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

Fiction The following list ranks the number-one best-selling fiction books, in the hardcover fiction category.Adult New York Times Best Seller lists for 1981

DateBookAuthor 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 The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books, in the hardcover nonfiction category.Adult New York Times Best Seller Lists for 1981

DateBookAuthor 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 Publishers Weekly list of bestselling novels in the United States in the 1980s

References