TheBestseller
Observatory

Best Sellers

Hardcover Nonfiction

Week of December 11, 2016

FictionNonfiction
WeekMonth
Jump to
1
1
KILLING THE RISING SUN
Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
Cover of KILLING THE RISING SUN

KILLING THE RISING SUN

by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard · Holt

10 wks at #1 · 11 on list

The powerful and riveting new book in the multimillion-selling Killing series by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard Autumn 1944. World War II is nearly over in Europe but is escalating in the Pacific, where American soldiers face an opponent who will go to any length to avoid defeat. The Japanese army follows the samurai code of Bushido, stipulating that surrender is a form of dishonor. Killing the Rising Sun takes readers to the bloody tropical-island battlefields of Peleliu and Iwo Jima and to the embattled Philippines, where General Douglas MacArthur has made a triumphant return and is plotting a full-scale invasion of Japan. Across the globe in Los Alamos, New Mexico, Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team of scientists are preparing to test the deadliest weapon known to mankind. In Washington, DC, FDR dies in office and Harry Truman ascends to the presidency, only to face the most important political decision in history: whether to use that weapon. And in Tokyo, Emperor Hirohito, who is considered a deity by his subjects, refuses to surrender, despite a massive and mounting death toll. Told in the same page-turning style of Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, Killing Jesus, Killing Patton, and Killing Reagan, this epic saga details the final moments of World War II like never before.

3
3
THE MAGNOLIA STORY
Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines with Mark Dagostino
Cover of THE MAGNOLIA STORY

THE MAGNOLIA STORY

by Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines with Mark Dagostino · W Publishing/Thomas Nelson

6 wks on list

This eBook includes the full text of the book plus an exclusive additional chapter from Chip and Joanna that is not found in the hardcover. An exclusive look at America's first family of renovation! Taking you behind the scenes, Chip and Joanna Gaines share the story of how they met, the ups and downs of being an entrepreneurial couple, and how they built a life they love. The Magnolia Story is the first book from dynamic husband-and-wife team Chip and Joanna Gaines, stars of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. Offering their fans a detailed look at their life together, they share everything from the very first renovation project they ever tackled together to the project that nearly cost them everything; from the childhood memories that shaped them, to the twists and turns that led them to the life they share on the farm today. While they both attended Baylor University in Waco, their paths didn’t cross until Chip checked his car into the local Firestone tire shop where Joanna worked behind the counter. Even back then Chip was a serial entrepreneur who, among other things, ran a lawn care company, sold fireworks, and flipped houses. Soon they were married and living in their first fixer upper. Four children and countless renovations later, Joanna garnered the attention of a television producer who noticed her work on a blog one day, leading to the incredible Fixer Upper phenomenon. In The Magnolia Story, fans will finally get to join the Gaines family behind the scenes and discover: The time Chip ran to the grocery store and forgot to take their new, sleeping baby Joanna’s agonizing decision to close her dream business to focus on raising their children When Chip buys a houseboat, sight-unseen, and it turns out to be a leaky wreck Harrowing stories of the financial ups and downs as an entrepreneurial couple Memories and photos from Chip and Jo’s wedding The significance of the word magnolia and why it permeates everything they do The way the couple pays the popularity of Fixer Upper forward, sharing the success with others, and bolstering the city of Waco along the way And yet there is still one lingering question for fans of the show: Is Chip really that funny? “Oh yeah,” says Joanna. “He was, and still is, my first fixer upper.”

