Why Is Every Book A New York Times Best Seller? - How Money Works

Why does it feel like every book you hear about is a New York Times Best Seller?
They can’t all be best sellers, right? The word “best” is reserved for one individual thing.
Well surprise surprise the name is very misleading.
The New York Times ranks books in A LOT of different categories, Non-fiction, Children’s books, middle school books, biographies, how-to, eBooks, and they even distinguish between hardcovers and paperbacks, because you know that totally makes a lot of difference.
Lots of lists means less competition in each specific genre which means books can make it onto the bottom of one of these lists with as little as ten thousand total sales.
The authors get to call their book a Best Seller, and the New York Times gets to be the de-facto authority on book rankings which means they get to make lots of money from people purchasing books from the affiliate links on their website.
A New York Times Decent Seller in one very specific genre just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
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[@lejogador]

That makes sense. It feels like it is so overused that it has lost some of it's impact though.

[@Radi0he4d1]

When everyone is a best-seller, nobody is

[@tanjoy0205]

Indeed

[@Patrick-zr8tv]

Any of those best seller/award labels are something I completely disregard because they are always bought not earned.

[@choblgobblrr1074]

Some? More like all 💀.

[@darunealbane]

The NYT will CREATE a new subsection to make crap books be a best seller Just be aware the more subsections a category has the crappier the book Best fantasy book Best fantasy book with dwarves Best fantasy book with dwarves fighting environmental damage

[@Inanedata]

Thing is, I would pick up a book if it was advertised as a "decent seller in a very specific genre" out of curiosity.

[@JustChadC]

Way more interesting than “Best Seller.” Ironically, that one is bland.

[@Kromiball]

@@JustChadC "worst seller" sounds interesting

[@ginathecookie]

@@Kromiball banned list seems more interesting

[@subhadramahanta452]

Highly agree with the above comments

[@orangeismyfavoritecolor]

I would too tbh

[@gb-nz]

Instead, look at: - Pulitzer Winners for Fiction - Man Booker List for Fiction - Bailie-Gifford List for Non-Fiction

[@Noorboomboomshakalakaboom]

Thanks

[@dva5610]

Lambda literary prize as well

[@priscillajimenez27]

I've only heard of Pulitzer. Thanks

[@TheMusicalKnokcers]

@@priscillajimenez27 in my book pullitzer was for journalistic work but ok

[@michellesmirnova4471]

Every Pulitzer book I’ve read I haven’t liked so I wouldn’t recommend 💀😂 Personally I think most of these lists and awards are completely useless and say virtually nothing about the book’s quality

[@TheAntinowherelane]

There actually is a big difference between hardback and paperback. Namely price. If something sells very well as a hardback, that says people are willing to pay that much more for the story vs having to wait on the paperback. If a book doesn't sell well as hardback but does sell well as paperback, that means it's still popular but only at the right price. These kinds of things likely influence what authors and series a publisher will invest in.

[@zekeyaeger3018]

Yep. Was looking for this comment. Hardbacks are for rich people and hard core fans 😂

[@craisins95]

Also matters for libraries. I’ve found that hardcovers circulate way more than paperbacks do in our library.

[@thelocalnecromancer1224]

tbh I prefer hardbacks over paperbacks. hardbacks feel nicer

[@miyapapayax]

@@thelocalnecromancer1224 me too, they hold up better over time. I hate the crack in the spine, but that's better than completely falling apart. Although I did choose to purchase IT in paperback because 1) lower price and 2) didn't know if I'd really like it. That's the one book I wasn't sure if it was worth spending the extra for hardcover and I actually don't regret that decision.

[@thelocalnecromancer1224]

@@miyapapayax I've only seen a crack in the spine three times, twice on paperback and only once on hardback, and the hardback happened to be that "Lord of the Rings" book dad gave me to read. He told me to be careful as it was falling apart, since it was just too big.

[@onebraincellarmy6972]

Not gonna lie, a decent seller award would have been hilarious.

[@fernandod4046]

It's like how every trailer calls their movie the "#1 movie in the world."

