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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

November 18, 2012

1

The Racketeerby John Grisham
An imprisoned ex-lawyer schemes to exchange information about a murdered federal judge for his freedom. 

2

The Sins of the Motherby Danielle Steel
A successful businesswoman tries to make up for past failings with her children, now grown.

3

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.

4

The Pantherby Nelson DeMille
The anti-terrorist task force agent John Corey and his wife, an F.B.I. agent, pursue a high-ranking Qaeda operative in Yemen. But the hunters are about to become the hunted. 

5

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

6

A Winter Dreamby Richard Paul Evans
When Joseph Jacobson stands to take over his father’s business, his 12 brothers cast him out.

7

The Bone Bedby Patricia Cornwell
A paleontologist’s disappearance in Canada involves the chief medical examiner Kay Scarpetta; the 20th Scarpetta book.

8

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.

9

Icedby Karen Marie Moning
The first book in a new urban paranormal trilogy set in the world of the Fever series features Dani O’Malley.

10

Nypd Redby James Patterson and Marshall Karp
Detective Zach Jordan and his partner (and ex-girlfriend) must stop a deranged killer who has targeted a glittering New York film festival.

11

Back to Bloodby Tom Wolfe
A Cuban-American cop is a hero turned pariah in Miami, where ethnic and class tensions threaten to explode.

12

The Twelveby Justin Cronin
A sequel to “The Passage” continues its story of life after an apocalypse.

13

Angels at the Tableby Debbie Macomber
With an apprentice angel under their wings, Shirley, Goodness and Mercy descend upon Times Square and try to reunite a young couple.

14

The Giving Quiltby Jennifer Chiaverini
Quilters gather for a post-Thanksgiving session, for charity and for the rewards of human connection.

15

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.

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Hardcover Nonfiction

November 18, 2012

1

Killing Kennedyby Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
The host of “The O’Reilly Factor” recounts the events surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

2

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.

3

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

4

Bruceby Peter Ames Carlin
A biography of Bruce Springsteen traces his climb from a working- class childhood to success and fame.

5

Rodby Rod Stewart
The pop singer reminisces on his long career.

6

Generalsby Thomas E. Ricks
A history of American military command from World War II to the present.

7

A Gift of Hopeby Danielle Steel
In this memoir, the novelist describes how she transformed the pain of the loss of her son into an enriching campaign of service.

8

America Againby Stephen Colbert and others
The mock pundit of Comedy Central’s “Colbert Report” tells how to bring America back from the brink.

9

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

10

Who I Amby Pete Townshend
The rocker's memoir.

11

The Signal and the Noiseby Nate Silver

12

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.

13

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.

14

Lost at Seaby Jon Ronson
An investigation of the strange things human beings are willing to believe in.

15

Last Lionby William Manchester and Paul Reid
This biography of Winston Churchill, reaching from World War II until his death in 1965, stresses his courage, intellect and will to action.