Skip to content

Search our website or catalog

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

December 21, 2008

1

Scarpettaby Patricia Cornwell
The forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta takes an assignment in New York City.

2

The Christmas Sweaterby Glenn Beck with Kevin Balfe and Jason Wright
A boy learns from his disappointment with his mother’s gift.

3

Cross Countryby James Patterson
Alex Cross chases the leader of a lethal teenage gang.

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

Arctic Driftby Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler
In his 20th adventure, Dirk Pitt searches for a crucial element that will help reverse global warming.

6

Just After Sunsetby Stephen King
A collection of short stories that blend fantasy and psychological realism.

7

The Hour I First Believedby Wally Lamb
A man reconstructs five generations of family history.

8

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.

9

The Charlemagne Pursuitby Steve Berry
The former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone searches for the truth about his father’s death on a secret submarine mission to the Antarctic; an underground city, Nazis and an artifact from Charlemagne’s tomb are involved.

10

Your Heart Belongs to Meby Dean Koontz
A man is stalked by a woman who resembles the donor of the heart he received in a transplant operation.

11

Divine Justiceby David Baldacci
Members of Washington’s Camel Club rally to save their leader, who is hiding out in the town of Divine, Va.

12

The Lucky Oneby Nicholas Sparks
A Marine returning home sets out to track down the woman whose photo he found in Iraq.

13

A Mercyby Toni Morrison
In 17th-century America, a slave mother urges a Northern farmer to buy her daughter so that she can have a better life.

14

The Private Patientby P. D. James
Cmdr. Adam Dalgliesh investigates the murder of a journalist who had been a patient at a private clinic.

15

The Gate Houseby Nelson DeMille
In a sequel to “The Gold Coast” (1990) a tax attorney and his ex-wife explore a reconciliation.

----

Hardcover Nonfiction

December 21, 2008

1

Outliersby Malcolm Gladwell
Unexpected factors that explain why some people succeed, such as upbringing, timing and 10,000 hours of deliberate practice.

2

Deweyby Vicki Myron with Bret Witter
The tale of a book-drop mascot. (Ages 4 to 8)

3

American Lionby Jon Meacham
Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, in the White House, by the editor of Newsweek.

4

Multiple Blessingsby Jon Gosselin, Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson
A couple has sextuplets.

5

A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanityby Bill O’Reilly
The Fox News commentator on his upbringing and career.

6

Too Fat to Fishby Artie Lange with Anthony Bozza
Humorous memories from the comedian, a member of the cast of “The Howard Stern Show.”

7

Why We Suckby Denis Leary
Sardonic essays from the actor and comedian, currently the co-creator and star of the TV series “Rescue Me.”

8

The Snowballby Alice Schroeder
The life of Warren Buffett.

9

Do the Right Thingby Mike Huckabee
A campaign memoir and statement of principles from the former Republican presidential aspirant.

10

Hot, Flat, and Crowdedby Thomas L. Friedman
How a green revolution can renew America, by the New York Times columnist.

11

Call Me Tedby Ted Turner with Bill Burke
The entrepreneur’s personal story.

12

The American Journey of Barack Obamaby the editors of Life magazine
Photographs and essays, starting with Obama’s birth in Hawaii.

13

Letter to My Daughterby Maya Angelou
Reminiscences, appreciations and poems.

14

The Ascent of Moneyby Niall Ferguson
A financial history of the world, stressing the link between politics and economics.

15

Annie Leibovitz at Workby Annie Leibovitz
Memorable photographs, and a text — part memoir, part commentary — based on conversations with the book’s editor.