With around 129,864,880 books published since the invention of Gutenberg’s printing press way back in 1440, it sure is a tough job to pick just the right book to read next. You might look for book recommendations from your friends or your local library, read only the classics, or check the yearly most-awarded book lists. Or, you could pick your next read from a list of best-selling books! You know, if they’ve sold millions of copies worldwide, chances are, they are, indeed, good books to read. At least, choosing from a list of best-seller books is as good a place as any to start.
If you’re already anxious to learn at least some of the books that made it onto this list, we can share a secret – almost all of the Harry Potter books made it into the ranks of the top 20 best-selling books of all time! That said, they weren’t there just a decade ago, so the list is ever-changing and reflects the newest stats. And while some of these books might not be a magnum opus of their writer or aren’t considered a proclamation of literary genius, most of them get to boast about such an honorable title. Take, for instance, Don Quixote or One Hundred Years Of Solitude – they’re not just best-sellers; they are truly some of the best books of all time that changed the literary world (and in some cases even the readers) forever. But no matter which books from this list you choose to read next, you can be pretty sure you’re in for a very joyous experience.
You know the drill – scroll down below and check out the official list of best-selling books as of right now! Although they are ranked by copies sold, you can always vote for your favorite books to read so they reach the top of this list. Once that is all well and done, share this article with your friends who might be looking for something good to read!
#1 The Hobbit By J. R. R. Tolkien
The Hobbit, or There And Back Again, is a children’s fantasy novel by J.R.R. Tolkien – a predecessor to his much more extensive work, The Lord Of The Rings. In The Hobbit, we meet our beloved crusader Bilbo Baggins who’s aimed at a treasure guarded by Smaug, the dragon. Although the story starts lightheartedly, it later demands significant personal growth from the hobbit as he nears the end of his quest. Interestingly enough, the warfare motifs in the book are based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s experiences during World War I. At the same time, the fantasy aspects are heavily influenced by Germanic folklore and mythology.
Image source: J. R. R. Tolkien
#2 Charlotte’s Web By E. B. White
Image source: E. B. White; illustrated by Garth Williams
#3 To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee
Image source: Harper Lee
#4 The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe By C. S. Lewis
The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe is a children’s fantasy novel written by C.S. Lewis and published in 1950. It is the first book in the series called The Chronicles Of Narnia and the most known work of C.S. Lewis. Here we get to follow the adventures of four kids as they discover a secret portal to Narnia – a land of talking animals and mythical creatures – and find themselves in a position to save the land from the evil White Witch. It’s thrilling, and it’s gripping, and that has secured The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe plenty of films, audio, and theater adaptations. Also, undying popularity.
Image source: C. S. Lewis
#5 The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy By Douglas Adams
Image source: Douglas Adams
#6 The Tale Of Peter Rabbit By Beatrix Potter
Image source: Beatrix Potter
#7 Pride And Prejudice By Jane Austen
Image source: Jane Austen
#8 Nineteen Eighty-Four By George Orwell
Image source: George Orwell
#9 And Then There Were None By Agatha Christie
And Then There Were None is a novel written by the queen of mystery herself, Agatha Christie, first published in 1939 (though with a bit different name that has since changed). There’s no way we are willing to spoil the fun of reading it by mentioning the book’s plot, but since it’s Christie’s work, you know it will be a challenging and very entertaining mystery to unravel. Besides being a masterfully written book, And Then There Were None is the world’s best-selling mystery, with over 100 million copies sold. Do you have one of them on your bookshelf?
Image source: Agatha Christie
#10 Black Beauty By Anna Sewell
Image source: Anna Sewell
#11 The Very Hungry Caterpillar By Eric Carle
Image source: Eric Carle
#12 Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone By J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone is a fantasy novel written by J.K. Rowling and first published in 1997. The book was the debut of Rowling as a writer, but due to its tremendous success, the Harry Potter series expanded to seven books over time. This first book introduces us to the series’ main characters – Harry, Ron, and Hermione – and lends a thorough explanation of the Wizarding World we’re about to get completely immersed in. However, a massive horde of fans wasn’t the only thing that Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone garnered as some religious groups condemned it to be witchcraft propaganda, with few countries abolishing the books completely.
