List of best-selling books

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This page provides lists of best-selling books and book series to date and in any language. "Best-selling" refers to the estimated number of copies sold of each book, rather than the number of books printed or currently owned. Comics and textbooks are not included in this list. The books are listed according to the highest sales estimate as reported in reliable, independent sources.

According to Guinness World Records, as of 1995, the Bible was the best-selling book of all time, with an estimated 5 billion copies sold and distributed.[1] Sales estimates for other printed religious texts include at least 800 million copies for the Qur'an and 200 million copies for the Book of Mormon.[2] Also, a single publisher has produced more than 162.1 million copies of the Bhagavad Gita. The total number could be much higher considering the widespread distribution and publications by ISKCON. The ISKCON has distributed about 503.39 million Bhagavad Gita since 1965.[3][4] Among non-religious texts, the Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung, also known as the Little Red Book, has produced a wide array of sales and distribution figures—with estimates ranging from 800 million[1] to over 6.5 billion printed volumes.[5] Some claim the distribution ran into the "billions"[6] and some cite "over a billion" official volumes between 1966 and 1969 alone as well as "untold numbers of unofficial local reprints and unofficial translations".[7][8] 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 publishers, in some cases over many centuries. All books of a religious, ideological, philosophical or political nature have thus been excluded from the lists of best-selling books below for these reasons.

Many books lack comprehensive sales figures as book selling and reselling figures prior to the introduction of point of sale equipment was based on the estimates of book sellers, publishers or the authors themselves. For example, one of the one volume Harper Collins editions of The Lord of the Rings was recorded to have sold only 967,466 copies in the UK by 2009 (the source does not cite the start date),[9] but at the same time the author's estate claimed global sales figures of in excess of 150 million. Accurate figures are only available from the 1990s[citation needed] and in western nations such as US, UK, Canada and Australia, although figures from the US are available from the 1940s. Further, e-books have not been included as out of copyright texts are often available free in this format. Examples of books with claimed high sales include The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas,[10] Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes,[11] Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en[12] and The Lord of the Rings[13] (which has been sold as both a three volume series, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, as a single combined volume and as a six volume set in a slipcase) by J. R. R. Tolkien. Hence, in cases where there is too much uncertainty, they are excluded from the list.

Having sold more than 600 million copies worldwide,[14] Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling is the best-selling book series in history. The first novel in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, has sold in excess of 120 million copies,[15] making it one of the best-selling books of all time. As of June 2017, the series has been translated into 85 languages,[16] placing Harry Potter among history's most translated literary works. The last four books in the series consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books of all time, and the final installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, sold roughly fifteen million copies worldwide within twenty-four hours of its release.[17][18] With twelve million books printed in the first US run, it also holds the record for the highest initial print run for any book in history.[19][20]

Key

  Nonfiction

List of best-selling individual books

More than 100 million copies

More information Book, Author(s) ...
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Between 50 million and 100 million copies

More information Book, Author(s) ...
BookAuthor(s)Original languageFirst publishedApproximate salesGenre
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe C.S. Lewis English 1950 85 million[36] Fantasy, children's fiction
She: A History of AdventureH. Rider HaggardEnglish188783 million[37]Adventure
The Da Vinci CodeDan BrownEnglish200380 million[38]Mystery thriller
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets J. K. Rowling English 1998 77 million[39] Fantasy, children's fiction
The Catcher in the RyeJ. D. SalingerEnglish195165 million[40]Coming-of-age
The Bridges of Madison CountyRobert James WallerEnglish199260 million[41]Romance
One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien años de soledad)Gabriel García MárquezSpanish196750 million[42][43][44]Magic realism
LolitaVladimir NabokovEnglish195550 million[45]Novel
HeidiJohanna SpyriGerman188050 million[46]Children's fiction
The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child CareBenjamin SpockEnglish194650 million[47]Manual
Anne of Green GablesLucy Maud MontgomeryEnglish190850 million[48]Children's novel
Black BeautyAnna SewellEnglish187750 million[49]Children's literature
The Name of the Rose (Il Nome della Rosa)Umberto EcoItalian198050 million[50]Historical novel, mystery
The Eagle Has LandedJack HigginsEnglish197550 million[51]War, thriller
Watership DownRichard AdamsEnglish197250 million[52]Children's fiction
The Hite ReportShere HiteEnglish197650 million[53]nonfiction
Charlotte's WebE. B. WhiteEnglish195250 million[54]Children's fiction
The Ginger ManJ. P. DonleavyEnglish195550 million[55]Novel
The Purpose Driven LifeRick WarrenEnglish200250 million[56]Philosophical Manual
Close

