The New York Times Book Review
A weekly New York Times publication devoted to reviews, criticism, author coverage, and book-industry features.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The New York Times Book Review is a weekly paper-magazine supplement and digital publication produced by The New York Times. It focuses primarily on reviews and criticism of newly published fiction and nonfiction, while also covering children's books, literary culture, authors, publishing, and the wider ideas surrounding books. The publication is distributed in two substantially identical forms: as a separately priced edition sold through subscriptions, bookstores, and newsstands, and as an unpriced insert included with the Sunday edition of The New York Times. Its principal editorial base is in New York City, near Times Square. The Book Review traces its origins to October 10, 1896, when The New York Times introduced a book-review supplement. The section moved from a Saturday publication schedule to Sunday in 1911, reflecting the assumption that readers would have more leisure for extended reading at the end of the week. It has since become one of the most recognized and influential book-review publications in the English-language media, with its judgments capable of shaping literary discussion and affecting the visibility and sales of reviewed books. The publication serves an educated general-interest audience rather than a narrowly academic readership. Its coverage includes literary fiction, popular fiction, biography, history, politics, science, culture, memoir, poetry, children's literature, and other categories of trade publishing. Editorial selection is made from a large flow of advance copies and finished books submitted by publishers and authors. Reference material describes the Book Review as receiving roughly 750 to 1,000 books each week, from which a much smaller number are selected for review. Preview editors assess potential significance, news value, quality, and the opportunity to introduce notable or emerging writers. Self-published books have generally not been covered under the publication's standard review policy. The Book Review's critical work has historically been produced by a combination of staff and freelance writers. By 2015, its critics were described as freelance rather than permanent staff critics, although contributors may include academics, novelists, artists, professional critics, and New York Times journalists whose primary assignments lie elsewhere. Editors commission and shape reviews, while copy editors, production staff, digital editors, letter-page editors, and columnists support the weekly publication. Recurring features have included paperback coverage, letters, children's-book coverage, and interviews. A major affiliated offering is the New York Times Best Seller list, which appears in the Book Review and is compiled through the newspaper's sales-survey operation. The publication also maintains a substantial digital presence, including online reviews, essays, author interviews, and audio programming. Its podcast, Inside The New York Times Book Review, began in 2006 and became one of The New York Times' longest-running and most recognizable podcasts. The Book Review also produces annual recommendation programs. Since 1968 it has published year-end selections of notable or best books. In the modern format, the annual list has included 100 notable titles, divided between fiction and nonfiction, with a smaller group designated as the year's best books. It also publishes annual selections of outstanding illustrated children's books. These lists extend the brand beyond individual reviews and give it a recurring role in holiday book buying and cultural conversation. The publication has also faced criticism and legal scrutiny. A 1983 lawsuit involving author William Peter Blatty challenged the exclusion of his novel Legion from The New York Times best-seller list. The court ultimately upheld The New York Times' editorial discretion under First Amendment principles. Separately, research has examined the influence and demographic composition of its reviews. A 2010 study reported that positive reviews could increase sales, while a 2012 analysis criticized the racial imbalance among authors reviewed in 2011. These debates reflect the publication's continuing influence as both a cultural gatekeeper and a subject of scrutiny. Today, The New York Times Book Review operates as a premium editorial brand within The New York Times' print and digital ecosystem. Its business scope includes weekly print publishing, digital journalism, podcasts, lists, newsletters, and related audience products. The brand's positioning combines literary authority, editorial selectivity, broad subject coverage, and the reach of a major international news organization.
History
The New York Times Book Review began on October 10, 1896, when The New York Times announced a new supplement devoted to reviews of recently published books and related material. The launch placed book criticism within the newspaper's expanding editorial operation and created a publication that could address both literary works and books connected with public affairs. In 1911, the supplement moved to Sunday. The change helped establish the Book Review as a weekend publication intended for readers with time to engage with longer reviews and essays. It has continued to appear in two principal formats: a separately priced edition distributed through subscriptions, bookstores, and newsstands, and an unpriced version inserted into Sunday copies of The New York Times. The two versions are otherwise substantially the same. Over the twentieth century, the Book Review developed from a review section into a broad literary and publishing institution. Its editorial remit came to include fiction, nonfiction, children's literature, author interviews, letters, recurring columns, and annual recommendations. The publication's influence grew because it addressed an educated general reader rather than only specialists, while benefiting from the distribution and reputation of The New York Times. The Book Review's production process depends on advance access to the publishing market. Publishers and authors submit hundreds of books each week, while preview editors read advance copies and identify titles suitable for coverage. Only a small portion of submissions receive reviews. The policy has generally excluded self-published books, reflecting the publication's traditional focus on commercially published works selected through its editorial process. Books that are not selected have historically been stored and later sold in bulk, with proceeds described as being donated to charity; reviewed books are commonly passed to reviewers. Its