The top 10 best selling books are ranked by the number of copies sold. It is not easy to rank books because not everyone has read them. Some people have read all of them, but some people might never read any of them. The list does not include religious texts, such as the Quran or Bible, since they’re not typically bought for entertainment purposes. The list also excludes children’s books and textbooks. People usually buy these two types of books for educational reasons, rather than entertainment purposes.
1. The Bible
The Bible is the world’s Best Selling Books. The Bible is one of the oldest books ever published, and it continues to sell well today.
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
The first book in the Harry Potter series, this book was published in 1997 by J.K. Rowling. The story follows a young boy who discovers he’s a wizard, goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and creates lifelong friendships with fellow students Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
3. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings is a three-volume novel which tells the story of a group of unlikely heroes, called the Fellowship of the Ring. They set out from Rivendell to destroy the One Ring and save Middle Earth from Sauron.
4. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
This is the second most popular book among the top 10 bestsellers. It is a 19th century novel set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. Dickens uses this book to show aspects of poverty, justice, love, and redemption. It is one of Dickens’s most critically acclaimed novels.
5. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Catcher in the Rye is an American classic. Holden Caulfield, the main character, has to grow up quickly when he’s kicked out of his boarding school. This coming-of-age story was written in 1951 by J.D. Salinger and is valued as a literary masterpiece for its depiction of growing up and teenage angst.
6. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The finest novel about the American Civil War, Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind tells the story of Scarlett O’Hara, the spoiled daughter of a Georgia plantation owner. The novel explores her life and loves–and her eventual self-discovery–against the backdrop of war and Reconstruction.
The book is remarkable for its powerful evocation of a dramatic period in American history as well as for its portrayal of one woman’s search for identity. Its heroine, courageous, beautiful, and willful, has become one of the most enduring figures in all American literature.
7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This is a classic novel by Harper Lee. It was published in 1960 and has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. The book tells the story of Atticus Finch, a lawyer, and his children Jem and Scout. Atticus defends a black man against an unjust charge of rape.
8. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice is a classic British novel by Jane Austen that tells the story of Mr. Darcy’s attempts to find a suitable wife. It follows the perspective of Elizabeth Bennet, an intelligent middle class woman who faces adversity from her family over social standing. The main themes are marriage, social status, and prejudice.
9. 1984 by George Orwell.
The book 1984 by George Orwell is ranked as the best selling novel of all time. It was first published in 1948, and has sold close to 150 million copies. The novel takes place in a totalitarian society where the government controls the people’s lives.
Winston Smith is a low-level party member who can’t keep up with the ever-changing laws and keeps getting caught at work. He meets Julia, another party member who shares his thoughts on the current state of affairs. Eventually, they fall for each other and start an affair, but it gets them both into trouble with Big Brother.
10. Gone Girl
Gone Girl is a psychological thriller that was published in 2012. The novel has sold over 6 million copies. The book was adapted into a film in 2014.