Between 20 million and 50 million copies

More information Book, Author(s) ...
BookAuthor(s)Original languageFirst publishedApproximate salesGenre
The Tale of Peter RabbitBeatrix PotterEnglish190245 million[57]Children's literature
Jonathan Livingston SeagullRichard BachEnglish197044 million[58]Novella, self-help
The Very Hungry CaterpillarEric CarleEnglish196943 million[59]Children's literature, picture book
A Message to GarciaElbert HubbardEnglish189940 million[47]Essay/literature
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper LeeEnglish196040 million[60]Southern Gothic, Bildungsroman
Flowers in the AtticV. C. AndrewsEnglish197940 million[61]Gothic horror, family saga
CosmosCarl SaganEnglish198040 million[62]Popular science, anthropology, astrophysics, cosmology, philosophy, history
Sophie's World (Sofies verden)Jostein GaarderNorwegian199140 million[63]Philosophical novel, Young adult
Angels & DemonsDan BrownEnglish200039 million[64]mystery-thriller
Alcoholics AnonymousWilliam Griffith WilsonEnglish1939over 37 million[65]Self-help
Kane and AbelJeffrey ArcherEnglish197937 million[66]Novel
How the Steel Was Tempered (Как закалялась сталь)Nikolai OstrovskyRussian193236.4 million copies in USSR[67]Socialist realist novel
War and Peace (Война и мир)Leo TolstoyRussian186936 million copies in Russia[67]Historical novel
The Adventures of Pinocchio (Le avventure di Pinocchio)Carlo CollodiItalian188135 million[68][69][better source needed]Fantasy, children's fiction
The Diary of Anne Frank (Het Achterhuis)Anne FrankDutch194735 million[70]Historical non-fiction, autobiography, memoir, bildungsroman / coming of age, Jewish literature
Your Erroneous ZonesWayne DyerEnglish197635 million[71][72]Self-help
The Thorn BirdsColleen McCulloughEnglish197733 million[73]Romantic family saga
The Kite RunnerKhaled HosseiniEnglish200331.5 million[74]Bildungsroman, historical fiction
Valley of the DollsJacqueline SusannEnglish196631 million[75]Novel
How to Win Friends and Influence PeopleDale CarnegieEnglish1936Over 30 million[76][77]Self-help
The Great GatsbyF. Scott FitzgeraldEnglish192530 million ("around")[78]Novel, tragedy
Gone with the WindMargaret MitchellEnglish193630 million (est.)[79]Historical fiction
RebeccaDaphne du MaurierEnglish193830 million (est.)[80]Gothic novel
The Revolt of Mamie StoverWilliam Bradford HuieEnglish195130 million[81]Fiction
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Män som hatar kvinnor)Stieg LarssonSwedish200530 million[82]Fiction
The Lost SymbolDan BrownEnglish200930 million[83]Fiction
The Hunger GamesSuzanne CollinsEnglish200829 million in US[84]Young adult fiction
James and the Giant PeachRoald DahlEnglish196128 million[85]Children's novel
The Young Guard (Молодая гвардия)Alexander Alexandrovich FadeyevRussian194526 million copies in USSR[67]Young adult historical novel
Who Moved My Cheese?Spencer JohnsonEnglish199828[86] – 30[87] millionSelf-help, motivational, business fable, psychology, leadership, parable
A Brief History of TimeStephen HawkingEnglish198825 million[88]Popular science
Paul et VirginieJacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-PierreFrench178825 million[89]Novel
Lust for LifeIrving StoneEnglish193425 million[90]Biographical novel
The Wind in the WillowsKenneth GrahameEnglish190825 million[91]Children's literature
