Top 10 Most influential or Bestselling Books Ever
Have you wondered which are the most sold books ever? From ancient scriptures to modern literary masterpieces, some books have captured the hearts and minds of millions, if not billions, of people across the globe. It turns out clear statistics about book sales are not easy to find, if not impossible. However, based on available data and reputable sources, we can compile a list of the most widely read and influential books in history.
Additionally, because it's hard to quantify sales for older works, it means that some figures are approximate. Get ready for an exciting adventure through the ages as we figure out which books have left a lasting imprint on society.
1. The Bible
As the foundational text of Christianity, the Bible is undoubtedly the most widely circulated book in history. While precise figures are unattainable, billions of copies have been distributed.
A cornerstone of Western civilization, the Bible is a collection of religious texts or scriptures, believed by Christians to be divinely inspired. It consists of the Old Testament, primarily a record of the Israelites, and the New Testament, focusing on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
The tale of Jesus' birth and life is told in this book. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit through his mother Mary. His parents had flown to Bethlehem for the census, thus he was born there. Jesus began preaching to the men of Judea about the age of thirty. He collected twelve followers to study his teachings and assist him in spreading them. The most important of Jesus' commands was to love your neighbour as yourself, and he taught that there was only one God. Unlike past prophets, Jesus focused on the sinful rather than the good. His message was that through God, everyone may be saved.
2. Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung (Little Red Book)
During the Cultural Revolution in China, this book was distributed widely, with estimates ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of copies.
This slim volume, often referred to as the "Little Red Book," contains excerpts from speeches and writings of Mao Tse-Tung. It served as a political and ideological guide during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, becoming a ubiquitous item in the hands of millions.
Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung is a book of statements from speeches and writings by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), the former Chairman of the Communist Party of China, published from 1964 to about 1976 and widely distributed during the Cultural Revolution.
The most popular versions were printed in small sizes that could be easily carried and were bound in bright red covers, becoming commonly known in the West as the Little Red Book.
Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung was originally compiled by an office of the PLA Daily (People's Liberation Army Daily) as an inspirational political and military document. The initial publication covered 23 topics with 200 selected quotations by the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, and was entitled 200 Quotations from Chairman Mao. It was first given to delegates of a conference on 5 January 1964 who were asked to comment on it. In response to the views of the deputies and compilers of the book, the work was expanded to address 25 topics with 267 quotations, and the title was changed simply to Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung.
3. The Quran
The central religious text of Islam, the Quran has been translated into numerous languages and distributed globally to hundreds of millions of people.
The central religious text of Islam, the Quran is believed by Muslims to be the literal word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It encompasses a wide range of topics, including faith, morality, law, and history.
Widely acclaimed and respected for accurately reflecting Arabic meanings, it has received recommendations by numerous well-known scholars, including Shaykh Muhammad bin Saleh al-Munajjid, Dr. Zakir Naik, Sheikh Yusuf Estes, Dr. Bilal Philips and Dr. Jamal Badawi.
4. Don Quixote (Miguel de Cervantes)
This classic Spanish novel has sold hundreds of millions of copies and is considered one of the most influential works of literature.
A satirical masterpiece by Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote chronicles the adventures of a delusional nobleman who believes himself to be a knight errant. The novel is a classic of Western literature, celebrated for its wit, humor, and social commentary.
Don Quixote has become so entranced reading tales of chivalry that he decides to turn knight errant himself. In the company of his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, these exploits blossom in all sorts of wonderful ways. While Quixote's fancy often leads him astray—he tilts at windmills, imagining them to be giants—Sancho acquires cunning and a certain sagacity. Sane madman and wise fool, they roam the world together-and together they have haunted readers' imaginations for nearly four hundred years.
With its experimental form and literary playfulness, Don Quixote has been generally recognized as the first modern novel. This Penguin Classics edition, with its beautiful new cover design, includes John Rutherford's masterly translation, which does full justice to the energy and wit of Cervantes's prose, as well as a brilliant critical introduction by Roberto Gonzalez Echevarriá.
5. A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)
Another literary giant, this novel has captivated readers for generations, with estimated sales in the hundreds of millions.
