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Tops In 2008 Best Selling Books, Audio Books

2 minute read | December 2008

Nielsen has issued a year-end look at the most popular trends among Americans during 2008, covering everything from the top TV programs to the most popular consumer packaged goods.

William P. Young’s “The Shack” was the top-selling fiction book through November 30.

Among non-fiction books, “A New Earth,” by Eckhart Tolle was the top-seller.

The audio version of Tolle’s “A New Earth” was the top-selling audio book of the year.

Top 10 Book Sales: Adult Fiction

RankBook TitleAuthorFormatPublisherPublication

Date

1The ShackWilliam P. YoungTrade PaperbackHachette Book Group7/1/08
2The AppealJohn GrishamHardcoverRandom House1/1/08
3The HostStephenie MeyerHardcoverHachette Book Group5/1/08
4The Friday Night Knitting ClubKate JacobsTrade PaperbackPenguin Books1/1/08
5Water For ElephantsSara GruenTrade PaperbackWorkman Publishing5/1/07
6The Kite RunnerKhaled HosseiniTrade PaperbackPenguin Books1/1/03
7The Lucky OneNicholas SparksHardcoverHachette Book Group9/1/08
8The Story Of Edward SawtelleDavid WroblewskiHardcoverHarper Collins9/1/08
9Playing For PizzaJohn GrishamHardcoverRandom House7/1/08
10Fearless FourteenJanet EvanovichHardcoverMcMillan6/1/08
Source: The Nielsen Company (December 31, 2007 – December 28, 2008).
Note: Data does not include sales from Wal-Mart, Sam’s, BJ’s, airports, and libraries. Traditionally, book sales see increases during the holidays.

Top 10 Book Sales: Adult Non-Fiction

RankBook TitleAuthorFormatPublisherPublication

Date

1A New EarthEckhart TolleTrade PaperbackPenguin Books2/1/08
2The Last LectureRandy PauschHardcoverHyperion4/1/08
3Eat Pray LoveElizabeth GilbertTrade PaperbackPenguin Books2/1/07
4Three Cups of TeaGreg MortensonTrade PaperbackPenguin Books2/1/07
5The SecretRhonda ByrneHardcoverSimon & Schuster11/1/06
6Eat This Not That!David ZinczenkoTrade PaperbackMacMillan1/1/08
7The Audacity of HopeBarack ObamaTrade PaperbackRandom House11/1/07
8Skinny BitchKim BarnouinTrade PaperbackPereus Books1/1/06
9Dreams from My FatherBarack ObamaTrade PaperbackRandom House8/1/04
10The Power of NowEckhart TolleTrade PaperbackPGW TR8/1/04
Source: The Nielsen Company (December 31, 2007 – November 30, 2008).
Note: Data does not include sales from Wal-Mart, Sam’s, BJ’s, airports, and libraries. Traditionally, book sales see increases during the holidays.

Top 10 Audio Book Sales: Adult and Juvenile

RankBook TitleAuthorPublisherPublication

Date

1A New EarthEckhart TollePenguin Books2/1/08
2The SecretRhonda ByrneSimon & Schuster11/1/06
3The Last LectureRandy PauschHyperion4/1/08
4Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving …Joel OsteenSimon & Schuster10/1/07
5The Audacity of HopeBarack ObamaRandom House11/1/07
6The Appeal (unabridged)John GrishamRandom House1/1/08
7When You Are Engulfed in FlamesDavid SedarisHachette Book Group6/1/08
8TwilightStephenie MeyerRandom House10/1/05
9The Power of NowEckhart TollePGW TR10/1/01
10The ShackWilliam P. YoungOasis6/1/08
Source: The Nielsen Company (December 31, 2007 – November 30, 2008).
Note: Data does not include sales from Wal-Mart, Sam’s, BJ’s, airports, and libraries. Traditionally, book sales see increases during the holidays.

View the press release.

Relive the greatest hits of 2008 — stay tuned on Nielsen Wire for more Tops In 2008 coverage.

Look ahead to the new year with Nielsen Wire’s 2009 Industry Outlook series.
https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2008/tops-in-2008-best-selling-books-audio-books/
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