Did you see the NYT Bestsellers this week?
According to Wikipedia, the New York Times has been publishing The New York Times NYT Bestsellers List since 1931.
It is not a habit of mine to visit this list often. Out of the blues I decided to see what was on the list today. I learned something new. It turns out that in addition lists for fiction and non fiction books, they also have lists for books on advise, how to, and miscellaneous. For the week ending January 16, 2022, the list includes two books that I own. I purchased one of the books, and the other was a gift. I also recognize at least one of the other authors on the list.
NYT Bestseller List Jan 16 (1-5)
- Atlas of the Heart, Brené Brown/Random House
About the author: Dr. Brené Brown is a researcher professor at the University of Houston. She studies courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy. She is a TED Speaker with two very popular TED talks. The TED video segments appear to indicate that combined viewership for her talks is over 70 million and transcripts are available in 40+ languages. I’ve watched them, they are very good. She has authored others books, and hosts the Dare to Lead Podcast. This is definitely a book I want to read. The publication of this book was November 30, 2021, and it has been on the NYT Bestsellers List for 5 weeks.
2. The Comfortable Kitchen, Alex Snodgrass/Morrow
‘105 Laid-Back, Wholesome. and Healthy Recipes’
This books is the second book for author Alex Snodgrass of thedefineddish.com. On her website she indicates that, just like the first book, this book is filled with “paleo-ish….healthy and wholesome recipes”. Sounds like The Comfortable Kitchen could have some interesting recipes. The publication date of this book was December 28, 20018 and it is new to the NYT Bestsellers List this week.
3. Atomic Habits, James Clear/Avery
According to his website, James Clear is an author and speaker whose areas of focus are habits, decision making and continuous improvement. He provides teaching and coaching services to individuals and organizations through jamesclear.com and habitsacademy.com. The book “reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results”. The publication date of this book was October 16, 2018, and it has been on the NYT Bestsellers List for 110 weeks. I own a copy of this book, and I think I purchased it a month or two after its release. I highly recommend it. It reminded me of the summer after high school, when I decided to train myself how to run long distances. I purchased a stop watch and I methodically went about achieving my goal.
4. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse, Charlie Mackesy/HarperOne
According to his website, Charlie Mackesy is a cartoonist/illustrator/sculptor/artist and social abassador for Zambia enterprise, MamaBuci.com. Through his book, you can “Experience the world of a curious boy, a greedy mole, a wary fox and a wise horse who find themselves together in sometimes difficult terrain, sharing their greatest fears and biggest discoveries about vulnerability, kindness, hope, friendship and love”. I had not previously heard of this book. It has over 90K reviews on Amazon. 90% plus, are positive. This book was published on October 29, 2019, and has been on the NYT Bestsellers List for 109 weeks.
5. Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order, Ray Dalio/Avid Reader
Ray Dalio is a billionaire investor and hedge fund manager. According to forbes.com, Ray Dalio started and owns the world’s biggest hedge fund firm, Bridgewater Associates. If you search the title of this book on google, you will find page after page of publications that have written about it.
From Amazon Editorial Review Section: “When Ray Dalio talks, I listen. His new book is remarkable in its scope—shedding new light on the biggest reasons nations win in the global economic and political arenas, and applying it to China and the US today. After reading this book, you probably won’t see the world the same again.”
—Henry Paulson
The publication date of this book was November 30, 2021, and it has been on the NYT Bestsellers List for 5 weeks. I have an interest in reading this book. It also sounds like it could be a good gift for someone attracted to finance and economics.
NYT Bestseller List Jan 16 (6-10)
6. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Mark Manson/Harper
‘A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life’
Mark Manson is a self-help author and blogger who writes about life. His website indicates that Amazon sited his book as the number one most read non-fiction book in the world in 2017. From Amazon’s book description: “Manson makes the argument, backed both by academic research and well-timed poop jokes, that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better”. I listened to the audio version of this book.
Most self-help books offer value, and I enjoy reading or listening to them. I don’t particularly like the author’s style, but that didn’t dissuade me from hearing what he had to say. 79% of 60K Amazon reviews gave it a 5 star. The publication of this book was September 16, 2016, and it has been on the NYT Bestsellers List for 234 weeks.
7. The Pioneer Women Cooks—Super Easy! Ree Drummond
‘120 Shortcut Recipes for Dinners, Desserts, and More’
Ree Dummond is a blogger, cook book author and foodnetwork.com show host. Her cooking show is entertaining. I enjoy seeing the landscapes, when the show cuts to what is going on in the outdoors of her ranch home and community. It is interesting to see her cook complete meals for the whole family. Her book sounds appealing, particularly the reference to “shortcuts”. The publication date of this book was October 19, 20021, and it has been on the NYT Bestsellers List for 2 weeks.
8. You Are a Badass, Jen Sincero/Running Press
‘How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life‘
Jen Sincero is an author, motivational speaker, and coach. This book is apart of a series that follows the same thread of being “badass” in different areas of your life. Some Amazon reviews indicate the author uses a lot of humor, and leans heavily on spirituality to deliver her message. As one other book on this list, the title does not really appeal to me, but I will get around to reading it. The publication date of this book was April 23, 2013, and it has been on the NYT Bestsellers list for 250 weeks!
9. Keep Sharp, Sanjay Gupta with Kristin Loberg/Simon & Schuster
‘Build a Better Brain at Any Age’
According to Amazon’s author profile, Sanjay Gupta is an associate professor of neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine, an Emmy award-winning chief medical correspondent at CNN, and author and host of the Chasing Life Podcast. I have read this book and I highly recommend it. On top of providing a well structured sequence on the functions of the brain and explaining in easy to understand language, Dr. Gupta includes a 12 week program with easy to follow strategies to help strengthen and improve brain function. This book has been on the NTY Bestsellers List for 14 Weeks. The softcover version release date was January 4, 2022.
10. Can’t, Hurt Me, David Goggins/Lioncrest
‘Master the Mind and Defy the Odds’
According to his author profile on Amazon, David Goggins is a world class athlete, and retired decorated veteran with impressive records on both fronts. This book appears to be a story of how the author overcame great obstacles to achieve success. The book has 46,500 reviews on Amazon, and 88% of them are 5 stars. The publication date of this book was December 4, 2018 and it has been on the NYT Bestsellers List for 23 weeks.
Which book are you reading or would like to read next?