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleStephen R. CoveyEnglish198925 million[92]Self-help
Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window (窓ぎわのトットちゃん)Tetsuko KuroyanagiJapanese198125 million [93]Autobiographical novel
Virgin Soil Upturned (Поднятая целина)Mikhail SholokhovRussian193524 million copies in USSR[67]Novel
The Celestine ProphecyJames RedfieldEnglish199323 million[94]New-age spiritual novel
The Fault in Our StarsJohn GreenEnglish201223 million[95]Young adult romantic novel
The Girl on the Train Paula Hawkins English 2015 23 million[96]Thriller
The ShackWilliam P. YoungEnglish200722.5 million[97]Novel
Uncle Styopa (Дядя Стёпа)Sergey MikhalkovRussian193621 million copies in USSR[67]Children's Literature, picture book
The GodfatherMario PuzoEnglish196921 million[98]Crime novel
Love Story Erich Segal English 1970 21 million[99]Romance novel
Catching FireSuzanne CollinsEnglish200921 million in US[84]Young adult novel, adventure, dystopian, science fiction
MockingjaySuzanne CollinsEnglish201020 million in US[84]Young Adult novel, adventure, war, science fiction, action thriller
Kitchen (キッチン)Banana YoshimotoJapanese198820 million[100]Japanese novel
Andromeda Nebula (Туманность Андромеды)Ivan YefremovRussian195720 million[101]Science fiction novel
Gone Girl Gillian Flynn English 2012 20 million[102]Crime thriller novel
The Bermuda TriangleCharles BerlitzEnglish197420 million[103]
Things Fall Apart Chinua AchebeEnglish195820 million[104]Novel
Wolf Totem (狼图腾)Jiang RongChinese200420 million[105]Semi-autobiographical novel
The Happy Hooker: My Own StoryXaviera HollanderEnglish197120 million[106]Memoir
JawsPeter BenchleyEnglish197420 million[107]Thriller
Love You ForeverRobert MunschEnglish198620 million[108]Children's literature, picture book, fiction
The Women's RoomMarilyn FrenchEnglish197720 million[109]Feminist novel
What to Expect When You're ExpectingArlene Eisenberg and Heidi MurkoffEnglish198420 million[110]Pregnancy guide
Adventures of Huckleberry FinnMark TwainEnglish188520 million[111]Picaresque novel, Bildungsroman, satire, Robinsonade
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾Sue TownsendEnglish198220 million[112]Young adult novel
Pride and PrejudiceJane AustenEnglish181320 million[113][114]Classic regency novel, romance
Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft (Kon-Tiki ekspedisjonen)Thor HeyerdahlNorwegian195020 million[115]Travel literature
The Good Soldier Švejk (Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka za světové války)Jaroslav HašekCzech192320 million (printed)[116]Unfinished satirical dark comedy novel
Where the Wild Things AreMaurice SendakEnglish196320 million[117]Children's picture book
The Power of Positive ThinkingNorman Vincent PealeEnglish195220 million[118]Self-help
The SecretRhonda ByrneEnglish200620 million[119]Self-help
Fear of FlyingErica JongEnglish197320 million[120]Romantic novel
DuneFrank HerbertEnglish196520 million[121]Science fiction novel
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl English 1964 20 million[122]Children's fantasy novel
The Naked Ape Desmond Morris English 1968 20 million[123]Social Science, Anthropology, Psychology
Kokoro (こゝろ) Natsume Sōseki Japanese 1914 20 million (as of 1994)[124] Novel
Close