writing staff has changed over time. Earlier periods included in-house critics, while later operations relied heavily on freelance reviewers commissioned and edited by the Book Review. Contributors have included professional critics, novelists, academics, artists, and New York Times journalists. Editorial infrastructure includes a chief editor, senior editors, preview editors, copy editors, production staff, digital publishing personnel, a letters editor, and columnists. The New York Times Best Seller list became a central recurring feature. Although it appears in the Book Review, the list is produced through The New York Times' separate news-survey and sales-reporting operation. Its commercial and cultural importance led to the 1983 dispute in which William Peter Blatty claimed that his novel Legion should have appeared on the list. The court sided with The New York Times, treating the composition of the list as protected editorial judgment rather than a purely mechanical sales calculation. Beginning in 1968, the Book Review established a tradition of year-end notable-book and editor-selected lists. The modern program includes 100 notable books, generally divided equally between fiction and nonfiction, alongside a smaller group of books designated as the year's best. Children's publishing has also been a durable area of specialization, supported by a dedicated children's-book editorship and annual illustrated-book selections. The brand expanded into digital publishing as The New York Times developed its online operation. Its website added reviews, essays, interviews, and audio features, while Inside The New York Times Book Review debuted on April 30, 2006. The weekly podcast became one of the newspaper's longest-running audio programs and extended the publication's critical voice beyond print. In the twenty-first century, the Book Review has remained influential while facing questions about critical authority, selection practices, representation, and the relationship between reviews and book sales. Academic research has measured the sales effects of its reviews, and commentary has questioned the demographic diversity of the authors it covers. Such scrutiny reflects the publication's continuing role as a gatekeeper in the English-language publishing ecosystem. Under editor Gilbert Cruz, who succeeded Pamela Paul in 2022, the Book Review continues as a print, digital, audio, and list-based brand within The New York Times.
- 2022
Gilbert Cruz becomes editor
[1]Gilbert Cruz succeeds Pamela Paul as editor of The New York Times Book Review.
- 2021
125th anniversary coverage
[1]The publication marks its 125th anniversary with retrospective coverage, including an essay by Parul Sehgal examining the Book Review itself.
- 2006
Book Review podcast begins
[1]Inside The New York Times Book Review releases its first episode on April 30.
- 1983
Legion bestseller-list lawsuit
[1]A court upholds The New York Times' editorial discretion in compiling its bestseller list after William Peter Blatty's challenge.
- 1968
Annual notable-books tradition begins
[1]The publication begins its recurring year-end program of notable and editor-selected books.
- 1935
Children's Book Editor position is created
[1]The Book Review establishes a dedicated children's-book editorial role.
- 1911
Publication moves to Sunday
[1]The review supplement changes from Saturday publication to Sunday publication.
- 1896
Book-review supplement is launched
[1]The New York Times publishes the first issue of its book-review supplement on October 10.
Products and positioning
An authoritative, selective, general-interest source of book criticism and publishing discovery, combining the prestige of The New York Times with broad coverage of contemporary literature and nonfiction.
Print publication · 1896
Weekly New York Times Book Review
The core weekly publication contains reviews and criticism of recently published fiction and nonfiction, together with essays, author coverage, letters, recurring columns, and selected children's-book material. It is sold independently and distributed as an insert with the Sunday newspaper.
Digital media
Digital Book Review
The online Book Review extends the print publication with reviews, criticism, interviews, literary news, audio features, and archival or supplementary material. It gives the brand a continuous publishing presence rather than limiting it to the weekly print cycle.
Book-industry list
The New York Times Best Seller list
Published through the Book Review, the Best Seller list ranks books using sales information gathered and processed by The New York Times. It is a major discovery and publicity mechanism in the publishing industry, although its editorial methodology has also been the subject of legal scrutiny.
Podcast · 2006
Inside The New York Times Book Review
A weekly audio program featuring conversations and commentary about books, authors, criticism, and publishing. It began in 2006 and is described as one of The New York Times' oldest and most popular podcasts.
Annual editorial selection · 1968
Best Books and Notable Books
The Book Review's year-end recommendation program highlights notable fiction and nonfiction and identifies a smaller set of the year's best books. The modern format includes 100 notable titles, usually split evenly between fiction and nonfiction.
Annual editorial selection
Best Illustrated Children's Books
An annual selection recognizing illustrated children's books, chosen by a panel and presented as part of the Book Review's children's-literature coverage.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2022
Appoint Gilbert Cruz as editorOtherBackground
Pamela Paul concluded a tenure as editor that began in 2013.
Action taken
Gilbert Cruz became editor of The New York Times Book Review.
Aftermath
The publication continued under new editorial leadership within The New York Times' print and digital operation.
2006
Launch a dedicated Book Review podcastProduct launchBackground
The growth of digital audio created a way to extend the publication's reviews and interviews beyond print and web articles.
Action taken
The Book Review launched Inside The New York Times Book Review as a recurring weekly podcast.
Aftermath
The program became one of The New York Times' longest-running and most recognized podcasts.
1911
Move the publication to SundayStrategyBackground
The newspaper believed readers would be more receptive to extended book coverage when they had more leisure time.
Action taken
The Book Review changed from a Saturday publication schedule to a Sunday schedule.
Aftermath
Sunday became the publication's established home and linked it closely with the newspaper's weekend edition.
Sources2 sources
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