At the peak of its popularity from the mid1960s to the mid1970s, it was the most printed book in the world. The world s most widely distributed book the bible is the most widely read book in history. This page provides lists of bestselling individual books and book series to date and in any language. The bay psalm book dates from the year 1640, and is the first book ever printed in british north america. Jan 14, 2009 the bible is the most printed and read book in the world. By the time the red guard publication appeared, maos little red book had been published in numbers sufficient to supply a copy to every chinese citizen in a population of more than 740 million. Imagine knowing what will happen with a relationship before you get involved. What is the most published book in the world answers. 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.
In fact, the very first book printed in english was a translation. 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. Made in 868 ad and written in chinese, the text contains a significant dialogue on perception, and is one of the most important sacred works of the buddhist faith. How the west embraced chairman maos little red book. The diamond sutra, a buddhist book from dunhuang, china from around 868 a. The book is considered one of the most influential pieces of spanish. 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. Read about the most popular books in history at howstuffworks. What is the number one most printed book in the world. But to get you started, here, in all its glory, is the alltime, ultimate top top 10 list, derived from the top 10 lists of 125 of the world s most celebrated writers combined. What was the first english language book to be printed. Do you know how many species would lose their habitats. For instance, adults with a high school diploma or less are far more likely than those with a bachelors or advanced degree to report not reading books in any format in the 12 months before the survey 44% vs.
Researchers have collated the figures for the number of editions, translations and copies sold of the world s most popular books these are the most loved tomes. The oracle the most powerful book in the world among many other things it has been called the most powerful book in the world because it gives you the power to look into the future before you make a decision. As of june 2017, the series has been translated into 80 languages, placing harry potter among historys most translated literary works. The world economic forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. To make for easy reading weve ranked the most popular novels below. And in a 2005 update he estimated that ikea had actually overtaken the bible. The third highest selling print is quotations from chairman mao tsetung, a book of. Despite the rise of digital platforms and the rising popularity of ereading devices such as kindle, kobo and others, printed books still remain the most popular book format in the u.
More copies have been distributed of the bible than of any other book. Books the alltime most popular books in the world revealed. Chapman created the list by examining how many individual copies of the books had been printed and sold over the last 50 years. The 21 bestselling books of all time howstuffworks. The earliest sale on the list is of the gospels of henry the lion, in 1983. Asked in books and literature when was the world book published. Robert chaplin is raising funds for the world s smallest book a large print edition on kickstarter. He found that the bible far outsold any other book, with a whopping 3. The bible tops the list of the most read books in the world. Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america.
What are the top 10 most printed books of all time. Nov 27, 20 media caption a close look at the world s most expensive printed book. Numbers indicate number of copies sold or printed 1. Found in a walled up cave in china along with other printed materials, the book is made up of chinese characters printed on a scroll of grey printed paper, wrapped along a wooden pole.
Nov 15, 20 researcher james chapman has compiled this look at the top 10 most read books in the world. First book printed in british north america is now worlds. The book has remained in the top slot in the uk bestseller lists for the 16th week running. The precision with which one can date the creation of this book is purely down to the fact that it gives us its publication datethe only such case on this list it is, according to the british library, where it now resides, the earliest example of a dated, printed book in the world.
Exact print figures for these and other books may also be missing or unreliable since these kinds of books may be produced by many different and unrelated. Additionally, these books have often been printed by a wide range of publishers over centuries, many of them unreported. According to the guinness book of world records, 2. Think of what would happen if all the trees were cut down to print the bible. Most scholars agree that the greatest works of world literature were. Best selling refers to the estimated number of copies sold of each book, rather than the number of books printed or currently. There are more and more people becoming christians all over the world, especially in antichristian nations like iraq, iran, china, north korea, and afghanistan. The 2010 edition of the catalogue is the worlds third most printed publication next to the bible and harry potter. The four hundredth anniversary of the printing of the first english bible is an event of great significance. The word bible comes from the greek word biblia meaning books. Mar 11, 2020 a copy of this book in the british library dates to the year 868 ce. Writer james chapman created a list of the most read books in the world based on the number of copies each book.
The 10 most expensive books in the world flavorwire. But martin roth wrote an article in 2002 where he was pretty sure that ikea was close to beating the bible in regard of worldwide distribution. May 09, 2012 most read books in the world as of may 2012 published by statista research department, may 9, 2012. The most widely printed book in history is the christian bible. The power of the printed word cannot be disputed, and many printed works have become extremely valuable. According to guinness world records as of 1995, the bible is the bestselling book of all time. The top 10 most read books in the world list challenges. The enduring power of print for learning in a digital world.
