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Religious books, especially the [[Bible]] and the [[Qur’an]], are probably the most-printed books, but it is nearly impossible to find reliable figures about them. Many Bibles are printed and given away free, instead of being sold. The same goes for some political books, like the works of [[Mao Zedong]] or [[Adolf Hitler]]. All such books have been excluded from this list for those reasons. |
Religious books, especially the [[Bible]] and the [[Qur’an]], are probably the most-printed books, but it is nearly impossible to find reliable figures about them. Many Bibles are printed and given away free, instead of being sold. The same goes for some political books, like the works of [[Mao Zedong]] or [[Adolf Hitler]]. All such books have been excluded from this list for those reasons. |
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The Bible is the most sold book with an estimated 6billion printed and sold |
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==List of best-selling single-volume books== |
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ee, or some other configuration.[http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/203389 The Toronto Star] 16 April 2007</ref> |
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|- |
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|''[[The Hobbit]]'' || [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] || English || 1937 || over 100 million<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/7302101.stm BBC]: Tolkien's memorabilia go on sale. 18 March 2008</ref> |
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|紅樓夢 (''[[Dream of the Red Chamber]]'') || [[Cao Xueqin]] || Chinese || 1759-1791 || over 100 million <ref>[http://www.china.org.cn/english/culture/151884.htm China.org]: "Sun said that the book has sold over 100 million copies worldwide so far." 14 December 2005</ref> |
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|- |
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|论三个代表 (''[[Three Represents|On the Three Representations]]'') || [[Jiang Zemin]] || Chinese || 2001 || 100 million<ref name=chinascope>[http://chinascope.org/main/content/view/413/131/ Chinascope Magazine] (September, 2005)</ref>{{Dubious|copies may not have been sold; reference puts "sold" in quotation marks|date=September 2010}} |
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|''[[And Then There Were None]]'' || [[Agatha Christie]] || English || 1939 || 100 million<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/product-description/0312979479 |title=amazon.com |publisher=amazon.com |date= |accessdate=2009-08-31}}</ref>{{Citation needed|reason=Ref. given does not support this claim, as of Sept. 2010|date=September 2010}} |
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=== Between 50 million and 100 million copies === |
=== Between 50 million and 100 million copies === |
This page provides lists of best-selling single-volume books and book series to date and in any language. "Best-selling" refers to the estimated number of copies sold of each book, rather than the number of books printed or currently owned. Comics and textbooks are not included in this list. The books are listed according to the highest sales estimate as reported in reliable, independent sources.
Religious books, especially the Bible and the Qur’an, are probably the most-printed books, but it is nearly impossible to find reliable figures about them. Many Bibles are printed and given away free, instead of being sold. The same goes for some political books, like the works of Mao Zedong or Adolf Hitler. All such books have been excluded from this list for those reasons.
The Bible is the most sold book with an estimated 6billion printed and sold
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | C. S. Lewis | English | 1950 | 85 million [1] |
She | H. Rider Haggard | English | 1887 | 83 million [2] |
Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) | Antoine de Saint-Exupéry | French | 1943 | 80 million [3] |
The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown | English | 2003 | 80 million [4] |
The Catcher in the Rye | J. D. Salinger | English | 1951 | 65 million [5] |
O Alquimista ( The Alchemist) | Paulo Coelho | Portuguese | 1988 | 65 million [6] |
Steps to Christ | Ellen G. White | English | 1892 | 60 million [7] |
Heidis Lehr- und Wanderjahre ( Heidi's Years of Wandering and Learning) | Johanna Spyri | German | 1880 | 50 million [8] |
The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care | Dr. Benjamin Spock | English | 1946 | 50 million [9] |
