. New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction Bestsellers May 2, 2021 1. On the House: A Washington Memoir by John Boehner The former Speaker of the House reflects on his time in Washington, key political figures and the current state of the Republican Party. 2. The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson How the Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues invented CRISPR, a tool that can edit DNA. 3. Broken Horses: A Memoir by Brandi Carlile The six-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter recounts difficulties during her formative years and her hard-won successes. 4. Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe A portrait of the Sackler family, known for their philanthropy toward institutions around the world, and their involvement with Valium and OxyContin. 5. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey The Academy Award-winning actor shares snippets from the diaries he kept over the last 35 years. 6. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist examines aspects of caste systems across civilizations and reveals a rigid hierarchy in America today. 7. Untamed by Glennon Doyle The activist and public speaker describes her journey of listening to her inner voice. 8. Broken (In the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson The humorist maps out her mental and physical health journey. 9. Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story: Remaking a Life from Scratch by Erin French A memoir by the chef and owner of The Lost Kitchen in Freedom, Maine. 10. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant An examination of the cognitive skills of rethinking and unlearning that could be used to adapt to a rapidly changing world. 11. Beautiful Things: A Memoir by Hunter Biden The lawyer and artist, who is the son of the current president, details tragedies within his family and his path to sobriety. 12. The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything by Michio Kaku The theoretical physicist explains the controversy around the synthesis of the theory of relativity and quantum theory. 13. The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos by Judy Batalion How Jewish women in Poland turned Jewish youth groups into resistance cells to fight the Nazis and helped build systems of underground bunkers. 14. The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee The chair of the board of the racial justice organization Color of Change analyzes the impact of racism on the economy. 15. A Promised Land by Barack Obama In the first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama offers personal reflections on his formative years and pivotal moments through his first term. © 2021  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 May 2,2021 issue of The New York Times Book Review. Rankings reflect sales for the week ending April 17, 2021. Home  | Catalog | Contact Us | Frequently Asked Questions