This is a list of books that topped The New York Times best-seller list in 1971.
Fiction
editThe following list ranks the number-one best-selling fiction books.[1]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 3 | Love Story | Erich Segal |
| January 10 | ||
| January 17 | ||
| January 24 | ||
| January 31 | ||
| February 7 | ||
| February 14 | ||
| February 21 | QB VII | Leon Uris |
| February 28 | ||
| March 7 | ||
| March 14 | ||
| March 21 | ||
| March 28 | ||
| April 4 | ||
| April 11 | ||
| April 18 | ||
| April 25 | The Passions of the Mind | Irving Stone |
| May 2 | ||
| May 9 | ||
| May 16 | ||
| May 23 | ||
| May 30 | ||
| June 6 | ||
| June 13 | ||
| June 20 | ||
| June 27 | ||
| July 4 | ||
| July 11 | ||
| July 18 | ||
| July 25 | The Exorcist | William Peter Blatty |
| August 1 | ||
| August 8 | ||
| August 15 | ||
| August 22 | ||
| August 29 | ||
| September 5 | ||
| September 12 | ||
| September 19 | ||
| September 26 | ||
| October 3 | ||
| October 10 | ||
| October 17 | The Day of the Jackal | Frederick Forsyth |
| October 24 | ||
| October 31 | ||
| November 7 | Wheels | Arthur Hailey |
| November 14 | The Day of the Jackal | Frederick Forsyth |
| November 21 | ||
| November 28 | ||
| December 5 | Wheels | Arthur Hailey |
| December 12 | The Day of the Jackal | Frederick Forsyth |
| December 19 | Wheels | Arthur Hailey |
| December 26 |
Nonfiction
editThe following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books.[2]
| Date | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| January 3 | Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) | Dr. David Reuben |
| January 10 | Civilization | Kenneth Clark |
| January 17 | The Greening of America | Charles Reich |
| January 24 | ||
| January 31 | ||
| February 7 | ||
| February 14 | ||
| February 21 | ||
| February 28 | ||
| March 7 | ||
| March 14 | ||
| March 21 | ||
| March 28 | ||
| April 4 | ||
| April 11 | ||
| April 18 | ||
| April 25 | ||
| May 2 | ||
| May 9 | ||
| May 16 | ||
| May 23 | ||
| May 30 | Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee | Dee Brown |
| June 6 | ||
| June 13 | ||
| June 20 | ||
| June 27 | ||
| July 4 | ||
| July 11 | ||
| July 18 | ||
| July 25 | The Female Eunuch | Germaine Greer |
| August 1 | Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee | Dee Brown |
| August 8 | ||
| August 15 | ||
| August 22 | ||
| August 29 | ||
| September 5 | ||
| September 12 | ||
| September 19 | ||
| September 26 | ||
| October 3 | ||
| October 10 | ||
| October 17 | ||
| October 24 | ||
| October 31 | ||
| November 7 | ||
| November 14 | ||
| November 21 | Any woman can! | David Reuben, M.D. |
| November 28 | Honor Thy Father | Gay Talese |
| December 5 | Eleanor and Franklin | Joseph P. Lash |
| December 12 | ||
| December 19 | ||
| December 26 |