Between 10 million and 20 million copies

More information Book, Author(s) ...
BookAuthor(s)Original
language
First
published
Approx. salesGenre
Where the Crawdads Sing Delia Owens English 2018 18 million[125] Coming-of-age, murder mystery
Follow Your Heart (Va' dove ti porta il cuore)Susanna TamaroItalian199418 million[126]Sentimental, epistolary novel
MatildaRoald DahlEnglish198817 million[127]Children's literature
The Book ThiefMarkus ZusakEnglish200516 million[128]Young adult fiction
The Horse WhispererNicholas EvansEnglish199516 million[129]
Goodnight MoonMargaret Wise BrownEnglish194716 million[130]Children's literature
The Neverending Story (Die unendliche Geschichte)Michael EndeGerman197916 million[131]Children's literature
All the Light We Cannot SeeAnthony DoerrEnglish201415.3 million[132]Historical fiction, war novel
Fifty Shades of GreyE. L. JamesEnglish201115.2 million in the U.S.[133]Erotica
The Outsiders S. E. Hinton English 1967 15 million[134]
Guess How Much I Love YouSam McBratneyEnglish199415 million[135]
ShōgunJames ClavellEnglish197515 million[136]
The Poky Little PuppyJanette Sebring LowreyEnglish194215 million[137]
The Pillars of the EarthKen FollettEnglish198915 million[138]Historical fiction
Perfume (Das Parfum)Patrick SüskindGerman198515 million[139]
The Grapes of WrathJohn SteinbeckEnglish193915 million[140]
The Shadow of the Wind (La sombra del viento)Carlos Ruiz ZafónSpanish200115 million[141]
Interpreter of MaladiesJhumpa LahiriEnglish200015 million[142]
BecomingMichelle ObamaEnglish201814 million[143]
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyDouglas AdamsEnglish197914 million[144]Science fiction
Tuesdays with MorrieMitch AlbomEnglish199714 million[145]
God's Little AcreErskine CaldwellEnglish193314 million[146]
A Wrinkle in TimeMadeleine L'EngleEnglish196214 million[147]
Long Walk to FreedomNelson MandelaEnglish199414 million[148]
The Old Man and the SeaErnest HemingwayEnglish195213 million[67]
Life After LifeRaymond MoodyEnglish197513 million[149]
MomoMichael EndeGerman197313 million[150]Children's literature
Peyton Place Grace MetaliousEnglish195612.1 million[151]
The GiverLois LowryEnglish199312 million[152][153]Dystopian fiction
Me Before YouJojo MoyesEnglish201212 million[154]
Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森)Haruki MurakamiJapanese198712 million[155]
The Plague (La Peste)Albert CamusFrench194712 million[156]
No Longer Human (人間失格)Osamu DazaiJapanese194812 million[157]
Man's Search for Meaning (Ein Psychologe erlebt das Konzentrationslager)Viktor FranklGerman194612 million[158]
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck Mark Manson English 2016 12 million[159][160]
The Divine Comedy (La Divina Commedia)Dante AlighieriItalian130411–12 million
(during the 20th century)[161]
The ProphetKahlil GibranEnglish192311 million[162]
The Boy in the Striped PyjamasJohn BoyneEnglish200611 million[163]
The ExorcistWilliam Peter BlattyEnglish197111 million[164]Horror
The GruffaloJulia DonaldsonEnglish199910.5 million[165]Children's literature, picture book
Fifty Shades DarkerE. L. JamesEnglish201210.4 million in the U.S.[133]Erotica
Tobacco RoadErskine CaldwellEnglish193210 million[166]
Ronia, the Robber's DaughterAstrid LindgrenSwedish198110 million[167]
The Cat in the HatDr. SeussEnglish195710.5 million[168]Children's literature, picture book
Diana: Her True StoryAndrew MortonEnglish199210 million[169]
The HelpKathryn StockettEnglish200910 million[170]
Catch-22Joseph HellerEnglish196110 million[171]
The Stranger (L'Étranger)Albert CamusFrench194210 million[172]
Eye of the NeedleKen FollettEnglish197810 million[173]
The Lovely BonesAlice SeboldEnglish200210 million[174]
Wild SwansJung ChangEnglish199210 million[175]
Santa EvitaTomás Eloy MartínezSpanish199510 million[176]
Night (Un di Velt Hot Geshvign)Elie WieselYiddish195810 million[177]
Confucius from the Heart (于丹《论语》心得)Yu DanChinese200610 million[178]
The Total WomanMarabel MorganEnglish197410 million[179]
Knowledge-value Revolution (知価革命)Taichi SakaiyaJapanese198510 million[180]
Problems in China's Socialist Economy (中国社会主义经济问题研究)Xue MuqiaoChinese197910 million[181]
What Color Is Your Parachute?Richard Nelson BollesEnglish197010 million[182]
The Dukan DietPierre DukanFrench200010 million[183]
The Joy of SexAlex ComfortEnglish197210 million[184]
The Gospel According to PeanutsRobert L. ShortEnglish196510 million[185]
Life of PiYann MartelEnglish200110 million[186]
The Front RunnerPatricia Nell WarrenEnglish197410 million[187]
The GoalEliyahu M. GoldrattEnglish198410 million[188]
Fahrenheit 451Ray BradburyEnglish195310 million[189]
Angela's AshesFrank McCourtEnglish199610 million[190]
The Story of My Experiments with Truth (સત્યના પ્રયોગો અથવા આત્મકથા)Mohandas Karamchand GandhiGujarati1925–192910 million[191]
Bridget Jones's DiaryHelen FieldingEnglish199610 million (as of 2005)[192]
It Ends with Us Colleen Hoover English 2016 10 million[193] Romance, Fiction
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List of best-selling book series

