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New York Times Best Seller lists

The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is updated online every Wednesday evening. Below are best seller lists for hardcover fiction and non-fiction. For more lists, visit our New York Times Children’s Best Sellers page or The New York Times’s Best Sellers page.

Hardcover Fiction

August 17, 2008

1

The Secret Servantby Daniel Silva
Gabriel Allon, an art restorer and an occasional spy for the Israeli secret service, uncovers a Russian arms sales plot.

2

The Bourne Sanctionby Eric Van Lustbader
Robert Ludlum’s character Jason Bourne pursues the leader of a Muslim terrorist group.

3

The Hostby Stephenie Meyer
In this first adult novel by the author of the Twilight series for teenagers, aliens have taken control of the minds and bodies of most humans, but one woman won’t surrender; originally published in 2008.

4

The Story of Edgar Sawtelleby David Wroblewski
A mute takes refuge with three dogs in the Wisconsin woods after his father’s death.

5

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Societyby Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
After World War II, a journalist seeks out Guernsey residents who resisted the Nazi occupation.

6

Tributeby Nora Roberts
A former child star returns to Virginia to rehabilitate the farm owned by her grandmother, an actress who died mysteriously.

7

The Lace Readerby Brunonia Barry
Secrets of a family of Salem women who foresee the future.

8

The Last Patriotby Brad Thor
Scot Harvath, a Homeland Security superagent, searches for an ancient secret that could defeat Islamic militants.

9

Sailby James Patterson and Howard Roughan
A sailing vacation turns into a disaster when someone attempts to destroy a family.

10

Chasing Harry Winstonby Lauren Weisberger
Three glamorous friends, New York women nearing 30, vow to change their lives.

11

Damage Controlby J. A. Jance
An elderly couple’s suicide-by-accident in the mountains is not what it appears; the 13th Joanna Brady mystery.

12

Fearless Fourteenby Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum and her boyfriend Joe Morelli become involved when his cousin’s bank robbery goes bad.

13

The Clone Warsby Karen Traviss
In the years before “Revenge of the Sith,” the Republic does battle with an army of cloned soldiers; a “Star Wars” novel.

14

Love the One You're withby Emily Giffin
A woman's happy marriage is shaken when she encounters an old boyfriend.

15

Fracturedby Karin Slaughter
An Atlanta detective pursue’s a teenage girl’s killer.

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Hardcover Nonfiction

August 17, 2008

1

The Obama Nationby Jerome R. Corsi
The Democratic candidate as an extreme leftist, from the co-author of “Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry.”

2

When You Are Engulfed in Flamesby David Sedaris
The humorist’s latest essays.

3

Stori Tellingby Tori Spelling with Hilary Liftin
The actress’s memoir, from her Hollywood childhood through “Beverly Hills, 90210,” to her son’s birth.

4

Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelseaby Chelsea Handler
Humorous personal essays from the comedian.

5

Fleecedby Dick Morris and Eileen McGann
Americans are fleeced by government, business, labor unions and lobbyists.

6

The Dark Sideby Jane Mayer
How the Bush administration embraced the practice of torture.

7

Life with My Sister Madonnaby Christopher Ciccone with Wendy Leigh
What she’s really like.

8

Havana Nocturneby T. J. English
Tales of the pre-Castro days when American gangsters, led by Meyer Lansky, controlled Cuba’s casinos, hotels and nightclubs, creating an exuberant night life.

9

The Post-american World: Release 2.0by Fareed Zakaria
The rise of China and India and the global distribution of power.

10

The Monster of Florenceby Douglas Preston with Mario Spezi
An American writer who moved to Florence works with an Italian journalist to discover the identity of a local serial killer.

11

What Happenedby Scott McClellan
A former White House press secretary regrets that “I allowed myself to be deceived” by top officials.

12

My Stroke of Insightby Jill Bolte Taylor
A brain scientist shares what she learned from her 1996 stroke.

13

Auditionby Barbara Walters
A personal and professional memoir.

14

What I Talk About when I Talk About Runningby Haruki Murakami
Part training guide, part memoir, from the Japanese novelist.

15

Waiter Rantby Steve Dublanica
A waiter in an upscale New York City suburb dishes on customers’ outrageous behavior; first published anonymously in 2008.