Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates Most Checked Out Book of 2017 at The New York Public Library

In a year circulation increased 7 percent, The New York Public Library announces which books New Yorkers checked out the most 

DECEMBER 22, 2017 – Between the World and Me, the award-winning bestseller by Ta-Nehisi Coates, was The New York Public Library’s most checked out title in 2017. The thought-provoking book debuted at number two on the Library’s top checkouts list last year.

Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad: A Novel secured the number two spot this year. Last year’s top title The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins earned a place at number four, and more than 30 years after its original release, Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale landed at number 9.

Other books that debuted in the top 10 this year include: Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance, The Undoing Project: A Friendship that Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis, and Commonwealth by Ann Patchett.

The full list of top system-wide check outs – which includes print books as well as e-books, accessible via the Library’s e-reader app SimplyE – is:

  1. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  2. The Underground Railroad: A Novel by Colson Whitehead
  3. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance
  4. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  5. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
  6. The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
  7. The Undoing Project: A Friendship that Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis
  8. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
  9. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
  10. Commonwealth: A Novel by Ann Patchett

The New York Public Library – which has 92 locations across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island -- circulated about 24 million items this year, an increase of seven percent over the prior years.

“For over 100 years, The New York Public Library has stood as a symbol of open and free access to information, offering collaborative spaces where New Yorkers of all walks of life can find opportunities to learn, evolve, and succeed,” said NYPL President Tony Marx. “As we approach the New Year, it’s important that we have the opportunity to take stock and reflect on 2017. Considering this year’s top checkouts at the Library and the increase in circulation, it is evident that New Yorkers are seeking insight and perspective into the great many changes we’ve faced as a society. It is a testament to our patrons’ capacity for learning that they are visiting their local library and reading more.”

In addition to the top 10 check outs system-wide, 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. Because these lists are location-based, they do not include e-materials. The top books checked out in the three boroughs were:

  • The Bronx - TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review, 2017-2018 published by Kaplan,
  • Manhattan - The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, and
  • Staten Island -The Award by Danielle Steel.

Other books that saw significant check outs throughout the system include George Orwell’s 1984 and James Patterson’s Kill or be Killed.

The most popular selections at select branches highlight a diverse range of genres including popular culture, The Fix by David Baldacci at Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library; the self-help book Unplug: A Simple Guide to Meditation for Busy Skeptics and Modern Soul Seekers by Debra Goldstein and Suze Yalof Schwartz at Baychester Library; and the illustrated guide The Rap Year Book: The Most Important Rap Song from Every Year Since 1979, Discussed, Debated, and Deconstructed by Shea Serrano at St. George Library Center.

The 2017 top lists in full are:

Top 10 Books Systemwide

  1. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  2. The Underground Railroad: A Novel by Colson Whitehead
  3. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance
  4. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  5. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
  6. The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
  7. The Undoing Project: A Friendship that Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis
  8. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
  9. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
  10. Commonwealth: A Novel by Ann Patchett

Top 10 Books in the Bronx

  1. TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review, 2017-2018 by Kaplan
  2. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  3. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  4. Kill or Be Killed: Thrillers by James Patterson
  5. 1984 by George Orwell
  6. Killer Dolls by Nisa Santiago
  7. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
  8. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
  9. Private by James Patterson
  10. Murder Games by James Patterson

Top 10 Books in Manhattan

  1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
  2. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance
  3. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  4. The Sellout by Paul Beatty
  5. The Undoing Project: A Friendship that Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis
  6. 1984 by George Orwell
  7. The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
  8. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  9. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
  10. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Top 10 Books in Staten Island

  1. The Award by Danielle Steel
  2. Against All Odds by Danielle Steel
  3. Murder Games by James Patterson
  4. Kill or Be Killed: Thrillers by James Patterson
  5. Come Sundown by Nora Roberts
  6. The Duchess by Danielle Steel
  7. Private by James Patterson
  8. Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
  9. The Store by James Patterson
  10. Dangerous Games: A Novel by Danielle Steel