5
NEW
THANK YOU FOR BEING LATE
Thomas L. Friedman
Cover of THANK YOU FOR BEING LATE

THANK YOU FOR BEING LATE

by Thomas L. Friedman · Farrar, Straus & Giroux

1 wks on list

#1 New York Times Bestseller • Los Angeles Times Bestseller One of The Wall Street Journal's 10 Books to Read Now • One of Kirkus Reviews's Best Nonfiction Books of the Year • One of Publishers Weekly's Most Anticipated Books of the Year Shortlisted for the OWL Business Book Award and Longlisted for the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award Version 2.0, Updated and Expanded, with a New Afterword We all sense it—something big is going on. You feel it in your workplace. You feel it when you talk to your kids. You can’t miss it when you read the newspapers or watch the news. Our lives are being transformed in so many realms all at once—and it is dizzying. In Thank You for Being Late, version 2.0, with a new afterword, Thomas L. Friedman exposes the tectonic movements that are reshaping the world today and explains how to get the most out of them and cushion their worst impacts. His thesis: to understand the twenty-first century, you need to understand that the planet’s three largest forces—Moore’s law (technology), the Market (globalization), and Mother Nature (climate change and biodiversity loss)—are accelerating all at once. These accelerations are transforming five key realms: the workplace, politics, geopolitics, ethics, and community. The year 2007 was the major inflection point: the release of the iPhone, together with advances in silicon chips, software, storage, sensors, and networking, created a new technology platform that is reshaping everything from how we hail a taxi to the fate of nations to our most intimate relationships. It is providing vast new opportunities for individuals and small groups to save the world—or to destroy it. With his trademark vitality, wit, and optimism, Friedman shows that we can overcome the multiple stresses of an age of accelerations—if we slow down, if we dare to be late and use the time to reimagine work, politics, and community. Thank You for Being Late is an essential guide to the present and the future.

6
1
SCRAPPY LITTLE NOBODY
Anna Kendrick
Cover of SCRAPPY LITTLE NOBODY

SCRAPPY LITTLE NOBODY

by Anna Kendrick · Touchstone

2 wks on list

"A collection of whimsical autobiographical essays by the Academy Award-nominated actress and star of Up in the Air recounts memorable milestones from her New England upbringing to the blockbuster films that have made her one of Hollywood's most popular actresses, "--Baker & Taylor.

7
3
HILLBILLY ELEGY
J. D. Vance
Cover of HILLBILLY ELEGY

HILLBILLY ELEGY

by J. D. Vance · HarperCollins

18 wks on list

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER / OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD THE AMERICAN VICE PRESIDENT'S ORIGIN STORY ‘Essential reading for this moment in history’ New York Times 'You will not read a more important book about America this year' Economist

8
1
BORN TO RUN
Bruce Springsteen
Cover of BORN TO RUN

BORN TO RUN

by Bruce Springsteen · Simon & Schuster

9 wks on list

« Se raconter est une drôle d'affaire . . . Dans un projet comme celui-ci, l'auteur fait une promesse : laisser le lecteur entrer dans sa tête. C'est ce que j'ai essayé de faire au fil de ces pages. » BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN dans les pages de Born to Run En 2009, Bruce Springsteen et le E Street Band jouent à la mi-temps du Super Bowl. L'expérience est tellement grisante que Bruce décide d'écrire à ce sujet. C'est ainsi qu'a commencé cette extraordinaire autobiographie. Au cours des sept années écoulées, Bruce Springsteen s'est, en secret, consacré à l'écriture de l'histoire de sa vie, apportant à ces pages l'honnêteté, l'humour et l'originalité qu'on retrouve dans ses chansons. Il décrit son enfance, dans l'atmosphère catholique de Freehold, New Jersey, la poésie, le danger et les forces sombres qui alimentaient son imagination, jusqu'au moment qu'il appelle Le Big Bang : la première fois qu'Elvis Presley passe à la télévision, au Ed Sullivan Show. Il raconte d'une manière saisissante l'énergie implacable qu'il a déployée pour devenir musicien, ses débuts dans des groupes de bar à Asbury Park et la naissance du E Street Band. Avec une sincérité désarmante, il raconte aussi pour la première fois les luttes personnelles qui ont inspiré le meilleur de son oeuvre et nous montre que la chanson Born to Run révèle bien plus que ce qu'on croyait. Born to Run sera une révélation pour quiconque apprécie Bruce Springsteen, mais c'est bien plus que le témoignage d'une rock star légendaire. C'est un livre pour les travailleurs et les rêveurs, les parents et les enfants, les amoureux et les solitaires, les artistes, les dingues et quiconque ayant un jour voulu être baptisé dans les eaux bénies du rock'n'roll. Rarement un artiste avait raconté son histoire avec une telle force et un tel souffle. Comme nombre de ses chansons (Thunder Road, 'Badlands, 'Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River, Born in the USA, The Rising, The Ghost of Tom Joad, pour n'en citer que quelques-unes), l'autobiographie de Bruce Springsteen est écrite avec le lyrisme d'un auteur/compositeur singulier et la sagesse d'un homme qui a profondément réfléchi à ses expériences.

