Titles
The biggest books on NYT Hardcover Fiction that entered the chart in the 1990s, ranked by Book Power. Click a column to re-sort.
Book Power is the book's own figure: each week on the list is worth its position as a share of a full list — a #1 week is 14.5, a #6 week is 7.3, a #16 week is 1.8 — added up over the run. No credit split and no discount for what else the author had charting. What a book earned each author is on the author pages.
Ranked by Book Power, part of the ChartReign Power model — not a list published by anyone else. How it works →
| # | Title | Book Power | Weeks at #1 | Top-ten weeks | Weeks on list | Peak | On list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Bridges of Madison CountyRobert James Waller | 1,512.2 | 38 | 148 | 164 | #1Jan 1993 | Aug 1992 → Oct 1995 |
| 2 | The Celestine ProphecyJames Redfield | 1,406.0 | 27 | 141 | 165 | #1Apr 1994 | Mar 1994 → Jun 1997 |
| 3 | Oh, the Places You'll Go!Dr. Seuss | 1,076.3 | 5 | 112 | 178 | #1Mar 1990 | Feb 1990 → Jul 2000 |
| 4 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsJ. K. Rowling | 678.5 | 12 | 57 | 57 | #1Jun 1999 | Jun 1999 → Jul 2000 |
| 5 | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneJ. K. Rowling | 630.8 | 2 | 72 | 82 | #1Aug 1999 | Dec 1998 → Jul 2000 |
| 6 | Cold MountainCharles Frazier | 582.2 | 18 | 49 | 61 | #1Aug 1997 | Jul 1997 → Sep 1998 |
| 7 | Politically Correct Bedtime StoriesJames Finn Garner | 554.6 | 6 | 56 | 65 | #1Dec 1994 | Jun 1994 → Sep 1995 |
| 8 | The Pelican BriefJohn Grisham | 527.0 | 12 | 49 | 49 | #1Mar 1992 | Mar 1992 → Feb 1993 |
| 9 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanJ. K. Rowling | 507.2 | 10 | 43 | 43 | #1Sep 1999 | Sep 1999 → Jul 2000 |
| 10 | The ClientJohn Grisham | 434.0 | 4 | 43 | 48 | #1Mar 1993 | Mar 1993 → Feb 1994 |
| 11 | Like Water for ChocolateLaura Esquivel | 404.7 | 0 | 55 | 61 | #3Sep 1993 | Apr 1993 → Jun 1994 |
| 12 | The FirmJohn Grisham | 392.5 | 0 | 39 | 47 | #2Apr 1991 | Mar 1991 → Feb 1992 |
| 13 | The NotebookNicholas Sparks | 361.8 | 0 | 52 | 56 | #3Mar 1997 | Oct 1996 → Nov 1997 |
| 14 | ScarlettAlexandra Ripley | 348.0 | 16 | 29 | 34 | #1Oct 1991 | Oct 1991 → May 1992 |
| 15 | The Horse WhispererNicholas Evans | 326.8 | 2 | 35 | 37 | #1Oct 1995 | Sep 1995 → Jun 1996 |
| 16 | The PartnerJohn Grisham | 313.6 | 8 | 28 | 30 | #1Mar 1997 | Mar 1997 → Oct 1997 |
| 17 | The Burden of ProofScott Turow | 313.4 | 11 | 29 | 35 | #1Jun 1990 | Jun 1990 → Feb 1991 |
| 18 | The Plains of PassageJean M. Auel | 312.8 | 13 | 27 | 29 | #1Oct 1990 | Oct 1990 → May 1991 |