Image source: J. K. Rowling
#13 Anne Of Green Gables By Lucy Maud Montgomery
Image source: Lucy Maud Montgomery
#14 Watership Down By Richard Adams
Image source: Richard Adams
#15 Charlie And The Chocolate Factory By Roald Dahl
Image source: Roald Dahl
#16 The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince) By Antoine De Saint-Exupéry
The Little Prince is a novella by French aristocrat, writer, and military aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery. It follows the story of a little prince who visits planets in space and meets various exciting strangers. Although it is perceived as a children’s book, the topics it discusses are more than relatable to adults – loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. The Little Prince also makes in-depth observations about life and human nature. Although it is entirely graspable for kids, it has an even more significant impact on older readers. This book also records the most translated books ever published – you can find it in 301 languages and dialects.
Image source: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
#17 The Wind In The Willows By Kenneth Grahame
Image source: Kenneth Grahame
#18 Animal Farm By George Orwell
Image source: George Orwell
#19 Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury
Image source: Ray Bradbury
#20 Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince By J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince is the sixth and penultimate book in the Harry Potter saga. Here the readers learn the prehistory of the dark wizard Lord Voldemort which gives a more profound view of Harry’s preparations for the ultimate battle alongside his peers and his mentor Albus Dumbledore.
Image source: J. K. Rowling
#21 Ben-Hur: A Tale Of The Christ By Lew Wallace
Ben-Hur: A Tale Of Christ is an 1880’s novel by Lew Wallace. The story in the book recounts the adventures of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince from Jerusalem, who the Romans enslave. Alongside Ben-Hur’s narrative, there’s the unfolding story of Jesus. The novel reflects on various profound topics, such as betrayal, conviction, and redemption, and is often called the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century.
Image source: Lew Wallace
#22 Heidi By Johanna Spyri
Image source: Johanna Spyri
#23 Cosmos By Carl Sagan
Image source: Carl Sagan
#24 Rebecca By Daphne Du Maurier
Image source: Daphne du Maurier
#25 The Gospel According To Peanuts By Robert L. Short
Image source: Robert L. Short
#26 Life Of Pi By Yann Martel
Image source: Yann Martel
#27 Don Quixote By Miguel De Cervantes
The story of Don Quixote goes about a middle-aged man from the La Mancha region in Spain who decides to use his lance and sword to protect the defenseless and fight evil because he is obsessed with the chivalrous values extolled in the novels he has read. While traveling, he encounters kings, members of the clergy, the wealthy, and the working class. Sancho Panza, the inseparable companion of Don Quixote, is his complete opposite and a realist who sees reality as it is but is too kind-hearted to impose his opinions on others. You’ve probably heard of the narrative even if you haven’t read the book. Still, this incredible literary work is more than just an old man battling windmills. An indisputable must-read for all.
Image source: De Cervantes
#28 A Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens
A Tale Of Two Cities is a historical novel by Charles Dickens in 1859 set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. It tells the story of a French Doctor, Manette, who, after being imprisoned in the Bastille for 18 years is released to live in London with his daughter Lucie, whom he had never met before. Besides being one of the best-selling novels of all time, A Tale Of Two Cities is also thrilling. Here, the protagonists are constantly risking their lives or are a step away from imprisonment, making it a great adventure story and a great example of literary genius.
Image source: Charles Dickens
#29 The Catcher In The Rye By J. D. Salinger
The Catcher In The Rye is a novel written by J. D. Sallinger and published as a full book in 1951. Although The Catcher In The Rye was intended for adults, it proved to be massively successful among adolescent readers. The younger audiences resonated with the main topics of the book deeply – it talks about angst, alienation, and critiques social superficiality. The topics are forever in the minds of teenagers, no matter the decade or the generation. The novel’s protagonist, Holden Caulfield, has even become a literary and real-life icon of teenage rebellion. About one million copies of The Catcher In The Rye are still sold as of today, making it one of the best-selling books ever.
Image source: J. D. Salinger
#30 Jonathan Livingston Seagull By Richard Bach
Image source: Richard Bach
#31 The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo By Stieg Larsson
Image source: Stieg Larsson
#32 A Brief History Of Time By Stephen Hawking
Image source: Stephen Hawking
#33 Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain
Image source: Mark Twain
#34 Dune By frank Herbert
Image source: Frank Herbert
#35 Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets By J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets is the second novel in the Potter saga. Yup, it’s the one where Harry and Ron fly to Hogwarts in a levitating car! Besides this epic adventure, there’s also a threat of the ‘heir of Slytherin’ jeopardizing everyone’s lives in the school, with Harry and his peers set to solve the mystery.