Summarize
Perspective

More than 100 million copies

More information Book series, Author(s) ...
Book seriesAuthor(s)Original languageNo. of installmentsYears of PublicationApproximate sales
Harry PotterJ. K. RowlingEnglish7 + 3 companion books + 4 scripts1997–2007600 million[14][194][195]
GoosebumpsR. L. StineEnglish62 + spin-off series1992–present400 million[196]
Perry MasonErle Stanley GardnerEnglish82 + 4 short stories1933–1973300 million[197]
Diary of a Wimpy KidJeff KinneyEnglish19 + 5 spin-offs 2007–present290 million[198]
Berenstain BearsStan and Jan BerenstainEnglish4281962–present260 million[199]
Choose Your Own AdventureVarious authorsEnglish185+1979–present250 million[200]
Sweet Valley HighFrancine Pascal and ghostwritersEnglish4001983–2003250 million[201]
The Railway SeriesWilbert Awdry, Christopher AwdryEnglish421945–2011201 million[202]
NoddyEnid BlytonEnglish241949–present200 million[203]
Nancy DrewVarious authors as Carolyn KeeneEnglish1751930–present200 million[204]
San-AntonioFrédéric DardFrench1731949–2001200 million[205]
Robert LangdonDan BrownEnglish52000–present200 million[206]
Geronimo StiltonElisabetta DamiItalian200+1997–present180 million[207]
Percy Jackson & the OlympiansRick RiordanEnglish7 + 5 companion books + 4 spin-off series2005–present180 million[208]
The Baby-sitters ClubAnn MartinEnglish3351986–present172 million[209]
TwilightStephenie MeyerEnglish4 + 2 companion books + 1 novella2005–2020160 million[210]
Star WarsVarious authorsEnglishover 3001977–present160 million[211]
Little CritterMercer MayerEnglish over 2001975–present150 million[212]
Peter RabbitBeatrix PotterEnglish61902–1930150 million[213]
Fifty ShadesE. L. JamesEnglish32011–2015150 million[214]
American GirlVarious authorsEnglish141 + spin-off series1986–present160 million[215]
Chicken Soup for the SoulJack Canfield, Mark Victor HansenEnglish1051997–present130 million[216]
Clifford the Big Red DogNorman BridwellEnglish91[217]1963–2014129 million[218]
Frank MerriwellGilbert PattenEnglish2091896–1936125 million[219]
Dirk PittClive CusslerEnglish241973–present120 million[220]
宮本武蔵 (Musashi)Eiji YoshikawaJapanese71935–1939120 million[221]
The Chronicles of NarniaC. S. LewisEnglish71950–1956120 million[222]
Mr. MenRoger Hargreaves, Adam HargreavesEnglish431971–present120 million[223]
SASGérard de VilliersFrench2001965–2013120 million[224][225]
The Hunger GamesSuzanne CollinsEnglish52008–present100 million[226]
James BondIan FlemingEnglish141953–1966100 million[227]
MartineGilbert Delahaye, Marcel MarlierFrench601954–2014100 million[228]
MillenniumStieg Larsson, David LagercrantzSwedish62005–present100 million[229]
Close

Between 50 million and 100 million copies

More information Book series, Author(s) ...
Book seriesAuthor(s)Original languageNo. of installmentsFirst publishedApproximate sales
A Song of Ice and FireGeorge R. R. MartinEnglish5 + 3 novellas + 1 guide1996–present90 million[230]
The Wheel of TimeRobert Jordan, Brandon SandersonEnglish151990–201390 million[231]
DiscworldTerry PratchettEnglish421983–201590 million[232]
Nijntje (Miffy)Dick BrunaDutch1191955–present85 million[233]
Alex CrossJames PattersonEnglish211993–present81 million[234]
Anpanman (アンパンマン)Takashi YanaseJapanese150 picture books1973–201380 million[235]
Captain UnderpantsDav PilkeyEnglish12 plus spinoffs1997–201580 million[236]
Fear StreetR. L. StineEnglish1141989–present80 million[237]
Pippi Långstrump (Pippi Longstocking)Astrid LindgrenSwedish3 + 3 picture books1945–200180 million[238]
The Vampire ChroniclesAnne RiceEnglish131976–202180 million[239]
OSS 117Jean BruceFrench2651949–199275 million[240]
Winnie-the-PoohA. A. MilneEnglish21926–192870 million[241]
Magic Tree House seriesMary Pope OsborneEnglish56[242]1992–present70 million[243]
Left BehindTim LaHaye, Jerry B. JenkinsEnglish161996–200765 million[244]
A Series of Unfortunate EventsLemony Snicket aka Daniel HandlerEnglish131999–200665 million[245]
Little House on the PrairieLaura Ingalls WilderEnglish121932–200660 million[246]
All Creatures Great and SmallAlf Wight, as James HerriotEnglish81970–199260 million[247]
Jack ReacherLee ChildEnglish29 Novels + 21 Short Stories1997–present60 million[248]
The Magic School BusJoanna ColeEnglish1311986–201058 million[249]
Where's Wally?[250]Martin HandfordEnglish131987–present55 million[251]
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from VenusJohn GrayEnglish151992–present50 million[252]
The Hardy BoysVarious authors as Franklin W. DixonEnglish1901927–present50 million[253]
The Bobbsey TwinsVarious authors as Laura Lee HopeEnglish721904–197950 million[254]
TarzanEdgar Rice BurroughsEnglish261914–199550 million[255]
Close

