The New York Public Library Announces Top Check Outs of 2016

Bestseller The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins is number one,  followed by the award-winning Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

DECEMBER 28, 2016 – Paula Hawkins’ best-selling novel (turned movie) The Girl on the Train topped The New York Public Library’s list of 2016’s most checked out books.   

Ta-Nehisi Coates’s 2015 National Book Award winner for non-fiction Between the World and Me was second on the list, followed by Paul Kalanithi’s When Breath Becomes Air. Harper Lee garnered two spots on the top 10 list: her classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird came in at number 7, and the much-discussed sequel Go Set a Watchman was number four. Books by entertainers Mindy Kaling and Aziz Ansari also cracked the top 10.

The annual top check outs list includes books borrowed from The New York Public Library’s 92 locations in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island, as well as from its growing e-book catalog (which currently offers nearly 320,000 books).

In addition to the overall top 10, the Library compiled the top 10 books checked out in each of the three boroughs it serves, as well as the top title at each of its circulating libraries (these lists do not include e-books).

James Patterson’s NYPD Red 4 was the top check out in both the Bronx and Staten Island, while Between the World and Me was first in Manhattan.

A wide variety of books were among the most popular selections at branches across the system, from test prep volumes -- TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review was the top check out at several branches – to novels, self-help books and non-fiction. Marie Kond’s The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up was tops at the recently-opened 53rd Street Library in Manhattan.  Becoming Beyonce by J. Randy Taraborrelli was the most popular book at Mott Haven in the Bronx. Undocumented: A Dominican Boy's Odyssey From A Homeless Shelter to the Ivy League by Dan-el Padilla Peralta had the most check outs at St. George Library Center in Staten Island.

Other books that saw significant check outs throughout the system include Ron Chernow’s Hamilton, Dead Wake and The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, and M Train by Patti Smith.

“Our top check outs certainly reflect the varied tastes and interests of New Yorkers – a richness and diversity that makes New York City unique, and its communities special,” said Christopher Platt, NYPL’s Chief Branch Library Officer. “As an institution that promotes learning, discussion, debate, education, creative expression, and thought, we are so proud to see such a wide variety of titles being borrowed, and look forward to a new year full of reading.” 

Nearly 25 million items, including books, are circulated throughout the NYPL system each year. The Library also offers a host of free programs and classes with a mission to offer information, education, and opportunity to all.

The 2016 top lists in full are:

Top 10 Books Systemwide

  1. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  2. Between the World and Me by Ta-nehisi Coates
  3. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
  4. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
  5. Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
  6. Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg
  7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  8. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
  9. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
  10. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Top 10 Books in the Bronx

  1. NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson
  2. TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review
  3. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
  4. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  5. Private Paris by James Patterson
  6. Between the World and Me by Ta-nehisi Coates
  7. Killer Dolls by Nisa Santiago
  8. Undercover by Danielle Steel
  9. Precious Gifts by Danielle Steel
  10. Vengeance: A Novel by Zane

Top 10 Books in Manhattan

  1. Between the World and Me by Ta-nehisi Coates
  2. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  3. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
  4. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
  5. Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg
  6. The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kond
  7. M Train by Patti Smith
  8. NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson
  9. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
  10. My Brilliant Friend Childhood, Adolescence Book 1 by Elena Ferrante

Top 10 Books in Staten Island

  1. NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson
  2. Private Paris by James Patterson
  3. Undercover by Danielle Steel
  4. Precious Gifts by Danielle Steel
  5. A Girl's Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber
  6. The Last Mile by David Baldacci
  7. Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis
  8. The Obsession by Nora Roberts
  9. What We Find by Robyn Car
  10. Bullseye by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Top Books by Branch in the Bronx