| 19 | Slow Waltz in Cedar BendRobert James Waller | 298.0 | 9 | 25 | 29 | #1Nov 1993 | Nov 1993 → May 1994 |
| 20 | Memoirs of a GeishaArthur Golden | 289.1 | 0 | 39 | 62 | #5Mar 1998 | Nov 1997 → Jan 1999 |
| 21 | Waiting to ExhaleTerry McMillan | 281.8 | 0 | 28 | 38 | #2Aug 1992 | May 1992 → Apr 1993 |
| 22 | The Sum of All FearsTom Clancy | 279.2 | 7 | 25 | 29 | #1Aug 1991 | Aug 1991 → Mar 1992 |
| 23 | Without RemorseTom Clancy | 258.6 | 2 | 26 | 32 | #1Aug 1993 | Aug 1993 → Apr 1994 |
| 24 | The Runaway JuryJohn Grisham | 254.5 | 7 | 21 | 23 | #1Jun 1996 | Jun 1996 → Jan 1997 |
| 25 | Debt of HonorTom Clancy | 252.5 | 6 | 23 | 25 | #1Sep 1994 | Sep 1994 → Feb 1995 |
| 26 | The TestamentJohn Grisham | 252.1 | 9 | 26 | 30 | #1Feb 1999 | Feb 1999 → Sep 1999 |
| 27 | The RainmakerJohn Grisham | 249.7 | 9 | 21 | 26 | #1Apr 1995 | Apr 1995 → Jan 1996 |
| 28 | Four Past MidnightStephen King | 248.5 | 5 | 20 | 22 | #1Sep 1990 | Sep 1990 → Feb 1991 |
| 29 | Executive OrdersTom Clancy | 244.2 | 5 | 23 | 24 | #1Sep 1996 | Sep 1996 → Feb 1997 |
| 30 | The ChamberJohn Grisham | 239.8 | 8 | 21 | 27 | #1Jun 1994 | Jun 1994 → Jan 1995 |
| 31 | The Deep End of the OceanJacquelyn Mitchard | 236.4 | 6 | 24 | 29 | #1Oct 1996 | Sep 1996 → Apr 1997 |
| 32 | The Lost WorldMichael Crichton | 230.2 | 8 | 19 | 24 | #1Oct 1995 | Oct 1995 → Mar 1996 |
| 33 | Rainbow SixTom Clancy | 229.3 | 7 | 20 | 25 | #1Aug 1998 | Aug 1998 → Feb 1999 |
| 34 | SeptemberRosamunde Pilcher | 227.4 | 4 | 22 | 26 | #1Apr 1990 | Apr 1990 → Oct 1990 |
| 35 | Gerald's GameStephen King | 227.3 | 9 | 18 | 28 | #1Jul 1992 | Jul 1992 → Jan 1993 |
| 36 | The Christmas BoxRichard Paul Evans | 226.0 | 5 | 19 | 29 | #1Dec 1995 | Nov 1995 → Jan 1998 |
| 37 | The Street LawyerJohn Grisham | 224.4 | 9 | 21 | 27 | #1Feb 1998 | Feb 1998 → Sep 1998 |
| 38 | Primary ColorsAnonymous | 219.2 | 9 | 17 | 25 | #1Feb 1996 | Feb 1996 → Sep 1996 |
| 39 | Memories of MidnightSidney Sheldon | 214.9 | 2 | 22 | 23 | #1Sep 1990 | Aug 1990 → Jan 1991 |
| 40 | A Man in FullTom Wolfe | 213.2 | 10 | 17 | 19 | #1Nov 1998 | Nov 1998 → Mar 1999 |
| 41 | The Bourne UltimatumRobert Ludlum | 209.1 | 5 | 21 | 26 | #1Mar 1990 | Mar 1990 → Sep 1990 |
| 42 | Loves Music, Loves to DanceMary Higgins Clark | 206.6 | 6 | 20 | 22 | #1May 1991 | May 1991 → Oct 1991 |
| 43 | HeartbeatDanielle Steel | 204.8 | 8 | 18 | 19 | #1Feb 1991 | Feb 1991 → Jul 1991 |
| 44 | Needful ThingsStephen King | 203.2 | 0 | 18 | 20 | #2Oct 1991 | Oct 1991 → Mar 1992 |
| 45 | I Know This Much Is TrueWally Lamb | 201.8 | 3 | 17 | 19 | #1Jul 1998 | Jul 1998 → Nov 1998 |
