When did the first New York Times Best Seller list appear?
The first New York Times Best Seller list appeared on the 12th of October 1931. It initially listed five fiction and four nonfiction books for New York City only.
Questions about The New York Times Best Seller list
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who compiles the New York Times Best Seller list data?
Editors in the News Surveys department compile the list, not the Book Review staff. The process relies on weekly sales reports from selected samples of independent and chain bookstores and wholesalers throughout the United States.
What date was the Advice How-To and Miscellaneous list created?
The Advice How-To and Miscellaneous list debuted as five entries on the 1st of January 1984. It was created because advice best-sellers were crowding the general nonfiction list.
How does the New York Times Best Seller list handle bulk purchases by authors?
As a result of manipulation scandals, the Times began placing dagger symbols next to titles with bulk orders. In July 2015 Ted Cruz's book A Time For Truth was excluded because overwhelming evidence showed limited strategic bulk purchases artificially increased entry onto the list.
When did the Children's Best Sellers list change to weekly publication?
The children's list printed monthly until the 13th of February 2011 when it changed to weekly publication. This list was originally created in July 2000 after the Harry Potter series stayed in top spots for an extended period.