Anne of Green Gables | Lucy Maud Montgomery | English | 1908 | 50 million [10] |
Black Beauty: His Grooms and Companions: The autobiography of a horse | Anna Sewell | English | 1877 | 50 million [11] |
Il Nome della Rosa ( The Name of the Rose) | Umberto Eco | Italian | 1980 | 50 million [12] |
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales | Genre |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Late, Great Planet Earth | Hal Lindsey, C. C. Carlson | English | 1970 | 28 million [35] | Religion/Spirituality |
Who Moved My Cheese? | Spencer Johnson | English | 1998 | 26 million [36] | Self-help / motivational |
The Wind in the Willows | Kenneth Grahame | English | 1908 | 25 million [37] | Children's Fiction |
Nineteen Eighty-Four | George Orwell | English | 1949 | 25 million [38] | Dystopian |
The Celestine Prophecy | James Redfield | English | 1993 | 23 million [39] | Religious Fiction |
The Godfather | Mario Puzo | English | 1969 | 21 million [40] | Crime |
Love Story | Erich Segal | English | 1970 | 21 million [41] | |
狼图腾 ( Wolf Totem) | Jiang Rong | Chinese | 2004 | 20 million [42] | Fiction |
The Happy Hooker: Her Own Story | Xaviera Hollander | English | 1971 | 20 million [43] | Autobiography |
Jaws | Peter Benchley | English | 1974 | 20 million [44] | Thriller |
Love You Forever | Robert Munsch | English | 1986 | 20 million [45] | Children's literature |
Sophie's World | Jostein Gaarder | Norwegian | 1991 | 20 million [46] | Philosophical novel |
The Women's Room | Marilyn French | English | 1977 | 20 million [47] | Feminist fiction |
Book series | Author | Original language | No. of installments | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harry Potter | J.K.Rowling | English | 7 + 3 companion books | 1997–2007 | more than 400 million for the 7 main books alone [94] [95] |
Goosebumps | R. L. Stine | English | 62 | 1992–1998 | more than 300 million [96] |
Perry Mason | Erle Stanley Gardner | English | 82 | 1933 — 1970 | 300 million [97] |
Berenstain Bears | Stan and Jan Berenstain | English | over 300 | 1962 — present | 260 million [98] |
Choose Your Own Adventure | various authors | English | 185 | 1979 — 1998 | 250 million [99] |
Sweet Valley High | Francine Pascal and ghostwriters | English | 400 | 1983 - | 250 million [100] |
Noddy | Enid Blyton | English | 24 | 1949–present | 200 million [101] |
Nancy Drew | various authors as Carolyn Keene | English | 175 | 1930 — present | 200 million [102] |
The Railway Series (spawned Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends) |
Rev. W. Awdry, Christopher Awdry | English | 41 | 1945–2007 | 200 million [103] |
One Piece | Eiichiro Oda | Japanese | 59 | 1997 — present | 190 million [104] |
The Baby-sitters Club | Ann Martin | English | 335 | 1986 — present | 172 million [105] |
Star Wars | various authors | English | over 200 | 1977 — present | 160 million [106] |
Peter Rabbit | Beatrix Potter | English | 6 | 1902–1930 | 150 million [107] |
Chicken Soup for the Soul | Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen | English | 105 | 1997 — present | 130 million [108] |
Frank Merriwell | Gilbert Patten | English | 209 | 1896 - | 125 million [109] |
Dirk Pitt | Clive Cussler | English | 19 | 1973 — present | 120 million [110] |
宮本武蔵 ( Musashi) | Eiji Yoshikawa | Japanese | 7 | 1935–1939 | 120 million [111] |
American Girl | various authors | English | 1986 — present | 120 million [112] | |
The Chronicles of Narnia | C. S. Lewis | English | 7 | 1949–1954 | 120 million [113] |
Clifford the Big Red Dog | Norman Bridwell | English | 1963 — present | 110 million [114] | |
James Bond | Ian Fleming | English | 14 | 1953–1966 | more than 100 million [115] |
Twilight | Stephenie Meyer | English | 4 + 1 Novella | 2005–2010 | more than 100 million [116] |
Mr. Men | Roger Hargreaves, Adam Hargreaves | English | 43 | 1971 — present | 100 million [117] |
Book series | Author | Original language | No. of installments | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nijntje ( Miffy) | Dick Bruna | Dutch | 119 | 1955 — present | 85 million [118] |
Fear Street | R. L. Stine | English | 114 | 1989 — present | 80 million [119] |
六星占術によるあなたの運命 ( Rokusei Senjutsu (Six-Star Astrology) Tells Your Fortune) | Kazuko Hosoki | Japanese | 159, until 2009 edition | 1986 — Present | 79 million [120] |
OSS 117 | Jean Bruce | French | 265 | 1949–1992 | 75 million [121] |
Winnie-the-Pooh | A. A. Milne; illustrated by E. H. Shepard | English | 4 | 1926–1928 | 70 million [122] |
Left Behind | Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins | English | 16 | 1996 — 2007 | 65 million [123] |
A Series of Unfortunate Events | Lemony Snicket aka Daniel Handler | English | 13 | 1999–2006 | 60 million [124] |