[@jacobboe7711]

Well... maybe it is at that time. It's only based on box office, so if you're atop the box office, look, you're number one in the world (right now(

[@princessthyemis]

Yeah! I hate it when trailers do that 🤣

[@volcryndarkstar]

How about, "Critics are raving!"? If we believe every movie trailer then critics are almost never NOT raving.

[@asdkotable]

@@volcryndarkstar the funniest thing is that "the critics are raving" sounds so hyperbolic, while their quotes can be something pretty mundane like "Actor Actorman is at the top of his game".

[@paleobc65]

I was going to say that XD

[@prosamis]

I can't wait till "worstseller" becomes a thing I want a collection of the worst books ever published

[@spodreman7732]

New York Times Worstseller “Lacked any plot line, let alone a compelling one. And I hated the protagonist.” -JK Rowling, author “This book was nothing but a pain to read, I only finished it so I could give this review.” -Gordon Ramsay, chef “I had accidentally dropped this book on the ground. A cop came and told me putting trash on public grounds is a misdemeanour punishable with 6 months. So now I’m in jail. But I bet reading this shit would have been worse.” -Ted Bundy, criminal

[@prosamis]

@@spodreman7732 beautiful

[@hollyl5702]

Start with Eudora Welty's 'One Writer's Beginnings' I had to read it for school, was a voracious reader and could not finish it.

[@ashley_smith]

Number one: the bible, because of all the subsequent murders.

[@bananasunshine]

@@ashley_smith asoiaf says hi

[@AdEngineer]

Two things are infinite: the universe and New York Times best sellers; and I'm not sure about the universe

[@nekolu]

Even the religious texts of the next intelligent life to emerge after our universe collapses and explodes into another Big Bang would be a New York Times best seller.

[@Dgero]

@@nekolu it all returns to New York with best seller orbiting around it

[@lyricsassam]

@@nekolu our everyday lives are also New York times best sellers🤯

[@fairy_queen85]

@Addicted Engineer This is a great comment! xD

[@washingmachine569]

“It was all New York Times Bestseller?” “Always has been…”

[@priscillajimenez27]

I thought maybe it was like a monthly contest or something. Like every month a book is ranked best seller by NY Times. This seems to make it even lower in value.

[@FreshEggsDaily]

It's a weekly list... based on sales.

[@hpsmash77]

its weekly omfg, somehow managed to fall even lower

[@elizabethsmith955]

Now if I don't become a New York Times bestseller when I do publish a book that will just be disappointing 💀

[@NeuroEverything]

Also you forgot how influencers and celebrities will typically buy thousands of copies of a book in its first week, to ensure it becomes a bestseller.

[@NeuroEverything]

@Mochizuki Tadayoshi yea! Plenty of celebrities will go out and buy thousands of copies of a book in its first week, only to put it on sale on their website :/

[@dommyboysmith]

Another country's government will sometimes do this as well if it paints their country, beliefs, mode of law or history in a more positive light.

[@abid5087]

I think publishers will do that too so that for their books

[@zzulm]

The same with CDs artists used to buy thousands of their own CDs to hype up their album and break into mainstream music

[@dommyboysmith]

@@zzulm very true. Can't think of his name at the moment but a current rap star made his way to fame by buying hundreds of thousands of bot accounts on tik tok. It worked lol

[@sitinorhassan5253]

I read an article about a year ago. The Best Seller thing does not always mean best seller because consumers bought them. It became Best Seller because of the volume the publishers sold the books to bookstores. So if the publisher sells 1000 copies to a bookstore they still count it as 1000 sales. It doesn't matter if consumers buy the book or not. Unfortunately I forgot where I read the article or who wrote it.🤷🏻‍♀️

[@keifer7813]

Plus, isn't it also because the 'best seller' title is updated weekly so it just means you have to have your book at number 1 for a week to earn that title

[@TheBacknblack92]

It doesn't have to be number 1

[@sjenkins91812]

I've long since dismissed any credibility the New York times may have had thus far.

[@ossiehalvorson7702]

Honestly, anybody expecting credibility from corporate media at this point is a good laugh. Not that the little guys are more trustworthy, since they wouldn't be able to compete that way, but trusting the companies that literally made that the standard.. that's another level.

[@pdorism]

Not to mention, it's usually the author or publisher buying those 10000 copies from themselves.

