The 10 Most Read Books in History.
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The Bible
In its various editions and languages, it is estimated that the sacred text of Christianity has been printed between 2.5 and 6 billion times. Probably the most widely sold edition is the English version, known as the King James Bible, first published in 1611. -
Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung
This text, also known as the Little Red Book, has been mandatory reading in China since Mao’s revolution. It is believed that since 1964, between 800 and 900 million copies have been distributed. -
The Quran
Since its publication in the 6th century, it has been printed some 800 million times. It is expected that in the coming years, it will surpass Mao’s book in the ranking. -
Poems of Chairman Mao
Of this second book signed by Mao Zedong, it is believed that 400 million copies have been published. -
Don Quixote de la Mancha
The famous novel by Miguel de Cervantes is likely the most sold work of fiction in history. There has been much debate regarding the exact number of copies printed, but it certainly exceeds 200 million and could potentially be around 400 million. -
Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Flagship Manual (The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life)
The flagship manual of Jehovah’s Witnesses might appear in your mailbox at any moment. The congregation has already distributed 237 million books. -
A Tale of Two Cities
Since its publication in 1859, over 200 million copies of this famous book by Charles Dickens have been sold. -
The Book of Mormon
The text gathering the teachings revealed by the prophet Mormon to Joseph Smith is another religious volume distributed worldwide. It is believed that since 1830, over 150 million copies have been printed. -
The Lord of the Rings
The first book (frequently published as a single volume) of J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous trilogy is also his most sold work. It is estimated that 150 million copies have been dispatched. -
The Little Prince
Since its publication in 1943, 140 million copies of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s small but profound book have been sold.
Information extracted from various digital media.