In case you need a new read, here's a list of the best selling books of all time, including fiction and nonfiction best sellers. What are the best selling books of all time? Since religious and political books, such as The Holy Bible, are often given away for free, they have not been included on this list. These top selling books of all time span multiple centuries, covering many genres (like horror and romance), writers, and original languages. And if you think Harry Potter or Twilight top this list, think again, they're not even close. What books sell the most? That said, the most popular books are indeed novels, with the most popular published volumes going through multiple editions and reprints. What are the best selling books in history? A few nonfiction texts can also be found, but they are few and far between. If one enjoys reading, these are the best sellers of all bestsellers, as well as the answer to the question "what are the best selling books of all time?"
If you like this best seller book list, be sure to check out Ranker's other lists like the 100 Books with the Catchiest First Lines.
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A Tale of Two Cities
Charles DickensFirst Published: 1859
Subjects: Literary, French Revolution, Revenge, English Language, German Language
Genres (Book): Fiction, Novel, Historical novel, Social criticism
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 200 millionA Tale of Two Cities is a novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during... more
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The Lord of the Rings
J. R. R. TolkienFirst Published: 1954-07-29
Subjects: Literary, Epic film, Literature, Classics, Drama
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Chivalric romance, Fiction, Adventure fiction, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 150 millionThe Lord of the Rings is an epic high-fantasy novel written by English author J. R. R.... more3
The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-ExupéryFirst Published: 1943
Genres (Book): Novel
Original Language: French Language
Copies Sold: 140 million
The Little Prince, first published in 1943, is a novella and the most famous work of the... more4
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
J. K. RowlingFirst Published: 1997-06-26
Subjects: Wizards, Education, Adventure, Friendship, Schools
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Fiction, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 120 million
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the first novel in the Harry Potter series and J.... more5
The Hobbit
J. R. R. TolkienFirst Published: 1937-09-21
Subjects: Wizards, Literary, Epic film, Literature, Classics
Genres (Book): Children's literature, Fiction, Epic, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 100 millionThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again is a fantasy novel and children's book by English author... more6
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis CarrollFirst Published: 1865
Copies Sold: 100 million
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (commonly shortened to Alice in Wonderland) is an 1865 novel... more7
Dream of the Red Chamber
Cao XueqinGenres (Book): Novel
Original Language: Chinese language
Copies Sold: 100 millionDream of the Red Chamber, also called The Story of the Stone, composed by Cao Xueqin, is one... more8
And Then There Were None
Agatha ChristieFirst Published: 1939-11-06
Genres (Book): Crime Fiction, Suspense, Children's literature, Mystery, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 100 millionAnd Then There Were None is a mystery novel by English writer Agatha Christie, described by... more9
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
C. S. LewisFirst Published: 1950
Subjects: Evacuations of civilians in Britain during World War II
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 85 millionThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a high fantasy novel for children by C. S. Lewis,... more10
She: A History of Adventure
H. Rider HaggardFirst Published: 1887
Subjects: Literary, Literature, Reincarnation, Classics, Women
Genres (Book): Romance novel, Speculative fiction, Chivalric romance, Fiction, Gothic fiction
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 83 millionShe — subtitled A History of Adventure — is a novel by H. Rider Haggard, first serialised in... more11
The Da Vinci Code
Dan BrownFirst Published: 2003-04
Subjects: Fibonacci number, Espionage, Suspense, Adventure, English Language
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Crime Fiction, Conspiracy fiction, Suspense, Mystery
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 80 millionThe Da Vinci Code is a 2003 mystery-detective novel by Dan Brown. It follows symbologist... more12
The Adventures of Pinocchio
Carlo CollodiFirst Published: 1883
Subjects: Pinocchio, Adventure
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Humour, Children's literature, Fiction, Fantasy
Original Language: Italian Language
Copies Sold: 80 million
The Adventures of Pinocchio is a novel for children by Italian author Carlo Collodi, written... more13
The Catcher in the Rye
J. D. SalingerFirst Published: 1951-07-16
Subjects: Popular literature, Teenage rebellion, Literature, Human sexuality, Psychological identity
Genres (Book): First-person narrative, Sports, Bildungsroman, Fiction, Novel
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 65 millionThe Catcher in the Rye is a 1951 novel by J. D. Salinger. A controversial novel originally... more14
The Alchemist
Paulo CoelhoFirst Published: 1988
Subjects: Literary, Mythology, New Age, Literature, Visionary
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Quest, Drama, Historical fiction, Fiction
Original Language: Portuguese Language
Copies Sold: 65 millionThe Alchemist (Portuguese: O Alquimista) is a novel by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho that was... more15
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J. K. RowlingFirst Published: 2007-07-21
Subjects: Wizards, Education, Literature, Coming of age, Schools
Genres (Book): Bildungsroman, Magic realism, Mystery, Thriller, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 65 million
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the seventh and final novel of the Harry Potter... more16
Steps to Christ
Ellen G. WhiteFirst Published: 1892
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 60 millionSteps to Christ is an evangelistic book written by Ellen G. White, co-founder and prophetess... more17
Copies Sold: 50 million18
The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care
Benjamin SpockFirst Published: 1946-07-14
Subjects: Parenting, Child care, Psychology
Copies Sold: 50 millionThe Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care written by Benjamin Spock, is a manual on infant... more19
Anne of Green Gables
Lucy Maud MontgomeryFirst Published: 1908-06
Genres (Book): Children's literature, Novel
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 50 millionAnne of Green Gables is a 1908 novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. Written for all... more20
Black Beauty
Anna SewellFirst Published: 1877-11-24
Subjects: Literary, Horse, 19th century, Places, Literary criticism
Genres (Book): Children's literature, Fiction, Novel
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 50 millionBlack Beauty is an 1877 novel by English author Anna Sewell. It was composed in the last years... more21
The Name of the Rose
Umberto EcoFirst Published: 1980
Subjects: Literary, Literature, Classics, Italy, History
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Suspense, Historical fiction, Historical whodunnit, Mystery
Original Language: Italian Language
Copies Sold: 50 millionThe Name of the Rose, a novel by Umberto Eco, is a murder mystery set in an Italian monastery... more22
Charlotte's Web
E. B. WhiteFirst Published: 1952
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 50 million
Charlotte's Web is a children's novel by American author E. B. White and illustrated by Garth... more23
Copies Sold: 50 million
24
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Beatrix PotterFirst Published: 1902
Subjects: Medical, Games, Rabbits, Classics, Adventure
Genres (Book): Picture book, Children's literature, Fiction, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
Copies Sold: 45 millionThe Tale of Peter Rabbit is a British children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix... more25
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Richard BachSubjects: Classics, Literary
Genres (Book): Fiction
Copies Sold: 40 millionJonathan Livingston Seagull is 1973 film directed by Hall Bartlett.... more
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