The world’s first bestseller list, which was based purely on sales figures, had been published in an American magazine as long ago as 1895. Quantity, not quality, is the decisive factor in a bestseller list. As time went on, the bestseller lists were increasingly diversified, and now there are lists for fiction and nonfiction, for hardcover and paperback.
Looking at a perpetual bestseller list, unsurprisingly religious writings are right at the top in terms of sales figures; with two to three million copies sold, the Bible is right at the top, closely followed by the book “Words of Chairman Mao Tse-tung” and the Koran. However, which famous novels have actually been sold the most and are quite likely to be on your own bookshelf? Stay tuned as we will take a look at the 10 best seller books of all time.
Sacrilege – The Da Vinci Code
It was a novel that held the world in suspense. The debut work by author Dan Brown thrilled millions of people and some 60 million copies were sold. This book combines nerve-wracking suspense with historical facts – sometimes more, sometimes less accurately documented – and was criticized especially by the Catholic Church.
Not surprisingly, everyone wanted to read the book so that they could have a say in the matter. Starring Tom Hanks, the story of Robert Langdon, a symbolic researcher who is hired as a consultant for murder in Paris, mixes fiction and fact in an entertaining way and was also a success at the box office.
The Catcher in the Rye
Some may remember this book by David Sallinger from their school days in English class. Considered a classic, the book describes the life of the first-person narrator Holden Caulfield, who was expelled from school, doesn’t dare go home for three days because of it, and wanders around New York. The book appeals to more than just pubescent schoolchildren, as evidenced by the 65 million copies sold. Stay tuned for more books in our list of 10 best seller books of all time.
The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho’s book has also sold 65 million copies. Coelho is one of the ten most widely read authors in the world. “The Alchemist” first came out in 1988 and – after some initial difficulties – turned out to be a huge success. This book tells the story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd on his way to Egypt to recover a treasure. During his journey, he meets many spiritual people and learns through deep conversations that he does not have to look for a treasure, but that it is already inside him.
The Little Prince
Everybody knows the Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. You can read this book, of which 80 million copies have been sold, both as a child and as an adult, and get a great deal of spiritual wisdom from it. This book has been translated into 180 languages, the most famous sentence being “One sees well only with the heart, the essentials are invisible to the eyes.” Stay tuned for more books in our list of 10 best seller books of all time.
The King of Narnia
The first – and by no means the last – fantasy book to make it to the top of this list has sold 85 million copies. Together with J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis is considered the founder of fantasy literature. He created his “Chronicles of Narnia,” a world all its own that can be accessed through the back of a closet. A relentless battle between good and evil rages in Narnia, and the children Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy join King Aslan to fight for the good cause. Its second volume, “The King of Narnia” is the best-selling volume in the Narnia series.
And Then There Were None
Without a mystery novel, Mimi won’t go to bed- so why not turn to a true classic like Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”? This 26th work by Agatha Christie features many familiar characters, including Miss Marple. Published in 1939, the novel has now reached a circulation of 100 million. This book is a must-read for fans of thrilling detective stories. A stranger invites ten people to a desert island, but when one guest after another dies, no one believes it was an accident and panic sets in.
Dive Into the Dark World of Harlan Coben’s Fool Me Once: “Get captivated by the latest Harlan Coben thriller, ‘Fool Me Once.’ Check out our comprehensive Fool Me Once review to learn about the series’ complex characters, intricate plot, and the dramatic journey of Maya Stern as she unravels the truth behind her husband’s mysterious death.”
The Hobbit
Before “The Lord of the Rings” comes first the hobbit Bilbo Baggins and his wild adventure with the dwarves. It was with this novel that J.R.R. Tolkien brought Middle Earth to life. In fact, Tolkien invented the adventurous story of Bilbo, Gandalf and Thorin for his children, so the success of now 100 million copies sold surprised even the author. Stay tuned for more books in our list of 10 best seller books of all time.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
It seems that the fantasy genre is one of the best-selling, as this well-known book by Joanne K. Rowling is also a magical one. Indeed, the first volume of the series about Harry, Hermione, Ron and Hogwarts sold 107 million copies, and in total the novels reached a circulation of 400 million. This success and the film adaptation of the books have made Rowling the best-earning author in the world. The author has donated a large part of her fortune, however.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is the lifetime achievement of author J.R.R. Tolkien. Here, the battle for Middle Earth is at the center, and once again it is a hobbit, Frodo, who has to face down the mighty Sauron. However, he is supported by his companions. Humans, elves, dwarves, wizards and hobbits join forces to fight the dark force. This three-volume work was published in the mid-1950s and has since sold an incredible 150 million copies. Stay tuned for more books in our list of 10 best seller books of all time.
A Tale of Two Cities
With 200 million copies sold, the most successful novel of all time is, however, “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens from 1859. Dickens tells the life of Dr Manettte, his daughter Lucie and her husband Charles Darnay in the novel, which takes place in Paris and London at the time of the French Revolution.
For years, Dr Manette was held innocently in the Bastille, so his daughter Lucie sets herself the goal of freeing her father. She is assisted by the young lawyer Sydney Carton, always a little drunk, and he falls madly in love with her. In the end, his love runs so deep that he even mounts the scaffold in her father’s place and is executed.
Do you know any other best seller books of all time that aren’t in our list? Let us know in the comments section below.
