Using the Library | Catalog/Account | eContent |  Research | Services | Events | About Us New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction Bestsellers May 26, 2019 1. The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West by David McCullough The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian tells the story of the settling of the Northwest Territory through five main characters. 2. Becoming by Michelle Obama The former first lady describes how she balanced work, family and her husband's political ascent. 3. Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover The daughter of survivalists leaves home for university. 4. The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates The philanthropist shares stories of empowering women to improve society. 5. The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks A New York Times Op-Ed columnist espouses having an outward focus to attain a meaningful life. 6. Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep Harper Lee's work on the true-crime story about a rural preacher accused of murdering five of his family members in the 1970s. 7. No Walls and the Recurring Dream by Ani DiFranco A memoir by the Grammy Award-winning folk and alternative rock musician. 8. Lake of the Ozarks: My Surreal Summers in a Vanishing America by Bill Geist Coming-of-age anecdotes set in a 1960s Midwestern summer vacation destination. 9. Every Tool's a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It by Adam Savage The star of Mythbusters shares his tools for creativity. 10. Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself by Jill Biden The former second lady's challenges in being a mother, educator and political spouse. 11. Life Will Be the Death of Me...and You, Too! by Chelsea Handler The comedian chronicles going into therapy and becoming an advocate for change. 12. Nanaville : Adventures in Grandparenting by Anna Quindlen The Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist observes the joys of being a grandmother. 13. The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty by Susan Page A biography of the former first lady Barbara Bush, based on interviews and her private diaries. 14. Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis by Jared Diamond The ways in which six countries outlasted recent crises and adopted selective changes. 15. Let Love Have the Last Word by Common with Mensah Demary Personal stories from the actor and Oscar, Golden Globe, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning music artist. © 2019  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 26, 2019 issue of The New York Times Book Review. Rankings reflect sales for the week ending May 11, 2019. Subscribe to other newsletters | View newsletter archives | Readers' Club on library website