Little House on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder | English | 12 | 1932–2006 | 60 million [125] |
Arch Books (Lantern Books) | various authors | English | 1958 — present | 58 million [126] | |
Discworld | Terry Pratchett | English | 37 | 1983–present | 55 million [127] |
Magic Tree House series | Mary Pope Osborne | English | 43 | 1992–present | 53 million [128] |
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus | John Gray | English | 15 | 1992–present | 50 million [129] |
The Hardy Boys | various authors as Franklin W. Dixon | English | 190 | 1927-present | 50 million [130] |
The Bobbsey Twins | various authors as Laura Lee Hope | English | 72 | 1904-79 | 50 million [131] |
アンパンマン ( Anpanman) | Takashi Yanase | Japanese | more than 678 | 1970 — present | 50 million [132] |
Tarzan | Edgar Rice Burroughs | English | 26 | 1914–1995 | 50 million [133] |
Book series | Author | Original language | No. of installments | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Where's Wally? [134] | Martin Handford | English | 13 | 1987–present | 46 million [135] |
A Child's First Library Of Learning | various authors | English | 1980 - | 45 million [136] | |
Junie B. Jones | Barbara Park | English | 1992 - | 44 million [137] | |
The Wheel of Time | Robert Jordan | English | Currently 12. 14 planned | 1990 - | 44 million [138] |
できるシリーズ (Dekiru Series) | Impress Dekiru Series Editorial Desk | Japanese | 1994–present | 40 million [139] | |
Millennium Trilogy | Stieg Larsson | Swedish | 3 | 2005–2007 | 40 million [140] |
连环画 铁道游击队 (Picture-and-story book Railway Guerrillas) | original author: Liu Zhixia | Chinese | 10 | 1955–1962 | 36.52 million [141] |
Paddington Bear | Michael Bond | English | 70 | 1958–present | 35 million [142] |
Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Jeff Kinney | English | 5 | 2007–present | 35 million [143] |
徳川家康 ( Tokugawa Ieyasu) | Sohachi Yamaoka | Japanese | 26 | 1950–1967 | 30 million [144] |
Ramona | Beverly Cleary | English | 8 | 1955–1999 | 30 million [145] |
Book series | Author | Original language | No. of installments | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ノンタン ( Nontan) | Sachiko Kiyono | Japanese | 25 | 1976–2006 | 28 million [146] |
Curious George | Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey | English | 58 | 1941–present | 27 million [147] |
グイン・サーガ ( Guin Saga) | Kaoru Kurimoto | Japanese | 118 | 1979–2009 | 26 million [148] |
Captain Underpants | Dav Pilkey | English | 1997–present | 26 million [149] | |
三毛猫ホームズシリーズ ( Mike-neko Holmes series) | Jirō Akagawa | Japanese | 43 | 1978–present | 26 million [150] |
Rich Dad, Poor Dad | Robert Kiyosaki Sharon Lechter | English | 18 | 1997- | 26 million [151] |
超図解シリーズ (Cho-Zukai series) | X media | Japanese | 1996–2007 | 25 million [152] | |
Kurt Wallander | Henning Mankell | Swedish | 10 | 1991–2002 | 25 million [153] |
鬼平犯科帳 ( Onihei Hankachō) | Shōtarō Ikenami | Japanese | 24 | 1968–1990 | 24.4 million, only bunkobon [154] |
自由自在 (Jiyu Jizai) | various authors | Japanese | 1953–present | 24 million [155] | |
Brain Quest series | various authors | English | 1992–present | 23.7 million [156] | |
かいけつゾロリ ( Kaiketsu Zorori) | Yutaka Hara | Japanese | 41 | 1987–present | 23 million [157] |
South Beach Diet | Arthur Agatston | English | 6 | 2003–present | 22 million [158] |
竜馬がゆく ( Ryoma ga Yuku) | Ryōtarō Shiba | Japanese | 5 | 1963–1966 | 21.5 million [159] |
ズッコケ三人組 ( Zukkoke Sanningumi) | Masamoto Nasu | Japanese | 50 | 1978–2004 | 21 million [160] |
Shannara | Terry Brooks | English | 20 | 1977–present | 21 million [161] |
Redwall | Brian Jacques | English | 22 | 1986–present | 20 million [162] |
The Inheritance Cycle | Christopher Paolini | English | 3 | 2002–present | 20 million [163] |
Maisy | Lucy Cousins | English | 23 | 1990–present | 20 million [52] |
Dragonlance | various authors | English | more than 150 | 1984 — present | 20 million [164] |
幻魔大戦 ( Genma Taisen) | Kazumasa Hirai | Japanese | 20 | 1979–1983 | 20 million [165] |
青春の門 ( The Gate of Youth) | Hiroyuki Itsuki | Japanese | 1970–present | 20 million [166] | |
The Foundation Trilogy | Isaac Asimov | English | 3 [167] | 1950–1953 | 20 million [168] |
Horrible Histories | Terry Deary | English | 24 | 1993–present | 20 million [169] |
Artemis Fowl | Eoin Colfer | English | 7 | 2001–present | 20 million [170] |
Book series | Author | Original language | No. of installments | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
科学のアルバム (Kagaku no album) | various authors | Japanese | 1970–present | 19 million [171] | |
スーパーマップル (Super Mapple) | various authors | Japanese | 1991–present | 18 million [172] | |
