‘Fear’ Boosts Unit Sales in Mid-September

Unit sales of print books rose 2% in the week ended Sept. 16, 2018, over the comparable week in 2017, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. The increase was due in part to one of the fastest-selling books of the year so far: Bob Woodward’s Fear, which sold more than 339,000 copies in its first week, helping unit sales in the adult nonfiction category rise 4% over last year. The popularity of Fear appears to have given a bump to another book critical of President Trump: Unhinged by Omarosa Manigault Newman sold nearly 10,000 copies and jumped to eighth place on the adult nonfiction list, up from 26th the prior week. The juvenile nonfiction category had the largest gain in the week, with unit sales up 8% over the week ended Sept. 17, 2017. A new book by Brad Meltzer, I Am Neil Armstrong, landed in third place on the category list, selling nearly 5,000 copies. Print unit sales in the juvenile fiction category increased 1% over 2017. Michael Rex’s Goodnight Goon sold more than 11,000 copies in its first week, putting it in second place on the category list. Four new books landing among the top 10 adult fiction bestsellers couldn’t stop units from declining 2% in the week in the category. The #1 seller in adult fiction was Juror #3 by James Patterson and Nancy Allen, which sold 31,000 copies in its first week. Clive Cussler’s Shadow Tyrants sold more than 17,000 copies in its first week, landing it in third place on the category list.

Editor’s note: Sales for the week ended Sept. 16, 2018, do not include data from the Christian bookstore chain Lifeway.

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Unit Sales of Print Books by Category

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