New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction Bestsellers
October 18, 2026 

The Steps: A Memoir by Sylvester Stallone
1. The Steps
by Sylvester Stallone

The Hollywood icon describes the challenges he encountered during his childhood and the start of his career.
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister by Charles Spencer
2. Swan Song
by Charles Spencer

The ninth Earl Spencer shares personal stories about his sister, Diana, from childhood through her untimely death.
The American Way of Killing: The Invention of an Epidemic by Malcolm Gladwell
3. The American Way of Killing
by Malcolm Gladwell

Gladwell examines why there are so many homicides in the United States and what stops us from fixing this issue.
What Could Possibly Go Right?: The Essential Journey to Scale an Enduring Culture by Danny Meyer
4. What Could Possibly Go Right?
by Danny Meyer

The restaurateur and entrepreneur shares stories of events that shaped the success of his business ventures.
Fictional Selves: A Memoir by Kyle MacLachlan
5. Fictional Selves
by Kyle MacLachlan

The Golden Globe-winning actor gives an account of his career in Hollywood and his relationships with his characters.
The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East by Simon Sebag Montefiore
6. The Cauldron
by Simon Sebag Montefiore

The author of The World explores the complex history, diversity and interconnectedness of the Middle East.
This Cursed Beautiful Land: A Russian-American Story by Evan Gershkovich
7. This Cursed Beautiful Land
by Evan Gershkovich

A foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and son of Soviet defectors recounts being accused of spying and imprisoned in Moscow.
Work in Progress: A Memoir by Devon Rodriguez
8. Work in Progress
by Devon Rodriguez

The Bronx-born portrait artist with a large social media following describes how art transformed his life.
Roll the Calls: A Memoir by Ari Emanuel
9. Roll the Calls
by Ari Emanuel

The Hollywood mogul charts his rise to power and depicts behind-the-scenes stories about the entertainment industry.
The Perilous Fight by Colin Kaepernick
10. The Perilous Fight
by Colin Kaepernick with Nick Chiles

The Super Bowl quarterback and civil rights activist describes defining moments in his life and their outcomes.
Man in the Mirror: Hope, Struggle, and Belonging in an American City by Anand Giridharadas
11. Man in the Mirror
by Anand Giridharadas

The author of The Persuaders depicts the people and events connected to the deadly encounter between a homeless man and an ex-Marine in a New York City subway car.
Babe: Elaboratio: A Tribute to My Mother by Jr. Connick, Harry
12. Babe: Elaboratio
by Harry Connick Jr.

The award-winning musician and actor pays tribute to his mother who passed away when he was 13 years old.
A Fabulous Debt: The Epic Story of How Bonds Built the Modern World by Robin Wigglesworth
13. A Fabulous Debt
by Robin Wigglesworth

A journalist for The Financial Times gives an overview of the history of the bond market and explains its influence. 
Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump by Maggie Haberman
14. Regime Change
by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan

Two White House correspondents for The New York Times delve into the first year of President Trump's second term.
No Land to Stand on: Notes from Detention by Mahmoud Khalil
15. No Land to Stand On
by Mahmoud Khalil

The Palestinian activist and former Columbia graduate student chronicles the time when he was put into an ICE detention camp in Louisiana despite being a legal U.S. resident.
©2026 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 October 18, 2026 issue of The New York Times Book Review. Rankings reflect sales for the week ending October 3, 2026.
Dwight Foster Public Library
209 Merchants Ave., Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin 53538
(920) 563-7790
Social Media: @dwightfosterpubliclibrary
https://fortlibrary.org