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New York Times best-seller James Patterson questions book list

  • 03. Apr 2023. 8:22
  • By The EU Times
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James Patterson, the New York Times best-selling author of over 100 books, is questioning the legitimacy of the New York Times best-seller list.

In a recent interview, Patterson expressed his concern that the list is too heavily influenced by the big publishing houses and often overlooks books by mid-list authors. He believes this is a disservice to the literary community, as it fails to recognize the great work of lesser-known authors.

“The New York Times best-seller list is a reflection of the power of the big publishing houses,” said Patterson. “It often overlooks the work of mid-list authors, and I think that’s a shame. I’ve seen plenty of books from smaller presses, or from self-published authors, that deserve to be on the list.”

Patterson went on to point out that the list often features the same titles for months on end, which doesn’t necessarily reflect what readers are actually buying. He believes that the list should be updated more frequently to better reflect the tastes of readers.

“The list needs to be more dynamic,” said Patterson. “It should reflect what readers are actually buying, not just what the big publishers want to push.”

Patterson also believes that the list should be more diverse in its content. He believes that books by authors of color, LGBTQ+ authors, and authors from other marginalized communities should be more prominently featured on the list.

“I think it’s important that the list reflect a diverse range of authors and books,” said Patterson. “There is a wealth of great work out there that needs to be recognized.”

Patterson’s comments come at a time when the New York Times is facing increasing scrutiny over its best-seller list. Many authors and readers have expressed similar concerns as Patterson, and are calling for reforms to the list that would make it more reflective of the tastes of readers.

It remains to be seen whether the New York Times will heed these calls for reform, but one thing is certain: James Patterson is not the only one questioning the legitimacy of the list.