The bible receives its alltime bestseller title mainly by cheating. Most of the books on the below list dont get anywhere near the most expensive books ever soldbut unlike any of those, the books below could be yours today. 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. However, many more copies have been given away for free, meaning the actual number of bibles in circulation is unknown. What is the most widely read book in the world answers. What is the second best selling book of all time after the bible. He found that the bible far outsold any other book, with a whopping 3. Researcher james chapman has compiled this look at the top 10 mostread books in the world. The christian bible has always been, and still is the most widely distributed book in the world. Unsurprisingly, the most popular book of all time has an interesting history. Researchers have collated the figures for the number of editions, translations and copies sold of the worlds most. So lets have a look at the most expensive books that have been sold all around the world. The 21 bestselling books of all time howstuffworks. Excluding non works such as the bible with an estimated 6 billion copies sold and the koran, the world s alltime bestselling book is guinness world records formerly the guinness book of records.
These are the 12 most popular books of all time indy100. Could it be true that the bible is the bestselling book. Books since the bestselling guinness world records book was first published in 1955, it has sold more than 8 million copies in over 100 countries, and has been translated into at least 20 languages. The familiar observation that the bible is the bestselling book of all time obscures a. Over 100 million bibles are sold or given away for free every year in the world, according to the economist. Hi all, here is my opinion based on facts and partly on assumptions. The bible, which ranks as the world s most read book, has sold 3. According to the guinness book of world records, the world s best selling and most widely distributed book is the bible. Can you think of any book that can be sold in millions of dollars. It is common knowledge that don quixote has sold over 500 million copies, and in fact, that number is conservative.
Excluding non works such as the bible with an estimated 6 billion copies sold and the koran, the world s alltime best selling book is guinness world records formerly the guinness book of records. Jul 15, 2015 harper lees new novel go set a watchman, the followup to to kill a mockingbird, is set to become one of the fastestselling books of all time. Quotations from chairman mao authored by mao zedong book sales. According to guinness world records as of 1995, the bible is the best selling book of all time, with an estimated 5 billion copies sold and distributed. Harper lees new novel go set a watchman, the followup to to kill a mockingbird, is set to become one of the fastestselling books of all time. 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. All time the number two book is the world almanac followed by the guiness book of world records. List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia.
Zondervan, the worlds leading bible publisher, today reported its niv bible ebook featuring the updated new international version of the bible niv, is the companys fastestselling ebook, and broke into the usa today bestsellers list spanning all books. Although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the bible is the worlds bestselling and most widely distributed book. What is the second best selling book of all time after the. When was the first englishlanguage bible finally printed in. The bible is the most widely distributed and best selling book in the world. Additionally, since the bible is sold worldwide, calculating exact numbers becomes tricky. The second most read book in the world is quotations from chairman mao tsetung which has sold. The bible is the most widely distributed and bestselling book in the world. The alltime most popular books in the world revealed. Of course, the bible stills remains the worlds most purchased tome, at 6 billion copies sold, according to guinness world records.
It is not an accepted proof to refer to 2 timothy 3. For a long time, it was one of the very few printed books available for purchase. With all those caveats in mind and not including ebook sales, here are. These are some of the worlds most expensive books ceoworld. The guinness book of world records estimates that more than 5 billion. The bible, which ranks as the worlds mostread book, has sold 3. For the record, the excluded books have sold an estimated hundreds of millions of copies each several billion, in the bibles case and would have taken most of the top positions on the list. 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. The common sense book of baby and child care by dr. The most popular book of all time christian universities online.
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. Impress your friends by breaking or inventing your own bible world records on. The bible is the worlds bestselling book, having sold more than five. According to the guinness book of world records, the worlds best selling and most widely distributed book is the bible.
The third group considered it as the mostprinted and mostdistributed book. Still, to a lot of rowlings fans, all seven harry potter novels are like bibles to them. I hope the below estimations show that the quran is in fact the most read book. Gamers edition, first published in 2007, has sold more than 5 million copies to date. 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. Its estimated to have sold around 6 billion copies worldwide precise figures. Researcher james chapman has compiled this look at the top 10 most read books in the world. Bloomsbury did not immediately respond to an email from syfy wire, while a rep for rowling declined to comment. Best selling book and finally, a record of our own that were all very proud of at guinness world records hq. The bible tops the list of the most read books in the world.
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. The awake magazine is published by jehovahs witnesses through the watch tower bible and tract society of pennsylvania. It was written by several authors inspired by the holy spirit over a period of time. Best selling book in the world proud of every wrinkle. According to the guinness book of records the bible is the most sold book in the world. Most of the sales have been of the paperback edition of the book. Although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the bible is the world s bestselling and most widely distributed book. In this special diamond anniversary book, we share 60 of the most iconic, heartwarming and world changing records, year by year from 1955 to today. Rhe book has helped millions of people face tragedy, loss and. Guinness world records estimates that over five billion copies of the bible have been sold, making it the bestselling book of all time. Similarly, many notable book series that sold very widely are poorly documented or consist of multiple subseries.
