There is, of course, no way to tally sales from the 1600s, so although some sources suggest that this has sold 500 million copies, theres no way anyone could. Quotations from chairman mao authored by mao zedong. With a basis in the 19th century new thought movement, byrnes book has proven to be a cultural. The harry potter series, which has enjoyed high volume sales in recent years, is a good example. People are surprised when they hear that the bible is not only the bestselling book of all time, but also the bestselling book every year, said paul j. And then it is only a vague guess, probably inflated by the xtains. Take a look at a list of the top 100 books of all time, nominated by writers from around the world, from things fall apart to mrs dalloway, and from pride and prejudice to.
Written by australian television producer rhonda byrne, and based on a documentary she created in 2006 of the same title, the secret tells of the laws of attraction. Best selling books of all time 100 books goodreads. All you can ever know was a finalist for the 2018 national books critics circle award and named a best book of the year that year by the washington post, npr, time, and many more. In the quiz description it says that the bible is omitted from this quiz. Just to remind some of the commentators, this is number of books sold in all time according to sources of wikipedia. People are surprised when they hear that the bible is not only the bestselling book of alltime, but also the bestselling book every year, said paul j. A list of the best selling books of all time, fiction and nonfiction best sellers. With thousands of translations, over forty original authors, and a two millennium history, lets take a look at the trails, tribulations, changes, and status of the worlds most popular book.
If someone asks you to name the alltime bestselling book, youd most likely answer the bible. Best selling refers to the estimated number of copies sold of all fiction books written or cowritten by an. Since it was written and, later on, published and translated in almost every language on earth, it was sold in nearly as many quantities as the bible. Book of common prayer various editions starting in mid 16 th century 300 million estimated pilgrims progress by john bunyan 1678 250 million. United kingdom although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the bible is the worlds bestselling and most widely distributed book.
For the record, the excluded books have sold an estimated hundreds of millions of copies each several billion, in the bibles case and would have taken most of. If you dont count that harry potter books then you cant count the bible either, because they are counting it as all the versions, new and old, king james, picture, gideon etc. First edition of the federalist, the most soughtafter of all american books. The bible and quotations from chairman mao still vie for the top spot, with more than 6 billion published copies each. Is bible the worlds bestselling or mostread or most. This page includes a list of the 25 bestselling books of alltime as well as the 25 bestselling book series of alltime. Additionally, since the bible is sold worldwide, calculating exact numbers becomes tricky. Writer james chapman created a list of the most read books in the world based on the number of copies each book sold. The 12 most influential spiritual books of the past 50 years. Wikepidia seem to have mostly modern contemporary writers on the most popular list except for bible and koran. Having sold more than 500 million copies worldwide, harry potter by j. While the novel enjoys surges in popularity now and then, especially in spain, the sales number is a guess. As the sacred scripture that has guided christian believers for two millennia now, the bible is, by definition, in a class by itself.
Jun 28, 2016 other than the bible, which is the far and away the bestselling christian book of all time with sales in the billions, here is my list for your consideration. As far as i know the number two bestselling book was don quixote by m. The bible is the most widely distributed and bestselling book in the world. Amazons most sold charts rank books according to the number of copies sold and preordered through, amazon books stores, and books read through digital subscription programs once a customer has read a certain percentage roughly the length of a free reading sample. Of course, the bible continues to be the worlds alltime greatest seller. Mar 12, 2011 is atlas shrugged the second most popular book next to the bible. Oct 17, 2012 many collated the figures for the number of editions, translations and copies sold of the worlds most popular books, including fiction and nonfiction. Over 100 million bibles are sold or given away for free every year in the world, according to the economist.
Not only is the bible the best seller of all time it continues to be the best seller every year even when compared to the astounding sales figures. K rowling, the deathly hallows is the seventh instalment in the harry potter series the book was released on 21, july 2007 by bloomsbury publishing in the united kingdom and scholastic in the united states. The most prolific and popular novel of all time, don quixote, is a testament to how great storytelling has no expiration date. Jun 24, 2012 not only is the bible the best seller of all time it continues to be the best seller every year even when compared to the astounding sales figures of a series like harry potter. As more people seek education, the demand for knowledge increases and authors are striving to fulfill the demand.
