NY Times Best Sellers - Page 3

Anke Wehner · 04-24-2011, 11:31 AM

I don't know, I've seen the list only once or twice.

I do prefer reading books by authors who are not all that well-known, since if I like them I can recommend them to other people who haven't heard of them already.

"NYT Best-Selling Author" or similar tags on the cover seem tacky to me.

Ravensknight · 04-24-2011, 11:39 AM

only by accident...

JSWolf · 04-24-2011, 05:54 PM

Where is the option for "sometimes"? I don't always read them. But I do sometimes.

dkb · 04-24-2011, 11:31 PM

I do sometimes browse the NYT best sellers list, but mostly I browse Amazon's Kindle best seller list. I'm influenced by the customers' rating. Though if it's got a low rating, I skim the 1 star ratings to make sure they aren't just criticizing the price. While I won't buy a book for more than $10, I am willing to download it from the library for free. In fact, because of the high agency prices and the fact that Kindle couldn't access library books, I got a Sony Reader - Pocket Edition. Lately it's gotten more use than my Kindle.

Laine · 04-25-2011, 11:32 AM

The NYT has no impact on my life. I don't read any newspapers.

I read Romance, Mystery and some SFF. I get my reading list from blogs and Amazons new releases lists. These books don't usually end up on NYT's list.

However, that said, I have read Stieg Larsson's 3 books. They were all in the bookshop's display of best sellers for so long I gave in to curiosity and tried one.

GeneS · 04-25-2011, 02:13 PM

I do read NYT bestsellers, but that is only one of several reasons for reading. If I do read from the bestseller list, it is usually several years in arrears or I will check-out from my local library.

rogue_librarian · 04-25-2011, 02:46 PM

The list doesn't matter to me one way or another: I don't read books just because they're on a list, but the fact that they are on a list doesn't mean I don't read them. You could say I'm blissfully ignorant of the NYT bestseller list (or any other, really).

JDK1962 · 04-26-2011, 09:19 AM

Those interested in how the list is put together may find the 4/22/2011 edition of The Kindle Chronicles podcast worth a listen. It features a lengthy and enjoyable interview with Sam Tanenhaus, the editor of the NYT Review of Books, in which he talks about the lists, book reviews, relationship of the review with publishers, etc.

I had always thought the lists were simply compilations of numbers from the publisher. However, it turns out that they're generated by statisticians in the NYT's polling operation (the Review simply publishes and copyedits them), who have fairly complex models.

montalex · 04-26-2011, 11:07 AM

If a novel wins the Booker Prize, or a Pulitzer, or the National Book Award, etc., it will tend to make it to the NYTimes bestseller list, at least briefly. Same goes for award-winning non-fiction. This pretty much guarantees that there will be worthwhile reads on the list, so it is worth a glance. Of course the list is dominated by easy-reading titles from popular mystery, action and romance writers -- and self-help books. Personally, I find it very painful to read even a page from someone like Dan Brown, but I think there are many popular authors who don't actually write as badly as Brown, but are completely focused on plot. I don't read those authors, but I will occasionally enjoy a cheesy Hollywood film -- after all, a movie is only 90 minutes or so.

kennyc · 04-26-2011, 10:07 PM

Sometimes.

Joykins · 04-28-2011, 03:01 PM

I don't really track the bestsellers list. I read what interests me. Sometimes those books make the bestsellers list. I do like Stephen King and Nora Roberts, who usually make the list, but I tend to check those books from the library, because they are typically the kinds of books I can wait to read and the library usually gets a lot of copies in hardback--but I'll buy them if I'm bored and in a place with limited book selection. Since I've had my nook, though, I'm pretty much never in a place with limited book selection.

Some bestselling authors (like Robin Cook, particularly) I don't read anymore intentionally because the plots are cheesy and the characters are cardboard even though they're very easy to read.

View Poll Results: Do you read NY Times Bestsellers
Yes	32	36.78%
No	39	44.83%
Need to Explain	16	18.39%
Voters: 87. You may not vote on this poll

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04-24-2011, 11:31 AM	#31
Anke Wehner Addict Posts: 249 Karma: 177956 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Germany Device: PRS-650	I don't know, I've seen the list only once or twice. I do prefer reading books by authors who are not all that well-known, since if I like them I can recommend them to other people who haven't heard of them already. "NYT Best-Selling Author" or similar tags on the cover seem tacky to me.

