The Top 10 Best-Selling Books of All Time
Books have historically been an awesome source of information, enlightenment, and inspiration. Nonetheless, the world has seen a decline in general book sales in recent years. People can now go online and download a book to their device or read summaries online. There are even audiobooks, which you can consume while you walk your dog, having a flight, cook, check motor sports odds or engage in other hobbies.
However, we shouldn’t forget the value of good, old-fashioned paperback books. There’s just something about being able to hold and feel a book as you soak up its content.
From ancient directories to classic novels, there have been several books that have managed to stand the test of time and whose demand seems to never wane. In this article, we’ll go through the 10 best-selling books of all time.
The Bible
With over 5 billion copies sold and more to come, the Bible’s huge sales are most likely due to the popularity of Christianity around the world.
Estimates show that there are well over 2 billion Christians on the planet today. And, for many of these Christians, having one Bible isn’t necessarily enough. Bibles come in different translations, versions, and languages, all contributing to the rich depth of this religion. As such, the Bible continues to be a major top seller.
The Quran
Like the Bible, the Quran is another book that appears to be getting more popular due to the spread of religion. The holy book of Islam has sold between 800 million and 1 billion copies worldwide, with about 1.8 billion Muslims around the world.
Don Quixote
With an estimated 500 million copies sold, Don Quixote is the best-selling non-religious book of all time. Written by Miguel de Cervantes, the Spanish novel was first published in two parts – one in 1605 and one in 1615.
Don Quixote is considered by many to be the most influential Spanish work of literature ever. Many also believe it to be the first “modern novel,” serving as a major foundation of modern literature.
A Tale of Two Cities
In 1859, Charles Dickens published “A Tale of Two Cities,” sharing an interesting take on the French Revolution. The book, which is set in London and Paris, tells the tale of the 18-year imprisonment of Manette – a French doctor – in Bastille; as well as his release and life in London with his daughter, Lucie.
The book has been cited in different literary works over the years – including the screenplay for Christopher Nolan’s classic, “The Dark Knight Rises.” It has so far sold over 200 million copies.
The Lord of The Rings
“The Lord of The Rings” is a high-octane fantasy novel written by J.R.R Tolkien. It was originally intended to be a two-part set, but it was eventually expanded to three, all of which were released in 1954.
To date, the three parts of “The Lord Of The Rings” – the Fellowship of The Rings, The Two Towers, and The Return Of The King – have collectively sold over 150 million copies. They’ve also been made into award-winning movies over the years.
Le Petit Prince
Up next is “Le Petit Prince,” which was written by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
With over 142 million copies sold, the book was initially published in English and French back in 1943. It follows a boy who visits several planets in space, addressing themes of friendship, loss, and loneliness.
Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone
The first book in the “Harry Potter” series, “Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone” set J.K Rowling up for global fame.
First published in 1997, the book has gone on to sell over 120 million copies to date. It’s been made into a full-length movie, has been translated into 73 languages, and remains a global icon to this day.
And Then There Were None
A novel by Agatha Christie, “And Then There Were None” has so far sold over 100 million copies. The book was first published in the United Kingdom in 1939 under a different name, and was published in the United States in 1940.
Dream Of the Red Chamber
Considered to be one of the four great classics of China, “Dream Of The Red Chamber” by Cao Xueqin was written back in the middle of the Qing Dynasty in the 18th century.
Thought to be a semi-biographical book, “Dream Of The Red Chamber” has sold over 100 million copies as well. It is widely revered as one of the hallmarks of Chinese fiction.
The Hobbit
Another novel by Tolkien, “The Hobbit” is another book that’s sold over 100 million copies worldwide.
The fantasy novel was first released in 1937, and it’s never been out of print since. And, like “The Lord Of The Rings,” it has also been made into a movie franchise spanning three films.
