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 2004
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Inspirational, Action / Adventure, Travel Literature, Animals, Arts / Culture, Philosophy, Relationships, Religion / Spirituality, Science / Nature, Music, Sports, Biography
Between a Rock and a Hard Place is a 2004 adventure and survival memoir by American mountain climber Aron Ralston. The narrative focuses on Ralston’s near-death experience when his arm became stuck under a boulder in a canyon in Utah, where he remained trapped for five days until he amputated his arm. Dealing with profound existential themes, the book garnered critical acclaim and became a New York Times bestseller. A 2010 film adaptation titled 127... Read Between a Rock and a Hard Place Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Travel Literature, Health / Medicine, Biography
Publication year 2023
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Self Help, Philosophy
Publication year 2022
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fame, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Arts / Culture, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography, Mental Illness
Publication year 2015
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude
Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Psychology, Arts / Culture, Inspirational, Psychology
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (2015) is a self-help guide by author and journalist Elizabeth Gilbert. This New York Times bestseller outlines six elements of creativity: courage, permission, enchantment, persistence, trust, and divinity. Gilbert uses anecdotes from her life and writing career, as well as the work of others, to explain these concepts, and presents her views and philosophical musings about creativity and inspiration. The work explores themes such as The Importance of Play... Read Big Magic Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Self Discovery
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1994
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Language
Tags Self Help, Humor, Arts / Culture, Biography
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott was originally published in 1994. Many of Lamott’s books have been on the New York Times bestsellers list, which qualifies her to offer advice about how to write. She also taught at writing conferences and at UC Davis, received a Guggenheim Fellowship, and was inducted into the California Hall of Fame. Bird by Bird is a combination of memoir, self-help book, and writing... Read Bird By Bird Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health
Tags Psychology, Self Help
Publication year 2023
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, African American Literature, History: World, Humor
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags LGBTQ, Afro-Caribbean Literature, Fantasy
Marlon James’s Black Leopard, Red Wolf (2019) is a dark fantasy novel. It’s the first title in his Dark Star Trilogy, and a fusion of conventional epic storytelling, oral tradition, and creative folklore. A finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, as well as one of Washington Post’s Top Ten Books of 2019, this novel had its film rights purchased only weeks after publication.Plot SummaryAn interrogation frames the story: Tracker, a mercenary, recounts his... Read Black Leopard, Red Wolf Summary
Publication year 1994
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Arts / Culture, Relationships, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction
Book Scavenger (2015) is the debut novel by children’s author Jennifer Chambliss Bertman. Upon publication, it immediately became a New York Times bestseller and soon after the book was named an Amazon Book of the Year, Indie Top Ten Pick, and received more than 20 state awards and nominations. Book Scavenger has since been translated into 12 languages. Book Scavenger is the first volume in a Middle Grade Detective series of the same name. Other... Read Book Scavenger Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community
Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, LGBTQ, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Business / Economics, Journalism, Politics / Government
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Gender
Tags Parenting, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Sociology, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Immigration, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Relationships: Family
Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, Irish Literature, American Literature, History: World
Brooklyn is a 2009 historical fiction novel written by Colm Tóibín. The book follows Eilis Lacey as she emigrates from Ireland to Brooklyn in the 1950s, finding a job in a department store and falling in love with a young Italian man named Tony. Despite her new life in Brooklyn, Eilis makes a return to Enniscorthy, the same town Colm Tóibín was born and raised in, when her older sister Rose dies. While there, she... Read Brooklyn Summary
Publication year 2007
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Identity: Language
Tags Romance, LGBTQ, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction
IntroductionCall Me By Your Name by André Aciman is a piece of literary fiction in the subgenres of romance literature and queer literature. Published in 2007, the novel became a bestseller, received positive critical reception, and won the 2008 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction. The 2017 film adaptation of Call Me By Your Name, directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer, won, among other accolades, the Academy Award for Best Adapted... Read Call Me By Your Name Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Inspirational, Military / War, Business / Economics, History: World, Biography, Politics / Government