| 46 | DisclosureMichael Crichton | 200.6 | 5 | 17 | 22 | #1Jan 1994 | Jan 1994 → Jul 1994 |
| 47 | Plum IslandNelson DeMille | 190.7 | 5 | 17 | 20 | #1Jun 1997 | Jun 1997 → Oct 1997 |
| 48 | Griffin & SabineNick Bantock | 190.3 | 0 | 15 | 47 | #3Jan 1993 | Jan 1992 → Jan 1994 |
| 49 | Five Days in ParisDanielle Steel | 187.0 | 2 | 17 | 20 | #1Dec 1995 | Dec 1995 → Apr 1996 |
| 50 | Message in a BottleNicholas Sparks | 186.3 | 0 | 24 | 29 | #4May 1998 | Apr 1998 → Jan 1999 |
| 51 | The Tenth InsightJames Redfield | 184.9 | 0 | 22 | 24 | #2May 1996 | May 1996 → Oct 1996 |
| 52 | The Kitchen God's WifeAmy Tan | 180.8 | 7 | 15 | 18 | #1Jul 1991 | Jun 1991 → Oct 1991 |
| 53 | Bag of BonesStephen King | 179.6 | 4 | 15 | 20 | #1Oct 1998 | Oct 1998 → Mar 1999 |
| 54 | How Stella Got Her Groove BackTerry McMillan | 179.2 | 2 | 19 | 21 | #1May 1996 | May 1996 → Oct 1996 |
| 55 | The GiftDanielle Steel | 178.7 | 4 | 14 | 26 | #1Aug 1994 | Jul 1994 → Jan 1995 |
| 56 | Beach MusicPat Conroy | 178.5 | 3 | 17 | 22 | #1Jul 1995 | Jul 1995 → Dec 1995 |
| 57 | The Poisonwood BibleBarbara Kingsolver | 177.7 | 0 | 24 | 29 | #2Jan 1999 | Nov 1998 → May 1999 |
| 58 | Falling UpShel Silverstein | 176.7 | 0 | 20 | 30 | #3Jul 1996 | Jun 1996 → Jan 1997 |
| 59 | Rising SunMichael Crichton | 175.2 | 2 | 15 | 21 | #1Mar 1992 | Feb 1992 → Jul 1992 |
| 60 | ParadiseToni Morrison | 175.0 | 3 | 14 | 18 | #1Feb 1998 | Jan 1998 → May 1998 |
| 61 | Summer SistersJudy Blume | 172.0 | 0 | 19 | 22 | #2Jun 1998 | Jun 1998 → Nov 1998 |
| 62 | Message from NamDanielle Steel | 171.7 | 0 | 16 | 18 | #2Jun 1990 | Jun 1990 → Oct 1990 |
| 63 | Nightmares & DreamscapesStephen King | 170.7 | 0 | 16 | 18 | #2Oct 1993 | Oct 1993 → Feb 1994 |
| 64 | Heir to the EmpireTimothy Zahn | 170.0 | 1 | 17 | 19 | #1Jun 1991 | May 1991 → Sep 1991 |
| 65 | HannibalThomas Harris | 169.6 | 7 | 14 | 18 | #1Jun 1999 | Jun 1999 → Jan 2000 |
| 66 | White OleanderJanet Fitch | 161.6 | 0 | 16 | 18 | #2May 1999 | May 1999 → Sep 1999 |
| 67 | InsomniaStephen King | 160.3 | 3 | 15 | 16 | #1Oct 1994 | Oct 1994 → Feb 1995 |
| 68 | The Witching HourAnne Rice | 159.9 | 0 | 13 | 22 | #2Nov 1990 | Nov 1990 → Apr 1991 |
| 69 | AirframeMichael Crichton | 159.1 | 5 | 14 | 17 | #1Dec 1996 | Dec 1996 → Apr 1997 |
| 70 | Black and BlueAnna Quindlen | 157.4 | 0 | 18 | 20 | #2Apr 1998 | Feb 1998 → Jun 1998 |
| 71 | Disney's Beauty and the BeastUncredited | 156.2 | 0 | 19 | 24 | #3Feb 1992 | Dec 1991 → Jun 1992 |
| 72 | The Tale of the Body ThiefAnne Rice | 154.0 | 4 | 14 | 15 | #1Oct 1992 | Oct 1992 → Jan 1993 |
| 73 | The Doomsday ConspiracySidney Sheldon | 152.4 | 0 | 19 | 20 | #2Sep 1991 | Sep 1991 → Jan 1992 |