[@tameshewolf]

This is true for claims that books on Amazon makes. It's almost like "Best seller for the day!" It could just be 15 books sold on that day in that category.

[@Wiseclone5555]

This is a very common tactic used by news organizations to bring in revenue. Ever looked at a college and seen that US News & World Report rated it as Best or Top? That's more likely to mean that a school paid the fee to be included in the list rather than an indicator of the quality of the program.

[@GrimboBagworth]

Only partially true for colleges. Let’s take my school Cornell for example: they pay for the advertisement because it’ll attract more applicants, but other comparable schools are paying too. And they are paying for the right to be reviewed essentially, not necessarily a positive endorsement. Part of it is hegemony but part of it is the schools passing a preordained test that these news agencies devise.

[@Wiseclone5555]

@@GrimboBagworth for specific positions sure, but for the actual "Best" or "Top" badges they provide, inclusion on the list is all that is necessary. Anyone who pays the advertising fee makes the list. There's more than a few "awards" I've helped publicize that look like #1 rankings because of the award names and badges, but the actual position was #150+. If they were up front about the criteria for ranking and stricter about the use of the awards in marketing, than it would be fine, but as it is, the awards are deceptive at best.

[@GrimboBagworth]

@@Wiseclone5555 of course. Donald trump passed a law that made school shopping easier by forcing schools to release alumni placement data so it’s up to the consumer to do the research. My Econ degree places well out of Cornell, especially for grad school, but many of my friends liberal arts degrees do not.

[@ComeAlongKay]

@@GrimboBagworth hey liberal arts degrees are useful, like if you need some paper to throw your gum away in.

[@ComeAlongKay]

Yeah though many people listen to the New York Times thing I bet way more than other stuff, meaning they have like this ability to decide what is considered good by how they sort of finesse the numbers and ranking even if it doesn’t reflect on what real people think is good.

[@shaneevan5237]

When I was in middle school, I only read New York time best sellers. Never ran out of books to read, and I only found a few I didn't like

[@spodreman7732]

This video is very informative! You should publish it as a book, I’m sure it will be a best-seller.

[@Redths]

If my memory is correct, I think it also has to do with the cunning use of "these specific book-stores in New York are our data-entry for our statistics". So, if you know which of these bookstores are. A publicist together with the author, buys out all copies of their own books from just these stores. Therefore inflating the ratings and making their books "sold out", ergo: "Best selling" in New York Times statistics.

[@SpacemanTheo]

And I know of one book/author that did exactly that. It's call Handbook for Mortals. They even ripped their cover from an art piece that had nothing to do with it.

[@icethepolarbear]

Paperbacks and hardcovers _do make a difference_ for a selling point. So I understand why it’s distinguished in the best *seller* category.

[@GrandSupremeDaddyo]

They also hide the specific criteria for the lists so that they can omit certain books they don't want receiving the accolade.

[@tavernellopower4468]

Side note: some books are bestsellers just because the writer has enough money to buy thousands of copies of its own book and eventually reselling them. (Mainly politicians or people who want to expand their influence/prestige rather than writers who do it for a living)

[@spaceracer23]

That's how Hilary made the list.

[@xalgo6229]

Once found a scifi book when I was working at Amazon that was labeled as a New York times best seller. To this day it remains one of the worst things I've ever read that taught me the true meaning of never judge a book by its cover.

[@faithful451]

Kinda like how the "sustainable fishing" label works. You just gotta pay the right organisation and you get to put the label on your products regardless of sustainability

[@Junkzillabox]

"And when everyone's super.. no one will be." - Syndrome, The Incredibles

[@VivAtreyu]

So a shitty and borderline unethical tactic to generate importance and revenue for a newspaper. Nice

[@tyrians6376]

I mean it’s not really too bad if you’re trying to find the “best” books in a specific genre. I feel like it actually makes sense, though can be a little misleading to uninformed people. “New York Times Best Sellers in this Genera (or category)” would be more accurate. It definitely helps newer authors get off the ground though since their niche books can get more recognition.

[@VivAtreyu]

@@tyrians6376 I was letting them have it until they split it into hard cover and soft cover books. That's just bullshit.