A buddhist holy text, the diamond sutra is considered to be the oldest surviving dated printed book in the world. The 2010 edition of the catalogue is the world s third most printed publication next to the bible and harry potter but martin roth wrote an article in 2002 where he was pretty sure that ikea was close to beating the bible in regard of worldwide distribution. The first edition of the world book encyclopedia was printed in 1917. The first novel in the series, harry potter and the philosophers stone, has sold in excess of 120 million copies, making it one of the bestselling books of all time. Best selling refers to the estimated number of copies sold of each book, rather than the number of books printed or currently owned. Here are some of the oldest surviving books in the world. 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. A journey into the milky way galaxy the most interesting galaxy in the universe documentary touch your heart 529 watching live now. The bible is the worlds bestselling book, having sold more than five. The alltime most popular books in the world revealed stylist. Top 10 most read books in the world based on number of books printed and sold over the last 50 years. Every church has hundreds upon hundreds, if not thousands of bibles. Equally incorrect are websites whose claims are based on the premise that a book is a printed object. Researcher james chapman has compiled this look at the top 10 mostread books in the world.
The bay psalm book was the first book printed in what became the united states and this copy was owned by the old south church in boston. The worlds most widely distributed book watchtower. These are the 12 most popular books of all time indy100. The holy texts of christianity and islam, respectively, these books have been printed billions of times. Comics and textbooks are not included in this list. Incorporated as a notforprofit foundation in 1971, and headquartered in geneva, switzerland, the forum is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. Thus the oldest book in the world must surely be the gutenberg bible oldest printed book in the west, from c. Nov 30, 20 a nondescript battered book filled with spelling errors just became the worlds most expensive printed book. The second and third books, fifty shades darker and fifty shades freed, are also selling fast, with uk sales of 3. Regardless of what you think of all the entries, if our want to understand the world around you and the people in it, reading these books cover to cover would be a good start. What quote is printed in the beginning of the book random hearts by warren adler one of the first pages before the story begins. Writer james chapman created a list of the most read books in the world based on the number of. The buddhist text known as the diamond sutra is believed to be the oldest surviving printed book in the world. Jan 28, 2016 the gutenberg bible is probably the most valuable book or type of book in the world.
What is the most printed book in the world answers. Most expensive printed book guinness world records. Researcher james chapman has compiled this look at the top 10 most read books in the world. Several demographic traits correlate with non book reading, pew research center surveys have found. List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia. The earliest printed book in the list is a southern song annotated woodblock edition of the book of tang printed c. The books are listed according to the highest sales estimate as reported in reliable, independent sources. The top 10 most published books of all time les listes.
The alltime most popular books in the world revealed posted by stylist team. Apr 11, 2007 i noticed that your answer to the top ten most printed books of all time is pulled from wikipedias best selling books of all time. The 20 most translated texts in history ingco international. 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. An 85page appendix providing enlightened summaries of all the works mentioned is worth the price of admission all on its own. Audobon is a noted illustrator who pioneered much of early wildlife research, and the books dimensions reflect his attention to detail. Although printed books remain the most popular means of reading, over the past decade e. The 20 most influential books in history world economic. Bible is the worlds bestselling and most widely distributed book. However, there are a couple of books that most experts agree are probably two of the most popular books of all time. I was frontpage news of many newspapers around the world.
The top 100 books of all time take a look at a list of the top 100 books of all time, nominated by writers from around the world, from things fall. 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. The 10 most read books in the world infographic business. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. The alltime most popular books in the world revealed.
Here, we look at some of the worlds most expensive printed books. Today, the worlds most translated book is the bible. The gutenberg bible is probably the most valuable book or type of book in the world. A survey by the bible society concluded that around 2. Quotations from chairman mao tsetung 1964 by mao zendong 800. No, the bible is not the most read book in the world, it is the most printed book in the world. The answer is quite surprising at first, but not that unexpected when you think about it. A childrens fable certified by guinness world records as the smallest book ever reproduced in a colorful large print edition. Harper lee s new novel go set a watchman, the followup to to kill a mockingbird, is. The bible has also been translated more times, and into more languages, than any other book. Bible is the best book ever published and its the first book in the world to be printed and its the best book to read. Dec 28, 2012 the most read book in the world is the bible.