  • Allerton - The 20/20 Diet: Turn your weight loss vision into reality by Phillip C. McGraw
  • Baychester - NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson
  • Belmont - ​Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
  • Bronx Library Center – Deadpool Classic
  • Castle Hill – Cracking the GRE by Douglas Pierce
  • City Island - Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
  • Clason's Point – Baby, You’re the Best, Book 1 by Mary B. Morrison
  • Eastchester – Nostradamus:The Complete Prophecies for the Future by Mario Reading
  • Edenwald - ​Killer Dolls by Nisa Santiago
  • Francis Martin - TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review
  • Grand Concourse - TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review
  • High Bridge - TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review
  • Hunt's Point – Murdergram by Nisa Santiago
  • Jerome Park – La Magia by Rhonda Byrne
  • Kingsbridge - Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
  • Melrose – TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review
  • Morris Park - Jesus: A Pilgrimage by James Martin
  • Morrisania - The Emotional Life of Your Brain: How Its Unique Patterns Affect the Way You Think, Feel, and Live--and How You Can Change Them by Sharon Begley; Richard J. Davidson and Arthur Morey
  • Mosholu - TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review
  • Mott Haven – Becoming Beyonce by J. Randy Taraborrelli
  • Parkchester - McGraw Hills's New York City SHSAT
  • Pelham Bay – Undercover by Danielle Steel
  • Pelham Parkway-Van Nest – LifePrints: ESL for Adults by Janet Podnecky
  • Riverdale - ​When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
  • Sedgwick - Games Women Play by Zaire Crown
  • Soundview - ​Between the World and Me by Ta-nehisi Coates
  • Spuyten Duyvil - Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving
  • Throg's Neck – The Last Mile by David Baldacci
  • Tremont - Money-makin' Mamas by Silk Smooth
  • Van Cortlandt - The Complete Idiot's Guide to Social Security and Medicare by Lita Epstein
  • Wakefield - Grand Opening: A Family Business by Carl Weber and Eric Pete
  • West Farms - TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review
  • Westchester Square - AP Biology by Deborah T. Goldberg
  • Woodlawn Heights - Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson
  • Woodstock - The Nature of Good and Evil by Sylvia Brown

Top Book by Branch in Manhattan

  • 115th Street - ​Between the World and Me by Ta-nehisi Coates
  • 125th Street - Carl Weber's Kingpins: The Dirty South by Treasure Hernandez
  • 53rd Street - The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kond
  • 58th St. - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  • 67th St. - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  • 96th St - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  • Aguilar - Weekend Wonder Detox: Quick Cleanses to Strengthen Your Body and Enhance Your Beauty by Michelle Schoffro Cook
  • Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
  • Battery Park City -  The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  • Bloomingdale - Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
  • Chatham Square - 500+ Practice Questions for the New SAT Created For The Redesigned 2016 Exam
  • Columbus - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  • Countee Cullen - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Epiphany - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  • Fort Washington - Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
  • George Bruce - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  • Grand Central - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  • Hamilton Fish Park - 500+ Practice Questions for the New SAT Created For The Redesigned 2016 Exam
  • Hamilton Grange - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Harlem - Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
  • Hudson Park - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Inwood - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Jefferson Market - M Train by Patti Smith
  • Kips Bay - Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg
  • Macomb's Bridge - Zero Belly Cookbook: 150+ Delicious Recipes to Flatten Your Belly, Turn Off Your Fat Genes, and Help Keep You Lean for Life! By David  Zinczenko
  • Mid-Manhattan - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Morningside Heights - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Muhlenberg - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  • Mulberry Street- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • New Amsterdam - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Ottendorfer - Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg
  • Library for the Performing Arts - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams
  • Riverside - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Roosevelt Island - The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kond
  • Science, Industry and Business Library - Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies by Rhonda M. Abrams
  • Seward Park - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • St. Agnes - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Terence Cardinal Cooke-Cathedral - Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
  • Tompkins Square – M Train by Patti Smith
  • Washington Heights - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Webster - When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
  • Yorkville - When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Top Books by Branch in Staten Island:

  • Dongan Hills - Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
  • Great Kills - NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson
  • Mariners Harbor - Sheisty by T. N. Baker
  • Huguenot Park - NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson
  • New Dorp – Precious Gifts by Danielle Steel
  • Port Richmond - You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay
  • Richmondtown – To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  • South Beach - Guinness World Records 2016: Gamer's Edition
  • St. George - Undocumented: A Dominican Boy's Odyssey From A Homeless Shelter to the Ivy League by Dan-el Padilla Peralta
  • Stapleton - An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-year-old Panhandler, A Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting With Destiny by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski
  • Todt Hill - NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson
  • Tottenville - NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson
  • West New Brighton – The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

Media Contact:

Amy Geduldig | amygeduldig@nypl.org

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