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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, our NYT Best Sellers for Teens page , or The New York Times's Best Sellers page.

Hardcover Fiction

October 14, 2012

1

The Casual Vacancyby J. K. Rowling
The sudden death of a parish councilman reveals bitter social divisions in an idyllic English town; the author’s first novel for adults.

2

Winter of the Worldby Ken Follett
Five interrelated families — American, German, Russian, English and Welsh — grapple with the historical events of the years 1939-49; Book 2 of the Century Trilogy.

3

Gone Girlby Gillian Flynn
A woman disappears on her fifth anniversary; is her husband a killer?

4

A Wanted Manby Lee Child
A carload of people involved in a conspiracy pick up a disheveled hitchhiker, Child's vigilante hero Jack Reacher.

5

The Time Keeperby Mitch Albom
Banished for centuries, the inventor of the world’s first clock tries to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time.

6

This is How You Lose Herby Junot Díaz
Stories of love, loss and family history from a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. 

7

Low Pressureby Sandra Brown
Using a pseudonym, Bellamy Lyston writes a best-selling novel based on her sister's murder. But when Bellamy's identity is exposed, she becomes the target of an unnamed assailant.

8

Zooby James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
After witnessing a coordinated lion ambush in Africa, a young biologist races to warn world leaders about the reasons for escalating animal attacks on cities.

9

Telegraph Avenueby Michael Chabon
In the summer of 2004, the longtime friends and owners of a struggling vinyl-record shop in Northern California are faced with the prospect of a megastore opening nearby.

10

Raptureby J.R. Ward
With a battle looming between angels and demons, the reporter Mels Carmichael struggles to help a mysterious stranger recover his lost memories.

11

Foundersby James Wesley Rawles
After society collapses, America’s fate is in the hands of the few who are qualified to return it to the state the founders intended.

12

Delusion in Deathby J. D. Robb
Lt. Eve Dallas tries to sort out the inexplicable events at a bar where, after 12 minutes of chaos, more than 80 people lay dead; by Nora Roberts, writing pseudonymously.

13

Severe Clearby Stuart Woods
Stone Barrington travels to Bel-Air for the opening of a luxury hotel that, according to the N.S.A., may have attracted the attention of terrorists.

14

A Dance with Dragonsby George R. R. Martin
After a colossal battle, the Seven Kingdoms face new threats.

15

The Tombsby Clive Cussler and Thomas Perry
Sam and Remi Fargo, a husband-and-wife treasure-hunting team, search for the tomb of Attila the Hun.

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Hardcover Nonfiction

October 14, 2012

1

No Easy Dayby Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer
An account by a former member of the Navy SEALs, written pseudonymously, of the mission that killed bin Laden.

2

Waging Heavy Peaceby Neil Young
The rocker's off-the-wall memoir.

3

Joseph Antonby Salman Rushdie
The novelist’s life under the Ayatollah Khomeini’s death sentence for writing “The Satanic Verses.”

4

The Price of Politicsby Bob Woodward
Inside the debt-ceiling negotiations of 2011 with the Washington Post journalist.

5

How Children Succeedby Paul Tough
The author argues that the qualities that matter most have to do with character, not intelligence.

6

Muggedby Ann Coulter
The political commentator traces racial demagoguery from the 1970s to the present.

7

One Last Strikeby Tony La Russa with Rick Hummel
The former manager of the St. Louis Cardinals describes the team’s remarkable 2011 World Series title.

8

Killing Lincolnby Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
The television host recounts the events surrounding the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

9

Into the Fireby Dakota Meyer and Bing West
A Medal of Honor winner’s firsthand account of a crucial battle in the Afghan war.

10

Listening inselected by Ted Widmer
The secret White House recordings of John F. Kennedy; includes a two- and-a-half-hour audio CD.

11

Oathby Jeffrey Toobin
The ideological battles between President Obama and the Supreme Court.

12

The Signal and the Noiseby Nate Silver

13

Mortalityby Christopher Hitchens
Reports and reflections on his illness and impending death by the writer, who died in December 2011.

14

Unbrokenby Laura Hillenbrand
An Olympic runner’s story of survival as a prisoner of the Japanese during World War II. Read by Edward Herrmann. 13 hours, 56 minutes unabridged.

15

Wildby Cheryl Strayed
An account of the life-changing 1,100-mile solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail in 1995. Originally published in 2012 and a 2014 movie.