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The New York Times Bestseller List
December 14th, 2008

Hardcover Fiction

1. SCARPETTA, by Patricia Cornwell. The forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta takes an assignment in New York City.
2. THE CHRISTMAS SWEATER, by Glenn Beck with Kevin Balfe and Jason Wright.  A boy learns from his disappointment with his mother’s gift.
3. CROSS COUNTRY, by James Patterson.  Alex Cross chases the leader of a lethal teenage gang.
4. THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE, by David Wroblewski.  A mute takes refuge with three dogs in the Wisconsin woods after his father’s death.
5. ARCTIC DRIFT, by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler. In his 20th adventure, Dirk Pitt searches for a crucial element that will help reverse global warming.

Hardcover Nonfiction

1. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell.  Why some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent — from the author of “Blink” and “The Tipping Point.”
2. DEWEY, by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter. The kitten left freezing in the returned-book slot of an Iowa public library, and his rise to fame.
3. AMERICAN LION, by Jon Meacham.  Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, in the White House, by the editor of Newsweek.
4. MULTIPLE BLESSINGS, by Jon Gosselin, Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson.  A couple has sextuplets.
5. A BOLD FRESH PIECE OF HUMANITY, by Bill O’Reilly.  The Fox News commentator on his upbringing and caree

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. A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS, by Khaled Hosseini. A friendship between two women in Afghanistan against the backdrop of 30 years of war.
3. THE APPEAL, by John Grisham. Political and legal intrigue ensue when a Mississippi court decides against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste.
4. Halo: THE COLE PROTOCOL, by Tobias S. Buckell.  Navy Lt. Jacob Keyes is sent on a secret mission to a far corner of the universe.
5. WORLD WITHOUT END, by Ken Follett. Love and intrigue in Kingsbridge, the medieval English cathedral town at the center of Follett’s “Pillars of the Earth.”

Paperback Mass-Market Fiction

1. THE PAGAN STONE, by Nora Roberts.  Three men and three women unite to battle the demon of Hawkins Hollow; Book 3 of the Sign of Seven trilogy.
2. THE APPEAL, by John Grisham.  Political and legal intrigue ensue when a Mississippi court decides against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste.
3. T IS FOR TRESPASS, by Sue Grafton. Kinsey Millhone must contend with a woman who has stolen a nurse’s identity in order to take advantage of Kinsey’s elderly neighbor.
4. THE 6TH TARGET, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. Detective Lindsay Boxer and the Women’s Murder Club investigate the disappearance of several children in San Francisco.
5. DEAD AFTER DARK, by Sherrilyn Kenyon, J. R. Ward, Susan Squires and Dianna Love.  Four tales of paranormal romance.

Paperback Non-Fiction

1. DREAMS FROM MY FATHER, by Barack Obama. The senator on life as the son of a black African father and a white American mother.
2. THE AUDACITY OF HOPE, by Barack Obama. The Illinois senator asks Americans to move beyond political divisions.
3. MARLEY & ME, by John Grogan. Lessons learned from a neurotic dog.
4. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. A former climber builds schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
5. TEAM OF RIVALS, by Doris Kearns Goodwin. The political genius of Abraham Lincoln.

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. THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS, by Rick Warren. Reclaiming the holiday as a time for celebration, salvation and reconciliation.
3. BAREFOOT CONTESSA BACK TO BASICS, by Ina Garten.  Cooking techniques and nearly 100 new recipes for elegant meals.
4. GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2009, edited by Craig Glenday.  Tallest, fastest, youngest, most.
5. YOU: BEING BEAUTIFUL, by Michael F. Roizen, Mehmet C. Oz et al..  How foods and vitamins, creams and gels, mood swings and the management of pain affect inner and outer beauty.

Paperback Advice

1. TWILIGHT, by Mark Cotta Vaz.  A behind-the-scenes look at the film based on the vampire romance for young adults by Stephenie Meyer.
2. THE LOVE DARE, by Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick.  A 40-day challenge for spouses to practice unconditional love.
3. DINERS, DRIVE-INS AND DIVES, by Guy Fieri with Ann Volkwein.  A road trip with recipes from the Food Network star: burgers from the Squeeze Inn in Sacramento, peanut pie from the Virginia Diner and more.
4. RACHAEL RAY’S BIG ORANGE BOOK, by Rachael Ray. New 30-minute meals, including vegetarian dinners, kosher meals, holiday menus and recipes for one.
5. I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER?, by Professor Happy­cat and icanhascheezburger.com.  More than 200 “LOLcats” — pictures of cats with funny captions — from the popular Web site.

Children’s Picture Books

1. A VERY MARLEY CHRISTMAS, by John Grogan. Illustrated by Richard Cowdrey.  Marley the pup “helps” at holidaytime. (Ages 3 to
2. 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 8 )
3. GINGERBREAD FRIENDS, written and illustrated by Jan Brett.  The Gingerbread Baby just wants somebody to play with; an adaptation of the classic tale. (Ages 4 to
4. GALLOP!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder.  Animals seem to move when you flip the page. (Ages 4 to 8 )
5. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, by Clement C. Moore. Various illustrators. Not a creature was stirring; various editions. (All ages)

Children’s Chapter Books

1. ONE FALSE NOTE, by Gordon Korman.  A brother and sister seek the source of their family’s power. (Ages 8 to 12)
2. BURNING UP, by Joe, Kevin and Nick Jonas.  The Jonas Brothers band on tour, in words and pictures. (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. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. The travails of adolescence, in cartoons. (Ages 9 to 12)
5. 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)

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. THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Illustrated by Carson Ellis.  Gifted kids on a mission. (Ages 9 to 12)
4. THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS, by John Boyne. A boy’s innocence is eroded in evil times. (Ages 12 and up)
5. BARACK OBAMA, by Roberta Edwards. Illustrated by Ken Call. A biography of the “skinny kid” president-elect. (Ages 7 to 9)

Children’s Series Books

1. THE TWILIGHT SERIES, by Stephenie Meyer. Vampires and werewolves in high school. (Ages 12 and up)
2. HARRY POTTER, by J. K. Rowling.  A young wizard hones his skills while fighting evil. (Ages 10 and up)
3. INHERITANCE, by Christopher Paolini. A teenager and his dragon learn the secrets of a fantasy world. (Ages 12 and up)
4. IF YOU GIVE . . ., by Laura Numeroff. Illustrated by Felicia Bond.  Fun with cause and effect. (Ages 4 to
5. WARRIORS, by Erin Hunter.  Four clans of cat warriors aspire to meet up with the StarClan. (Ages 10 to 14)

Source: The New York Times Best Seller List

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