If you are anything like me, then you are also curious about the best selling books of all time. That is why we decided to take a look at the 10 best selling books of all time. Keep reading to find out which books made the top ten!
We all have heard of some of the most popular authors who have ever lived. But they are also some of the best selling authors. But even then, the top selling book of all time is one that you most likely haven’t even heard of. You can see the full list below!
The 10 Best Selling Books of All Time
- Xinhua Zidian – 567 million
- Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes – 500 million
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, – 200 million
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien – 150 million
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – 140 million
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling – 120 million
- And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie – 100 million
- Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin– 100 million
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – 100 million
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill – 100 million
Xinhua Zidian
The best selling book of all time is a … reference book? Yep, you read that read. The Chinese-language dictionary is the best selling book of all time with over 500 million copies sold. It was first published in 1953 and was made the standard dictionary in Chinese schools. In 2016, Guinness World Records celebrated Xinhua Zidianfor selling over 567million copies since it was first published.
Don Quixote
Once the top selling book of all time, Don Quixote is now the second best selling book with over 500 million copies sold in its lifetime. This is unfortunately a rough estimate since we don’t have the full date on all of its sales. The novel was published in 1605 and 1615 in two parts and is beloved by many worldwide.
A Tale of Two Cities
In third place is A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens with over 200 million copies sold. Dickens is one of the most popular authors for a reason and this is one of the books that has cemented his legacy. The novel tells the story of the events that led to the French Revolutions and that not all revolutions are good.
Just like Don Quixote, it is impossible to confirm the actual sales of this novel. The novel is in the public domain and has been has seen numerous editions by various publications over the last century or so.
The Lord of the Rings
Coming in fourth place is the first trilogy on the list, The Lord of the Rings with over 150 million copies sold. This is the most popular and influential fantasy series and it is still popular today with new and old fans. Even then, I am surprised at how popular it is, landing in the top five.
The Little Prince
Just inside the top five is The Little Prince,” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a beautifully written children’s novel with amazing art. The themes of loss and connection are universal and have helped this book sell over 140 million copies since it was first published.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
In 6th place is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. This novel started the Harry Potter adventures for many and is one of the most recognized series ever written. Just this book alone in the series has sold over 120 million copies since it was first published in 1997. And this is just one book in the series. The other 6 books also cracked the top 20 best selling books list.
And Then There Were None
The queen of mystery makes an appearance on the list with And Then There Were None with over 120 million copies sold. Christie is the best all time selling author of all time and this novel is a big reason why. It is still amazing that Rowling hasn’t surpassed Christie even with all her Harry Potter novels selling well.
Dream of the Red Chamber
In 8th place is the semi-autobiographical novel Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin. The novel was first published in 1791 and tells the rise and fall of a family during the Qing dynasty. It has sold an estimated 100 million copies but many consider that on the lower end of projections.
The Hobbit
In 9th place is Tolkien’s The Hobbit with over a hundred million copies sold. It is the prequel to The Lord of the Rings and is often read along with the popular fantasy series. Tolkien appearing multiple times on the list shows just how beloved he and his fantasy novels are.
Think and Grow Rich
And lastly, in tenth place is the self-help book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. It was first published in 1937 during the Great Depression and has been popular ever since. Not many self-help books ever sell anything close to what this book has sold, showcasing how effective Hill’s advice and tips are, even decades later.
Conclusion
These are the ten best selling books of all time. The data for many of these books is not accurate because many were released before book sales were tracked. Now, authors benefit from every sale and we know which authors are popular in which countries.
What did you think of the books that made the list? How many of these books have you read or heard or? Let us know in the comments below!
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This is a fascinating list as it includes such a variety of genres. I’ve heard of seven, known people who have read these seven, but I’ve only read two of them. Now my TBR list just got longer!