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The New York Times Bestseller List
September 28th, 2008

Hardcover Fiction

1. THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE, by David Wroblewski. A mute takes refuge with three dogs in the Wisconsin woods after his father’s death.
2. THE OTHER QUEEN, by Philippa Gregory. The story of Mary, Queen of Scots, in captivity under Queen Elizabeth.
3. FAEFEVER, by Karen Marie Moning. MacKayla is caught in the middle as the faes battle it out in Dublin; the third part of the Fever series.
4. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson.  A hacker and a journalist help a wealthy octogenarian investigate his niece’s disappearance 40 years ago; the first part of a trilogy by the late Swedish journalist.
5. 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.

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. THE LIMITS OF POWER, by Andrew Bacevich.A retired Army colonel argues that Americans themselves are responsible for the country’s woes.
4. ANGLER, by Barton Gellman.Dick Cheney’s actions as vice president are explored by the Washington Post reporter.
5. THROUGH THE STORM, by Lynne Spears with Lorilee Craker. Britney Spears’s mother gives her perspective on her family’s perils.

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. WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, by Sara Gruen.  A young man — and an elephant — save a Depression-era circus.
4. BAREFOOT, by Elin Hilderbrand.  Three women burdened by various problems (work, love, health) spend a transformative summer together on Nantucket.
5. NIGHTS IN RODANTHE, by Nicholas Sparks.  Romance ignites between a middle-aged man and woman at a North Carolina inn.

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. DEAD UNTIL DARK, by Charlaine Harris.  Sookie Stackhouse, a psychic cocktail waitress in rural Louisiana, falls in love with a bad-boy vampire.
4. STONE COLD, by David Baldacci.  Members of Washington’s Camel Club are being stalked to prevent them from uncovering government secrets.
5. PROTECT AND DEFEND, by Vince Flynn. An American counterterrorism operative must avert catastrophe in nuclear Iran.

Paperback Non-Fiction

1. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. A former climber builds schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
2. EAT, PRAY, LOVE, by Elizabeth Gilbert. A writer’s yearlong journey in search of self takes her to Italy, India and Indonesia.
3. SARAH, by Kaylene Johnson. The career of Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential nominee.
4. CHANGE YOUR BRAIN, CHANGE YOUR LIFE, by Daniel G. Amen.  Instructions for conquering anxiety, depression and anger.
5. THE AUDACITY OF HOPE, by Barack Obama. The Illinois senator asks Americans to move beyond political divisions

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. GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2009, edited by Craig Glenday. Tallest, fastest, youngest, most.
5. REAL LIFE, by Phil McGraw.  Preparing yourself for seven different kinds of life crisis, from bereavement to existential angst.

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. THE POWER OF NOW, by Eckhart Tolle. A guide to personal growth and spiritual enlightenment.
5. THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES, by Gary Chapman.  How to communicate love in a way a spouse will understand.
   

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. BIG WORDS FOR LITTLE PEOPLE, by Jamie Lee Curtis. Illustrated by Laura Cornell.  A boisterous family improves its vocabulary, and thus its relationships. (Ages 4 to
3. WE THE PEOPLE, by Lynne Cheney. Illustrated by Greg Harlin. The story of the Constitution. (Ages 5 to 10)
4. ON A SCARY SCARY NIGHT, by Walter Wick.  Can you see what I see? Picture puzzles. (Ages 4 to
5. 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)

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. THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins.  In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)
5. IDENTICAL, by Ellen Hopkins. Incest and drug abuse come between twin daughters in a political family. (Ages 14 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. RULES, by Cynthia Lord. The challenges and rewards of life with an autistic brother. (Ages 9 to 12)
4. THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Illustrated by Carson Ellis. Gifted kids on a mission. (Ages 9 to 12)
5. MATH DOESN’T SUCK, by Danica McKellar.  A girls’ guide to middle-school math. (Ages 9 to 12)

Children’s Series Books

1. INHERITANCE, by Christopher Paolini. A teenager and his dragon learn the secrets of a fantasy world. (Ages 12 and up)
2. THE TWILIGHT SERIES, by Stephenie Meyer. Vampires and werewolves in high school. (Ages 12 and up)
3. THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black.  Siblings find a hidden world (Ages 6 to 10)
4. WARRIORS, by Erin Hunter.  Four clans of cat warriors aspire to meet up with the StarClan. (Ages 10 to 14)
5. PRIVATE, by Kate Brian. The high-pressure world of an elite prep school. (Ages 14 and up)

Source: The New York Times Best Seller List

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