Go beyond just the current list of New York Times Nonfiction Best Sellers 2021 to discover every bestselling book listed on the NYT Bestseller List in 2021.
Since 1931, The New York Times has been publishing a weekly list of bestselling books. Since then, becoming a New York Times bestseller has become a dream for virtually every writer.
When I first started reading adult books, one of the first places I went for book recommendations was the New York Times Nonfiction Nonfiction Best Sellers. I wanted to know what books were the most widely read, and start with those.
However, scrolling through the list week by week on The New York Times website is rather annoying. I just wanted all the bestselling nonfiction books gathered together in one place.
When I couldn’t find it, I decided to create it.
Here are all the New York Times nonfiction bestsellers from this year. I’ve got the current #1 and this week’s bestselling list, both of which you can find all over the place.
This list also compiles every book that appears on the New York Times Nonfiction Best Sellers list in 2022 for Hardcover Nonfiction. Every week I update it so you can get the most accurate view of the year in one place.
Since this is a bit of a sprawling post, feel free to jump to the section that most interests you or take your time scrolling through the complete list of New York Times nonfiction best sellers.
Quick Links
Current #1 New York Times Best Seller
Unthinkable
Jamie Raskin
(1 Week) In a painful memoir, Congressman Jamie Raskin tells of the 45 days at the beginning of 2021 that changed his life forever. On December 31, 2020, his only son committed suicide after a long struggle with depression. Less than a week later, Raskin found himself in the Capitol building stormed by insurrectionists. Although reeling from both events, Raskin was forced to set his feelings aside and use his experience as a constitutional law professor to lead the impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.
Current List of New York Times Best Sellers
1.Unthinkable by Jamie Raskin
The Maryland congressman describes leading the impeachment effort against the former president shortly after his son’s death by suicide and the insurrection at the Capitol.
2.
The 1619 Project Edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones
Viewing America’s entanglement with slavery and its legacy, in essays adapted and expanded from The New York Times Magazine.
3.
Will by Will Smith with Mark Manson
The actor, producer and musician tells his life story and lessons he learned along the way.
4.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
The daughter of a Korean mother and Jewish-American father, and leader of the indie rock project Japanese Breakfast, describes creating her own identity after losing her mother to cancer.
5.
The Storyteller by Dave Grohl
A memoir by the musician known for his work with Foo Fighters and Nirvana.
6.
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
The activist and public speaker describes her journey of listening to her inner voice.
7.
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughy
The Academy Award-winning actor shares snippets from the diaries he kept over the last 35 years.
8.
Taste by Stanley Tucci
The award-winning actor reflects on his career, Italian-American heritage, meals and mishaps.
9.
Peril by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa
The Washington Post journalists detail the dangers and challenges during the transition to the Biden presidency.
10.
The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present by Paul McCartney
A two-volume celebration of 154 songs, with handwritten texts, paintings and photographs from the songwriter’s archives.
11.
Think Again by Adam Grant
An examination of the cognitive skills of rethinking and unlearning that could be used to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
12.
The Real Anthony Fauci by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The anti-vaccine advocate gives his take on the chief medical advisor to the president.
13.
American Marxism by Mark R. Levin
The Fox News host gives his take on the Green New Deal, critical race theory and social activism.
14.
The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber
A reinvestigation of social evolution and suggestions for new ways of organizing society.
15.
All About Me! by Mel Brooks
The EGOT and Kennedy Center honoree shares stories about making comedy for the stage, film and television.
See what Upcoming Releases are coming out soon!
Previous #1 New York Times Nonfiction Best Sellers
Untamed
Glennon Doyle
(85 Weeks) After writing about recovering a marriage rocked by infidelity in Love Warrior, Glennon Doyle has a new memoir about her love story with US soccer star Abby Wambach. Doyle details how she found herself by realizing her true power comes from within and not from the expectations others put on her.
Greenlights
Matthew McConaughey
(54 Weeks) Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey offers a memoir on his approach to getting the most satisfaction out of life. McConaughey poured over decades of his diaries to share the highs and lows of his life and the funny stories that shaped him along the way.
Crying in H Mart
Michelle Zauner
(25 Weeks) A powerful memoir about growing up a Korean American from the indie singer known for her Japanese Breakfast project. Growing up in Eugene, Oregon, Michelle Zauner struggled to fit in as the only Asian-American student in high school, burdened by the high expectations of her mother. Moving East, she began working in the restaurant industry and joined a fledgling band. But not until her mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis did Zauner feel liked she discovered her identity and understand her Koreanness.