剣客商売 ( Kenkaku Shobai) | Shotaro Ikenami | Japanese | 18 | 1972–1989 | 18 million [173] |
Erast Fandorin | Boris Akunin | Russian | 12 | 1998–present | 18 million [174] |
チャート式 (Chart Shiki) | various authors | Japanese | 1927–present | 17.44 million, only for the first grade of high-school [175] | |
吸血鬼ハンターD ( Vampire Hunter D) | Hideyuki Kikuchi | Japanese | 17 | 1983–present | 17 million [176] |
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | Douglas Adams, plus a final book by Eoin Colfer | English | 6 | 1979–2008 | 16 million [177] |
Bridget Jones | Helen Fielding | English | 2 | 1996–present | 15 million [178] |
The Riftwar Cycle | Raymond E. Feist | English | 25 | 1982–present | 15 million [179] |
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency | Alexander McCall Smith | English | 9 | 1999–present | 15 million [180] |
ぼくらシリーズ(Bokura series) | Osamu Soda | Japanese | 36 | 1985–present | 15 million [181] |
His Dark Materials | Philip Pullman | English | 3 | 1995–2000 | 15 million [182] |
銀河英雄伝説 ( Legend of the Galactic Heroes) | Yoshiki Tanaka | Japanese | 14 | 1982–1989 | 15 million [183] |
Der Regenbogenfisch ( Rainbow Fish) | Marcus Pfister | German | 1992–present | 15 million [184] |
The Perry Rhodan series has sold more than 1 billion copies, [185] but is not listed because that figure includes magazine sales, not novels alone. Similarly, the Jerry Cotton series has sold over 300 million copies, but most of these were in magazine format. [186]
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is included in the list as a single entry because it was written by Tolkien as a single book.
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
新华字典 ( Xinhua Zidian / Xinhua Dictionary) | Chief editor: Wei Jiangong | Chinese | 1957 | 400 million [187] |
Scouting for Boys | Robert Baden-Powell | English | 1908 | 100-150 million [188] |
The McGuffey Readers | William Holmes McGuffey | English | 1853 | 125 million [189] |
Guinness World Records (published every year) | various authors | English | 1955 — present | 100 million [190] |
American Spelling Book ( Webster's Dictionary) | Noah Webster | English | 1783 | 100 million [9] |
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
World Almanac (published every year) | various authors | English | 1868 — 1876; 1886–present | 80 million [191] |
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary | Merriam-Webster | English | 1898 | 55 million [192] |
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
Roget's Thesaurus | Peter Mark Roget | English | 1852 - | 40 million [193] |
수학의 정석 (數學의 定石) (The principle of Mathematics - Mathematics reference book) | Hong Sung-dae | Korean | 1966–present (current edition since 1997) | 40 million
[194] ~ 37 million [195] |
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book | various authors | English | 1930 - | 38 million [196] |
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary | A. S. Hornby | English | 1948 | 30 million [197] |
Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book | Bill Wilson | English | 1939 | 30 million [198] [199] |
Le guide Michelin France ( The Michelin Guide France) (published every year) | various authors | French | 1900–present | 30 million [200] |
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales | Genre |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Betty Crocker Cookbook | various authors as Betty Crocker | English | 1955- | 27 million [201] | Cookery |
新明解国語辞典 ( Shin Meikai kokugo jiten) | Tadao Yamada | Japanese | 1972 | 20.4 million [202] | Dictionary |
English Grammar | Lindley Murray | English | 1795 | 20 million [203] | General Reference |
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Joy of Cooking | various authors | English | 1936 | 18 million [204] |
英語基本単語集 (Eigo Kihon Tangoshu) "Compilation of basic English vocabulary" | Yoshio Akao | Japanese, English | 1942 | 17.2 million [175] |
試験に出る英単語 (Siken Ni Deru Eitango) "English vocabulary in examinations" | Ichiro Mori | Japanese, English | 1967 | 15 million [205] |
新英和中辞典 (Shin Eiwa Chu Jiten) "New English-Japanese-Chinese Dictionary" | Shigeru Takebayashi | Japanese, English | 1967 | 12 million [206] |
広辞苑 ( Kōjien) | Izuru Shinmura | Japanese | 1955 | 11 million [202] [207] |
旺文社古語辞典 (Obunsha Kogo Jiten) "Obunsha Dictionary of Archaisms" | Akira Matsumura | Japanese | 1960 | 11 million [208] |
三省堂国語辞典 ( Sanseido Kokugo Jiten) "Sanseido Dictionary of the Japanese Language" | Kenbō Hidetoshi | Japanese | 1960 | 10 million [209] |
家庭に於ける實際的看護の秘訣 (Katei Ni Okeru Jissaiteki Kango No Hiketsu) "Key to Practical Personal Care at Home" | Takichi Tsukuda | Japanese | 1925 | 10 million [210] |
