List of The New York Times number-one books of 1981

The American daily newspaper The New York Times publishes multiple weekly lists ranking the best-selling books in the United States.

Fiction edit

The following list ranks the number-one best-selling fiction books, in the hardcover fiction category.[1]

Date Book Author
January 4 The Covenant James Michener
January 11
January 18
January 25
February 1
February 8
February 15
February 22
March 1
March 8
March 15
March 22
March 29
April 5
April 12
April 19
April 26 Gorky Park Martin Cruz Smith
May 3
May 10 Noble House James Clavell
May 17
May 24
May 31
June 7
June 14
June 21
June 28
July 5
July 12
July 19
July 26
August 2
August 9
August 16
August 23 Cujo Stephen King
August 30
September 6
September 13
September 20
September 27 The Hotel New Hampshire John Irving
October 4
October 11
October 18
October 25
November 1
November 8
November 15 An Indecent Obsession Colleen McCullough
November 22
November 29
December 6
December 13
December 20
December 27

Nonfiction edit

The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category.[2]

Date Book Author
January 4 Cosmos Carl Sagan
January 11
January 18
January 25 Crisis Investing Douglas R. Casey
February 1
February 8
February 15 Cosmos Carl Sagan
February 22
March 1
March 8 Never-Say-Diet Book Richard Simmons
March 15
March 22 Cosmos Carl Sagan
March 29
April 5 Never-Say-Diet Book Richard Simmons
April 12
April 19
April 26
May 3
May 10
May 17 The Lord God Made Them All James Herriot
May 24
May 31
June 7
June 14
June 21
June 28
July 5
July 12 The Beverly Hills Diet Judy Mazel
July 19
July 26
August 2
August 9
August 16
August 23
August 30
September 6
September 13
September 20
September 27
October 4
October 11
October 18
October 25 Never-Say-Diet Book Richard Simmons
November 1 The Beverly Hills Diet Judy Mazel
November 8 The Lord God Made Them All James Herriot
November 15 Never-Say-Diet Book Richard Simmons
November 22
November 29 A Light in the Attic Shel Silverstein
December 6
December 13
December 20
December 27

See also edit

References edit