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The New York Times Bestseller List
January 4th, 2009

Hardcover Fiction

1. SCARPETTA, by Patricia Cornwell. The forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta takes an assignment in New York City.
2. CROSS COUNTRY, by James Patterson.  Alex Cross chases the leader of a lethal teenage gang.
3. THE CHRISTMAS SWEATER, by Glenn Beck with Kevin Balfe and Jason Wright.  A boy learns from his disappointment with his mother’s gift.
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. THE HOST, by Stephenie Meyer. Aliens have taken control of the minds and bodies of most human beings, but one woman won’t surrender.

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. A BOLD FRESH PIECE OF HUMANITY, by Bill O’Reilly.  The Fox News commentator on his upbringing and career.
5. TOO FAT TO FISH, by Artie Lange with Anthony Bozza. Humorous memories from the comedian, a member of the cast of “The Howard Stern Show.”

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. CHANGE OF HEART, by Jodi Picoult.  A prisoner on death row begins performing miracles.
5. THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO, by Junot Díaz.  A nerdy Dominican-American struggles to escape a family curse.

Paperback Mass-Market Fiction

1. THE APPEAL, by John Grisham.  Political and legal intrigue ensue when a Mississippi court decides against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste.
2. 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.
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. DEAD UNTIL DARK, by Charlaine Harris. Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic cocktail waitress in rural Louisiana, falls in love with a bad-boy vampire.
5. 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.

Paperback Non-Fiction

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

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. BREAKTHROUGH, by Suzanne Somers.  Eight steps to wellness: advice on hormone therapy from Somers and a group of doctors.

Paperback Advice

1. RACHAEL RAY’S BIG ORANGE BOOK, by Rachael Ray. New 30-minute meals, including vegetarian dinners, kosher meals, holiday menus and recipes for one.
2. THE LOVE DARE, by Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick.  A 40-day challenge for spouses to practice unconditional love.
3. TWILIGHT, by Mark Cotta Vaz.  A behind-the-scenes look at the film based on the vampire romance for young adults by Stephenie Meyer.
4. 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.
5. 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.

Children’s Picture Books

1. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, by Clement C. Moore. Various illustrators. Not a creature was stirring; various editions. (All ages)
2. A VERY MARLEY CHRISTMAS, by John Grogan. Illustrated by Richard Cowdrey.  Marley the pup “helps” at holidaytime. (Ages 3 to
3. GALLOP!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder.  Animals seem to move when you flip the page. (Ages 4 to 8 )
4. SWING!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder. Athletic children seem to move when you flip the page. (Ages 4 to
5. THE LUMP OF COAL, by Lemony Snicket. Illustrated by Brett Helquist.  A lump of coal seeks his raison d’être. (Ages 4 and up)

Children’s Chapter Books

1. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. The travails of adolescence, in cartoons. (Ages 9 to 12)
2. 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)
3. BURNING UP, by Joe, Kevin and Nick Jonas.  The Jonas Brothers band on tour, in words and pictures. (Ages 9 to 12)
4. 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)
5. ONE FALSE NOTE, by Gordon Korman.  A brother and sister seek the source of their family’s power. (Ages 8 to 12)

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. SLAM, by Nick Hornby.  A skateboarder gets his girlfriend pregnant. (Ages 12 and up)
4. THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Illustrated by Carson Ellis.  Gifted kids on a mission. (Ages 9 to 12)
5. MARLEY: A DOG LIKE NO OTHER, by John Grogan.  A movie tie-in edition. (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. 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. HOUSE OF NIGHT, by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast.  Vampires in school. (Ages 14 and up)
5. INKHEART, by Cornelia Funke.  The characters of a book come to life and ensnare its readers. (Ages 10 and up)

Source: The New York Times Best Seller List

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