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Tag: references removed |
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Religious books, especially the [[Bible]] and the [[Qur’an]], are probably the most-printed books, but it is nearly impossible to find reliable figures about them. Many Bibles are printed and given away free, instead of being sold. The same goes for some political books, like the works of [[Mao Zedong]] or [[Adolf Hitler]]. All such books have been excluded from this list for those reasons. |
Religious books, especially the [[Bible]] and the [[Qur’an]], are probably the most-printed books, but it is nearly impossible to find reliable figures about them. Many Bibles are printed and given away free, instead of being sold. The same goes for some political books, like the works of [[Mao Zedong]] or [[Adolf Hitler]]. All such books have been excluded from this list for those reasons. |
||
The Bible is the most sold book with an estimated 6billion printed and sold |
|||
==List of best-selling single-volume books== |
|||
ee, or some other configuration.[http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/203389 The Toronto Star] 16 April 2007</ref> |
|||
|- |
|||
|''[[The Hobbit]]'' || [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] || English || 1937 || over 100 million<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/7302101.stm BBC]: Tolkien's memorabilia go on sale. 18 March 2008</ref> |
|||
|- |
|||
|紅樓夢 (''[[Dream of the Red Chamber]]'') || [[Cao Xueqin]] || Chinese || 1759-1791 || over 100 million <ref>[http://www.china.org.cn/english/culture/151884.htm China.org]: "Sun said that the book has sold over 100 million copies worldwide so far." 14 December 2005</ref> |
|||
|- |
|||
|论三个代表 (''[[Three Represents|On the Three Representations]]'') || [[Jiang Zemin]] || Chinese || 2001 || 100 million<ref name=chinascope>[http://chinascope.org/main/content/view/413/131/ Chinascope Magazine] (September, 2005)</ref>{{Dubious|copies may not have been sold; reference puts "sold" in quotation marks|date=September 2010}} |
|||
|- |
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|''[[And Then There Were None]]'' || [[Agatha Christie]] || English || 1939 || 100 million<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/product-description/0312979479 |title=amazon.com |publisher=amazon.com |date= |accessdate=2009-08-31}}</ref>{{Citation needed|reason=Ref. given does not support this claim, as of Sept. 2010|date=September 2010}} |
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|- |
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|} |
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=== Between 50 million and 100 million copies === |
=== Between 50 million and 100 million copies === |
This page provides lists of best-selling single-volume books and book series to date and in any language. "Best-selling" refers to the estimated number of copies sold of each book, rather than the number of books printed or currently owned. Comics and textbooks are not included in this list. The books are listed according to the highest sales estimate as reported in reliable, independent sources.
Religious books, especially the Bible and the Qur’an, are probably the most-printed books, but it is nearly impossible to find reliable figures about them. Many Bibles are printed and given away free, instead of being sold. The same goes for some political books, like the works of Mao Zedong or Adolf Hitler. All such books have been excluded from this list for those reasons.
The Bible is the most sold book with an estimated 6billion printed and sold
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | C. S. Lewis | English | 1950 | 85 million [1] |
She | H. Rider Haggard | English | 1887 | 83 million [2] |
Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) | Antoine de Saint-Exupéry | French | 1943 | 80 million [3] |
The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown | English | 2003 | 80 million [4] |
The Catcher in the Rye | J. D. Salinger | English | 1951 | 65 million [5] |
O Alquimista ( The Alchemist) | Paulo Coelho | Portuguese | 1988 | 65 million [6] |
Steps to Christ | Ellen G. White | English | 1892 | 60 million [7] |
Heidis Lehr- und Wanderjahre ( Heidi's Years of Wandering and Learning) | Johanna Spyri | German | 1880 | 50 million [8] |
The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care | Dr. Benjamin Spock | English | 1946 | 50 million [9] |
Anne of Green Gables | Lucy Maud Montgomery | English | 1908 | 50 million [10] |
Black Beauty: His Grooms and Companions: The autobiography of a horse | Anna Sewell | English | 1877 | 50 million [11] |