[@tyrians6376]

@@VivAtreyu yeah I agree with you there, still helps newer authors, but I mean… come on wtf.

[@crabinijig8403]

The NYT has played a heavy hand in misinformation to benefit the rich and powerful, not limited to contributing to the deaths of millions of disenfranchised people. This is essentially like hitler stabbing a baby in a meth binge, I'd say step on a bug but i also don't wanna exaggerate the weight of NYT sponsoring moneyed books.

[@sladjanab]

👍🤣

[@prich0382]

Syndrome: If every book is a best seller, then non of them are. Basically it means jack shit.

[@oneminuteofmyday]

The only book that I actually got out of bed to read, and read for hours until sunrise, just because I wanted to know how it ended was not a New York Best Seller.

[@kayzeaza]

I mean Hard Cover books are more Expensive than Soft Cover books so it’s quite a good sign if you sell a lot of hard cover books. Means people are willing to pay the extra money for your work.

[@Voltaic_Fire]

It's a lot like "best selling" comics, you get usually awful titles getting that dubious award despite only selling a tiny fraction of a manga series. Manga only counts as a comic when it's convenient and never when it highlights just how close to death the comic book industry is.

[@madiiclaire]

Bookseller here! The New York Times Bestseller List is highly curated, based on the content of books, how much they sell through independent bookstores, and a whole slew of other factors. Also, selling 10,000 books is actually a big number for a book (which is really sad to say). You’re seen as a success if you sell 10 copies at a single event. 10 copies in one night. Which is really sad. But that’s how little physical books sell regularly (unless you’re well known and popular).

[@chvhndrtntlr3482]

I never buy a book just because it's best seller...I buy a book mostly after I read that book mentioned in people writings, articles and journal, and have my favorite theme for fiction

[@spaghetto9836]

I started asking this question after realising every Twilight copy smut book was somehow a New York Times Best Seller. I was like "REALLY, queen? _...No."_

[@declan5073]

I'd be more inclined to pick up a book if it had a "You tried" award on it

[@lowcusyellow]

That’s why I will make a book and instead of best seller, I just put “just buy it”

[@firebird3639]

Every idiot coming on every talk show is a new York best seller, I used to wonder who is wasting money on these nonachievers, your video totally clarified things thanks.

[@wildcherrygirl]

actually in us usually hardcover is new releases and paperback is backlist bc books from big publishers are published in hardcover first. so that’s probably the reason for the distinction

[@ryanwsprague]

Every book except best sellers that they politically don't agree with.

[@MinistryOfMagic_DoM]

Imagine if I didn't give a shit what the New York Times thought and ignored them.

[@johnsandlinjr]

I feel like the same thing is happening with “JD power associates.”

[@hannahcraig6763]

Book stores usually put popular books on the shelves and make you order less popular ones specifically. Go to a library and you will see shelves and shelves of books with no reviews and no best seller tag (because the reviews were bad and no one bought them).

[@scopilio13]

one thing i've noticed that retailers will do is they'll advertise something at two for $10, but if you check the original price for one it's $5. so they basically trick everyone that they're getting a deal.

[@Cosdamotto]

Lol my math teacher taught me this in 4th grade back in 2003 as a good hustle since most people don’t read / to lazy to read. I’ve made a lot of money over the years this way try it out sometime yourself Lmaoo

[@Stiggandr1]

Believe it or not, I'm an amazon best selling author. In the horror comedy genre. In the months of december and november of 8 years ago. lol.

[@spaceracer23]

Congrats if true. Getting published and selling a few thousand copies is a solid accomplishment, especially if you don't have a major corporation like Marvel pushing it for you.

[@mortified776]

I was wondering why the NYT seemed to be the paper of record for book sales just yesterday!

[@ChunCat]

This quickly answered my question with no fuss, thank you very much :)

[@jana731]

We have the same phenomenon in Germany with "Spiegel Bestsellers", I always wondered why it is the way it is and this makes sense.

[@TheMasterhomaster]

As with everything a corporation can think of, it’s a scam.