| 74 | AccidentDanielle Steel | 152.3 | 5 | 14 | 16 | #1Feb 1994 | Feb 1994 → Jun 1994 |
| 75 | Special DeliveryDanielle Steel | 148.6 | 2 | 13 | 15 | #1Jul 1997 | Jul 1997 → Oct 1997 |
| 76 | Cold FireDean R. Koontz | 147.2 | 3 | 13 | 16 | #1Feb 1991 | Jan 1991 → May 1991 |
| 77 | Border MusicRobert James Waller | 146.4 | 0 | 14 | 18 | #2Mar 1995 | Feb 1995 → Jun 1995 |
| 78 | Dolores ClaiborneStephen King | 144.5 | 7 | 11 | 14 | #1Dec 1992 | Dec 1992 → Mar 1993 |
| 79 | LasherAnne Rice | 144.5 | 0 | 16 | 17 | #2Oct 1993 | Oct 1993 → Jan 1994 |
| 80 | Tara RoadMaeve Binchy | 144.2 | 0 | 18 | 23 | #3Mar 1999 | Mar 1999 → Dec 1999 |
| 81 | The God of Small ThingsArundhati Roy | 144.2 | 0 | 19 | 31 | #5Sep 1997 | Aug 1997 → Mar 1998 |
| 82 | Moonlight Becomes YouMary Higgins Clark | 142.5 | 4 | 14 | 17 | #1Apr 1996 | Apr 1996 → Aug 1996 |
| 83 | No Greater LoveDanielle Steel | 142.3 | 0 | 14 | 15 | #2Nov 1991 | Nov 1991 → Mar 1992 |
| 84 | A Widow for One YearJohn Irving | 140.9 | 3 | 13 | 20 | #1Jun 1998 | May 1998 → Sep 1998 |
| 85 | The AlienistCaleb Carr | 140.8 | 0 | 21 | 24 | #4Jul 1994 | Apr 1994 → Sep 1994 |
| 86 | Devices and DesiresP.D. James | 140.4 | 3 | 14 | 16 | #1Feb 1990 | Jan 1990 → May 1990 |
| 87 | DesperationStephen King | 138.7 | 2 | 14 | 15 | #1Oct 1996 | Oct 1996 → Jan 1997 |
| 88 | Pretend You Don't See HerMary Higgins Clark | 138.3 | 5 | 12 | 14 | #1May 1997 | Apr 1997 → Jul 1997 |
| 89 | Unnatural ExposurePatricia Cornwell | 136.7 | 4 | 12 | 13 | #1Aug 1997 | Aug 1997 → Oct 1997 |
| 90 | Night Over WaterKen Follett | 135.4 | 0 | 17 | 19 | #4Oct 1991 | Oct 1991 → Feb 1992 |
| 91 | The Bad PlaceDean R. Koontz | 134.3 | 2 | 14 | 15 | #1Feb 1990 | Jan 1990 → May 1990 |
| 92 | Mixed BlessingsDanielle Steel | 133.9 | 2 | 11 | 14 | #1Nov 1992 | Nov 1992 → Feb 1993 |
| 93 | Remember MeMary Higgins Clark | 132.8 | 1 | 13 | 17 | #1May 1994 | May 1994 → Aug 1994 |
| 94 | Silent NightMary Higgins Clark | 131.4 | 0 | 13 | 14 | #2Oct 1995 | Oct 1995 → Jan 1996 |
| 95 | The Girl Who Loved Tom GordonStephen King | 129.9 | 1 | 16 | 18 | #1May 1999 | Apr 1999 → Aug 1999 |
| 96 | Cat & MouseJames Patterson | 129.5 | 0 | 12 | 14 | #2Nov 1997 | Nov 1997 → Feb 1998 |
| 97 | Pleading GuiltyScott Turow | 128.8 | 0 | 13 | 16 | #2Jun 1993 | Jun 1993 → Sep 1993 |
| 98 | JewelsDanielle Steel | 128.5 | 4 | 11 | 16 | #1May 1992 | May 1992 → Aug 1992 |
| 99 | The GhostDanielle Steel | 128.2 | 1 | 11 | 13 | #1Nov 1997 | Nov 1997 → Feb 1998 |
| 100 | The Road to OmahaRobert Ludlum | 128.1 | 0 | 13 | 19 | #2Mar 1992 | Mar 1992 → Jul 1992 |