The New York Times Best Seller list Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Controversies== In 1983, author [[William Peter Blatty]] sued ''The New York Times'' for $6 million, claiming that his book, ''[[Legion (Blatty novel)|Legion]]'' (filmed as ''[[The Exorcist III]]''), had not been included in the list due to either negligence or intentional falsehood, saying it should have been included due to high sales. The ''Times'' countered that the list was not mathematically objective but rather was editorial content and thus protected under the [[U.S. Constitution|Constitution]] as free speech. Blatty appealed it to the Supreme Court, which declined to hear the case. Thus, the lower court ruling stood that the list is editorial content, not objective factual content, so the ''Times'' had the right to exclude books from the list.<ref name=miller/> In 1995, Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersema, the authors of a book called ''[[The Discipline of Market Leaders]]'', colluded to manipulate their book onto the best seller charts. The authors allegedly purchased over 10,000 copies of their own book in small and strategically placed orders at bookstores whose sales are reported to [[Nielsen BookScan|BookScan]]. Because of the benefits of making ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list (speaking engagements, more book deals, and consulting) the authors felt that buying their own work was an investment that would pay for itself. The book climbed to No. 4 on the list where it sat for 15 weeks; it also peaked at No. 1 on the ''[[BusinessWeek]]'' best seller list. Since such lists hold the power of [[cumulative advantage]], chart success often begets more chart success. Although such efforts are not illegal, publishers consider them unethical.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1995-08-06/did-dirty-tricks-create-a-best-seller |url-access = subscription |publisher = Bloomberg |title = Did Dirty Tricks Create a Best-Seller? |author = Stern, Willy |date = August 1995 |access-date = March 18, 2019}}</ref> In 1999, [[Amazon.com]] announced a 50% decrease in price for books on the Best Seller List to beat its competition, [[Barnes & Noble]].<ref>[http://www.salon.com/tech/col/rose/1999/06/23/times_bestsellers/index.html Who owns the ''New York Times'' bestseller list? ], by Scott Rosenberg, Salon.com, June 23, 1999</ref> After a legal dispute between Amazon and ''The New York Times'', Amazon was permitted to keep using the list on condition that it displayed it in alphabetical rather than numerical order.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110511211808/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-55388629.html "Amazon.com and ''The New York Times'' Settle Legal Dispute Over Use of Times Best Sellers List"], ''Business Wire'', August 9, 1999.</ref> By 2010, this was no longer the case; Amazon now displays the best-seller list in order of best-selling titles first.<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/feature/-/239332 ''New York Times'' Bestseller list] at [[Amazon.com]].</ref> In 2013, ''[[Forbes]]'' published a story titled "Here's How You Buy Your Way Onto ''The New York Times'' Bestsellers List."<ref name=Bercovici2013>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2013/02/22/heres-how-you-buy-your-way-onto-the-new-york-times-bestsellers-list/|title=Here's How You Buy Your Way Onto ''The New York Times Bestsellers'' List |work=[[Forbes]] |author=Jeff Bercovici |date=February 22, 2013 |access-date=March 19, 2014}}</ref> The article discusses how [[ResultSource]], a San Diego-based marketing consultancy, specializes in ensuring books make a bestseller list, even guaranteeing a No. 1 spot for those willing to pay enough. ''The New York Times'' was informed of this practice and responded: "''The New York Times'' comprehensively tracks and tabulates the weekly unit sales of all titles reported by book retailers as their general interest bestsellers. We will not comment beyond our methodology on the other questions." ''The New York Times'' did not alert its readers to this, unlike ''The Wall Street Journal,'' which admitted that books had landed on its bestseller list due to ResultSource's campaign.<ref name=Trachtenberg2013>{{cite web |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323864304578316143623600544 |title=The Mystery of the Book Sales Spike |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |author=Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg |date=February 22, 2013 |access-date=March 19, 2014 |archive-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140305085248/http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323864304578316143623600544 |url-status=live }}</ref> Soren Kaplan, the source who admitted he had paid ResultSource to land his book, ''Leapfrogging'', on ''The Wall Street Journal''{{'}}s bestseller list, revealed the methodology on his blog; he posted: "If I could obtain bulk orders before ''Leapfrogging'' was released, ResultSource would purchase the books on my behalf using their tried-and-true formula. Three thousand books sold would get me on ''The Wall Street Journal'' bestseller list. Eleven thousand would secure a spot on the biggest prize of them all, ''The New York Times'' list."