How to Top the New York Times Best Sellers List in 10 Easy Steps (Despite Not Selling the Most Books)

Andrew Stiles· Apr 28, 2026 · 9:46 PM UTC ·4 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 29 views

TL;DR · WeSearch summary

Lena Dunham's memoir, Famesick, has topped the New York Times Best Sellers list despite not being the highest-selling book in its first week. The book's success is attributed to Dunham's celebrity status and alignment with the political views of the Times staff. In contrast, GOP Congresswoman Elise Stefanik's book, which sold more copies, ranked lower due to its topic and political stance.

Key facts

▪Lena Dunham's memoir Famesick is currently the top-ranked title on the New York Times Best Sellers list.
▪Dunham's book was not the highest-selling nonfiction title in its first week, as Elise Stefanik's book sold roughly 1,000 more copies.
▪The article outlines ten steps that contributed to Dunham's success on the list, including her celebrity status and political alignment with the Times staff.

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Washington Free Beacon files mainly under politics. We currently carry 130 of its stories.

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Original publisher	Freebeacon
Canonical URL	https://freebeacon.com/media/how-to-top-the-new-york-times-best-sellers-list-in-10-easy-steps-despite-not-selling-the-most-books/
Publication time	Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:46:11 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-04-28T21:52:58.698Z
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

Media How to Top the New York Times Best Sellers List in 10 Easy Steps (Despite Not Selling the Most Books) Liberal icon Lena Dunham celebrates as GOP Congresswoman Elise Stefanik snubbed Getty Images Andrew Stiles April 28, 2026 image/svg+xml .st0{fill:none;stroke:#384f61;stroke-width:2;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-linejoin:round;stroke-miterlimit:10;} .st1{fill:none;stroke:#384f61;stroke-width:2;stroke-linejoin:round;stroke-miterlimit:10;} Lena Dunham's latest memoir is the top-ranked title on the New York Times Best Sellers list. The mid-tier actress and producer—best known for dating musician Jack Antonoff before he upgraded (spectacularly) by marrying Margaret Qualley—posted a video last week of her reaction to hearing the news. "Screaming, crying, throwing up," she wrote.

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