Since 1931, the country's best-selling books have appeared on an authoritative weekly list in the New York Times, a list that has transformed into a resource for readers and booksellers alike. Read on to discover both past and present best sellers—you just might find your next book club pick!
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, Politics / Government, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Grief / Death, History: Middle Eastern, Social Justice
Publication year 2006
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Addiction / Substance Abuse, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Play: Drama, Inspirational, Biography, Mental Illness
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Relationships, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Midlife, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Romance, Disability, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Self Discovery, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Race
Tags Romance, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Mental Illness
Ask Again, Yes, a New York Times best seller, is a multigeneration family epic that covers over 40 years in the lives of two Irish American families. A work of domestic realism comparable to works by Anne Tyler and Ann Padgett, the novel was placed on best novel of the year lists by both People magazine and National Public Radio, and it was also optioned to be developed as a limited television series.In 2011, author... Read Ask Again, Yes Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Music, Relationships, Children's Literature
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Health / Medicine, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy
Published in 2019, Jodi Picoult’s novel A Spark of Light tells the story of a gunman’s attack on an abortion clinic from multiple points of view, examining the lives of different characters and the events that lead them to the clinic on that day. Picoult is a New York Times best-selling author and has written 28 novels, several of which have been adapted for film and television. Her books are known for tackling social issues... Read A Spark of Light Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Education
Tags Science / Nature, Education, Education, History: World
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson, PhD, is a popular science book about astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology. The book outlines our current knowledge about the creation of the universe, supernovas, black holes, the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, invisible light, and how Earth and its materials came to be. On its release in 2017, the book became a #1 New York Times bestseller; it remained on the list for... Read Astrophysics for People in a Hurry Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Environment, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Gothic Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 2021
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: Education
Tags Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture, Education, Russian Literature, Literary Criticism, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride
Tags Self Help, Psychology, Relationships, Inspirational, Sociology, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1998
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Place, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Community
Tags Travel Literature, Humor, Science / Nature, Animals, Anthropology, History: U.S., Relationships, Politics / Government, Sports, History: World, Action / Adventure, Biography
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail is a 1998 travel book by American-British author Bill Bryson. The book was a New York Times bestseller, and a 2014 Cable News Network (CNN) poll named it the funniest travel book ever written. In addition, it inspired the 2015 film A Walk in the Woods starring Robert Redford as Bryson, Nick Nolte as Stephen Katz (his primary hiking companion), and Emma Thompson as... Read A Walk in the Woods Summary
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Romance, Irish Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Animals
Tags Children's Literature, Science / Nature, Animals, Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Gender / Feminism, Historical Fiction, History: Middle Eastern, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Etaf Rum’s debut novel, A Woman Is No Man, was originally published in 2019. According to Rum, the novel, a work of historical fiction, relies heavily on autobiographical details. In fact, Rum’s life so closely parallels her characters’ lives that the narrative effectively blurs the line between fiction and memoir.Switching between past and present, the novel tells the intergenerational story of Isra, a Palestinian immigrant living in Brooklyn, and her daughter Deya, growing up in... Read A Woman Is No Man Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: War, Identity: Gender
Tags History: World, History: U.S., WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Military / War, Biography
A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of Virginia Hall, WWII’s Most Dangerous Spy is a 2019 biography by Sonia Purnell. It tells the story of Virginia Hall, a US spy whose efforts were critical to France’s success in World War II. Despite its larger-than-life nature and importance to the Allies’ success, Hall’s story has remained largely unknown until now. In recounting Virginia Hall’s life, Purnell examines themes like the importance of Serving a... Read A Woman of No Importance Summary