Publishers Weekly list of bestselling novels in the United States in the 1980s

1980

1. The Covenant by James A. Michener
2. The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
3. Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon
4. Princess Daisy by Judith Krantz
5. Firestarter by Stephen King
6. The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett
7. Random Winds by Belva Plain
8. The Devil's Alternative by Frederick Forsyth
9. The Fifth Horseman by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre
10. The Spike by Arnaud de Borchgrave and Robert Moss

    1981

11. Noble House by James Clavell
12. The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving
13. Cujo by Stephen King
14. An Indecent Obsession by Colleen McCullough
15. Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith
16. Masquerade by Kit Williams
17. Goodbye, Janette by Harold Robbins
18. The Third Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders
19. The Glitter Dome by Joseph Wambaugh
20. No Time for Tears by Cynthia Freeman

    1982

21. E.T., The Extraterrestrial by William Kotzwinkle
22. Space by James A. Michener
23. The Parsifal Mosaic by Robert Ludlum
24. Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon
25. Mistral's Daughter by Judith Krantz
26. The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel
27. Different Seasons by Stephen King
28. North and South by John Jakes
29. by Arthur C. Clarke
30. The Man from St. Petersburg by Ken Follett

    1983

31. by James Kahn
32. Poland by James A. Michener
33. Pet Sematary by Stephen King
34. The Little Drummer Girl by John le Carré
35. Christine by Stephen King
36. Changes by Danielle Steel
37. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
38. White Gold Wielder by Stephen R. Donaldson
39. Hollywood Wives by Jackie Collins
40. The Lonesome Gods by Louis L'Amour

    1984

41. The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub
42. The Aquitaine Progression by Robert Ludlum
43. The Sicilian by Mario Puzo
44. Love and War by John Jakes
45. The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss
46. "...And Ladies of the Club" by Helen Hooven Santmyer
47. The Fourth Protocol by Frederick Forsyth
48. Full Circle by Danielle Steel
49. The Life and Hard Times of Heidi Abromowitz by Joan Rivers
50. Lincoln by Gore Vidal

    1985

51. The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel
52. Texas by James A. Michener
53. Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor
54. If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon
55. Skeleton Crew by Stephen King
56. Secrets by Danielle Steel
57. Contact by Carl Sagan
58. Lucky by Jackie Collins
59. Family Album by Danielle Steel
60. Jubal Sackett by Louis L'Amour

    1986

61. It by Stephen King
62. Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy and Larry Bond
63. Whirlwind by James Clavell
64. The Bourne Supremacy by Robert Ludlum
65. Hollywood Husbands by Jackie Collins
66. Wanderlust by Danielle Steel
67. I'll Take Manhattan by Judith Krantz
68. Last of the Breed by Louis L'Amour
69. The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
70. A Perfect Spy by John le Carré

    1987

71. The Tommyknockers by Stephen King
72. Patriot Games by Tom Clancy
73. Kaleidoscope by Danielle Steel
74. Misery by Stephen King
75. by Garrison Keillor
76. Windmills of the Gods by Sidney Sheldon
77. Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow
78. Fine Things by Danielle Steel
79. Heaven and Hell by John Jakes
80. The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King

    1988

81. The Cardinal of the Kremlin by Tom Clancy
82. The Sands of Time by Sidney Sheldon
83. Zoya by Danielle Steel
84. The Icarus Agenda by Robert Ludlum
85. Alaska by James A. Michener
86. Till We Meet Again by Judith Krantz
87. The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
88. To Be the Best by Barbara Taylor Bradford
89. One by Richard Bach
90. Mitla Pass by Leon Uris

    1989

91. Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy
92. The Dark Half by Stephen King
93. Daddy by Danielle Steel
94. Star by Danielle Steel
95. Caribbean by James A. Michener
96. The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
97. The Russia House by John le Carré
98. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
99. California Gold by John Jakes
100. While My Pretty One Sleeps by Mary Higgins Clark