The 10 most expensive books in the world flavorwire. The alltime most popular books in the world revealed posted by. The holy bible, quotations from chairman mao tsetung, harry potter, the lord of the rings, the alchemist, the da vinci code, the night saga, gone with the wind, think and grow rich, and the diary of anne frank according to writer james chapman who created a list of the most read books in the world based on the number of copies each. First of all, the most important criterion for determining the success of a book is sales and distributions. In the 1980s and 90s it sold more copies than any book but the bible. Is the bible still the best selling book of all time. In 1995, one version of the bible, the good news version that is ed by the bible societies, had sold nearly 18 million copies. 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. A survey by the bible society concluded that around 2.
According to guinness world records as of 1995, the bible is the bestselling book of all time, with an estimated 5 billion. Another group upheld it as the worlds mostread books. Or, you know, today plus 35 business days for shipping. Dec 28, 2012 the most read book in the world is the bible. The 10 most read books in the world infographic business.
Jul 21, 2015 for literary mysteries, the thread tackles your. And finally, a record of our own that were all very proud of at guinness world records hq. Sep 07, 2010 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. According to guinness world records, roughly how many copies of the bible have been sold.
The american religious magazine is the 2nd most distributed magazine in the world. The gutenberg bible is probably the most valuable book or type of book in the world. Jan 28, 2016 the gutenberg bible is probably the most valuable book or type of book in the world. All my life ive been told the best selling book in the world is the bible. 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. Aug 18, 2014 the most commonly read book in the world is the bible. Researchers have collated the figures for the number of editions, translations and copies sold of the worlds most popular books these are the most loved tomes. The bible is most definitely, the greatest book in the world. More than 2,100 languages have at least one book of the bible in that language. In this special diamond anniversary book, we share 60 of the most iconic, heartwarming and worldchanging records, year by year from 1955 to today. Thomas nelson has a history stretching back to 1798, and, in the american market. Sep 22, 2006 if you dont count that harry potter books then you cant count the bible either, because they are counting it as all the versions, new and old, king james, picture, gideon etc.
The bible is the world s best selling book, having sold more than five billion copies. What is the second best selling book of all time after. In my version of the the list, the bible remained the top seller in the world, with sales figures ranging widely. Read about the most popular books in history at howstuffworks. The most popular book of all time christian universities. Although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the bible is the worlds best.
To make the bible the most printed book you have to add up all its flavors. It is often regarded as the second best selling book behind only the bible, and at least conceded as the greatest selling work of fiction of all time, without out a close second. The bible was the only book available to the masses for many years and nothing could touch its best seller status until the latter half of the last century. Updated niv bible ebook hits bestsellers lists grand rapids, mich. Guinness world records gwr is the global authority on recordbreaking achievement. Feb 17, 2017 in the 1980s and 90s it sold more copies than any book but the bible.
It addresses inward, private thoughts and feelings, as well as outward, publicly expressed words and actions. Nov 15, 20 researcher james chapman has compiled this look at the top 10 most read books in the world. This article discusses the world s best selling books. Add to that, for a few hundred years your family was nothing if they didnt have their ow. Well the guinness book of records is the bestselling published book. Spocks 1946 manual became the bible of infant care for subsequent generations of parents. Illustrated with stunning photography, these records show how guinness world records has acted as a mirror to the evolving world around us. Hebrew, greek, aramaic many copies of the holy bible have been freely given away during missionary work. Although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the bible is the world s best selling and most widely distributed book. According to christians, the bible is the word of god. According to guinness world records, the bible is the bestselling book of all time, with over 5 billion copies sold and distributed.
Chapman created the list by examining how many individual copies of the books had been printed and sold over the last 50 years. Guinness world records, known until 2000 as the guinness book of records and in previous u. Check out some of the coolest and quirkiest bible world records and videos. Meanwhile the worlds population has swelled from a mere 2. After the bible, which book has sold the most copies.
The bible is easily one of the bestselling books of all time, but exact sales. After the bible which book has sold the most copies trivia question questions answer answers. The bible sells best because it is living, powerful and universally desired 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. Today, christies new york will auction off a copy of john james audubons birds of america, which already holds the title of most valuable printed book in. Because religious texts are often translated into many foreign languages and distributed widely by churches, however, precise figures are hard to come by. First published in 1955, the iconic annual guinness world records books have sold over 8 million copies in over 20 languages and in more than 100 countries. The bible has been translated into 349 languages, and a survey conducted by the bible society concluded that. Sep 17, 2016 it is common knowledge that don quixote has sold over 500 million copies, and in fact, that number is conservative. 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. Writer james chapman created a list of the most read books in the world based on the number of copies each. Now called guinness world records, it sells about 3.
Many devout christians are quick to assert that the holy bible is the worlds bestselling book, for all time. Is bible the worlds bestselling or mostread or most. And then it is only a vague guess, probably inflated by the xtains. Jun 24, 2012 the bible sells best because it is living, powerful and universally desired.
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. Oct 17, 2012 one group claimed the bible as the worlds bestselling book. Could it be true that the bible is the bestselling book in history, with. Jan 06, 2019 all my life ive been told the best selling book in the world is the bible. Harry potter becomes bestselling book series in history.
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