Unsurprisingly, the most popular book of all time has an interesting history. 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. Its not exactly a ripping yarn, but the koran is the most popular book of all time. 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. 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. For example, how do you measure the popularity of a book. The best selling books in the world famous books on sale in. The bible is the most influential book in american history and contemporary american life. Chapman created the list by examining how many individual copies of the books had been printed and sold over the last 50 years. It is the oldest book on this list, so its had a long time to accrue sales. 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. The second bestselling book of all time crisis magazine. The bible sells best because it is living, powerful and universally desired.
The most popular book of all time is the koran, not jk. The familiar observation that the bible is the bestselling book of all time obscures a more startling fact. In the 1980s and 90s it sold more copies than any book but the bible. The book of psalms easily wins, probably because it is both the longest book in the bible 150 chapters and it covers every human emotion and every circumstance in life. The bible has sold billions of copies and is the best selling book of all time. Could it be true that the bible is the bestselling book. The most popular book of all time christian universities online. Feb 17, 2017 the anser is the book when bad things happen to good people written by harold kushner. Hi all, here is my opinion based on facts and partly on assumptions. Many devout christians are quick to assert that the holy bible is the worlds bestselling book, for all time. Another group upheld it as the worlds mostread books. The bible is the most widely distributed and bestselling book in the world. Apr 16, 2019 as late as 2014, a major study on the bible in american life found that 55 percent of bible readers said they reached most often for the king james version, compared with only 19 percent who.
Is bible the worlds bestselling or mostread or most. Did you know that the bible is one of the most shoplifted books of all time. Some claim that the bible is the worlds most shoplifted book. 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 quotations from chairman mao tsetung, also known as the little red book, has produced a wide array of sales and distribution figures with estimates ranging from 800 million to over 6. This debut book by ernest cline was released in 2011 and soon became a worldwide publishing phenomenon. The book with most sales in 2018 across all formats on, and in amazon books stores was a sciencefiction novel ready player one. This article discusses the worlds bestselling books. May 25, 2017 more than 2,100 languages have at least one book of the bible in that language. Between 1815 and 1975, it was estimated that there could have been 5 billion bibles printed. A survey by the bible society concluded that around 2. 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 know for certain. The bible receives its alltime best seller title mainly by cheating.
Originally printed in 1794, the first book of urizen is one of the major pieces and some say the most important in blakes series of prophetic works. Oct 10, 2016 sure, the bestselling book of alltime is, of course, the bible. No matter which guide you use, though, there are problems making precise calculations. It addresses inward, private thoughts and feelings, as well as outward, publicly expressed words and actions. 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. In 1995, one version of the bible, the good news version that is ed by the bible societies, had sold nearly 18 million copies. Discover the best christian bibles in best sellers. Though bibles are not free, gods truth is always available for free. The 21 bestselling books of all time howstuffworks.
For the record, the excluded books have sold an estimated hundreds of millions of copies each several billion, in the bible s case and would have taken most of the top positions on the list. It is also the most widely and given some of the liberties taken, wildly translated book of all time, too. Bible most owned, least read book in history columbus. The bible, which ranks as the worlds most read book, has sold 3. The bible is the worlds bestselling book, having sold more than five billion copies. These are some of the worlds most expensive books ceoworld. The bible tops the list of the most read books in the world researcher james chapman has compiled this look at the top 10 mostread books in the world. Jan 28, 2016 the gutenberg bible is probably the most valuable book or type of book in the world. Similarly, many notable book series that sold very widely are poorly documented or consist of multiple subseries.
The bible has been translated into 349 languages, and a survey conducted by the bible society concluded that between 1815 and 1975, around 2. The most popular book of all time christian universities. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. The bible is often said to be the worlds best sold book but search the best seller lists and you wont find it anywhere, top to bottom. I hope the below estimations show that the quran is in fact the most read book. Worldwide, the bible is no worse than the second most read book. Brett buckner is an independent correspondent and can be. If the question considers the us only, the bible clearly is the most read book. Rhe book has helped millions of people face tragedy, loss and catastrophe and emerge from it stronger, wiser, and more connected to god and their own families and friends. Add to that, for a few hundred years your family was nothing if they didnt have their ow.
With all those caveats in mind and not including e book sales, here are the 21 bestselling books of all time, as far as we can tell. Oct 17, 2012 one group claimed the bible as the worlds bestselling book. Jun 24, 2012 the bible sells best because it is living, powerful and universally desired. Why the king james bible of 1611 remains the most popular. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis 1418 sales unknown, but widely regarded as the bestselling christian title after the bible. Additionally, since the bible is sold worldwide, calculating exact numbers becomes tricky. Many copies of the holy bible have been freely given away during missionary work. The bible is easily one of the bestselling books of all time, but exact sales numbers are hard to nail down. Jul 10, 2019 the bible 100 million copies are sold each year. Is the bible still the bestselling book in the world. 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.
List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia. For literary mysteries, the thread tackles your book questions, big and small. Writer james chapman created a list of the most read books in the world based on the number of copies. Its the most widely read, most fiercely debated, and most often quoted book in history. Nov 15, 20 researcher james chapman has compiled this look at the top 10 most read books in the world. For a long time, it was one of the very few printed books available for purchase. First, harry potter sold 450 million copies as a series, not as a single book.
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