Il Nome della Rosa ( The Name of the Rose) | Umberto Eco | Italian | 1980 | 50 million [12] |
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales | Genre |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Late, Great Planet Earth | Hal Lindsey, C. C. Carlson | English | 1970 | 28 million [35] | Religion/Spirituality |
Who Moved My Cheese? | Spencer Johnson | English | 1998 | 26 million [36] | Self-help / motivational |
The Wind in the Willows | Kenneth Grahame | English | 1908 | 25 million [37] | Children's Fiction |
Nineteen Eighty-Four | George Orwell | English | 1949 | 25 million [38] | Dystopian |
The Celestine Prophecy | James Redfield | English | 1993 | 23 million [39] | Religious Fiction |
The Godfather | Mario Puzo | English | 1969 | 21 million [40] | Crime |
Love Story | Erich Segal | English | 1970 | 21 million [41] | |
狼图腾 ( Wolf Totem) | Jiang Rong | Chinese | 2004 | 20 million [42] | Fiction |
The Happy Hooker: Her Own Story | Xaviera Hollander | English | 1971 | 20 million [43] | Autobiography |
Jaws | Peter Benchley | English | 1974 | 20 million [44] | Thriller |
Love You Forever | Robert Munsch | English | 1986 | 20 million [45] | Children's literature |
Sophie's World | Jostein Gaarder | Norwegian | 1991 | 20 million [46] | Philosophical novel |
The Women's Room | Marilyn French | English | 1977 | 20 million [47] | Feminist fiction |
Book series | Author | Original language | No. of installments | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harry Potter | J.K.Rowling | English | 7 + 3 companion books | 1997–2007 | more than 400 million for the 7 main books alone [94] [95] |
Goosebumps | R. L. Stine | English | 62 | 1992–1998 | more than 300 million [96] |
Perry Mason | Erle Stanley Gardner | English | 82 | 1933 — 1970 | 300 million [97] |
Berenstain Bears | Stan and Jan Berenstain | English | over 300 | 1962 — present | 260 million [98] |
Choose Your Own Adventure | various authors | English | 185 | 1979 — 1998 | 250 million [99] |
Sweet Valley High | Francine Pascal and ghostwriters | English | 400 | 1983 - | 250 million [100] |
Noddy | Enid Blyton | English | 24 | 1949–present | 200 million [101] |
Nancy Drew | various authors as Carolyn Keene | English | 175 | 1930 — present | 200 million [102] |
The Railway Series (spawned Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends) |
Rev. W. Awdry, Christopher Awdry | English | 41 | 1945–2007 | 200 million [103] |
One Piece | Eiichiro Oda | Japanese | 59 | 1997 — present | 190 million [104] |
The Baby-sitters Club | Ann Martin | English | 335 | 1986 — present | 172 million [105] |
Star Wars | various authors | English | over 200 | 1977 — present | 160 million [106] |
Peter Rabbit | Beatrix Potter | English | 6 | 1902–1930 | 150 million [107] |
Chicken Soup for the Soul | Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen | English | 105 | 1997 — present | 130 million [108] |
Frank Merriwell | Gilbert Patten | English | 209 | 1896 - | 125 million [109] |
Dirk Pitt | Clive Cussler | English | 19 | 1973 — present | 120 million [110] |
宮本武蔵 ( Musashi) | Eiji Yoshikawa | Japanese | 7 | 1935–1939 | 120 million [111] |
American Girl | various authors | English | 1986 — present | 120 million [112] | |
The Chronicles of Narnia | C. S. Lewis | English | 7 | 1949–1954 | 120 million [113] |
Clifford the Big Red Dog | Norman Bridwell | English | 1963 — present | 110 million [114] | |
James Bond | Ian Fleming | English | 14 | 1953–1966 | more than 100 million [115] |
Twilight | Stephenie Meyer | English | 4 + 1 Novella | 2005–2010 | more than 100 million [116] |
Mr. Men | Roger Hargreaves, Adam Hargreaves | English | 43 | 1971 — present | 100 million [117] |
Book series | Author | Original language | No. of installments | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nijntje ( Miffy) | Dick Bruna | Dutch | 119 | 1955 — present | 85 million [118] |
Fear Street | R. L. Stine | English | 114 | 1989 — present | 80 million [119] |
六星占術によるあなたの運命 ( Rokusei Senjutsu (Six-Star Astrology) Tells Your Fortune) | Kazuko Hosoki | Japanese | 159, until 2009 edition | 1986 — Present | 79 million [120] |
OSS 117 | Jean Bruce | French | 265 | 1949–1992 | 75 million [121] |
Winnie-the-Pooh | A. A. Milne; illustrated by E. H. Shepard | English | 4 | 1926–1928 | 70 million [122] |
Left Behind | Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins | English | 16 | 1996 — 2007 | 65 million [123] |
A Series of Unfortunate Events | Lemony Snicket aka Daniel Handler | English | 13 | 1999–2006 | 60 million [124] |
Little House on the Prairie | Laura Ingalls Wilder | English | 12 | 1932–2006 | 60 million [125] |
