New York Times Best Sellers

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!

Whisper Network

by Chandler Baker

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Teams, Society: Class, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Femininity

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Business / Economics, Bullying, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

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Who Moved My Cheese?

by Spencer Johnson

Publication year 1998

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Self Help, Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Inspirational, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy

Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, MD, is an inspirational advice book on how people and businesses can respond to changing times and situations by learning how to adapt quickly and successfully. The book centers on a parable about two mice and two people who live in a maze and search for cheese—the things each wants in life—and what happens when the cheese they’ve been enjoying disappears. First published in 1998, the book proved... Read Who Moved My Cheese? Summary

Why We're Polarized

by Ezra Klein

Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Nation, Society: Community

Tags History: U.S., Psychology, Sociology, Politics / Government, Social Science, History: World, Psychology, Arts / Culture

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Wildfire

by Hannah Grace

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Fathers, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, New Adult, Sports, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

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Will

by Will Smith, Mark Manson

Publication year 2021

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Fame, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Music, Arts / Culture, Creative Nonfiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography, Self Help

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Wish

by Barbara O'Connor

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Identity: Disability

Tags Realistic Fiction, Animals, Bullying, Children's Literature

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Wish You Were Here

by Jodi Picoult

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Health / Medicine, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction

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Witness

by Whittaker Chambers

Publication year 1952

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags History: U.S., Cold War, Politics / Government, Philosophy, Christian literature, History: World, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Biography

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Woman on Fire

by Lisa Barr

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, WWII / World War II, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Arts / Culture

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Women Rowing North

by Mary Pipher

Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Joy

Tags Self Help, Psychology, Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Sociology, Psychology, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine

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World of Wonders

by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Publication year 2020

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Science / Nature, Animals

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World War Z

by Max Brooks

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Class, Disability, Depression / Suicide, Leadership/Organization/Management, Military / War, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Politics / Government

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is a horror fiction novel by Max Brooks published in 2006. The book was a critical and commercial success, generally receiving positive reviews and spending several weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. It has sold millions of copies around the world and was subsequently turned into a successful movie starring Brad Pitt, released in 2013, and a highly rated video game, released in... Read World War Z Summary

Wow, No Thank You.

by Samantha Irby

Publication year 2020

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Class

Tags Humor, LGBTQ, Diversity, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Biography

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Wreck the Halls

by Tessa Bailey

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Music, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Holidays & Occasions

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Written in My Own Heart's Blood

by Diana Gabaldon

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, History: World

Written in 2014 and published by Delacorte Press, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood is the eighth book in the Outlander saga by author Diana Gabaldon. The series follows Claire Fraser, a time-traveling World War II nurse who married Jamie Fraser, an 18th-century Highlander and insurrectionist against the British crown. The Fraser family occupies multiple timelines in the series, which celebrates family and romantic love. The novel spans colonial America to the Highlands of Scotland... Read Written in My Own Heart's Blood Summary