Since its inception in the early 1940s, the list has become one of the most well-regarded and influential of its kind. Publishers and book buyers often cite the list to determine the success (and sometimes the quality) of new releases.

Though it is not exactly known how the list is compiled, journalist Edwin Diamond stated in his 1993 book Behind The Times: Inside the New New York Times that thousands of bookstores and wholesalers are surveyed to determine how books rank on the list.

Comprised of fiction, nonfiction and children's literature sections, the list is published weekly in the Sunday edition of The New York Times, and also in The New York Times Book Review magazine.

• Hardcover Fiction

1. U IS FOR UNDERTOW, by Sue Grafton
2. THE LOST SYMBOL, by Dan Brown
3. , ALEX CROSS, by James Patterson
4. UNDER THE DOME, by Stephen King
5. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett

• Hardcover Nonfiction

1. GOING ROGUE, by Sarah Palin
2. STONES INTO SCHOOLS, by Greg Mortenson
3. HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, by Mitch Albom
4. OPEN, by Andre Agassi
5. TRUE COMPASS, by Edward M. Kennedy

• Paperback Trade Fiction

1. PUSH, by Sapphire
2. THE SHACK, by William P. Young
3. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson
4. THE PIANO TEACHER, by Janice Y.K. Lee
5. THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN, by Garth Stein

• Paperback Mass-Market Fiction

1. BORN OF ICE, by Sherrilyn Kenyon
2. DEAR JOHN, by Nicholas Sparks
3. THE ASSOCIATE, by John Grisham
4. ARTIC DRIFT, by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler
5. 7TH HEAVEN, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

• Paperback Nonfiction

1. THE BLIND SIDE, by Michael Lewis
2. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
3. FREAKONOMICS, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
4. THE GLASS CASTLE, by Jeannette Walls
5. GLENN BECK’S ‘COMMON SENSE’, by Glenn Beck

• Children's Books

1. SPLENDIFEROUS CHRISTMAS, by Jane O’Connor
2. THE CHRISTMAS SWEATER, adapted by Chris Schoebinger from the story by Glenn Beck
3. LEGO STAR WARS, by Simon Beecroft
4. SKIPPYJON JONES, LOST IN SPICE, by Judy Schachner
5. NUBS, by Brian Dennis, Mary Nethery and Kirby Larson