Arch Books (Lantern Books) | various authors | English | 1958 — present | 58 million [126] | |
Discworld | Terry Pratchett | English | 37 | 1983–present | 55 million [127] |
Magic Tree House series | Mary Pope Osborne | English | 43 | 1992–present | 53 million [128] |
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus | John Gray | English | 15 | 1992–present | 50 million [129] |
The Hardy Boys | various authors as Franklin W. Dixon | English | 190 | 1927-present | 50 million [130] |
The Bobbsey Twins | various authors as Laura Lee Hope | English | 72 | 1904-79 | 50 million [131] |
アンパンマン ( Anpanman) | Takashi Yanase | Japanese | more than 678 | 1970 — present | 50 million [132] |
Tarzan | Edgar Rice Burroughs | English | 26 | 1914–1995 | 50 million [133] |
Book series | Author | Original language | No. of installments | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Where's Wally? [134] | Martin Handford | English | 13 | 1987–present | 46 million [135] |
A Child's First Library Of Learning | various authors | English | 1980 - | 45 million [136] | |
Junie B. Jones | Barbara Park | English | 1992 - | 44 million [137] | |
The Wheel of Time | Robert Jordan | English | Currently 12. 14 planned | 1990 - | 44 million [138] |
できるシリーズ (Dekiru Series) | Impress Dekiru Series Editorial Desk | Japanese | 1994–present | 40 million [139] | |
Millennium Trilogy | Stieg Larsson | Swedish | 3 | 2005–2007 | 40 million [140] |
连环画 铁道游击队 (Picture-and-story book Railway Guerrillas) | original author: Liu Zhixia | Chinese | 10 | 1955–1962 | 36.52 million [141] |
Paddington Bear | Michael Bond | English | 70 | 1958–present | 35 million [142] |
Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Jeff Kinney | English | 5 | 2007–present | 35 million [143] |
徳川家康 ( Tokugawa Ieyasu) | Sohachi Yamaoka | Japanese | 26 | 1950–1967 | 30 million [144] |
Ramona | Beverly Cleary | English | 8 | 1955–1999 | 30 million [145] |
Book series | Author | Original language | No. of installments | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ノンタン ( Nontan) | Sachiko Kiyono | Japanese | 25 | 1976–2006 | 28 million [146] |
Curious George | Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey | English | 58 | 1941–present | 27 million [147] |
グイン・サーガ ( Guin Saga) | Kaoru Kurimoto | Japanese | 118 | 1979–2009 | 26 million [148] |
Captain Underpants | Dav Pilkey | English | 1997–present | 26 million [149] | |
三毛猫ホームズシリーズ ( Mike-neko Holmes series) | Jirō Akagawa | Japanese | 43 | 1978–present | 26 million [150] |
Rich Dad, Poor Dad | Robert Kiyosaki Sharon Lechter | English | 18 | 1997- | 26 million [151] |
超図解シリーズ (Cho-Zukai series) | X media | Japanese | 1996–2007 | 25 million [152] | |
Kurt Wallander | Henning Mankell | Swedish | 10 | 1991–2002 | 25 million [153] |
鬼平犯科帳 ( Onihei Hankachō) | Shōtarō Ikenami | Japanese | 24 | 1968–1990 | 24.4 million, only bunkobon [154] |
自由自在 (Jiyu Jizai) | various authors | Japanese | 1953–present | 24 million [155] | |
Brain Quest series | various authors | English | 1992–present | 23.7 million [156] | |
かいけつゾロリ ( Kaiketsu Zorori) | Yutaka Hara | Japanese | 41 | 1987–present | 23 million [157] |
South Beach Diet | Arthur Agatston | English | 6 | 2003–present | 22 million [158] |
竜馬がゆく ( Ryoma ga Yuku) | Ryōtarō Shiba | Japanese | 5 | 1963–1966 | 21.5 million [159] |
ズッコケ三人組 ( Zukkoke Sanningumi) | Masamoto Nasu | Japanese | 50 | 1978–2004 | 21 million [160] |
Shannara | Terry Brooks | English | 20 | 1977–present | 21 million [161] |
Redwall | Brian Jacques | English | 22 | 1986–present | 20 million [162] |
The Inheritance Cycle | Christopher Paolini | English | 3 | 2002–present | 20 million [163] |
Maisy | Lucy Cousins | English | 23 | 1990–present | 20 million [52] |
Dragonlance | various authors | English | more than 150 | 1984 — present | 20 million [164] |
幻魔大戦 ( Genma Taisen) | Kazumasa Hirai | Japanese | 20 | 1979–1983 | 20 million [165] |
青春の門 ( The Gate of Youth) | Hiroyuki Itsuki | Japanese | 1970–present | 20 million [166] | |
The Foundation Trilogy | Isaac Asimov | English | 3 [167] | 1950–1953 | 20 million [168] |
Horrible Histories | Terry Deary | English | 24 | 1993–present | 20 million [169] |
Artemis Fowl | Eoin Colfer | English | 7 | 2001–present | 20 million [170] |
Book series | Author | Original language | No. of installments | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
科学のアルバム (Kagaku no album) | various authors | Japanese | 1970–present | 19 million [171] | |
スーパーマップル (Super Mapple) | various authors | Japanese | 1991–present | 18 million [172] | |
剣客商売 ( Kenkaku Shobai) | Shotaro Ikenami | Japanese | 18 | 1972–1989 | 18 million [173] |
Erast Fandorin | Boris Akunin | Russian | 12 | 1998–present | 18 million [174] |