9
1
HAMILTON: THE REVOLUTION
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter
Cover of HAMILTON: THE REVOLUTION

HAMILTON: THE REVOLUTION

by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter · Grand Central /Melcher Media

32 wks on list

Winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama Now a major motion picture, available on Disney Plus. Goodreads best non-fiction book of 2016 From Tony Award-winning composer-lyricist-star Lin-Manuel Miranda comes a backstage pass to his groundbreaking, hit musical Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical Hamilton is as revolutionary as its subject, the poor kid from the Caribbean who fought the British, defended the Constitution, and helped to found the United States. Fusing hip-hop, pop, R&B, and the best traditions of theater, this once-in-a-generation show broadens the sound of Broadway, reveals the storytelling power of rap, and claims the origins of the United States for a diverse new generation. HAMILTON: THE REVOLUTION gives readers an unprecedented view of both revolutions, from the only two writers able to provide it. Miranda, along with Jeremy McCarter, a cultural critic and theater artist who was involved in the project from its earliest stages - "since before this was even a show," according to Miranda - traces its development from an improbable performance at the White House to its landmark opening night on Broadway six years later. In addition, Miranda has written more than 200 funny, revealing footnotes for his award-winning libretto, the full text of which is published here. Their account features photos by the renowned Frank Ockenfels and veteran Broadway photographer, Joan Marcus; exclusive looks at notebooks and emails; interviews with Questlove, Stephen Sondheim, leading political commentators, and more than 50 people involved with the production; and multiple appearances by President Obama himself. The book does more than tell the surprising story of how a Broadway musical became an international phenomenon: It demonstrates that America has always been renewed by the brash upstarts and brilliant outsiders, the men and women who don't throw away their shot.

10
3
BORN A CRIME
Trevor Noah
Cover of BORN A CRIME

BORN A CRIME

by Trevor Noah · Spiegel & Grau

2 wks on list

WINNER OF THE THURBER PRIZE The compelling, inspiring, (often comic) coming-of-age story of Trevor Noah, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed. One of the comedy world's brightest new voices, Trevor Noah is a light-footed but sharp-minded observer of the absurdities of politics, race and identity, sharing jokes and insights drawn from the wealth of experience acquired in his relatively young life. As host of the US hit show The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, he provides viewers around the globe with their nightly dose of biting satire, but here Noah turns his focus inward, giving readers a deeply personal, heartfelt and humorous look at the world that shaped him. Noah was born a crime, son of a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother, at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents' indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the first years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, take him away. A collection of eighteen personal stories, Born a Crime tells the story of a mischievous young boy growing into a restless young man as he struggles to find his place in a world where he was never supposed to exist. Born a Crime is equally the story of that young man's fearless, rebellious and fervently religious mother - a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence and abuse that ultimately threatens her own life. Whether subsisting on caterpillars for dinner during hard times, being thrown from a moving car during an attempted kidnapping, or just trying to survive the life-and-death pitfalls of dating in high school, Noah illuminates his curious world with an incisive wit and an unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a personal portrait of an unlikely childhood in a dangerous time, as moving and unforgettable as the very best memoirs and as funny as Noah's own hilarious stand-up. Born a Crime is a must read.

11
NEW
THE DAILY SHOW (THE BOOK)
Chris Smith
Cover of THE DAILY SHOW (THE BOOK)

THE DAILY SHOW (THE BOOK)

by Chris Smith · Grand Central

1 wks on list

The complete, uncensored history of the award-winning The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as told by its correspondents, writers, and host. For almost seventeen years, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart brilliantly redefined the borders between television comedy, political satire, and opinionated news coverage. It launched the careers of some of today's most significant comedians, highlighted the hypocrisies of the powerful, and garnered 23 Emmys. Now the show's behind-the-scenes gags, controversies, and camaraderie will be chronicled by the players themselves, from legendary host Jon Stewart to the star cast members and writers-including Samantha Bee, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Steve Carell, Lewis Black, Jessica Williams, John Hodgman, and Larry Wilmore-plus some of The Daily Show's most prominent guests and adversaries: John and Cindy McCain, Glenn Beck, Tucker Carlson, and many more. This oral history takes the reader behind the curtain for all the show's highlights, from its origins as Comedy Central's underdog late-night program hosted by Craig Kilborn to Jon Stewart's long reign to Trevor Noah's succession, rising from a scrappy jester in the 24-hour political news cycle to become part of the beating heart of politics-a trusted source for not only comedy but also commentary, with a reputation for calling bullshit and an ability to effect real change in the world. Through years of incisive election coverage, Jon Stewart's emotional monologue in the wake of 9/11, his infamous confrontation on Crossfire, passionate debates with President Obama and Hillary Clinton, feuds with Bill O'Reilly and Fox, the Indecisions, Mess O'Potamia, and provocative takes on Wall Street and racism, The Daily Show has been a cultural touchstone. Now, for the first time, the people behind the show's seminal moments come together to share their memories of the last-minute rewrites, improvisations, pranks, romances, blow-ups, and moments of Zen both on and off the set of one of America's most groundbreaking shows.

