@authorbrandonsanderson: Have you ever wondered why it feels like every book you see on store shelves is a “New York Times Bestseller,” or was written by a “USA Today Best-Selling Author?” There is a reason for that, and today best-selling fantasy author Brandon Sanderson shares his insights to the world of chart-topping novels.

TJ 🍉🇵🇸🇨🇬🇸🇩 :

If you weren’t Brandon Sanderson, I’d think you were trying to scam me because where’s the answer‽‽‽

thegmstome :

I love the part where he answers

Megsandbaconn :

Where do I hear the answer 👀

Jiuweihu :

The answer for everyone wondering is simple…. Ny times gives out like 6000 best sellers a year. And a store isn’t going to waste shelf space on a book that nobody’s heard of. Add those together and it makes sense why every book is a best seller

escenceofury :

they do a 100 best selling books list 3 times a day and if you fall on that list once at any spot, you are a NY times best seller forever

eClairee :

for anyone read in the comments he never answers the question

liza :

I hoped this was about if there will be a next rithmatist book lol

JJ :

So, what was the answer?

Frigziz 🧍‍♂️ :

BRANDON PLEASE WHEN ARE WE GETTING MORE RECKONERS

LPG270 :

🤨 I was scammed an answer

Queso_Monster :

When cosmere mtg set?

potatoeskinz1 :

The ol’ bait and switch video

Cardio Kit :

usually you save the good stuff for the last 2% of the content, but this time it's not even here!

Curious George :

The answer part got cut off. Reupload?

Sebastian :

He gives zero answers

Dolf :

86ed :

Hey. He doesn’t answer the question. There’s a lot of factors involved including genre. So if there’s not a lot of science-fiction books that have come out and then there’s a really good science-fiction book it’ll probably be on the best seller list. Now you don’t have to watch the video.

Tghizzle2499 :

hey Brandon man I want you to know I haven't read a book in 26 years of life, BUT I read era 1 of mistborn and am 5 books into Stormlight in the last year. You have legitimately changed my life, I will read all of your books you are the MAN

t643264 :

Goat Brandon Sanderson

J :

I’m aiming for the New York Times OKish Seller List. I was able to make it in the New York Times Worst Seller List last time, so I’m setting my sights higher.

djmoney_329 :

What is the definition of a best seller? 10k 100k million?

blankusri :

So for those who don’t wanna do the research there are 37 or some categories some super niche if an other wins essentially in that category the book becomes a best seller the thing is once you win you can slap new york times best selling author on all the books you write that being said alot of authors will put themselves in a niche category and promote or buy their own books in bulk and win

brjacobso :

I assume that’s like 1000 categories of best sellers and if your publisher buys any in advance it becomes a best seller in a niche list for a day Ava then you have your cover say best seller New York Times and in fine print “best selling young adult historical sports coming of age book of 2026, first half of the year”

Speshull-K :

My guess is if a book gets to the best seller list at any point they print it on all the covers henceforth as a badge of honor and to help continuing sales. So like even if it was only on the list a week, it was still on there, so it can claim that merit. So after several months you end up with like hundreds of books with this merit printed on them. Think of how quickly the Billboard Hot 100 changes and imagine if they put a guy saying "HOT 100" at the start of the song if they got on it... There'd be THOUSANDS of songs with that little tagline

diadadane :

your serieses are easily the best of all