In my version of the the list, the bible remained the top seller in the world, with sales figures ranging widely. Best guess of the top 25 bestselling books of all time. To help readers pick out some of the best inspirational books, newsmax has compiled this list of the top 25 living, christian nonfiction authors. It is speculated that as much as 6 billion copies of the bible were sold in the past, and it is still the most preferred book for the masses. Although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the bible is the worlds bestselling and most widely distributed book. The bible is the worlds bestselling book, having sold more than five billion copies. A rundown of the 10 bestselling books of all time, including how many copies have been sold and why they have been so enduringly popular. An exceptional copy in the original boards, with the edges untrimmed. Theres no doubt about it the bible is one of the worlds bestselling books. Jul 05, 2019 all you can ever know was a finalist for the 2018 national books critics circle award and named a best book of the year that year by the washington post, npr, time, and many more. The second bestselling book of all time crisis magazine. The holy quran came out on top with over 3 billion prints, followed by the king james bible with over 2. It is the oldest book on this list, so its had a long time to accrue sales.
The bible, which ranks as the worlds mostread book, has sold 3. It is certainly not hard to come across a really good christian book nowadays. With each chapter giving a complete message, its easy to read and imparts great wisdom that points us toward the goal of living life by loving, honoring, and glorifying jesus. Writer james chapman created a list of the most read books in the world based on the number of copies each book sold over the last 50 years he found. Oct 10, 2016 sure, the bestselling book of alltime is, of course, the bible. One reason behind it being the worlds best selling book of all times is that it is available in more than 2,000 languages. This page includes a list of the 25 bestselling books of alltime as well as the. May 30, 2018 the most prolific and popular novel of all time, don quixote, is a testament to how great storytelling has no expiration date. Bestselling books are ranked by number of copies sold, not my personal ratings. There is, of course, no way to tally sales from the 1600s, so although some sources suggest that this has sold. Theres a reason you wont see your favorite version of the holy bible on this list. This article discusses the worlds bestselling books.
The 10 bestselling books of all time monsters and critics. Stockbyte getty images scholars can debate endlessly over which book is the best of all time, but finding out which ones have enjoyed the most commercial success should be a more concrete endeavor. First, harry potter sold 450 million copies as a series, not as a single book. A survey by the bible society concluded that around 2. The most popular book of all time christian universities. The first novel in the series, harry potter and the sorcerers stone, has sold in excess of 120 million copies, making it one of the bestselling books of all time. Its no wonder that it is the most read book in the bible. The bible has been translated into 349 languages, and a survey conducted by the bible society concluded that between 1815 and 1975, around 2. This is a list of bestselling fiction authors to date, in any language. This is a book that is going to hold the topmost position in the list. Between 1815 and 1975, it was estimated that there could have been 5 billion bibles printed. He found that the bible far outsold any other book, with a whopping 3.
This page includes a list of the 25 bestselling books of alltime as well as the 25 best selling book series of all time. Although there are many amazing books out there, there are 10 that have done the best in sales. However, many more copies have been given away for free, meaning the actual number of bibles in circulation is unknown. K rowling, the deathly hallows is the seventh instalment in the harry potter series. A splendid association copy from the library of major roger alden. Is atlas shrugged the second most popular book next to the bible.
Top 10 selling christian books of all time godtube. Thousands of books are written, published and distributed every day. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis 1418 sales unknown, but widely regarded as the bestselling christian title after the bible. Other than the bible, which is the far and away the bestselling christian book of all time with sales in the billions, here is my list for your consideration. May 08, 2002 take a look at a list of the top 100 books of all time, nominated by writers from around the world, from things fall apart to mrs dalloway, and from pride and prejudice to don quixote. The 21 bestselling books of all time howstuffworks. And for more classic reading content, check out these 40 books every women over 40 should have on her bookshelf. May 25, 2018 the bible has sold billions of copies and is the best selling book of all time. Quotations from chairman mao authored by mao zedong book sales. The most popular book of all time christian universities online. Sure, the bestselling book of alltime is, of course, the bible. These top selling books span multiple centuries, covering many genres and original. Also known as the stonyhurst gospel, this book is one of the most valuable religious books urizen in the world.
