“If every book is a #1 New York Times best seller, which books are the number 2?”

The New York (NY) Times has a Book Review section, and it has had a weekly best seller list since October 12, 1931. There are many categories. For many people who buy books, it often seems that every book advertises as a “#1 New York TImes best seller.”
 
“And when you’re in a book shop like every single book is ‘a national best-seller’ I don’t trust critics anymore” was posted on X/Twitter by benchiladas on June 24, 2020. “How is it that every single book is a New York Times bestseller” was posted on X/Twitter by lee ♡’s gemma ☁️ on August 5, 2021. “How is it possible that every single book is a #1 New York Times Best Seller?” was posted on X/Twitter by Sherry on February 23, 2023. “How Is Every Book A New York Times Best Seller?” (shown on a sign) was posted on X/Twitter by Rothmus 🏴 on October 14, 2024.
 
“If every book is a #1 New York times best seller, which books are the number 2?” was posted on Facebook by Abigail Chukwunonso Alfred on January 13, 2021.
 
   
Wikipedia: The New York Times Best Seller list
The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. The New York Times Book Review has published the list weekly since October 12, 1931. In the 21st century, it has evolved into multiple lists, grouped by genre and format, including fiction and nonfiction, hardcover, paperback and electronic.
 
The list is based on a proprietary method that uses sales figures, other data and internal guidelines that are unpublished—how the Times compiles the list is a trade secret. 
     
Reddit—NoStupidQuestions
StoneEagleCopy—March 22, 2019
Why does it feel like every book is a ‘best seller’?
Surely there can only be one ‘best seller’. What am I missing?
 
X/Twitter
benchiladas
@7layerbendip
And when you’re in a book shop like every single book is “a national best-seller” I don’t trust critics anymore
Quote
lecs 🪐
@alecsaagbayani
Jun 24, 2020
Does anyone else find it funny how all brands say they use “the best quality so and so” - like how are you ALL the best? Who’s lying?
1:34 PM · Jun 24, 2020
     
X/Twitter
Kkutlet050
@Kkutlet050
Literally every single book is a best seller just like how every resturant is the “#1 in the world”
2:06 PM · Sep 16, 2020
 
X/Twitter
a whore
@sabbz101
I’ll never understand how every single book is a New York Times bestseller
2:11 AM · Jan 12, 2021
 
Facebook
Abigail Chukwunonso Alfred
January 13, 2021 at 5:12 AM ·
If every book is a #1 New York times best seller, which books are the number 2?
 
X/Twitter
lee ♡’s gemma ☁️
@lee_d35
How is it that every single book is a New York Times bestseller
10:21 AM · Aug 5, 2021
 
X/Twitter
marina
@lovefirstbegan
one thing i don’t understand is why literally every single book is a new york times bestseller like ????
6:17 AM · Aug 8, 2021
 
X/Twitter
ev
@EVisbored
I swear every single book is a NY Times bestseller
6:35 AM · Sep 27, 2021
         
POP!
Why does it seem like every book is a #1 New York Times bestseller?
Trixie Velasquez
16 December, 2021
POV: You’re browsing the shelves of your favorite bookstore. As you’re perusing the shelves (and resisting the urge to indulge your tsundoku tendencies), you begin to notice a pattern – the phrase “#1 New York Times best-seller” is visible on the covers of just about every book you see.
     
The Jamia Review
Why is every book a New York Times Best-Seller?
by Sana Perween
April 6, 2022
Do you ever wonder why almost every book you come across is a ‘#1 New York Times bestseller’? The New York Times bestselling list is one of the most prestigious lists for book readers and authors. To have one’s book in the list, even if it is for a week, is considered honorable. Surely all of them can’t be good enough to deserve the spot? Well, here is why.
 
X/Twitter
christian
@cutelilblackboy
I swear every book is a #1 New York best seller
8:19 PM · Aug 17, 2022
 
X/Twitter
✟ ✞ ✟ ✞
@Clrice1493
How is it that every book is a “New York Times best seller”
😑
2:05 PM · Sep 17, 2022
 
X/Twitter
Bobby Kush 🤡
@BobbyKush69
Not sure how the book industry works but it seems like every book is a “New York Times Best Seller”
6:05 PM · Nov 4, 2022
 
X/Twitter
Roguishbeats
@1Roguishbeats
Alright so what does best seller mean and how is damn near every book is a best seller🤔 somebody school me
10:33 AM · Nov 15, 2022
 
X/Twitter
Maximilian Graves
@MaxGraves6
It seems like every book is a New York Times best seller
11:12 PM · Jan 30, 2023

X/Twitter
Sherry
@SchrodingrsBrat
How is it possible that every single book is a #1 New York Times Best Seller
12:55 PM · Feb 23, 2023
       
X/Twitter
ThreadGirl.eth 🔌
@ThreadGirl_eth
Bro how come EVERY SINGLE BOOK is a new york best seller😂
7:00 PM · Mar 20, 2023
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X/Twitter
:D
@HouseholdWheel
I get that he’s trying to hype the movie
But it really feels like when they make up categories so that every book is a New York Times best seller
3:01 AM · Apr 27, 2023
 
X/Twitter
Spectacular Spider Fan
@OnoreDikeidoFan
Every book is a NY times best seller
It’s become a running gag at this point
3:08 PM · Oct 11, 2023
 
X/Twitter
It Be Like That Sometimes
@Wilk_MadeIt
I swear every book is a #1 New York Times bestseller… Somebody is lying
4:34 PM · Oct 23, 2023
 
X/Twitter
Drowsinksi Moorgoone
@CAndrooz
j wanna know how every single book is a number one New York Times bestseller
2:01 PM · Jan 3, 2024
   
X/Twitter
Od’ànj
@od_anjola
How come every single book is a ‘New York Times Best Seller’
12:32 PM · Mar 30, 2024
 
X/Twitter
Rothmus 🏴
@Rothmus
🤣
“How Is Every Book A New York Times Best Seller?” is shown on a sign.—ed.)
5:44 PM · Oct 14, 2024