Between 30 million and 50 million copies

More information Book series, Author(s) ...
Book seriesAuthor(s)Original languageNo. of installmentsFirst publishedApproximate sales
The Shadowhunter ChroniclesCassandra ClareEnglish17 + 8 companion books2007–present50 million[256]
Earth's ChildrenJean M. AuelEnglish61980–201145 million[257]
A Child's First Library of LearningVarious authorsEnglish291980–45 million[258]
Junie B. JonesBarbara ParkEnglish301992–201344 million[259]
Harry BoschMichael ConnellyEnglish151992–42 million[260]
Harry HoleJo NesbøNorwegian131997–present40 million[261]
WarriorsErin HunterEnglish782003–present40 million[262]
连环画 铁道游击队 (Picture-and-story book Railway Guerilla)original author: Liu Zhixia [zh]Chinese101955–196236.52 million[263]
かいけつゾロリ (Kaiketsu Zorori)Yutaka HaraJapanese601987–present35 million[264]
Paddington BearMichael BondEnglish701958–present35 million[265]
AnimorphsK A Applegate and ghostwritersEnglish541996-200135 million[266]
Divergent trilogyVeronica RothEnglish3 + 1 companion book2011–201335 million[267]
ノンタン (Nontan)Sachiko KiyonoJapanese401976–201633.6 million[268]
グイン・サーガ (Guin Saga)Kaoru Kurimoto, Yu GodaiJapanese1491979–202433 million[269]
The Inheritance CycleChristopher PaoliniEnglish5 + 1 companion book2002–202333 million[270]
Rich Dad, Poor Dad Robert Kiyosaki, Sharon Lechter English 18 1997– 32 million[271]
とある魔術の禁書目録 (Toaru Majutsu no Index)Kazuma KamachiJapanese462004–30 million[272]
徳川家康 [ja] (Tokugawa Ieyasu)Sōhachi YamaokaJapanese261950–196730 million[273]
RamonaBeverly ClearyEnglish81955–199930 million[274]
The Dark TowerStephen KingEnglish81982–201230 million[275]
Dork DiariesRachel Renée RussellEnglish152009–201830 million[276]
The DestroyerWarren Murphy and Richard Sapir, various authorsEnglish1501971–present30 million[277]
Close