American Marxism
Mark R. Levin
(21 Weeks) Fox News political commentator and radio host Mark Levin theorizes that the core principles of Marxism are pervasive in America. Levin describes his views on such liberal policies as the Green New Deal, critical race theory, and social activism.
The Storyteller
Dave Grohl
(14 Weeks) Known for his work as a drummer for Nirvana and the founder of The Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl reflects on how much life has changed from his childhood in Springfield, Virginia. Reflecting on his fame, Grohl focuses on his love of the music that has underscored his life.
The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present
Paul McCartney
(10 Weeks) Pairing the text of 154 of Paul McCartney’s songs with first-person commentary, The Lyrics takes an in-depth look at a musical legend. McCartney explains how each song came to be and tells about the people who inspired them, from his songwriting partner John Lennon to his parents and even Queen Elizabeth.
Will
Will Smith
(9 Weeks) The celebrated actor, producer, and musician describes his transformation from a terrified child in West Philadelphia to a well-known rapper and an all-star actor. Yet, at the top of his game, Smith still felt lost, realizing that despite his outer accomplishments, he still needed to work on his inner self.
Peril
Bob Woodward and Robert Costa
(9 Weeks) The Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Robert Costa take a deep dive into the transition between the US Presidencies of Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Looking at the challenges faced as the nation’s leadership switches between two opposing political parties, Woodward and Costa paint a picture of a nation at the brink.
The 1619 Project
Created by Nikole Hannah-Jones
(8 Weeks) In 1619, a ship arrived in the Virginia colony with the first enslaved people from Africa. Thus began the unprecedented system of slavery that has shaped America ever since. Based on The New York Times Magazine‘s Pulitizer Prize-winning articles, The 1619 Project combines essays, poems, and works of fiction to chronicle how the legacy of slavery impacts America today.
All American Christmas
Rachel Campos-Duffy
(6 Weeks) Fox News contributors Rachel Campos-Duffy and Sean Duffy present a collection of Christmas stories from across the nation. From recipes to family photographs and emotional memories, All American Christmas traces different Christmas traditions from around the United States.
Heavyweights
(10+ Weeks on the NYT Bestseller List)
Think Again
Adam Grant
(27 Weeks) Grant reminds us that just like we refresh our wardrobe from time to time, we need to routinely reexamine our beliefs and ways of thinking. Often our beliefs become habits, and Grant argues that being too attached to one identity and thought process can kill our creativity. Instead, we need to start spending as much time rethinking as we do thinking.
Taste
Stanley Tucci
(14 Weeks) Actor and foodie Stanley Tucci takes you behind the recipes from his bestselling cookbooks to tell of his life growing up in an Italian-American family. Tucci describes how food as overlayed is life, from preparing for the films he’s starred and directed in to helping his wife cook for their growing family.
Renegades
Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen
(10 Weeks) Long-time friends President Barack Obama and musician Bruce Springsteen have a candid conversation about a variety of topics, covering everything from their origins to their successful careers. Discussing the increased polarization of American politics, they point out the growing gap between the American Dream and the American reality.
Fan Favorites
(5+ Weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List)
The President and the Freedom Fighter by Brian Kilmeade
Amazon | Goodreads
(9 Weeks) The Fox News host gives an account of the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
The Beatles: Get Back by the Beatles
Amazon | Goodreads
(8 Weeks) The story of the making of the band’s final album, gathered from transcripts of their conversations.
The Real Anthony Fauci by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Amazon | Goodreads
(8 Weeks) The anti-vaccine advocate gives his take on the chief medical advisor to the president.
Vanderbilt by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe
Amazon | Goodreads | More Info
(7 Weeks) The CNN host and descendant of the Vanderbilt family charts the rise and fall of this American dynasty.
The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow
Amazon | Goodreads
(6 Weeks) A reinvestigation of social evolution and suggestions for new ways of organizing society.
Honorable Mention
(2-4 Weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List)
These Precious Days by Ann PatchettEssays on friendships, influences and the connection between life and art.
The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall and Douglas AdamsThe naturalist explores an element of human nature during a time of multiple crises in areas of health, climate and politics.
All About Me! by Mel BrooksThe EGOT and Kennedy Center honoree shares stories about making comedy for the stage, film and television.
Best Wishes, Warmest Regards by Daniel Levey and Eugene LevyCharacter profiles, major story moments and behind-the-scenes tales from the Emmy Award-winning series “Schitt’s Creek.”
One Hit Wonders
(1 Week on the New York Times Best Seller List)