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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

September 7, 2008

1

The Force Unleashedby Sean Williams
An apprentice to Darth Vader is dispatched to kill the last of his master’s enemies; a “Star Wars” novel.

2

Smoke Screenby Sandra Brown
Scandalous deaths thwart the investigation of a fatal fire at the police headquarters in Charleston, S.C.

3

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.

4

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

5

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.

6

Acheronby Sherrilyn Kenyon
Book 12 of the Dark-Hunter paranormal series.

7

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.

8

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

9

Off Seasonby Anne Rivers Siddons
A widow returns to her hometown in Maine.

10

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

11

The Mercedes Coffinby Faye Kellerman
Decker and Lazarus investigate cases of murder victims found in Mercedes-Benz trunks.

12

Being Elizabethby Barbara Taylor Bradford
A 25-year-old newly in control of her family’s corporate empire faces tough choices in business and in love.

13

The Gargoyleby Andrew Davidson
A hideously burned man is cared for by a sculptress who claims they were lovers seven centuries ago.

14

Foreign Bodyby Robin Cook
A medical student investigates a rising number of deaths among medical tourists at foreign hospitals.

15

Rough Justiceby Jack Higgins
Violence and intrigue await an American agent in Kosovo.

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Hardcover Nonfiction

September 7, 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

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

3

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

4

The Limits of Powerby Andrew Bacevich
A retired Army colonel argues that Americans themselves are responsible for the country’s woes.

5

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

6

The Case Against Barack Obamaby David Freddoso
The Democratic candidate as a calculating extreme leftist.

7

The Way of the Worldby Ron Suskind
How the Bush administration manipulated evidence about Iraq in its rush to war and other post-9/11 issues.

8

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

9

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

10

Trafficby Tom Vanderbilt
Why we drive the way we do.

11

Night of the Gunby David Carr
A New York Times columnist and reporter recounts his past as a crack addict, and how he got his life back.

12

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

13

The Wrecking Crewby Thomas Frank
The deliberate mismanagement of Republican rule.

14

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.

15

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