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 Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags History: U.S., Crime / Legal, September 11 Attacks, History: World, Biography, Politics / Government
Publication year 1998
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: Community
Tags Journalism, Crime / Legal, Science / Nature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Biography
The Orchid Thief is a nonfiction book by Susan Orlean, originally published in 1998. It is a narrative nonfiction account of the crimes and trial of John Laroche, accused of stealing endangered orchid species from the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve in Florida. The basic story of Laroche and his crimes originally ran as an article in The New Yorker, entitled “Orchid Fever” and published in 1995. The book expands the story and also details Orlean’s... Read The Orchid Thief Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Health / Medicine, History: World
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 1994
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Teams
Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Psychology, Romance, Self Help
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Family
Tags Relationships, Romance, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Art, Relationships: Mothers
Tags WWII / World War II, Historical Fiction, Military / War
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, History: European, WWII / World War II, Military / War, French Literature, History: World
Publication year 1997
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Crime / Legal
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: War
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy
The Passage is a 2010 novel by Justin Cronin. It is the first novel in a post-apocalyptic horror series that includes The Twelve and City of Mirrors. The Passage is Cronin’s take on the vampire genre. He uses world-building to examine themes of Passages and Transitions, Vampirism as a Metaphor, and The Value of Life. The Passage was well-received and was adapted into a television series for the Fox Network, which aired its final episode... Read The Passage Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Art, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Historical Fiction, Arts / Culture, Race / Racism, History: World
Publication year 2012
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government
Tags History: European, Politics / Government, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, British Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge
Tags Psychological Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Arts / Culture, Psychology, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Philosophy, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1997
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, Psychology, Self Help, Inspirational, Psychology, Philosophy
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags Politics / Government, Health / Medicine, History: U.S., Science / Nature, Sociology, History: World