Best selling books are ranked by number of copies sold, not my personal ratings. Is atlas shrugged the second most popular book next to the. The bible has sold billions of copies and is the best selling book of all time. The most academically sound and historically orthodox books ever written by some of the greatest christian thinkers and intellectuals of our time. May 25, 2017 between 1815 and 1975, it was estimated that there could have been 5 billion bibles printed. Apr 29, 2018 however, pace dicamillo, though its safe to say that the imitation is one of the bestselling books of all time, and second only to the bible in terms of its influence among christians, its almost impossible to accurately determine if its the second most sold and translated work ever. Cuthbert gospel is an early 8thcentury pocket gospel book which is written in latin. Many collated the figures for the number of editions, translations and copies sold of the worlds most popular books, including fiction and nonfiction.
Top 100 christian books by worldview institute 225 books. In the first century, jesus christs disciples, the apostle paul, and others penned the new testament, the second part of the holy bible that would become the bestselling and most widely distributed book in history with more than 5 billion copies printed, according to guinness world records. Apr 09, 2007 as far as i know the number two bestselling book was don quixote by m. The list is fascinating in its own right, even without the dominance of the big writers. While the bible was completed nearly 2,000 years ago, todays pastors, philosophers. The huffington post article actually named 16 books that have sold the most copies worldwide, noting that the bible is the top seller in the world. Sep 22, 2006 if you dont count that harry potter books then you cant count the bible either, because they are counting it as all the versions, new and old, king james, picture, gideon etc. To make the bible the most printed book you have to add up all its flavors. Also, it is worth noting that some religious and political books such as the bible, quran, and quotations from chairman mao are believed to. As of june 2017, the series has been translated into 80. The least read book most people will guess that book of revelation is the least read book in the bible. It is also the most widely and given some of the liberties taken, wildly translated book of all time, too. The bible is easily one of the bestselling books of all time, but exact sales numbers are hard to nail down.
Hebrew, greek, aramaic many copies of the holy bible have been freely given away during missionary work. The alltime most popular books in the world revealed. According to the new yorker even books with harry potter stature dont compete well with the bible. According to guinness world records as of 1995, the bible is the bestselling book of all time, with an estimated 5 billion copies sold and distributed. Lewis or some of todays authors like max lucado you have option of finding books with solid christian values on just about any topic. Christian books still dominate alltime bestsellers lists. While finding precise sales numbers for any given author is nearly impossible, the list is based on approximate numbers provided or repeated by reliable sources. This quiz either needs more time or more shortcuts. Also, it is worth noting that some religious and political books such as the bible. The alltime most popular books in the world revealed stylist. Sep 07, 2010 the huffington post article actually named 16 books that have sold the most copies worldwide, noting that the bible is the top seller in the world.
Zondervan is both the worlds leading bible publisher and the publisher of the purpose driven life. Starting off the list of the 20 bestselling books of all time is harry potter and the deathly hallows. Combined uk sales for the trilogy are in excess of 12m copies, with rights to the book sold around the world and published in languages. Unsurprisingly, the most popular book of all time has an interesting history. Top 100 best selling books not including the bible. I feel that goodreads should sponsor its own list of best selling books of all time. What are the bestselling fantasy books and series of all.
Also, nobody likes people like john galt or those who try to follow him. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Caminiti, vice president and publisher of bibles at zondervan, to the christian post. Since religious and political books, such as the holy bible, are often given away for free, they have not been included on this list. In 1995, one version of the bible, the good news version that is ed by the bible societies, had sold nearly 18 million copies.
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