Charles Dickens’ historical novel is set in London and Paris during the French Revolution. It tells a riveting story of love, sacrifice, and revolution, with iconic characters like Sydney Carton and Madame Defarge.
After eighteen years as a political prisoner in the Bastille, the ageing Doctor Manette is finally released and reunited with his daughter in England. There the lives of two very different men, Charles Darnay, an exiled French aristocrat, and Sydney Carton, a disreputable but brilliant English lawyer, become enmeshed through their love for Lucie Manette. From the tranquil roads of London, they are drawn against their will to the vengeful, bloodstained streets of Paris at the height of the Reign of Terror, and they soon fall under the lethal shadow of La Guillotine.
6. The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien)
This epic fantasy trilogy has sold over 150 million copies and inspired countless fans worldwide.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy trilogy transports readers to Middle-earth, a world filled with hobbits, elves, dwarves, and wizards. The story follows Frodo Baggins as he embarks on a perilous quest to destroy the One Ring.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.
7. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
This beloved children's book has touched millions of hearts and sold over 140 million copies. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s timeless tale is a fable about a young prince who visits various planets and encounters different kinds of people. With its simple yet profound message, the book has resonated with readers of all ages.
"The Little Prince" was published in 1943 by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It is a poetic tale in which a pilot strands in the desert and meets a young prince fallen to Earth from a tiny asteroid. The story is philosophical and includes social criticism, remarking on the strangeness of the adult world. While it looks like a children's book, it targets adult relationships with deep thoughts on how adults perceive life and each other. "Children should show great understanding towards grown-ups".
Get ready for a trip to see the world differently and learn what is really important. "The Little Prince" is one of the most-translated books in the world and was voted the best book of the 20th century in France. Translated into 300 languages and dialects (as well as Braille), selling nearly two million copies annually with sales totaling over 140 million copies worldwide, it has become one of the best-selling books ever published.
8. Dream of the Red Chamber (Cao Xueqin)
A Chinese literary masterpiece, this novel has enjoyed immense popularity and is estimated to have sold over 100 million copies.
A monumental work of Chinese literature, Dream of the Red Chamber offers a complex and detailed portrayal of life in a wealthy aristocratic family. Known for its intricate plot and vivid characters, it is considered one of the greatest novels ever written.
The Story of the Stone (c. 1760), also known by the title of The Dream of the Red Chamber, is the great novel of manners in Chinese literature.
Divided into five volumes, The Story of the Stone charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family. This novel re-creates the ritualized hurly-burly of Chinese family life that would otherwise be lost and infuses it with affirming Buddhist belief.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
9. And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie)
One of the best-selling mystery novels of all time, with estimated sales of over 100 million copies.
Agatha Christie’s classic mystery novel is a gripping tale of ten strangers invited to an isolated island, only to be murdered one by one. The book is renowned for its intricate plot and unexpected twists.
"And Then There Were None" is a gripping mystery novel that takes readers on a suspenseful journey to a secluded island. Ten strangers, each with a dark secret, are lured to the island under mysterious circumstances. As they gather, they discover that their enigmatic host is absent, and they are accused of crimes they thought were hidden. Stranded on the island and cut off from the outside world, they find themselves facing a series of eerie deaths that mirror an unsettling nursery rhyme. Paranoia and fear intensify as they realize that the killer must be among them. With tension mounting and trust shattering, the characters must confront their pasts and work together to uncover the truth before they all meet a deadly fate. Agatha Christie's masterful storytelling weaves a web of intrigue, guilt, and suspicion, keeping readers guessing until the final revelation.
10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (J.K. Rowling)
The first book in the wildly popular Harry Potter series has sold over 120 million copies.
The first book in J.K. Rowling’s beloved Harry Potter series introduced readers to the magical world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The story follows young Harry Potter as he discovers his magical abilities and confronts the dark wizard Lord Voldemort.
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!
Conclusion
Determining the absolute bestselling book of all time is a complex challenge due to factors like historical record-keeping and varying distribution methods. However, these ten books provide a glimpse into the timeless and universally beloved works of literature. That they remain popular over time shows how influential written words can be in inspiring, entertaining, and stimulating thinking.