Between 20 million and 30 million copies

More information Book series, Author(s) ...
Book seriesAuthor(s)Original languageNo. of installmentsFirst publishedApproximate salesGenre
地球往事 (Remembrance of Earth's Past)Liu CixinChinese32008–201029 million[278]science fiction
三毛猫ホームズシリーズ [ja] (Calico Cat Holmes series)Jirō AkagawaJapanese431978–present28 million[279]detective, mystery
Curious GeorgeHans Augusto Rey and Margret ReyEnglish581941–present27 million[280]Children's Literature
ShannaraTerry BrooksEnglish201977–present26 million[281]
Kurt WallanderHenning MankellSwedish101991–200225 million[282]
Sagan om Isfolket (The Legend of the Ice People)Margit SandemoSwedish471982–198925 million[283]
The Sword of TruthTerry GoodkindEnglish211998–present25 million[284]
OutlanderDiana GabaldonEnglish81991–present25 million[285]
ズッコケ三人組 [ja] (Zukkoke Sanningumi)Masamoto NasuJapanese501978–200425 million[286]Children's Literature
鬼平犯科帳 (Onihei Hankachō)Shōtarō IkenamiJapanese241968–199024.4 million, only bunkobon[287]jidaigeki
Brain QuestVarious authorsEnglish1992–present23.7 million[288]
South Beach DietArthur AgatstonEnglish62003–present22 million[289]
ソードアート・オンライン (Sword Art Online)Reki KawaharaJapanese272009–present30 million[290]
竜馬がゆく [ja] (Ryoma ga Yuku)Ryōtarō ShibaJapanese51963–196621.5 million[291]jidaigeki
Artemis FowlEoin ColferEnglish8 + 1 companion book2001–201221 million[292]
The Cosmere Brandon Sanderson English 30+[293] 2005–present 21 Million [294]
Dune seriesFrank HerbertEnglish30+196520 million[121]Science fiction novel
I SurvivedLauren TarshisEnglish252010–2020more than 20 million[295][296]
Découvertes GallimardVarious authorsFrenchmore than 7001986–presentmore than 20 million[297][298]
RedwallBrian JacquesEnglish221986–201120 million[299]
MaisyLucy CousinsEnglish231990–present20 million[135]
DragonlanceVarious authorsEnglishmore than 1501984–present20 million[300]
幻魔大戦 (Genma Taisen)Kazumasa HiraiJapanese201979–198320 million[301]
青春の門 (The Gate of Youth)Hiroyuki ItsukiJapanese1970–present20 million[302]
スレイヤーズ (Slayers)Hajime KanzakaJapanese501989–present20 million[303]
The Foundation TrilogyIsaac AsimovEnglish3[304]1950–195320 million[305]
Horrible HistoriesTerry DearyEnglish241993–present20 million[306]
Rainbow MagicDaisy MeadowsEnglish80+2003–present20 million[307]
Morgan KaneLouis MastersonNorwegian901966–20 million[308]
The Southern Vampire MysteriesCharlaine HarrisEnglish132001–201320 million[309]
Close

Between 15 million and 20 million copies

More information Book series, Author(s) ...
Book seriesAuthor(s)Original
language
No. of
instalments
First publishedApproximate sales
Doc SavageLester Dent, various authorsEnglish2031933–present20 million[310]
涼宮ハルヒシリーズ (Haruhi Suzumiya Series)Nagaru TanigawaJapanese112003–present20 million[311]
一億人の昭和史 (1-oku nin no Shōwa shi / Shōwa History of 100 million people)Tomiyasu Takahara, Various authorsJapanese951975-198019 million[312]
科学のアルバム (Kagaku no album / Science's Album)Various authorsJapanese1970–present19 million[313]
剣客商売 (Kenkaku Shōbai)Shotaro IkenamiJapanese181972–198918 million[314]
Erast Fandorin seriesBoris AkuninRussian121998–present18 million[315]
Dragonriders of Pern Anne McCaffrey English 23 1967–present 18 million[316]
吸血鬼ハンターD (Vampire Hunter D)Hideyuki KikuchiJapanese391983–present17 million[317]
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyDouglas Adams, plus a final book by Eoin ColferEnglish61979–200816 million[318][319]
ぼくらシリーズ [ja] (Bokura series)Osamu SodaJapanese361985–present15 million[320]
Bridget JonesHelen FieldingEnglish31996–present15 million[321]
His Dark MaterialsPhilip PullmanEnglish31995–200015 million[322]
銀河英雄伝説 (Legend of the Galactic Heroes)Yoshiki TanakaJapanese141982–198915 million[323]
The No. 1 Ladies Detective AgencyAlexander McCall SmithEnglish231999–present15 million[324]
Der Regenbogenfisch (Rainbow Fish)Marcus PfisterGerman1992–present15 million[325]
The Riftwar CycleRaymond E. FeistEnglish251982–present15 million[326]
The Thrawn trilogyTimothy ZahnEnglish31991–9315 million[327]
Wiedźmin (The Witcher)Andrzej SapkowskiPolish91990–201315 million[328]
14ひきのシリーズ [ja] (The family of fourteen) Kazuo Iwamura [ja] Japanese 1983–present 15 million[329]
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Notes

The Perry Rhodan series has sold more than 1 billion copies,[330] but is not listed because that figure includes magazine sales, not novels alone.[citation needed] Similarly, the Jerry Cotton series has sold over 300 million copies and the John Sinclair series sold more than 250 million copies, but most of these were also in dime novel format.[331][332][333][334]

The figures given for some books are for the number printed instead of confirmed sales.[which?]