<ref name=Kaplan2013>{{cite web |url=http://www.leapfrogging.com/2013/02/18/debunking-the-bestseller-book-sales-spike/|title=Debunking the Bestseller |work=[[Blog]] |author=Soren Kaplan |date=February 2013 |access-date=March 19, 2014}}</ref> In 2014, the ''Los Angeles Times'' published a story titled "Can bestseller lists be bought?"<ref name=kellogg2014>{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-pastor-contract-resultsource-bestseller-lists-20140305,0,7039368.story#axzz2vCwCm0fo |title=Can bestseller lists be bought? |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |author=Carolyn Kellogg |date=March 6, 2014 |access-date=March 7, 2014}}</ref> It describes how author and pastor [[Mark Driscoll (pastor)|Mark Driscoll]] contracted the company ResultSource to place his book ''[[Real Marriage]]'' (2012) on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list for a $200,000 fee. The contract was for ResultSource "to conduct a bestseller campaign for your book, ''Real Marriage'' on the week of January 2, 2012. The bestseller campaign is intended to place ''Real Marriage'' on ''The New York Times'' bestseller list for the Advice How-to list." To achieve this, the contract stated that "RSI will be purchasing at least 11,000 total orders in one week." This took place, and the book successfully reached No.1 on the hardcover advice bestseller list on January 22, 2014.<ref name=kellogg2014/> In July 2015, [[Ted Cruz]]'s book ''A Time For Truth'' was excluded from the list because the "overwhelming preponderance of evidence was that sales [of Cruz's book] were limited to strategic bulk purchases" to artificially increase sales and entry onto the list. In response, Cruz called the ''Times'' "a liar" and demanded an apology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/07/cruz-campaign-new-york-times-is-lying-about-bulk-book-sales-210318 |title=Cruz campaign: ''New York Times'' is lying about bulk book sales |work=Politico |author=Dylan Byers |date=July 10, 2015 |access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref> The ''Times'' said it stood by its statement and evidence of manipulation. In August 2017, a young adult fiction book, ''[[Handbook for Mortals]]'' by previously unpublished author Lani Sarem was removed from the list, where it was in initially in the No. 1 spot. According to a statement issued by the ''Times'', "after investigating the inconsistencies in the most recent reporting cycle, we decided that the sales for ''Handbook for Mortals'' did not meet our criteria for inclusion. We've issued an updated 'Young Adult Hardcover' list for September 3, 2017 which does not include that title."<ref name=Italie/> It was uncovered, by author Phil Stamper, that there had been unusual bulk ordering patterns which inflated the number of sales.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/books/la-et-jc-handbook-for-mortals-bestseller-ya-20170824-story.html |title=Did a YA book buy its way to the top of the ''New York Times'' bestseller list? |newspaper=LA Times |author=Jessica Roy |date=August 24, 2017 |access-date=August 25, 2017}}</ref> The book is published by GeekNation, an entertainment website based in Los Angeles.<ref name=Italie>{{cite magazine|last1=Italie|first1=Hillel|title=Book Pulled From Best-Seller List|url=http://time.com/4917209/ny-times-best-seller-handbook-for-mortals/|access-date=September 11, 2017|magazine=Time|agency=Associated Press|date=August 26, 2017|archive-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914095951/http://time.com/4917209/ny-times-best-seller-handbook-for-mortals/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The book was originally written as a script, and was rewritten as a novel in an attempt to launch a film franchise.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ha|first1=Thu-Huong|title=A first-time author unwittingly exposed the house of cards beneath 'bestseller' books|url=https://qz.com/1062280/a-first-time-author-unwittingly-exposed-the-house-of-cards-beneath-bestseller-books/|access-date=September 11, 2017|work=Quartz|date=August 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/geeknation-launches-book-publishing-arm-partners-lani-sarem-ya-series-handbook-mortals-1024909 |title=GeekNation Launches Book Publishing Arm, Partners with Lani Sarem on YA Series 'Handbook for Mortals' |work=The Hollywood Reporter |author=Chris Gardner |date=July 28, 2017 |access-date=August 25, 2017}}</ref> In August 2017, conservative publisher [[Regnery Publishing]] said it would no longer allow its writers to claim to be "''New York Times'' best-selling authors" due to its belief that the ''Times'' favors liberal books on the list. The ''Times'' responded that the political views of authors have no bearing on the list and noted conservative authors routinely rank highly on the list. The [[Associated Press]] noted the ''Times'' is a frequent target of conservatives and Republicans.