[@samiulbashir9252]

Thanks for clearing my confusion

[@diel6755]

I remember thinking how weird it is when i visit my local bookstore and there was 2 books that basically talk about how to be a success or something with a money logo next to each other. And both were NY times "best" seller. "How is there 2 book about the same thing that is best seller?.. and why nobody buy it?" From that day, i always treat any book that has 'that' thing as average literature. Even school book worth more buying than that

[@alexanderdinkov8002]

I have seen a similar scenario in Kung Fu competitions of all things. Not in actual fights, but in demonstration routines. The organizers would make a separate category for literally every single style of Kung Fu presented. The best way to get a medal is to participate with a style that others aren't participating in... or even with a subdivision of a style. I once saw a person get 5-6 gold medals in 2 hours like that. Also - because of these weird rules, I too am a National Wushu Competition Champion. Pretty meaningless.

[@somebicycle6684]

FINALLY, someone is answering the important questions

[@mjmulenga3]

And every brand of toothpaste is #1 recommended by dentists.

[@Ariel_is_a_dreamer]

It's the dentists from that one small clinic across the street, y'know, they like my toothpaste xD

[@tashaabraham9082]

The question I've been looking for an answer for !

[@roshan459]

Overall best sellers should be clearly distinguishable. "Best selling in (Genre name)" should be used instead.

[@eriklopez996]

Something similar happens to videogames, you see tons of game of the year editions thanks to some niche magazine that rates them with a perfect 10.

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Paperback and hardback books are printed on very different paper and paperback’s high acid paper will yellow and become brittle.

[@oliviaocasain9980]

I saw someone say that getting a NYT bestseller badge is basically a participation proze at this point

[@fiveythefox3318]

As someone who loves books I can personally say hardback and softbacks should be taken accounted for.

[@LudmilaT.]

The decent seller category does exist; books that don't make it to "best seller" are called "popular"

[@nabil5134]

When all book is best seller, no book is

[@MDZS101]

Amazon books are FILLED with New York Times bestsellers with authors I’ve never even heard of! How can every book be one when the stories are pretty generic across the board?

[@littlebaldedone]

That genuinely makes a lot of sense

[@tasteslikeawesome]

They sure skipped over Jordan Peterson

[@itzzozofashion2391]

As a bookworm I can tell that hardback and paper back are huge differences! Paperbacks are usually floppier and easier to read without breaking the spine! They are also cheaper. Hardbacks are sturdy and more expensive. Hardbacks are also almost always taller than paperbacks so they can be harder to fit on a shelf. I do agree though that every book is a New York Times Bestseller though.

[@clubbizarre]

Love the sarcasm

[@BrandonCase]

Still an amazing accomplishment

[@zman4002]

I always thought either it meant it was one of their best sellers in general (as in one of the group of books that sold the most) or that it meant that specific boook was a best seller at a certain time period before another book took its place

[@WishAtElevenEleven]

The other reason it seems like all books are best sellers is because these are the more popular books, so you’re gonna be hearing about them and seeing them in bookstores more. So it just seems like every book is a best seller, when in reality there are tons of books without this distinction that are not even available in the store.

[@joeman123964]

we had to make our own book for a highschool project and display it in the library afterwards. you can put your own stuff on the cover like "best seller" most did that. some went out and put "all time best." but for me, I simply put, "not the best, but decent" and my teacher gave number to the class of how many people viewed our books. i was 2nd. my cover wasn't flashy either i think it was due to the title lol 1st place was some beautiful artwork on the cover so go figure

[@cbaslee1]

There is a major difference between hardcover and paperback. Hardback covers are generally more expensive and only printed for authors that a publishing company knows will sell.

[@MisterRorschach90]

It’s also because they don’t promote the books they aren’t best seller. There are more non best seller than there are best sellers. There are a crap ton of books. Especially now that anyone with a computer and the will to do so can write one.

[@AliCatGtz]

Thank you for answering a question I have looooooong wondered about.