Top Books by Branch in the Bronx

  • Allerton – Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato and John Werry
  • Baychester - Unplug: A Simple Guide to Meditation for Busy Skeptics and Modern Soul Seekers by Debra Goldstein and Suze Yalof Schwartz
  • Belmont - ​ The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  • Bronx Library Center – TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review, 2017-2018 by Kaplan
  • Castle Hill – TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review, 2017-2018 by Kaplan
  • City Island - New York City SHSAT 2017 by Darcy L. Galane
  • Clason's Point – Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Eastchester – His Last Name by Daaimah S. Poole
  • Edenwald - TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review, 2017-2018 by Kaplan
  • Francis Martin - TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review, 2017-2018 by Kaplan
  • Grand Concourse - Kill or Be Killed: Thrillers by James Patterson
  • High Bridge - Your Man Chose Me by Racquel Williams
  • Hunt's Point – Murdergram: Part 2 by Nisa Santiago
  • Jerome Park – TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review, 2017-2018 by Kaplan
  • Kingsbridge - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Melrose – Barron's Regents exams and answers: Physics
  • Morris Park - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  • Morrisania - Kill or Be Killed: Thrillers by James Patterson
  • Mosholu – The Sellout by Paul Beatty
  • Mott Haven – TASC: Test Assessing Secondary Completion: Strategies, Practice, & Review, 2017-2018 by Kaplan
  • Parkchester - Traffic Enforcement Agent New York City
  • Pelham Bay – Murder Games by James Patterson
  • Pelham Parkway-Van Nest – Complete Krav Maga The Ultimate Guide to Over 200 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques by Darren Levine
  • Riverdale - ​ The Undoing Project: A Friendship that Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis
  • Sedgwick – Money-makin’ Mamas by Silk Smooth
  • Soundview - Murdergram: Part 2 by Nisa Santiago
  • Spuyten Duyvil - Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance
  • Throg's Neck – Kill or Be Killed: Thrillers by James Patterson
  • Tremont - Daily Readings from Break Out!: 365 Devotions to Go Beyond Your Barriers and Live an Extraordinary Life  by Joel Osteen
  • Van Cortlandt - Bowls of Plenty: Recipes for Healthy and Delicious Whole Grain Meals by Carolynn Carreño
  • Wakefield - Revenge of the Mistress by Cydney Rax
  • West Farms – Killer Dolls by Nisa Santiago
  • Westchester Square – SAT 2017
  • Woodlawn Heights - Cooking for Jeffrey: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten
  • Woodstock - Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet, Book one by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and Brian Stefreeze

Top Book by Branch in Manhattan

  • 115th Street – ​1984 by George Orwell
  • 125th Street - A Moment of Silence III by Souljah
  • 53rd Street - The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
  • 58th St. - Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance
  • 67th St. - Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance
  • 96th St - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Aguilar - 1984 by George Orwell
  • Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book – The Fix by David Baldacci
  • Battery Park City -  Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance
  • Bloomingdale - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Chatham Square - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Columbus - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Countee Cullen - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Epiphany - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Fort Washington – The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
  • George Bruce - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Grand Central - The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
  • Hamilton Fish Park - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Hamilton Grange - 1984 by George Orwell
  • Harlem - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Hudson Park - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Inwood - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Jefferson Market - Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance
  • Kips Bay - Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance
  • Macomb's Bridge - Self Made: Becoming Empowered, Self-reliant, and Rich in Every Way by Nely Galan
  • Mid-Manhattan - The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
  • Morningside Heights - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
  • Muhlenberg - Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance
  • Mulberry Street- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
  • New Amsterdam – The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  • Ottendorfer - Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg
  • Library for the Performing Arts – The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
  • Riverside - Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance
  • Roosevelt Island - The Undoing Project: A Friendship that Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis
  • Science, Industry and Business Library - Mindset : The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
  • Seward Park - 1984 by George Orwell
  • St. Agnes - Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance
  • Terence Cardinal Cooke-Cathedral - Tess of the D'urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
  • Tompkins Square – 1984 by George Orwell
  • Washington Heights - Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg
  • Webster - The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
  • Yorkville - Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance

Top Books by Branch in Staten Island:

  • Dongan Hills – Against All Odds by Danielle Steel
  • Great Kills - Against All Odds by Danielle Steel
  • Huguenot Park – The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
  • Mariners Harbor - The Syndicate: Carl Weber Presents
  • New Dorp – Kill or be Killed by James Patterson
  • Port Richmond - Spiritual Partnership: The Journey to Authentic Power by Gary Zukav
  • Richmondtown – The Award by Danielle Steel
  • South Beach - The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel
  • St. George - The Rap Year Book: The Most Important Rap Song from Every Year Since 1979, Discussed, Debated, and Deconstructed by Shea Serrano
  • Stapleton – The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
  • Todt Hill - The Award by Danielle Steel
  • Tottenville – Two from the Heart by James Patterson
  • West New Brighton – Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

Media Contact:

Amy Geduldig | amygeduldig@nypl.org

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