The Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers: Nonfiction
Here are this week’s Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers for fiction, based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide, generously provided by the American Booksellers Association. Compiled, designed, and distributed by The Independent Publishers Caucus.
This list highlights the 40 bestselling nonfiction books for the week ending October 18, 2026, compiled by The Independent Publishers Caucus and distributed by the American Booksellers Association. The rankings are based on sales data from hundreds of independent bookstores across the United States. The list includes a diverse range of topics such as politics, science, history, nature, and personal development. Books like Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State by Michael Lewis and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer reflect current public interest in government transparency and environmental themes. The list also features practical guides like How to Relax by Thich Nhat Hanh and niche topics such as Guinness World Records 2027.
The bestsellers span several recurring themes. Environmental and scientific topics are prominent, with books like Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, which explores Indigenous wisdom and plant science, and The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, which examines tree communication. History and politics are also well-represented, including The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State by Jill Lepore and The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein, which investigates government policies that segregated America. Personal and cultural narratives appear in titles like Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez, which critiques white evangelicalism, and Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson, offering psychological insights.
Several publishers dominate the list, including W. W. Norton, Liveright, and Milkweed Editions, which publish multiple bestsellers. W. W. Norton features titles like Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State by Michael Lewis and Replaceable You by Mary Roach, while Liveright includes Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea by Emily Wilson and S.P.Q.R. by Mary Beard. Milkweed Editions publishes Braiding Sweetgrass and The Salt Stones by Helen Whybrow. Other notable entries include Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, a classic on resilience, and The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon, a foundational text in postcolonial studies.
The list showcases a wide variety of formats and subjects. Practical guides like How to Survive Authoritarianism by Maria Kuznetsova and Dan Storyev and How to Love a Forest by Ethan Tapper cater to current social and environmental concerns. Historical works such as A Brief History of Cities in 32 Inventions by John Elledge and A History of the World in Twelve Beans by Joël Broekaert blend storytelling with educational content. Nature writing is a recurring genre, with books like Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane and Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer. The list also includes niche topics like Trash!: A Garbageman’s Story by Simon Pare-Poupart and Forest Euphoria by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian.
The rankings are based on sales from independent bookstores, highlighting their role in promoting diverse and specialized nonfiction titles. Organizations like the *American Booksellers Association* and *The Independent Publishers Caucus* support these bookstores by compiling and distributing the *Top 40 Bestsellers* list. This initiative aims to showcase the breadth of nonfiction literature available outside mainstream commercial channels. The list reflects trends in independent publishing, where authors and topics that may not receive widespread commercial attention can thrive through targeted readerships.
