This is a list of books that topped The New York Times best-seller list in 1961.
Fiction The following list ranks the number-one best-selling fiction books.Adult New York Times Best Seller lists for 1961
The most popular titles of the year were Hawaii by James Michener, The Agony and the Ecstasy, by Irving Stone and Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger with respectively 12, 27 and 10 weeks at the top. Hawaii had previously dominated the 1960 list, and Franny and Zooey continued into 1962 at the top of the list for a total run of 26 weeks.
The only other book to top the list in 1961 was The Last of the Just by André Schwarz-Bart. That book, a multi-generational saga translated from the French, spent 18 weeks slowly rising to the top, and spent 4 weeks there before being toppled by The Agony and the Ecstasy. It continued among the top 15 best sellers for another 20 weeks.John Bear, The #1 New York Times Best Seller: intriguing facts about the 484 books that have been #1 New York Times bestsellers since the first list, 50 years ago, Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 1992, pp. 79-83
DateBookAuthor January 1 Hawaii James Michener January 8 January 15 January 22 January 29 February 5 February 12 February 19 February 26 March 5 March 12 March 19 March 26 The Last of the Just André Schwarz-Bart April 2 April 9 April 16 April 23 The Agony and the Ecstasy Irving Stone April 30 May 7 May 14 May 21 May 28 June 4 June 11 June 18 June 25 July 2 July 9 July 16 July 23 July 30 August 6 August 13 August 20 August 27 September 3 September 10 September 17 September 24 October 1 October 8 October 15 October 22 October 29 Franny and Zooey J. D. Salinger November 5 November 12 November 19 November 26 December 3 December 10 December 17 December 24December 31
Nonfiction The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books.Adult New York Times Best Seller lists for 1961 DateBookAuthor January 1 The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich William L. Shirer January 8 January 15 January 22 January 29 February 5 February 12 February 19 February 26 March 5 March 12 March 19 March 26 April 2 April 9 April 16 April 23 April 30 May 7 May 14 May 21 May 28 The New English Bible: New Testament June 4 The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich William L. Shirer June 11 June 18 June 25 July 2 July 9 July 16 July 23 July 30 August 6 August 13 August 20 August 27 September 3 September 10 The Making of the President 1960 Theodore H. White September 17 September 24 October 1 October 8 October 15 October 22 October 29 November 5 November 12 November 19 November 26 December 3 December 10 December 17 December 24December 31
See also Publishers Weekly list of bestselling novels in the United States in the 1960s
References