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 |