チャート式 (Chart Shiki) | various authors | Japanese | 1927–present | 17.44 million, only for the first grade of high-school [175] | |
吸血鬼ハンターD ( Vampire Hunter D) | Hideyuki Kikuchi | Japanese | 17 | 1983–present | 17 million [176] |
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | Douglas Adams, plus a final book by Eoin Colfer | English | 6 | 1979–2008 | 16 million [177] |
Bridget Jones | Helen Fielding | English | 2 | 1996–present | 15 million [178] |
The Riftwar Cycle | Raymond E. Feist | English | 25 | 1982–present | 15 million [179] |
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency | Alexander McCall Smith | English | 9 | 1999–present | 15 million [180] |
ぼくらシリーズ(Bokura series) | Osamu Soda | Japanese | 36 | 1985–present | 15 million [181] |
His Dark Materials | Philip Pullman | English | 3 | 1995–2000 | 15 million [182] |
銀河英雄伝説 ( Legend of the Galactic Heroes) | Yoshiki Tanaka | Japanese | 14 | 1982–1989 | 15 million [183] |
Der Regenbogenfisch ( Rainbow Fish) | Marcus Pfister | German | 1992–present | 15 million [184] |
The Perry Rhodan series has sold more than 1 billion copies, [185] but is not listed because that figure includes magazine sales, not novels alone. Similarly, the Jerry Cotton series has sold over 300 million copies, but most of these were in magazine format. [186]
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is included in the list as a single entry because it was written by Tolkien as a single book.
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
新华字典 ( Xinhua Zidian / Xinhua Dictionary) | Chief editor: Wei Jiangong | Chinese | 1957 | 400 million [187] |
Scouting for Boys | Robert Baden-Powell | English | 1908 | 100-150 million [188] |
The McGuffey Readers | William Holmes McGuffey | English | 1853 | 125 million [189] |
Guinness World Records (published every year) | various authors | English | 1955 — present | 100 million [190] |
American Spelling Book ( Webster's Dictionary) | Noah Webster | English | 1783 | 100 million [9] |
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
World Almanac (published every year) | various authors | English | 1868 — 1876; 1886–present | 80 million [191] |
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary | Merriam-Webster | English | 1898 | 55 million [192] |
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
Roget's Thesaurus | Peter Mark Roget | English | 1852 - | 40 million [193] |
수학의 정석 (數學의 定石) (The principle of Mathematics - Mathematics reference book) | Hong Sung-dae | Korean | 1966–present (current edition since 1997) | 40 million
[194] ~ 37 million [195] |
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book | various authors | English | 1930 - | 38 million [196] |
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary | A. S. Hornby | English | 1948 | 30 million [197] |
Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book | Bill Wilson | English | 1939 | 30 million [198] [199] |
Le guide Michelin France ( The Michelin Guide France) (published every year) | various authors | French | 1900–present | 30 million [200] |
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales | Genre |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Betty Crocker Cookbook | various authors as Betty Crocker | English | 1955- | 27 million [201] | Cookery |
新明解国語辞典 ( Shin Meikai kokugo jiten) | Tadao Yamada | Japanese | 1972 | 20.4 million [202] | Dictionary |
English Grammar | Lindley Murray | English | 1795 | 20 million [203] | General Reference |
Book | Author(s) | Original language | First published | Approximate sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Joy of Cooking | various authors | English | 1936 | 18 million [204] |
英語基本単語集 (Eigo Kihon Tangoshu) "Compilation of basic English vocabulary" | Yoshio Akao | Japanese, English | 1942 | 17.2 million [175] |
試験に出る英単語 (Siken Ni Deru Eitango) "English vocabulary in examinations" | Ichiro Mori | Japanese, English | 1967 | 15 million [205] |
新英和中辞典 (Shin Eiwa Chu Jiten) "New English-Japanese-Chinese Dictionary" | Shigeru Takebayashi | Japanese, English | 1967 | 12 million [206] |
広辞苑 ( Kōjien) | Izuru Shinmura | Japanese | 1955 | 11 million [202] [207] |
旺文社古語辞典 (Obunsha Kogo Jiten) "Obunsha Dictionary of Archaisms" | Akira Matsumura | Japanese | 1960 | 11 million [208] |
三省堂国語辞典 ( Sanseido Kokugo Jiten) "Sanseido Dictionary of the Japanese Language" | Kenbō Hidetoshi | Japanese | 1960 | 10 million [209] |
家庭に於ける實際的看護の秘訣 (Katei Ni Okeru Jissaiteki Kango No Hiketsu) "Key to Practical Personal Care at Home" | Takichi Tsukuda | Japanese | 1925 | 10 million [210] |
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