12
4
SUPERFICIAL
Andy Cohen
Cover of SUPERFICIAL

SUPERFICIAL

by Andy Cohen · Holt

2 wks on list

The star-studded and sidesplitting follow up to The Andy Cohen Diaries The megapopular host of Watch What Happens: Live and executive producer of The Real Housewives franchise is back, better than ever, and telling stories that will keep his publicist up at night. Since the publication of his last book, Andy has toured the country with his sidekick Anderson Cooper, hit the radio waves with his own Sirius station, Radio Andy, appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher despite his mother’s conviction he was not intellectually prepared, hosted NBC’s Primetime New Year’s Eve special, guest edited Entertainment Weekly, starred in Bravo’s Then & Now with Andy Cohen, offended celebrities with his ongoing case of foot-in-mouth disease, and welcomed home Teresa “Namaste” Giudice, from a brief stint in jail. Hopping from the Hamptons to the Manhattan dating world, the dog park to the red carpet, Cardinals superfan and mama’s boy Andy Cohen, with Wacha in tow, is the kind of star that fans are dying to be friends with. This book gives them that chance. If The Andy Cohen Diaries was deemed “the literary equivalent of a Fresca and tequila” by Jimmy Fallon, Superficial is a double: dishier, juicier, and friskier. In this account of his escapades—personal, professional, and behind-the-scenes—Andy tells us not only what goes down, but exactly what he thinks of it.

13
NEW
THE GIRL WITH THE LOWER BACK TATTOO
Amy Schumer
Cover of THE GIRL WITH THE LOWER BACK TATTOO

THE GIRL WITH THE LOWER BACK TATTOO

by Amy Schumer · Gallery

13 wks on list

Amy Schumer, född 1981 i New York, slog igenom 2015 och är idag den hetaste komikern i USA. Tv-serien Inside Amy Schumer (som visats här på TV 3) där sketcher blandas med ståuppnummer och intervjuer är flerfaldigt prisbelönad, och hon rosas för sin roll i filmen Trainwreck som hon också skrivit manus till. 2015 utnämndes hon av Times till en av de 100 mest inflytelserika människorna i världen. Hennes sylvassa feministiska humor rör sig kring sex, kön, relationer, normer, kroppsideal, kvinnoförakt, mansvälde och – inte minst – underliv. Nu kommer hon också med en mångskiftande samling självbiografiska essäer. Ur sitt förflutna fiskar hon upp historier om allt som skapat henne till den hon är – en kvinna som vågar blottlägga både kropp och själ för att stå upp för det hon tror på, och som får oss alla att skratta. Och hon vill inte enbart roa eller provocera, här finns också det mörka: föräldrarnas sviktande ekonomi under hennes barndom, faderns snabba insjuknande i ms, den hårda kritik och rena dödshot hon fått utstå på vägen mot berömmelse, förhållandet med en våldsbenägen man som hon för sent kunde släppa taget om ... Under en visning i Louisiana av filmen Trainwreck sköts två unga kvinnor till döds i biografen och flera skadades. Det chockade Amy som sedan dess arbetar för hårdare vapenlagar. Boken är dedicerad till de två kvinnorna. Amy Schumer sammanfattar sin livsvisdom redan i bokens förord. ”Jag vet vad som är viktigt för mig, och det är min familj ... Och att skratta och njuta av livet med mina vänner. Och, förstås, att ha en orgasm då och då. Jag har kommit fram till att en gång om dagen är det bästa.” Amy Schumer kommer till Stockholm i augusti för att uppträda med en show på Hovet. ”Jag har förändrats så mycket sedan jag var en självsäker, lycklig tjej i high school. Under de år som gått har jag upplevt mycket desperation och dåligt självförtroende, men på sätt och vis har jag gått varvet runt. Jag vet mitt värde. Jag omfamnar min makt. Jag vågar säga att jag är vacker. Att jag är stark. Du bestämmer inte min historia. Det gör jag. Jag ska tala och dela med mig och knulla och älska, och jag kommer aldrig att be om ursäkt för det.” Amy Schumer ”Jag har kämpat mig fram genom hård kritik och dödshot, och jag lever. Jag är orädd. För det mesta.” Amy Schumer ”Patriarkatet har ännu massor av mörka hörn att blottlägga och unkna könsroller behöver ständigt vädras. Vilket Schumer är en mästare på.” Sylvia Balac, Aftonbladet bloggar

