Book Sense Bestseller Lists vs. The New York Times Bestseller Lists

When a reader decides it is time to find a new book, he often asks for referrals from friends or family, or finds a list of bestsellers. Bestsellers are obviously popular, so they are useful. But how does one know which list to look at for a new choice?

What bestseller lists are

Bestseller lists are organized in several ways. Most lists are divided into separate general categories such as: fiction and non-fiction, paperback and hardcover, print and e-book. Those categories are then broken down further into their different genres. These lists show which books have generated the best sales.

New York Times Bestseller lists

The New York Times Bestsellers list dates back to 1942. It is considered the supreme listing of books in the United States. This list is based on a weekly sales report from various book sellers including chain bookstores, independent bookstores and wholesale stores. The method used to compile the list is considered a trade secret. The list is published weekly in the Sunday edition of the New York Times and is also found on the web. It is only a reflection of a book's sales that week, not overall sales.

Book Sense Bestseller lists

Book Sense was launched in 1999. The Book Sense Bestseller lists are comprised of weekly data from independent bookstores only. The idea was to identify which books are better suited to smaller independent bookstores instead of the big chain stores. Their weekly lists include: hardcover fiction, hardcover nonfiction, trade paperback fiction, trade paperback nonfiction, mass market paperback, "children's interest," children's illustrated and children's fiction series. Lists that break those categories down further into different genres are printed less frequently. Book Sense was replaced by IndieBound in 2008, and the lists are now known as the Indie Bestseller Lists.

Choosing which list to consult when looking for a new book is sometimes daunting. Book Sense and New York Times both have comprehensive lists that are full of inviting new worlds for all readers.