List of best-selling regularly updated books

More than 100 million copies

More information Book, Author(s) ...
BookAuthor(s)Original languageFirst publishedApproximate sales
新华字典 (Xinhua Zidian / Xinhua Dictionary)Chief editor: Wei JiangongChinese1957567 million[335]
Scouting for BoysRobert Baden-PowellEnglish1908100–150 million[336]
The McGuffey ReadersWilliam Holmes McGuffeyEnglish1853125 million[337]
Guinness World Records (published every year)Various authorsEnglish1955115 million[338]
六星占術によるあなたの運命 (Rokusei Senjutsu (Six-Star Astrology) Tells Your Fortune)Kazuko Hosoki
Kaori Hosoki
Japanese1986101.2 million[339]
American Spelling Book (Webster's Dictionary)Noah WebsterEnglish1783100 million[47]
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Between 50 million and 100 million copies

More information Book, Author(s) ...
BookAuthor(s)Original languageFirst publishedApproximate sales
World Almanac (published every year)Various authorsEnglish1868–76; 1886–present82 million[340][341]
Betty Crocker CookbookGeneral Mills staffEnglish1950–2016 (12th edition)75 million[342]
Tung Shing (Chinese: 通勝)Choi Park Lai's family, among othersChinese1891(Only counting versions published by Choi's family)>70 million (Only counting version published by Choi)[343]
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate DictionaryMerriam-WebsterEnglish189855 million[344]
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Between 30 million and 50 million copies

More information Book, Author(s) ...
BookAuthor(s)Original languageFirst publishedApproximate sales
Roget's ThesaurusPeter Mark RogetEnglish1852–40 million[345]
できるシリーズ (Dekiru Series)Impress [ja] Dekiru Series Editorial DeskJapanese1994–present40 million[346]
Better Homes and Gardens New Cook BookVarious authorsEnglish1930–38 million[347]
The Art of MathematicsHong Sung-daeKorean1966–present37 million[348]
~ 40 million[349]
Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryA. S. HornbyEnglish194830 million[350]
Le guide Michelin France (The Michelin Guide France) (published every year)Various authorsFrench1900–present30 million[351]
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Between 20 million and 30 million copies

More information Book, Author(s) ...
BookAuthor(s)Original languageFirst publishedApproximate sales
超図解シリーズ (Cho-Zukai series)X media [ja]Japanese1996–200725 million[352]
自由自在 [ja] (Jiyu Jizai)Various authorsJapanese1953–present24 million[353]
新明解国語辞典 (Shin Meikai kokugo jiten)Tadao YamadaJapanese197220.4 million[354]
English GrammarLindley MurrayEnglish179520 million[355]
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Between 10 million and 20 million copies

More information Book, Author(s) ...
BookAuthor(s)Original languageFirst publishedApproximate sales
The Joy of CookingVarious authorsEnglish193618 million[356]
スーパーマップル (Super Mapple)Various authorsJapanese1991–present18 million[357]
チャート式 [ja] (Chart Shiki)Various authorsJapanese1927–present17.44 million, only for the first grade of high-school[358]
英語基本単語集 (Eigo Kihon Tangoshu) "Compilation of basic English vocabulary"Yoshio AkaoJapanese, English194217.2 million[358]
Merriam-Webster Pocket Dictionary English (Up to 1975) 15.11 million[359]
試験に出る英単語 (Siken Ni Deru Eitango) "English vocabulary in examinations"Ichiro MoriJapanese, English196715 million[360]
新英和中辞典 (Shin Eiwa Chu Jiten) "New English-Japanese Dictionary"Shigeru TakebayashiJapanese, English196712 million[361]
広辞苑 (Kōjien)Izuru ShinmuraJapanese195511.9 million[362]
旺文社古語辞典 (Obunsha Kogo Jiten) "Obunsha Dictionary of Archaisms"Akira MatsumuraJapanese196011 million[363]
Hammond's Pocket Atlas English (Up to 1965) 11 million[364]
三省堂国語辞典 (Sanseido Kokugo Jiten) "Sanseido Dictionary of the Japanese Language"Kenbō HidetoshiJapanese196010 million[365]
家庭に於ける実際的看護の秘訣 (Katei Ni Okeru Jissaiteki Kango No Hiketsu)
"Key to Practical Personal Care at Home"
Takichi TsukudaJapanese192510 million[366]
C程序设计 (C Program Design)Tan, HaoqiangChinese199110 million[367]
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References

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