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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

December 13, 2009

1

Cross Fireby James Patterson
Tracking the murderer of a relative, Alex Cross discovers a wild Washington scene with explosive secrets.

2

Pirate Latitudesby Michael Crichton
In the 17th-century Caribbean, a British pirate attacks a Spanish galleon; this manuscript was found in Crichton’s files after his death in 2008.

3

The Lost Symbolby Dan Brown
The Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon among the Masons.

4

Under the Dome, Part 1by Stephen King
The town of Chester's Mill, Me., is suddenly and inexplicably trapped by an invisible force field. Sealed off from the rest of the world, the townspeople fall prey to a devious politician.

5

Breathlessby Dean Koontz
Mysterious animals in the Colorado Rockies set off intrigue and suspense.

6

Ford Countyby John Grisham
Stories set in rural Mississippi.

7

First Lord’s Furyby Jim Butcher
With their survival at stake, Alerans prepare for a final battle in the sixth book of the Alera fantasy cycle.

8

The Helpby Kathryn Stockett
Three women — a white socialite and two black maids — work on a tell-all book about black domestic servants in 1960s Mississippi.

9

The Wreckerby Clive Cussler and Justin Scott
In 1907, a detective tracks a mysterious saboteur all over the West.

10

The Last Songby Nicholas Sparks
A 17-year-old girl spends the summer with her divorced father in North Carolina and finds many kinds of love.

11

Pursuit of Honorby Vince Flynn
The counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp must teach politicians about national security following a new Qaeda attack.

12

The Gathering Stormby Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Book 12 of the Wheel of Time fantasy series.

13

The Lacunaby Barbara Kingsolver
A young American growing up in Mexico becomes friends with becomes friends with Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Leon Trotsky; later, in the United States, he is menaced by ­McCarthyism.

14

True Blueby David Baldacci
An ex-cop in Washington struggles to clear her name.

15

The Scarpetta Factorby Patricia Cornwell
Apparent threats on Kay Scarpetta’s life make her hesitate when a TV producer wants her to star in a show.

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Hardcover Nonfiction

December 13, 2009

1

Going Rogueby Sarah Palin
A memoir by the former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate.

2

Have a Little Faithby Mitch Albom
A suburban rabbi and a Detroit pastor teach lessons about the comfort of belief.

3

Openby Andre Agassi
The tennis champion’s autobiography.

4

Superfreakonomicsby Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
How to apply economic theory to everything: the sequel; originally published in 2009.

5

Arguing with Idiotswritten and edited by Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe and others
Making the case against big government.

6

True Compassby Edward M. Kennedy
The late senator’s autobiography.

7

A Simple Christmasby Mike Huckabee
Christmas memories from the former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential aspirant.

8

What the Dog Sawby Malcolm Gladwell
A decade of Gladwell’s New Yorker essays.

9

The Imperial Cruiseby James Bradley
In 1905, during a diplomatic journey organized by Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft negotiated secret agreements with several Asian countries.

10

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

11

Last Wordsby George Carlin with Tony Hendra
The life of the comedian, who died in 2008.

12

Too Big to Failby Andrew Ross Sorkin
The 2008 financial implosion on Wall Street and in Washington, by a New York Times business columnist.

13

When the Game Was Oursby Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson with Jackie MacMullan
Two great basketball players discuss their careers, their long rivalry and their eventual friendship.

14

The Book of Basketballby Bill Simmons
ESPN.com’s Sports Guy crunches big questions in N.B.A. history.

15

The National Parksby Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns
A companion to the PBS series.