to discover both past and present best sellers—you just might find your next book club pick!
Publication year 2018
Genre Collection of Letters, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Indigenous, Natural World: Place, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Jewish Literature, History: World, Politics / Government, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Business / Economics, Education
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Society: War, Relationships: Fathers, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Grief / Death, American Civil War, Religion / Spirituality, History: U.S., Race / Racism, American Literature, History: World
The novel Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, published by Random House in 2017, offers a portrait of an American legend in mourning, surrounded by a poignant but funny cast of 166 characters. It is Saunders’s debut novel, though he has been a notable author of short story collections for decades. The novel won the prestigious Man Booker Prize and was a New York Times best seller.Set in 1862, Lincoln in the Bardo is... Read Lincoln in the Bardo Summary
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Politics & Government, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Leadership/Organization/Management, Politics / Government, Science / Nature
Little Brother, a dystopian young adult novel written by Cory Doctorow, was published by Tor Teen books in 2008. The book debuted at number nine on The New York Times Bestseller list and was a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2009. Little Brother also won the 2009 White Pine Award, Prometheus Award, and John W. Campbell Memorial Award. The story takes place in the near future and chronicles the efforts of... Read Little Brother Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Community, Self Discovery
Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, Gothic Literature, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Holidays & Occasions, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
A National Book Award finalist, Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks (2019) by Jason Reynolds chronicles 10 stories of adolescents attending Latimer Middle School. The stories take place within 10 blocks of the school as each character journeys homeward at the end of the school day. Look Both Ways follows the lauded Ghost and Long Way Down, both of which explore the experiences of Black young adults in America. In Look Both... Read Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Teams
Tags Fantasy, Mythology, Action / Adventure, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Gender / Feminism, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, American Literature, Romance
Publication year 2021
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mythology, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Poverty, WWI / World War I, Russian Literature, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Race / Racism, Black Lives Matter, History: U.S., Social Justice, American Literature, African American Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Art, Self Discovery, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags History: World, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Relationships: Family
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Society: Class
Tags Romance, Relationships, Grief / Death, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ, Bullying, Depression / Suicide, Parenting, Love / Sexuality, Social Justice, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Diversity, Relationships, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Relationships: Teams, Identity: Masculinity
Tags Self Help, Inspirational, Psychology, Leadership/Organization/Management, Military / War, Business / Economics, Psychology, Biography
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…and Maybe the World is a work of self-help psychology by Admiral William H. McRaven. The book is a continuation and expansion of a commencement speech McRaven delivered at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014, which went viral on the internet. Formerly a high-ranking officer of the US Navy and Commander of US Special Operations Command, McRaven relates his experiences in Navy SEAL training to... Read Make Your Bed Summary
Publication year 2006
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War
Tags Crime / Legal, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Military / War, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Biography
Manhunt: The Twelve-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer (2006) by James L. Swanson is a popular true-crime historical thriller about the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865 and the search for the assassin John Wilkes Booth. James Swanson has written several books about Abraham Lincoln and other events in American history including the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The book won the Edgar Award, a literary award for fiction and non-fiction works... Read Manhunt Summary