New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction Bestsellers
August 17, 2025

1. On Power
by Mark R. Levin

The Fox News host considers various facets of power and its effect on history.
2. The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy
by James Patterson and Vicky Ward

Investigations into the murders of four University of Idaho students on Nov. 13, 2022.
3. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
by Jonathan Haidt

A co-author of The Coddling of the American Mind looks at the mental health impacts that a phone-based life has on children.
4. Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection
by John Green

The author of The Anthropocene Reviewed chronicles the fight against the deadly infectious disease tuberculosis.
5. Gwyneth: The Biography
by Amy Odell

A biography of the actress and founder and chief executive of the lifestyle brand Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow, by the author of Anna.
6.  Abundance
by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson 

A New York Times opinion columnist and a staff writer at The Atlantic evaluate obstacles to American progress.
7. Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity
by Peter Attia with Bill Gifford

A look at recent scientific research on aging and longevity.
8. Vaccines: Mythology, Ideology, and Reality
by John Leake and Peter A. McCullough

An assessment of the history of vaccinations and an argument that the benefits of certain vaccines have been exaggerated by some.
9. Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America
by Michael Harriot

A columnist at TheGrio.com articulates moments in American history that center the perspectives and experiences of Black Americans.
10. Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning
by Peter Beinart

The editor at large of Jewish Currents and a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times evaluates potential narratives following the war in Gaza.
11. The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
by Robin Wall Kimmerer

The author of Braiding Sweetgrass illuminates how the gift economy in the natural world works and draws lessons for our economy; with illustrations by John Burgoyne.
12. Mark Twain
by Ron Chernow

The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer portrays the life and career of the literary celebrity and political pundit.
13. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
by Omar El Akkad

In his nonfiction debut, El Akkad looks at how the West responds to mass suffering.
14. Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind
by Nate Bargatze

The Grammy Award-nominated comedian shares snippets from his life and career.
15. A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck
by Sophie Elmhirst

In 1972, an incident with a breaching whale turns a couple's dream of sailing on a boat into a monthslong struggle for survival on a raft.
©2025 All rights reserved by New York Times Syndication Sales Corp. This material may not be published, broadcast or redistributed in any manner.
 
A version of this list appears in the August 17, 2025 issue of The New York Times Book Review. Rankings reflect sales for the week ending August 2, 2025.
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