These Are The Best Selling Books Of All Time

by Justin O. September 6, 2021, 1:08 pm 463 Comments

Books have always been the most significant and frequently utilized sources of knowledge, education, and pleasure throughout history. Even in the age of the internet and television, books are still highly popular, with millions of people buying them every week.

The books on this list, which range from classic novels to ancient dictionaries, were chosen based on total worldwide sales. If you’re looking for a new book to read, here’s a list of the top 20 best-selling novels of all time.

Contents hide

1 List Of The Top 10 Best Selling Books Of All Time:

1.1 1. The Bible – 5 billion copies

1.2 2. The Quran – 800 million

1.3 3. Don Quixote – 500 million copies

1.4 4. Xinhua Zidian – 400 Million copies

1.5 5. A Tale of Two Cities – 200 million copies

1.6 6. The Lord Of The Rings – 155 million copies

1.7 7. The Little Prince – 140 million copies

1.8 8. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – 125 million copies

1.9 9. Scouting for Boys – 130 million copies

1.10 10. The Hobbit

List Of The Top 10 Best Selling Books Of All Time:

1. The Bible – 5 billion copies

The Bible is widely regarded as the best-selling book of all time, with about 5 billion copies sold to date. The book was written by a number of authors and is divided into two sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Between the eighth century BC and the first century CE, the Bible was written. Most of it was written in Hebrew, with some Aramaic thrown in for good measure. The Bible is now the most widely translated book in history. It is largely used as the foundation of the world’s most popular religion, Christianity.

2. The Quran – 800 million

Another religious book that is in the top ten best-selling books of all time is the Quran. To date, it has sold over 800 million copies. The Quran was authored in Arabic in the 7th century CE and serves as the foundation for Islam, the world’s second-biggest religion.
Practising Muslims see the Quran as a revelation from God (“Allah”) via his earthly prophet Muhammad, and they utilize it as a source of guidance and as the foundation for their religious rituals and behaviour.

3. Don Quixote – 500 million copies

Don Quixote is the second best-selling novel of all time, having sold over 500 million copies worldwide.

Miguel de Cervantes’ Spanish book was initially published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615, and is often regarded as the most important piece of literature from the Spanish period and literary canon.

It’s also known as “the first modern book” and is often considered to be the greatest literary masterpiece ever created.

4. Xinhua Zidian – 400 Million copies

In 4th place on this list of the best-selling books of all time, is Xinhua Zidian. This book is a little different to the rest of ours as it’s a dictionary for the Chinese language.

In 2016, Guinness World Records confirmed that the dictionary is the “most popular dictionary” and the “best selling book at that time”.

5. A Tale of Two Cities – 200 million copies

The story follows French doctor Manette’s eighteen-year incarceration in Paris’ Bastille prison, and his eventual release to live in London with his daughter Lucie.

Many people consider this to be Dickens’ best-known piece of historical fiction, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide.

6. The Lord Of The Rings – 155 million copies

The Lord of the Rings, by English author John Tolkien (a.k.a. J.R.R. Tolkien), is the best-selling novel in history, coming in fourth place among the Top 10 best-selling novels of all time. It has sold about 155 million copies worldwide. Although there are three sections to the book (“The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Two Towers,” and “The Return of the King”), the book is written as a single tale, not a trilogy.

7. The Little Prince – 140 million copies

Antoine de Saint-Exupery was a French nobleman, aviator, journalist, and novelist who published the sixth best-selling book in history. The Little Prince (original title “Le Petit Prince”) is remains the best-selling children’s book of all time, with about 140 million copies sold worldwide. After France’s surrender to Nazi Germany’s invasion in 1940, Saint-Exupery released the book in 1943 while living in exile in the United States.

8. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – 125 million copies

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first book in the series, has sold over 120 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling novels of all time. Harry Potter has been translated into 80 languages as of June 2017, making it one of the most translated literary works in history.

9. Scouting for Boys – 130 million copies

The UK edition has sold about 4 million copies, according to a conservative estimate. If we extrapolate this to 87 various language versions throughout the world, we may estimate that Scouting for Boys has sold between 100 and 150 million copies since 1908.

10. The Hobbit

The Hobbit has become one of the best-selling books of all time, having sold over 100 million copies worldwide.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s kid fantasy novel was originally published on September 21, 1937, and the New York Herald Tribune promptly nominated it for the Carnegie Medal and granted it a medal for outstanding juvenile literature.

The Hobbit has never been out of print and has spawned a cinematic adaption series, which debuted in 2012 and went on to become one of the highest-grossing film franchises of all time.