The Most Popular Book of Each Year Since 1920

By Taylor Hurles, Eliza Siegel: "Book popularity year by year can offer a fascinating insight into what topics occupied the minds of Americans over the last century. Many stories that captivated the country explore such topics as race, class, and the changing cultural roles of different people. While some books reflect the biases of their time, providing a window into outdated mindsets, other narratives pushed back on the cultural limitations of the era, providing a place where the hypothetical or even futuristic can become tangible. Running the gamut from political memoir to fantasy, Stacker used data from Publisher's Weekly to compile a list of the most popular books in America each year since 1920. From John Steinbeck classics to modern memoirs, browse the list below for a look into what was popular the year you were born—you might even find your next favorite."
(YES, The Robe is listed twice. 4 books were most popular in 2 years each.)