This is a list of books that topped The New York Times Best Seller list in 1956.
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling fiction books.[1]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Andersonville | MacKinlay Kantor |
| January 8 | ||
| January 15 | ||
| January 22 | ||
| January 29 | ||
| February 5 | ||
| February 12 | ||
| February 19 | ||
| February 26 | ||
| March 4 | ||
| March 11 | ||
| March 18 | ||
| March 25 | The Last Hurrah | Edwin O'Connor |
| April 1 | ||
| April 8 | ||
| April 15 | ||
| April 22 | ||
| April 29 | ||
| May 6 | ||
| May 13 | ||
| May 20 | ||
| May 27 | ||
| June 3 | ||
| June 10 | ||
| June 17 | ||
| June 24 | ||
| July 1 | ||
| July 8 | ||
| July 15 | ||
| July 22 | ||
| July 29 | ||
| August 5 | ||
| August 12 | Don't Go Near the Water | William Brinkley |
| August 19 | ||
| August 26 | ||
| September 2 | ||
| September 9 | ||
| September 16 | ||
| September 23 | ||
| September 30 | ||
| October 7 | ||
| October 14 | ||
| October 21 | ||
| October 28 | ||
| November 4 | ||
| November 11 | ||
| November 18 | ||
| November 25 | Peyton Place | Grace Metalious |
| December 2 | ||
| December 9 | ||
| December 16 | ||
| December 23 | ||
| December 30 |
The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books.