Some people say that in this post-modern world reading is no longer an integrated habit, and some of the best-selling books of all time are certainly not Pulitzer Prize material. However, these stories are some of the most enticing ever created, featuring legendary characters, dramatic plots and a certain magic that makes a best-seller. From children’s books to epic fantasy tales, and literature classics, the novels on this list have managed to break sales records and are the most recognizable stories in the world.
While the internet era brought on the creation of a digital book format – check out our previous article on the top 7 best-selling e-books – print editions remain an audience favourite. Maybe it’s the feel of paper on your fingertips, or the book cover designs that keep us running back to the bookstore. Either way, the best-selling books of all time have been passed on from one generation to the next and should therefore definitely be on your reading list.
8. The Da Vinci Code
Author: Dan Brown
Copies sold: 80 million
This mystery novel about a murder that unveils a conspiracy of hidden secrets on behalf of the Catholic Church became extremely popular in no time. And after the Catholic Institution denounced it and Tom Hanks accepted to play the lead role in the film adaptation, readers became even more interested, rushing to buy their copy of the novel.
7. The Little Prince
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Copies sold: 90 million
When this charming tale of a prince that lives on an asteroid first hit the book stores in 1943 it became one of the best-selling stories in France. However, the children’s book quickly caught the attention of adult readers as well, given its playful analysis of human morals, and was soon one of the most sought-after books in the world.
6. And Then There Were None
Author: Agatha Christie
Copies sold: 100 million
Agatha Christie’s collection of mystery novels is so legendary, that she was titled the world’s best-selling author, with 1 billion sold copies, by the Guinness Book of World Records. This particular story, first published in 1939, recounts a series of murders that occur on an island and the detective must decipher each crime in relation to an old nursery rhyme.
5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
Copies sold: 107 million
It’s safe to say that the Harry Potter novels redefined the reading habits of an entire generation, and as such, they’re obviously featured on our list of the best-selling books of all time. While all of the stories were a success, the first of these, published in 1997, began the hype by introducing 11-year old Harry Potter into the modern wizard world and, of course, Hogwarts.
4. The Lord of the Rings
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Copies sold: 150 million
Possibly the ultimate adult fantasy novel, the quest of Frodo Baggins and company to destroy a magical ring in the dark land of Mordor has been rocking the best-seller lists for decades. The books became even more popular after their Academy Award winning film adaptations, but what only true fans know is that this tale was originally written as one entire manuscript, and divided into three parts by the published later on.
3. A Tale of Two Cities
Author: Charles Dickens
Copies sold: 200 million
The second oldest book on our countdown was published in 1859 and is a standard requisite on most high school curriculums in the U.S. Charles Dickens takes a closer look at the class struggles that lead to the French Revolution and focuses particularly on the downside of being a revolutionary.
2. Xinhua Zidian
Copies sold: 400 million
I’m sure most of you have never even heard of this book before and are wondering how it landed on this list. But the truth is, that this standard language (Mandarin) dictionary is the most commonly used amongst Chinese schoolchildren, and with 400 million sold copies, lands on number two of our compilation.
1. Don Quixote
Author: Miguel de Cervantes
Copies sold: 500 million
Headlining our list of the best-selling books of all time is Miguel de Cervantes tale of a man that reads so much about knights that he decides to become one. The oldest novel, published in 1612, follows Quixote around Spain as he lives out his dream of being a knight. A classic piece of literary culture that everyone should enjoy at some point in time.
