Guinness world records estimates that over five billion copies of the bible have been sold, making it the bestselling book of all time. While the novel enjoys surges in popularity now and then, especially in spain, the sales number is a guess. The bible, which ranks as the worlds mostread book, has sold 3. One answer the holy bible has been read by more people in its many translations than any other book. Turns out the koran is top of the pops getty its not exactly a ripping yarn, but the koran is the most popular book of all time. The bible has been translated into 349 languages, and a survey conducted by the bible society concluded that between 1815 and 1975, around 2. And then it is only a vague guess, probably inflated by the xtains. After the bible, which book has sold the most copies. At one time mein kampf was the number one produced book in germany. Even though the bible has been translated, published, read, studied, analyzed, bought, sold and given away freely since then, particularly in the english speaking world, it is still banned in many communities. Researcher james chapman has compiled this look at the top 10 mostread books in the world. The bible is easily one of the best selling books of all time, but exact sales numbers are hard to nail down. To make the bible the most printed book you have to add up all its flavors.
The quotations from chairman mao tsetung, also known as the little red book, has produced a wide array of sales and distribution figures with estimates ranging from 800 million to over 6. This debut book by ernest cline was released in 2011 and soon became a. It addresses inward, private thoughts and feelings, as well as outward, publicly expressed words and actions. The anser is the book when bad things happen to good people written by harold kushner. The bible tops the list of the most read books in the world.
The bible is the most widely distributed and bestselling book in the world. As more people seek education, the demand for knowledge increases and authors are striving to fulfill the demand. Although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, there is little doubt that the bible is the worlds bestselling and most widely distributed book. In order to create our list of the top bible translations in 2018, we checked resources such as the christian book expo, thoughtco, calvary chapel eastside church and bible sources for the most. Unsurprisingly, the most popular book of all time has an interesting history. The third group considered it as the mostprinted and mostdistributed book. Because of the wealth of resources devoted to the project, it was the most faithful and scholarly translation to date. List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia. Why the king james bible of 1611 remains the most popular. Many devout christians are quick to assert that the holy bible is. The new testament is available in 2,191 languages, while the old and new testaments together can be read in 670 languages. The religious text has been translated into 50 different. Yes, the bible is still the best seller in the world and it is the only book inspired by god 2peter 1. First, harry potter sold 450 million copies as a series, not as a single book.
Because religious texts are often translated into many foreign languages and distributed widely by churches, however, precise figures are hard to come by. Rhe book has helped millions of people face tragedy, loss and catastrophe and emerge from it stronger, wiser, and more connected to god and their own families and friends. Scholars can debate endlessly over which book is the best of all time, but finding out which ones have enjoyed the most commercial success should be a more concrete endeavor. Kjv holy bible, large print compact bible, tan faux leather bible wribbon marker, red letter edition, king james version.
If you would like to learn more about the bible and its author, jehovah god, i highly encourage you to visit. Published in 1611, the king james bible spread quickly throughout europe. Bible most owned, least read book in history ledgerenquirer. What is the second best selling book of all time after. We can just look at the sales numbers and rank them. The books phenomenal popularity may be because it was essentially an unofficial requirement for every chinese citizen to own, to read, and to carry it at all times during the latter half of maos rule, especially during. It is also the most widely and given some of the liberties taken, wildly translated book of all time, too. Also, it is worth noting that some religious and political books such as the bible. Another group upheld it as the worlds mostread books.
Bestselling books are ranked by number of copies sold, not my personal ratings. Is the bible still the bestselling book in the world. Stockbyte getty images scholars can debate endlessly over which book is the best of all time, but finding out which ones have enjoyed the most commercial success should be a more concrete endeavor. One group claimed the bible as the worlds bestselling book. The most popular book of all time christian universities. There is, of course, no way to tally sales from the 1600s, so although some sources suggest that this has sold 500 million copies, theres no way anyone could.
Additionally, since the bible is sold worldwide, calculating exact numbers becomes tricky. Its the most widely read, most fiercely debated, and most often quoted book in history. The bible has sold billions of copies and is the best selling book of all time. Over 100 million bibles are sold or given away for free every year in the world, according to the economist.
According to guinness world records as of 1995, the bible is the bestselling book of all time, with an estimated 5 billion copies sold and distributed. Excluding the bible, business insider did a great chart on this as of 2012 thats unfortunately not quite right, but well get to that in a moment. A survey by the bible society concluded that around 2. The book of psalms easily wins, probably because it is both the longest book in the bible 150 chapters and it covers every human emotion and every circumstance in life. He found that the bible far outsold any other book, with a whopping 3. What is the most widely read book in the world answers. According to guinness world records as of 1995, the bible is the best selling book of all time, with an estimated 5 billion copies sold and distributed. Thousands of books are written, published and distributed every day.
Calculating how many bibles are sold in the united states is a. The 21 bestselling books of all time howstuffworks. The second bestselling book of all time crisis magazine. Its complexity can boggle great minds, and yet its simplicity can be understood by children. Written by one of the most celebrated bible teachers in america, the jeremiah study bible nkjv provides readers a deeper understanding of the scripture for an effective relationship with god. The huffington post article actually named 16 books that have sold the most copies worldwide, noting that the bible is the top seller in the world. More than 2,100 languages have at least one book of the bible in that language. The familiar observation that the bible is the bestselling book of all time obscures a more startling fact. The bible remains the worlds most translated book, with at least one book now available in a staggering 3,312 languages. As you can see from the graphic below created by designer jared fanning, the bible leads the countdown by a large margin.
Chapman created the list by examining how many individual copies of the books had been printed and sold over the last 50 years. The bible is easily one of the bestselling books of all time, but exact sales numbers are hard to nail down. In 1995, one version of the bible, the good news version that is ed by the bible societies, had sold nearly 18 million copies. Between 1815 and 1975, it was estimated that there could have been 5 billion bibles printed. Quotations from chairman mao authored by mao zedong book sales.
However, many more copies have been given away for free, meaning the actual number of bibles in circulation is unknown. Is bible the worlds bestselling or mostread or most. Other than the bible, which is the far and away the bestselling christian book of all time with sales in the billions, here is my list for your consideration. The bible is the most influential book in american history and contemporary american life.
Here are a number of ways that the bible, in its many translations can be considered the most. With thousands of translations, over forty original authors, and a two millennium history, lets take a look at the trails, tribulations, changes, and status of the worlds most popular book. In the 1980s and 90s it sold more copies than any book but the bible. Sure, the best selling book of alltime is, of course, the bible.
The familiar observation that the bible is the bestselling book of all time. But in spite of the bans and the persecution the bible still enjoys the greatest popularity of any book ever produced in human language. Brett buckner is an independent correspondent and can be. What does that mean anyway if it was produced in the biggest number. 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. The book with most sales in 2018 across all formats on, and in amazon books stores was a sciencefiction novel ready player one. Hebrew, greek, aramaic many copies of the holy bible have been freely given away during missionary work. Researcher james chapman has compiled this look at the top 10 most read books in the world.
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