04-24-2011, 11:39 AM	#32
Ravensknight Serpent Rider Posts: 1,123 Karma: 10219804 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony 350; Nook STR; Oasis	only by accident...

04-24-2011, 05:54 PM	#33
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,786 Karma: 146391129 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Where is the option for "sometimes"? I don't always read them. But I do sometimes.

04-24-2011, 11:31 PM	#34
dkb ebook enthusiast Posts: 85 Karma: 40466 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Midlothian, VA Device: Kindle 2, iPhone, Sony PRS-350, Kindle Fire, Kindle Touch	I do sometimes browse the NYT best sellers list, but mostly I browse Amazon's Kindle best seller list. I'm influenced by the customers' rating. Though if it's got a low rating, I skim the 1 star ratings to make sure they aren't just criticizing the price. While I won't buy a book for more than $10, I am willing to download it from the library for free. In fact, because of the high agency prices and the fact that Kindle couldn't access library books, I got a Sony Reader - Pocket Edition. Lately it's gotten more use than my Kindle.

04-25-2011, 11:32 AM	#35
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	The NYT has no impact on my life. I don't read any newspapers. I read Romance, Mystery and some SFF. I get my reading list from blogs and Amazons new releases lists. These books don't usually end up on NYT's list. However, that said, I have read Stieg Larsson's 3 books. They were all in the bookshop's display of best sellers for so long I gave in to curiosity and tried one.

04-25-2011, 02:13 PM	#36
GeneS eBook Enthusiast Posts: 120 Karma: 726 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-350, Astak PocketPro, iPhone, Asus eee Pad Transformer	I do read NYT bestsellers, but that is only one of several reasons for reading. If I do read from the bestseller list, it is usually several years in arrears or I will check-out from my local library.

04-25-2011, 02:46 PM	#37
rogue_librarian Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 4269175 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Europe Device: Pocketbook Basic 613	The list doesn't matter to me one way or another: I don't read books just because they're on a list, but the fact that they are on a list doesn't mean I don't read them. You could say I'm blissfully ignorant of the NYT bestseller list (or any other, really).

04-26-2011, 09:19 AM	#38
JDK1962 Groupie Posts: 154 Karma: 2054094 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Boulder, CO Device: Kindle Voyage, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (for PDFs)	Those interested in how the list is put together may find the 4/22/2011 edition of The Kindle Chronicles podcast worth a listen. It features a lengthy and enjoyable interview with Sam Tanenhaus, the editor of the NYT Review of Books, in which he talks about the lists, book reviews, relationship of the review with publishers, etc. I had always thought the lists were simply compilations of numbers from the publisher. However, it turns out that they're generated by statisticians in the NYT's polling operation (the Review simply publishes and copyedits them), who have fairly complex models.

04-26-2011, 11:07 AM	#39
montalex Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 1283268 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: KindleDX,Kindle 4, Kindle Keyboard 3G	If a novel wins the Booker Prize, or a Pulitzer, or the National Book Award, etc., it will tend to make it to the NYTimes bestseller list, at least briefly. Same goes for award-winning non-fiction. This pretty much guarantees that there will be worthwhile reads on the list, so it is worth a glance. Of course the list is dominated by easy-reading titles from popular mystery, action and romance writers -- and self-help books. Personally, I find it very painful to read even a page from someone like Dan Brown, but I think there are many popular authors who don't actually write as badly as Brown, but are completely focused on plot. I don't read those authors, but I will occasionally enjoy a cheesy Hollywood film -- after all, a movie is only 90 minutes or so.

04-26-2011, 10:07 PM	#40
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,901 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Sometimes.

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04-28-2011, 03:01 PM	#41
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,610 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	I don't really track the bestsellers list. I read what interests me. Sometimes those books make the bestsellers list. I do like Stephen King and Nora Roberts, who usually make the list, but I tend to check those books from the library, because they are typically the kinds of books I can wait to read and the library usually gets a lot of copies in hardback--but I'll buy them if I'm bored and in a place with limited book selection. Since I've had my nook, though, I'm pretty much never in a place with limited book selection. Some bestselling authors (like Robin Cook, particularly) I don't read anymore intentionally because the plots are cheesy and the characters are cardboard even though they're very easy to read.