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/09/04/us/ap-us-books-publisher-times-the-latest.html |title=The Latest: ''New York Times'' Denies List Favors Liberal Books |website=[[The New York Times]] |agency=Associated Press |date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912124509/https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/09/04/us/ap-us-books-publisher-times-the-latest.html |archive-date=September 12, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' called Regenery's ban a "stunt" designed to increase sales, "What better way to sell a book to a conservative audience than to promote the idea that the ''New York Times'' doesn't like it?" The ''Post'' compared the list to best seller lists from ''Publishers Weekly'' looking for bias but could not find anything convincing.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/09/06/why-a-conservative-book-publishers-protest-of-the-new-york-times-bestsellers-list-is-just-a-stunt/ |title=Why a conservative book publisher's protest of the ''New York Times'' bestsellers list is just a stunt |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |author=Callum Borchers and Kevin Uhrmacher |date=September 6, 2017 |access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref> In February 2018, the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' published a story by books editor Deborah Dundas who found that the best-selling book ''[[12 Rules for Life]]'' by [[Jordan Peterson]], who topped ''Publishers Weekly'' chart list, did not even chart on ''The New York Times'' bestsellers list, without reliable answers from the ''New York Times''. The ''Times'' stated it was not counted because it was published by a Canadian company.<ref>{{cite news|first=Deborah|last=Dundas|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2018/02/09/jordan-petersons-book-is-a-bestseller-except-where-it-matters-most.html|title=Jordan Peterson's book is a bestseller β except where it matters most|date=February 9, 2018|work=[[Toronto Star]]|access-date=March 3, 2018|archive-date=March 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303003913/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2018/02/09/jordan-petersons-book-is-a-bestseller-except-where-it-matters-most.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to [[Random House of Canada|Random House Canada]], the book was handled properly for the U.S. market.<ref name="Hopper">{{cite news|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/canada/could-jordan-peterson-become-the-best-selling-canadian-author-of-all-time/wcm/46d59986-21ef-4b18-a7c6-b0edfd4b75ae|title=Could Jordan Peterson become the best-selling Canadian author of all time?|first=Tristin|last=Hopper|date=March 7, 2018|work=Edmonton Journal|access-date=March 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Brian|last=Stelter|author-link=Brian Stelter|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/04/16/media/trump-new-york-times-best-selling-books/index.html|title=Every top ''New York Times'' best-seller this year has been about Trump|date=April 16, 2018|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref> American conservative commentator [[Dennis Prager]] wrote an article for ''[[National Review]]'' titled "''The Times'' Best-Seller List: Another Reason Americans Don't Trust the Media" in which he contends that the issue with Peterson's book, as well his ''The Rational Bible: Exodus'', is their conservative context and the lack of inclusion is the American mainstream media's manipulation.<ref>{{cite news|first=Dennis|last=Prager|author-link=Dennis Prager|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/04/new-york-times-bestseller-list-biased-book-news/|title=The Times Best-Seller List: Another Reason Americans Don't Trust the Media|date=April 17, 2018|work=[[National Review]]|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref> The ''Times'' denied any bias.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/new-york-times-denies-bias-against-conservative-authors-during-intense-shareholder-meeting-advocate-says|title=''New York Times'' denies bias against conservative authors during intense shareholder meeting, advocate says|author=Brian Flood|date=April 19, 2018|publisher=Fox News|access-date=October 22, 2018}}</ref> In 2019, the release of [[Donald Trump Jr.]]'s book ''Triggered'' was shown to have only reached the best-seller list through approximately $100,000 in behind-the-scenes bulk purchases meant to pump up its sales numbers illegitimately.<ref name="NYT-Triggered">{{cite news |last1=Alter |first1=Alexandra |last2=Confessore |first2=Nicholas |date=November 21, 2019 |title=R.N.C. Spent Nearly $100,000 on Copies of Donald Trump Jr.'s Book |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/21/books/donald-trump-jr-triggered-sales.html |access-date=December 12, 2020}}</ref> ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' reported in October 2020 that this sort of gaming of the system has been a common practice among American conservative political figures, and has also included the use of political campaign funds to purchase the books in bulk in order to boost their rank on the list.<ref name="VanityFairWeiss">{{cite news |last1=Weiss |first1=Angela |title=IS THE GOP GAMING THE ''NEW YORK TIMES'' BEST-SELLER LISTS? |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/10/is-the-gop-gaming-the-new-york-times-bestseller-lists |access-date=December 12, 2020 |agency=Vanity Fair}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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