TheBestseller
Observatory

Best Sellers

Hardcover Nonfiction

Week of January 19, 1997

FictionNonfiction
WeekMonth
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1
A REPORTER'S LIFE
Walter Cronkite
Cover of A REPORTER'S LIFE

A REPORTER'S LIFE

by Walter Cronkite · Knopf

7 wks at #1 · 5 on list

An autobiography of the former CBS evening news anchorman.

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ANGELA'S ASHES
Frank McCourt
Cover of ANGELA'S ASHES

ANGELA'S ASHES

by Frank McCourt · Scribner

18 wks on list

<b><i>Angela's Ashes</i>, imbued on every page with Frank McCourt's astounding humor and compassion, is a glorious book that bears all the marks of a classic.</b><br><br><i>"When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I managed to survive at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood."</i><br> <br> So begins the luminous memoir of Frank McCourt, born in Depression-era Brooklyn to recent Irish immigrants and raised in the slums of Limerick, Ireland. Frank's mother, Angela, has no money to feed the children since Frank's father, Malachy, rarely works, and when he does he drinks his wages. Yet Malachy -- exasperating, irresponsible and beguiling-- does nurture in Frank an appetite for the one thing he can provide: a story. Frank lives for his father's tales of Cuchulain, who saved Ireland, and of the Angel on the Seventh Step, who brings his mother babies. Perhaps it is story that accounts for Frank's survival. Wearing rags for diapers, begging a pig's head for Christmas dinner and gathering coal from the roadside to light a fire, Frank endures poverty, near-starvation and the casual cruelty of relatives and neighbors--yet lives to tell his tale with eloquence, exuberance and remarkable forgiveness.

3
MY SERGEI
Ekaterina Gordeeva with E. M. Swift
Cover of MY SERGEI

MY SERGEI

by Ekaterina Gordeeva with E. M. Swift · Warner

10 wks on list

The Olympic gold medalist offers a poignant, loving account of her life with her long-time partner and beloved husband, Sergei Grinkov, from their first introduction and successive world pairs skating championships, to their storybook romance and marriage, to the fatal heart attack that took Sergei's life.

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THE SOUL'S CODE
James Hillman
Cover of THE SOUL'S CODE

THE SOUL'S CODE

by James Hillman · Random House

9 wks on list

New Edition. A classic introduction to the experience of depth psychology - for analysts, patients and anyone having to meet questions of suicide. (Also available in German).

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2
LIVING FAITH
Jimmy Carter
Cover of LIVING FAITH

LIVING FAITH

by Jimmy Carter · Times Books/Random House

7 wks on list

In Keeping Faith, originally published in 1982, President Carter provides a candid account of his time in the Oval Office, detailing the hostage crisis in Iran, his triumph at the Camp David Middle East peace summit, his relationships with world leaders, and even glimpses into his private world. “Responsible, truthful, intelligent, earnest, rational, purposeful. Thus the man: thus the book” (The Washington Post).

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NEW
CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD
Neale Donald Walsch
Cover of CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD

CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD

by Neale Donald Walsch · Putnam

5 wks on list

In a world where organized religion fails to resonate with a growing number of people, Neale Donald Walsch's Conversations with God offers a refreshing and thought-provoking alternative. Delve into thought-provoking discussions on free speech, creativity, and discernment, as Walsch's empathetic and empowering words guide you towards a life of inner harmony and awakening. Unveiling the secrets to unlocking your true potential, this timeless classic explores the profound connection between humanity and the divine presence. With unwavering honesty and startling clarity, Walsch invites you to embrace love over fear, reminding you that you hold the power to transform your reality.

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4
DOGBERT'S TOP SECRET MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK
Scott Adams
Cover of DOGBERT'S TOP SECRET MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK

DOGBERT'S TOP SECRET MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK

by Scott Adams · Harper Business

13 wks on list

Why do all modern managers do the same bizarre things? Are these methods taught in business schools? Do managers learn by watching more experienced managers? Is it the result of mentoring? None of the above! Every manager follows the doctrine set out in Dogbert's Top Secret Management Handbook. Here you can learn about: Pretending to care -- how to hear without listening! Making decisions -- be a leader without making any! Empty promises of promotion -- enjoy all the motivational benefits with none of the costs! An essential management bible for new managers, teaching them how to transform themselves from bitter and bewildered 'little people' into fully functioning, paradigm-spewing management zombies!

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4
I'M NOT REALLY HERE
Tim Allen
Cover of I'M NOT REALLY HERE

I'M NOT REALLY HERE

by Tim Allen · Hyperion

7 wks on list

The popular actor and comedian shares his observations on why things are the way they are while sharing his offbeat opinions about the meaning of life and his personal role in it. Reprint."

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JAMES HERRIOT'S FAVORITE DOG STORIES
James Herriot
Cover of JAMES HERRIOT'S FAVORITE DOG STORIES

JAMES HERRIOT'S FAVORITE DOG STORIES

by James Herriot · St. Martin's

16 wks on list

This illustrated gift book contains ten of James Herriot's stories about cats. Six of the stories come from Every Living Thing and include the tale of Ginny and Olly, the Woodshed Cats - and four come from the earlier James Herriot books. There is also the story of Buster, the kitten who arrived on Christmas Day, and Emily who lived with the gentleman up the road. There is humour with the story of Tristan Farnon trying to catch Mrs Bond's fierce cat Boris, and sadness with the story of the cat that James and Helen loved but had to give back to its original owner.

Historical bestseller data sourced from the New York Times Book Review, archived by Hawes Publications.