This is a list of books that topped The New York Times best-seller list in 1938. When the list began in 1931 through 1941 it only reflected sales in the New York City area.[1]
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling fiction books.
The two most popular books that year were The Citadel, by A. J. Cronin, which held on top of the list for 16 weeks, and The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, which was on top of the list for 12 weeks.[2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 3 | The Citadel | A. J. Cronin |
| January 10 | ||
| January 17 | ||
| January 24 | ||
| January 31 | ||
| February 7 | The Prodigal Parents | Sinclair Lewis |
| February 14 | The Citadel | A. J. Cronin |
| February 21 | ||
| February 28 | ||
| March 7 | ||
| March 14 | ||
| March 21 | Action at Aquila | Hervey Allen |
| March 28 | The Citadel | A. J. Cronin |
| April 4 | Action at Aquila | Hervey Allen |
| April 11 | The Citadel | A. J. Cronin |
| April 18 | ||
| April 25 | ||
| May 2 | ||
| May 9 | ||
| May 16 | The Yearling | Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings |
| May 23 | ||
| May 30 | ||
| June 6 | ||
| June 13 | ||
| June 20 | ||
| June 27 | ||
| July 4 | ||
| July 11 | My Son, My Son! | Howard Spring |
| July 18 | ||
| July 25 | ||
| August 1 | ||
| August 8 | ||
| August 15 | ||
| August 22 | ||
| August 29 | The Yearling | Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings |
| September 5 | ||
| September 12 | ||
| September 19 | ||
| September 26 | My Son, My Son! | Howard Spring |
| October 3 | ||
| October 10 | ||
| October 17 | ||
| October 24 | Rebecca | Daphne du Maurier |
| October 31 | ||
| November 7 | ||
| November 14 | ||
| November 21 | ||
| November 28 | All This and Heaven Too | Rachel Field |
| December 5 | Rebecca | Daphne du Maurier |
| December 12 | ||
| December 19 | ||
| December 26 | All This and Heaven Too | Rachel Field |
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books.