Top 10 Best-Selling Books of All Time
A quick search in Google for best-selling books of all time will yield more results than one could imagine. Depending on what you are searching for, the list changes considerably. You can find best non-fiction books, best fiction books, best book in a series—it can get very granular.
For the sake of this post, we will look at the best-selling books of all time in the broadest sense. These books would have made more than one top selling list—and are worth noting. So without further ado, here are the top 10 selling books of all time.
The Bible
Copies Sold: 2,500,000,000+
It’s no surprise this tops almost every list out there. The Bible has been around for thousands of years and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. With being one of the oldest books ever written, it’s no surprise it’s one of the best-selling books of all time.
Quotations from Chairman Mao
Copies Sold: 800,000,000+
This book you may or may not be as familiar with. Quotations from Chairman Mao was published in the late sixties and it was mandatory for all people living in China to carry a copy. This might not top everyone’s favorite book of all-time list, but it has been sold more times than not.
A Tale of Two Cites
Copies Sold: 200,000,000
One of Charles Dicken’s most popular novels, this book has been sold again and again. A favorite among literary circles, it’s not hard to imagine why it’s sold so many copies. Wikipedia also sites this book has been made into a movie seven times—three of which were silent films.
Le Petite Prince (The Little Prince)
Copies Sold: 200,000,000
This book is also credited with being the most read and translated book in the French language. According to Fun on the Net, “It’s about a delightful little prince who sets off on a journey across all the planets so see if he can find a friend. He has no luck until he falls to Earth. It was first published in 1943.”
The Lord of the Rings
Copies Sold: 150,00,000
With the popularity of the epic blockbuster trilogy it’s not a surprise this book by J. R. R. Tolkien makes the top ten. Written from 1937-1949, Tolkien draws us in with his great writing and makes us want to be part of the journey to destroy the evil ring. This is definitely one of most entertaining books ever written.
The Hobbit
Copies Sold: 100,000,000
Written before the Lord of the Rings, J.R.R Tolkien hit it big with The Hobbit. Wikipedia reports, “Encouraged by the book’s critical and financial success, the publisher requested a sequel. As Tolkien’s work on the successor The Lord of the Rings progressed, he made retrospective accommodations for it in The Hobbit. These few but significant changes were integrated into the second edition. Further editions followed with minor emendations, including those reflecting Tolkien’s changing concept of the world into which Bilbo stumbled. The work has never been out of print.”
The Dream of the Red Chamber
Copies Sold: 100,000,000
Another book sprung out of China, The Dream of the Red Chamber is considered one of four classic Chinese novels. Outlining the rise and eventual fall of the Qing Dynasty, this book is said to be semi-autobiographical. The author alludes to his own family during this time.
And Then There Were None
Copies Sold: 100,000,000
The only female author to break the top ten, Agatha Christine’s And Then There Were None is said to be the best murder mystery book of all time. If you haven’t had a chance to pick this book up, it’s time you did.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Copies Sold: 85,000,000
Available to buy in 1950, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has grabbed the attention of children and adults ever since. Now considered one of the best books for kids ever published, it has been translated in over 47 different languages. This book doesn’t seem to be losing steam over 60 years later.
She: A History of Adventure
Copies Sold: 83,000,000
Written by Henry Rider Haggard, this book rounds out our top ten list. According to Wikipedia, She is, “a first-person narrative that follows the journey of Horace Holly and his ward Leo Vincey to a lost kingdom in the African interior. There, they encounter a primitive race of natives and a mysterious white queen, Ayesha, who reigns as the all-powerful “She”.”
Have you read any of these books on the list? Which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.
Image Credit: The Producer’s Prospective
