What are the top 50 bestselling nonfiction books in the area of
personal growth/philosophy in the last two years?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 19 Jan 2004 10:41 PST

qpet,

As I'm sure you know, actual sales numbers for books are hard to come
by.  However, there are a few bookseller websites that list their
bestsellers in specific categories (such as "personal growth" or
related categories).  Have you had a look at these listings as a
possible source of information?

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Clarification of Question by qpet-ga on 19 Jan 2004 17:09 PST

Hi pafalafa,
No, I have not. Could you summerize?

Hello qpet-ga,

Thanks for your question.  Here is a summary of the tools that I've
found very useful in the past in exploring the world of bestsellers. 
I hope they are just as useful to you in your work.

pafalafa-ga

==========

http://www.amazon.com

Click on "Books"

and then again on "Bestsellers"

and it should take you here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/283155/ref%3Dtab%5Fgw%5Fb%5F3/103-8544143-8738266


On the left-hand side of the page, click on "Top 100 Bestsellers",
which will leave you at this page:


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/new-for-you/top-sellers/-/books/all/ref=pd_ts_a_hot/103-8544143-8738266


and again, on the left, is a column labeled "Browse Top Sellers" and a
list of topic areas to choose from.

Several of the areas will include books of interest to your topic
areas, I believe.  For instance, clicking on "Health, Mind and Body"
takes you to this list:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/new-for-you/top-sellers/-/books/10/ref=pd_ts_b_nav/103-8544143-8738266

which starts off with a number of dieting books (many of which have a
strong improve-the-spirit,  improve-the-body type of approach),
followed by:

The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands 
by Laura Schlessinger

What to Expect the First Year, Second Edition 
by Heidi Murkoff

The Anatomy of Hope : How People Prevail in the Face of Illness 
by Jerome Groopman 

Ten Stupid Things Couples Do to Mess Up Their Relationships 
by Laura C. Schlessinger

and so on.

----------

Another list on the left hand side of the page offers additional
breakouts of bestsellers according to particular subcategories,
including:
 
 
Aging 
Alternative Medicine 
Audiobooks 
Authors, A-Z 
Beauty & Fashion 
Cancer 
Death & Grief 
Diets & Weight Loss 
Disorders & Diseases 
Exercise & Fitness 
Large Print 
Men's Health 
Mental Health 
Nutrition 
Personal Health 
Psychology & Counseling 
Recovery 
Reference 
Relationships 
Safety & First Aid 
Self-Help 
Sex 
Women's Health 

For instance, clicking on "Psychology & Counseling" brings up a list that includes:

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition 
by American Psychological Association

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference 
by Malcolm Gladwell 

Man's Search For Meaning 
by Viktor E. Frankl 

etc.

==========

A similar opportunity for list-making exists at the Barnes and Noble site:

http://www.bn.com

Clicking "Bestsellers" at the top of the page, and then "Bestsellers
of 2003" on the left hand side, takes you to:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/bestsellers/ar_cds2.asp?PID=370&userid=2T4BB9VS2V&AR=Y

where (this time, on the right hand side), is a list of additional
categories you can click on, including:

 
   
      Fiction  
   
      Nonfiction  
   
      Children's  
   
      Business  
   
      Self-Help  
   
      Spanish  
   
      Spanish Children's  
   
      Biggest Pre-Orders  
   
      Biggest First Weeks  
   
      Debut Appearances  
   
      Biggest Lives  
   
      Politicians and Pundits  
   
      Books into Films  
   
      Chick-Lit Hits  
   
      Side Projects  
   
      Medical Mysteries  
   
      Backward Glances  
   
      Book Club Bestsellers  
   
      On the Road 

Clicking on "Self Help" takes you to a brief list of bestsellers in this category: 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/bestsellers/ar_cds2.asp?PID=1239&userid=2T4BB9VS2V&AR=Y

which, along with the usual diet books, also includes:

 
 
The Purpose-Driven Life
Rick Warren 

 
The World According to Mr. Rogers
Important Things to Remember
Fred Rogers
 

What Should I Do with My Life?
The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question
Po Bronson
 
----------

Also take note (left hand side) of the link to the "Top 10 of Everything":



http://www.barnesandnoble.com/bestsellers/top10everything.asp?userid=2T4BB9VS2V&AR=Y

which offers an enormous list of topical areas, and can lead you to
the bestsellers in each area.  For instance, clicking on
"Existentialism" under the Philosophy heading, takes you to a list of:

Our Bestselling Books in Existentialism

which includes:

The Courage to Be
Paul Tillich 

Fear and Trembling
Soren Kierkegaard

Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays
Albert Camus

Irrational Man: A Study in Existential Philosophy
William E. Barrett 

==========

I hope these tools are exactly what you need to explore the
bestsellers in the fields of greatest interest to you.

If anything here is unclear, or if you need additional information,
please let me know, and I'll be happy to assist you further.

All the best...

pafalafa-ga



Search strategy:  Used existing bookmarks to bestseller lists.