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The New York Times Bestseller List
September 21st, 2008

Hardcover Fiction

1. ANATHEM, by Neal Stephenson. An order of cloistered mathematicians and scientists must save their Earth-like planet when catastrophe threatens.
2.  THE BOOK OF LIES, by Brad Meltzer.  The murder of the father of Superman’s creator, Jerry Siegel, is linked to the biblical story of Cain and Abel.
3. THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.  A journalist meets with residents of the island of Guernsey who resisted the Nazi occupation.
4. AMERICAN WIFE, by Curtis Sittenfeld. A pretty librarian marries the alcoholic son of a wealthy political family who somehow becomes president.
5. DARK CURSE, by Christine Feehan.  A Carpathian novel.

Hardcover Nonfiction

1. HOT, FLAT, AND CROWDED, by Thomas L. Friedman. How a green revolution can renew America, by the New York Times columnist.
2. THE WAR WITHIN, by Bob Woodward.  White House debates over the Iraq war, 2006-8.
3. STORI TELLING, by Tori Spelling with Hilary Liftin.  The actress’s memoir.
4. ARE YOU THERE, VODKA? IT’S ME, CHELSEA, by Chelsea Handler.  Humorous personal essays from the stand-up comedian.
5. THE FIRST BILLION IS THE HARDEST, by T. Boone Pickens. An account of Pickens’s career and his views about energy policy.

Paperback Trade Fiction

1. THE SHACK, by William P. Young. A man whose daughter was abducted is invited to an isolated shack, apparently by God.
2. THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO, by Junot Díaz. A nerdy Dominican-­American struggles to escape a family curse.
3. THE CHOICE, by Nicholas Sparks.  How a North Carolina man’s choices play out.
4. WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, by Sara Gruen.  A young man — and an elephant — save a Depression-era circus.
5. BAREFOOT, by Elin Hilderbrand.  Three women burdened by various problems (work, love, health) spend a transformative summer together on Nantucket.

Paperback Mass-Market Fiction

1. BOOK OF THE DEAD, by Patricia Cornwell.  The forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta opens a private practice in Charleston, S.C.
2. NIGHTS IN RODANTHE, by Nicholas Sparks.  Romance ignites between a middle-aged man and woman at a North Carolina inn.
3. STONE COLD, by David Baldacci.  Members of Washington’s Camel Club are being stalked to prevent them from uncovering government secrets.
4. 8 SANDPIPER WAY, by Debbie Macomber.  Romantic intrigue in Cedar Cove, Wash.
5. PROTECT AND DEFEND, by Vince Flynn. An American counterterrorism operative must avert catastrophe in nuclear Iran.

Paperback Non-Fiction

1. EAT, PRAY, LOVE, by Elizabeth Gilbert. A writer’s yearlong journey in search of self takes her to Italy, India and Indonesia.
2. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. A former climber builds schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
3. SARAH, by Kaylene Johnson. The career of Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential nominee.
4. A LONG WAY GONE, by Ishmael Beah.  A former child soldier from Sierra Leone describes his drug-crazed killing spree and his return to humanity.
5. CHANGE YOUR BRAIN, CHANGE YOUR LIFE, by Daniel G. Amen.  Instructions for conquering anxiety, depression and anger.

Hardcover Advice

1. THE LAST LECTURE, by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow. After learning he has terminal cancer, a Carnegie Mellon professor shares his thoughts on the importance of “seizing every moment.”
2. BREAKTHROUGH, by Suzanne Somers.  Eight steps to wellness: advice on hormone therapy from Somers and a group of doctors.
3. THE SECRET, by Rhonda Byrne. The law of attraction as a key to getting what you want.
4. MYSTICAL TRAVELER, by Sylvia Browne. The self-professed psychic explains how to advance to a higher level of spirituality.
5. THE GONE FISHIN’ PORTFOLIO, by Alexander Green.  A guide to hands-off investing for the long term.

Paperback Advice

1. A NEW EARTH, by Eckhart Tolle. A spiritual teacher prescribes letting go of the ego to help end conflict and suffering.
2. SKINNY BITCH, by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. Vegan diet advice from the world of modeling.
3. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel.  Advice for parents-to-be.
4. SOUL WISDOM, by Zhi Gang Sha.  A doctor of Western and traditional Chinese medicine on how to harness the power of the soul for healing and personal transformation.
5. THE POWER OF NOW, by Eckhart Tolle. A guide to personal growth and spiritual enlightenment.

Children’s Picture Books

1. BIG WORDS FOR LITTLE PEOPLE, by Jamie Lee Curtis. Illustrated by Laura Cornell.  A boisterous family improves its vocabulary, and its relationships. (Ages 4 to
2. MY DAD, JOHN McCAIN, by Meghan McCain. Illustrated by Dan Andreasen. A biography of the Republican presidential nominee, by his daughter. (Ages 5 to 10)
3. BARACK OBAMA: SON OF PROMISE, CHILD OF HOPE, by Nikki Grimes. Illustrated by Bryan Collier.  Yes, he can; a biography of the Democratic presidential nominee. (Ages 5 to 10)
4. GALLOP!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder. Animals seem to move when you flip the page. (Ages 4 to 8 )
5. GINGERBREAD FRIENDS, written and illustrated by Jan Brett. The Gingerbread Baby just wants somebody to play with. (Ages 4 to

Children’s Chapter Books

1. THE MAZE OF BONES, by Rick Riordan.  A brother and sister hunt for the source of their family’s power; Book 1 of a new series, “The 39 Clues.” (Ages 12 and up)
2. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. The travails of adolescence, in cartoons. (Ages 9 to 12)
3. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES, written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. How Greg embarrassed himself on his summer vacation (ask his older brother, Rodrick); a sequel to “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” (Ages 9 to 12)
4. IDENTICAL, by Ellen Hopkins. Incest and drug abuse come between twin daughters in a political family. (Ages 14 and up)
5. THE DANGEROUS DAYS OF DANIEL X, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. A boy with secret powers seeks revenge on his parents’ killers. (Ages 12 and up)

Children’s Paperback Books

1. THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX, by Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering. A mouse, a rat and a girl on a magic trip. (Ages 10 and up)
2. THE BOOK THIEF, by Markus Zusak. A girl saves books from Nazi burning and shares them with a Jewish man in hiding. (Ages 14 and up)
3. MATH DOESN’T SUCK, by Danica McKellar.  A girls’ guide to middle-school math. (Ages 9 to 12)
4. BATTLE AT TETH, by Kirsten Mayer.  Clones vs. droids; a “Star Wars” book based on the movie “The Clone Wars.” (Ages 4 to
5. THE NEW PADAWAN, by Eric Stevens.  To his chagrin, Anakin has a student; a “Star Wars” book based on the movie “The Clone Wars.” (Ages 9 to 12)

Children’s Series Books

1. THE TWILIGHT SERIES, by Stephenie Meyer. Vampires and werewolves in high school. (Ages 12 and up)
2. WARRIORS, by Erin Hunter.  Four clans of cat warriors aspire to meet up with the StarClan. (Ages 10 to 14)
3. PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS, by Rick Riordan. Battling mythological monsters. (Ages 9 to 12)
4. HOUSE OF NIGHT, by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast. ( Vampires in school. (Ages 14 and up)
5. BOOKS OF EMBER, by Jeanne DuPrau.  In a postapocalyptic future, children try to save the world. (Ages 10 to 13)

Source: The New York Times Best Seller List

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