New York Times Best Sellers

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!

Cold Mountain

by Charles Frazier

Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Memory, Perseverance, Love, The Past, War

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, American Civil War, Military & War, Literary Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Survival Fiction, World History, Classic Fiction

Cold Mountain (1997) is a novel by Charles Frazier. It tells the story of W.P. Inman, a deserter from the Confederate Army who attempts to return home to his romantic partner, Ada. The novel won the National Book Award and was adapted into an Academy Award–winning film of the same name. This guide refers to the 2011 Sceptre edition. Content Warning: The source text contains discussions of racism, violence, abuse of women and children, and... Read Cold Mountain Summary

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

by Haruki Murakami

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Memory, Appearance & Reality, Music, The Past, Coming of Age, Mental Health

Tags Coming of Age, Japanese Literature, Realistic Fiction, Grief & Death, Trauma & Abuse, Love & Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Magical Realism

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage is a 2014 novel by renowned Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. The novel tells the story of a man who attempts to overcome past emotional suffering to make his present life more rewarding. Through Tsukuru’s point of view, we see the ripple effects of rejection and the necessity of sometimes confronting the past to make sense of who we are in the present. After a group of friends... Read Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage Summary

Come As You Are

by Emily Nagoski

Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Femininity, Sexual Identity, Marriage, Shame & Pride, Guilt, Joy

Tags Gender & Feminism, Science & Nature, Health, Relationships, Self-Improvement, Love & Sexuality, Women`s Studies, Psychology, Psychology

... Read Come As You Are Summary

Concrete Rose

by Angie Thomas

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Justice, Race, Immigration

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, Race & Racism, Social Justice, Addiction & Substance Abuse, Black Lives Matter, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Concrete Rose Summary

Counterfeit

by Kirstin Chen

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Race, Justice, Appearance & Reality

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Survival Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Counterfeit Summary

Crave

by Tracy Wolff

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Grief, Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Coming of Age, Science Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

... Read Crave Summary

Crazy Rich Asians

by Kevin Kwan

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Social Class, Family

Tags Romance, Humor, Satirical Literature, Asian Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Crazy Rich Asians is a 2013 romance comedy novel by American author Kevin Kwan about a young Asian American woman who travels with her boyfriend to his native Singapore and finds herself suddenly thrust into the cutthroat world of Asia’s uber-rich. Kwan based the novel loosely on his own experiences growing up in Singapore. It is the first novel in a three-book series, followed by China Rich Girlfriend (2015) and Rich People Problems (2017), all... Read Crazy Rich Asians Summary

Cross Down

by James Patterson

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Fear, Family, Teamwork, Politics & Government, War, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Military & War, Action & Adventure

... Read Cross Down Summary

Crucial Conversations

by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler

Publication year 2002

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Language, Conflict, Teamwork

Tags Self-Improvement, Business & Economics, Leadership, Relationships, Psychology, Psychology

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes Are High (2002) was written by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Al Switzler, and Ron McMillan. It has become a cornerstone of the field of interpersonal communication and self-improvement, offering insights into the dynamics that govern our most vital conversations. Both Kerry Patterson and Joseph Grenny are leading authorities on organizational change and have advised some of the world’s largest organizations. Al Switzler is a renowned speaker and... Read Crucial Conversations Summary

Cutting for Stone

by Abraham Verghese

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Immigration, Religion & Spirituality, Siblings

Tags Historical Fiction, Health, African Literature

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese was published in 2009. Verghese, an Indian American doctor born in Ethiopia, interrupted his medical career to attend the University of Iowa’s Writing Workshop and wrote two memoirs before publishing this novel. The book is notable for its incorporation of medical knowledge and its intimate portrayal of the lives of medical doctors. The novel spans several decades, weaving a deeply personal story with the complex 20th-century history of Ethiopia... Read Cutting for Stone Summary

Daisy Jones & The Six

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Music, Fathers, Fame

Tags Historical Fiction, Music, Modern Classic Fiction, World History

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s historical fiction novel Daisy Jones & The Six, published in 2019, is a contemporary work of fiction that explores the rich music culture of the 1970s in the United States. This time was known for rock ’n’ roll, partly as a cultural response to the strict rules of the 1960s and the disaster of the Vietnam War. The California dream world of hard partying, no rules, and freedom persists as a major... Read Daisy Jones & The Six Summary

Daring Greatly

by Brené Brown

Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Fear, Shame & Pride, Community

Tags Self-Improvement, Parenting

Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead (2012) is a self-help book that argues people need to embrace vulnerability and live courageously. Rooted in 12 years of ground-breaking research, the book shows that vulnerability is not a weakness but instead it is a measure of courage and the key to a fulfilling life. Daring Greatly is a New York Times best seller and... Read Daring Greatly Summary