14
3
THE BOOK OF JOY
Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu
Cover of THE BOOK OF JOY

THE BOOK OF JOY

by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu · Avery

6 wks on list

Two spiritual giants. Seven days. One timeless question. 'The ultimate source of happiness is within us.' DALAI LAMA 'We grow in kindness when our kindness is tested.' DESMOND TUTU Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama were friends for many, many years. Between them, they have endured exile, violence and oppression. And in the face of these hardships, they continued to radiate compassion, humour and above all, joy. To celebrate His Holiness's eightieth birthday, Archbishop Tutu travelled to the Dalai Lama's home in Dharamsala. The two men spent a week discussing a single burning question: how do we find joy in the face of suffering? This book is a gift from two of the most important spiritual figures of our time. Full of love, warmth and hope, The Book of Joy offers us the chance to experience their journey from first embrace to final goodbye.

15
1
SHAKEN
Tim Tebow with A. J. Gregory
Cover of SHAKEN

SHAKEN

by Tim Tebow with A. J. Gregory · Waterbrook

5 wks on list

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • ECPA BESTSELLER • Who are you when life is steady? Who are you when storms come? “With this book, Tim encourages readers to keep moving and stay strong while battling life’s obstacles.”—Cam Newton, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers Most of us have been on the receiving end of rejection, a broken dream, or heartbreak. And while this is not an easy space to go through, when we are grounded in the truth, we can endure the tough times. In this powerful book, Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow passionately shares glimpses of his journey staying grounded in the face of disappointment, criticism, and intense media scrutiny. Tebow talks about what he’s learned along the way, building confidence in his identity in God, not the world. This moving book also features practical wisdom from Scripture and insights gained from others who have impacted him in life-changing ways.

16
NEW
ALL THE GALLANT MEN
Donald Stratton with Ken Gire
Cover of ALL THE GALLANT MEN

ALL THE GALLANT MEN

by Donald Stratton with Ken Gire · Morrow

1 wks on list

The New York Times bestselling memoir of survival and heroism at Pearl Harbor "An unforgettable story of unfathomable courage." — Reader's Digest In this, the first memoir by a USS Arizona sailor, Donald Stratton delivers an inspiring and unforgettable eyewitness account of the Pearl Harbor attack and his remarkable return to the fight. At 8:10 a.m. on December 7, 1941, Seaman First Class Donald Stratton was consumed by an inferno. A million pounds of explosives had detonated beneath his battle station aboard the USS Arizona, barely fifteen minutes into Japan's surprise attack on American forces at Pearl Harbor. Near death and burned across two thirds of his body, Don, a nineteen-year-old Nebraskan who had been steeled by the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, summoned the will to haul himself hand over hand across a rope tethered to a neighboring vessel. Forty-five feet below, the harbor's flaming, oil-slick water boiled with enemy bullets; all around him the world tore itself apart. In this extraordinary, never-before-told eyewitness account of the Pearl Harbor attack—the only memoir ever written by a survivor of the USS Arizona—ninety-four-year-old veteran Donald Stratton finally shares his unforgettable personal tale of bravery and survival on December 7, 1941, his harrowing recovery, and his inspiring determination to return to the fight. Don and four other sailors made it safely across the same line that morning, a small miracle on a day that claimed the lives of 1,177 of their Arizona shipmates—approximately half the American fatalaties at Pearl Harbor. Sent to military hospitals for a year, Don refused doctors' advice to amputate his limbs and battled to relearn how to walk. The U.S. Navy gave him a medical discharge, believing he would never again be fit for service, but Don had unfinished business. In June 1944, he sailed back into the teeth of the Pacific War on a destroyer, destined for combat in the crucial battles of Leyte Gulf, Luzon, and Okinawa, thus earning the distinction of having been present for the opening shots and the final major battle of America's Second World War. As the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack approaches, Don, a great-grandfather of five and one of six living survivors of the Arizona, offers an unprecedentedly intimate reflection on the tragedy that drew America into the greatest armed conflict in history. All the Gallant Men is a book for the ages, one of the most remarkable—and remarkably inspiring—memoirs of any kind to appear in recent years. * Library Journal

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