[@feuertatze]

It's also a visibility thing that's self-perpetuating - if you buy a book because it's a NYT bestseller, the book gets more sales and stays on the list and other people buy it because it is on there, etc. And: the lists don't measure quality, only quantity, leading to some pretty bizarre scandals of people pushing their books on the list by ... buying a lot of copies themselves & promoting future sales by exposure

[@FullOfSith3230]

"When everyone's super, then no one will be" - Syndrome

[@claudiareina2689]

I think the reason is Harry Potter. At some point all books on the list were HP so they had to diversify and create other lists so other books would have a chance

[@Mr.Opinion]

weird that this is in my recommended. I was looking at my book shelf today and had this exact question.

[@Nhatanh0475]

This is why I rarely trust any site any product that has the word “best”.

[@dontbothermeimjust12]

I recently bought an NYT Bestseller. I never had before, I'm in Germany and it's not such a common thing here to see that. Anyway, the book was City on Fire, it's almost 900 pages long, I read it from beginning to end, and it's trash. I hate it so much. I'm never ever again buying anything from NYT Bestseller list

[@mixstardust429]

I just gotta say that hardbacks and paperbacks are really different in experience, one is more of an art piece or collector's item, rather than an actual book you consistently or daily read. While paperbacks are more of that leisurely reading you can do under a tree when you're 17 and it's summer, rather than the "I own this cool set of books and I've placed them on my bookshelf". Not to say that paperbacks aren't art, or that hardbacks aren't practical, just that the experience of owning either can change once experience of reading the book and potentially participate in its community (be it serialised, the author's fan base, or just people who like that one book a lot).

[@arstulex]

In addition to this the author will usually buy those thousands of copies themselves, effectively 'buying' the title of "Bestseller".

[@nightlyterror]

Hardcovers and paperbacks have historically been different genres. Now more “literary” works are being published as paperbacks, but before a “paperback” was seen as less literary.

[@happierthymes8054]

"Because that totally makes alot of difference!" (Paperback/Hardcover) it definitely does when selling because I'd rather buy a paperback for $12 rather than a hardcover for $30

[@eldritchteletubby9319]

Also, some publishing companies will buy 10k copies of the book immediately so that it gets the title right away.

[@noahtalksmoney]

Here in the UK, we have 'a Which? recommended product'. You see it all the time in television ads, so I tried to do a little digging... Turns out, to get that sticker, you just have to be nominated by a customer, and the Ts and Cs say that employees of the company can nominate them as well...!

[@terryenby2304]

It makes sense, except it’s usually not the author but the publicist/publishers who do this.

[@jakovvodanovic9165]

Also, most new fiction "bestsellers" are crap.

[@Ariel_is_a_dreamer]

"They all say they're the N°1 sellers, even if it's just on tuesday night." -Is what my mother heard somewhere about products in the grocery store.

[@mylifeisameme9408]

he sad the paperback/hardback things with so much disbelief in his voice *BUT THERE IS!!!* a difference I mean

[@danielwright4987]

Authors can also buy a lot of their own books to get those numbers up as well

[@mamajo5867]

Thank you. I was wondering this the other day

[@kelseycoca]

I've always wondered this!

[@itsabelletime]

Thank you so much I have always been kind of confused about that

[@PurooRoy]

I feel bad for those who come #2 on the list.

[@TastyChubz]

There is a huge difference between hardcover and paperback. I know I'm a book snob but I can't stand when paperback books start to get each from being read. I always pay the extra bit for hardcover.

[@imranq9241]

Thank you for clearing this up. Certainly it's not an honest label

[@j.s.elliot7121]

Selling 10k copies of a book with organic growth and marketing is actually a task, believe it or not. (I work in the industry.) But I will agree that hyper-specific niches water down the impact of best seller categories, looking at you Amazon and 50+ subgenres of Urban Fantasy.

[@tiredman99]

Also I've heard that many authors will just purchase a lot of their own books so it gets onto the list

[@MadMusic26]

Not to mention some authors are able to buy their way onto the list. So something that ends up a best seller (this happens a lot with nonfiction, think political and religious books specifically) may not actually be very good. It’s just the author can afford to buy many copies of their own book.

[@thetributary8089]

10,000 copies is a lot of copies sold and considered a commercial success. If a stadium full of people are willing to buy a book, it gets my attention. People who have marketed books know how hard that is.

[@druid_zephyrus]

Check to see if they have a "dagger" or not. A dagger means the title was claimed by bulk purchases inuding before release.