Image source: J. K. Rowling
#36 Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban By J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban is the third novel in the Harry Potter series. Here we get to meet everyone’s beloved Sirius Black for the first time, only to lose him soon after. as with any other Harry Potter book, expect this one to be full of action and profound topics like friendship and loyalty.
Image source: J. K. Rowling
#37 Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire By J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire is the fourth novel in the Harry Potter saga. Here the story is all about the Triwizard Tournament – a tournament that’s full of deadly challenges, unexpected adventures, and tons of ominous plot twists. A real edge-sitter, this one!
Image source: J. K. Rowling
#38 Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix By J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter And The Order Of Phoenix is the fifth novel in the Harry Potter series. Here, the story circles around Harry’s struggles with the fifth year at the Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry, the O.W.L. exams, interferences from the Ministry of Magic, and the return of Lord Voldemort. Really, it’s just brimming with action and adventure!
Image source: J. K. Rowling
#39 The Alchemist (O Alquimista) By Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist is a novel written by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho that was first published in 1988. It’s an allegorical story following a young Andalusian shepherd’s journey to the Egyptian pyramids after having a recurring dream of treasures hidden there. Ultimately, it is a story about the road to yourself, and all the adventures and misfortunes that he endures reflects on the human condition. It also has been cited as one of the most noteworthy self-help books, which is rather unusual for a novel. Written in Portuguese, this book soon got translations into plenty of languages, thus spurring its fate to become a worldwide bestseller.
Image source: Paulo Coelho
#40 The Thorn Birds By Colleen Mccullough
Image source: Colleen McCullough
#41 Gone With The Wind By Margaret Mitchell
Image source: Margaret Mitchell
#42 The Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck
Image source: John Steinbeck
#43 The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas By John Boyne
Image source: John Boyne
#44 The Lovely Bones By Alice Sebold
Image source: Alice Sebold
#45 The Gruffalo By Julia Donaldson
Image source: Julia Donaldson
#46 The Prophet By Kahlil Gibran
Image source: Kahlil Gibran
#47 The Divine Comedy By Dante Alighieri
Image source: Dante Alighieri
#48 She: A History Of Adventure By H. Rider Haggard
She: A History Of Adventure is a novel by H. Rider Haggard, published in 1887. The story follows Horace Holly and his ward Leo Vincey’s journey to a lost African kingdom. There, the duo encounters a primitive nation and their all-ruling queen Ayesha. The author’s vivid imagination, first-hand experience of living in Africa, and thrilling adventures of the protagonists made this book an instant hit among Victorian reader audiences. This book was so trendy that it has never gone out of print. Besides being a vital part of romance style revival, She: A History Of Adventure is also a historical piece showing us the worldview of the Victorians and demonstrating an excellent example of Imperialist literature.
Image source: H. Rider Haggard
#49 Flowers In The Attic By V. C. Andrews
Image source: V. C. Andrews
#50 War And Peace By Leo Tolstoy
Image source: Leo Tolstoy
#51 The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins
Image source: Suzanne Collins
#52 The Book Thief By Markus Zusak
Image source: Markus Zusak
#53 One Hundred Years Of Solitude By Gabriel García Márquez
One Hundred Years of Solitude is a 1967 novel by Columbian author Gabriel García Márquez. The story here spans through several generations of the Buendia family, whose patriarch was the founder of a fictitious town called Macondo. It’s a wondrous story elevated by magical realism and peppered with symbols and metaphors on history repeating itself. No wonder that it is considered Márquez’s magnum opus and remains one of the most significant works of literature.
Image source: Gabriel García Márquez
#54 Sophie’s World By Jostein Gaarder
Image source: Jostein Gaarder
#55 The Adventures Of Pinocchio By Carlo Collodi
Image source: Carlo Collodi
#56 The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini
Image source: Khaled Hosseini
#57 The Godfather By Mario Puzo
Image source: Mario Puzo
#58 Ronia, The Robber’s Daughter By Astrid Lindgren
Image source: Astrid Lindgren
#59 Dream Of The Red Chamber By Cao Xueqin
Dream Of The Red Chamber or The Story Of The Stone is a classical Chinese novel by Cao Xueqin sometime in the middle of the 18th century. And there’s nothing simple about this book – neither the story of its conception, nor the plot, the topics, nor the characters. Nevertheless, it is such a complex and in-depth view into 18th-century lifestyles, aesthetics, world view, and social relations that it has spawned a branch of literary studies dedicated to the novel ‘Redology.’ Although it shows the lives of two aristocratic and wealthy branches of the Jia clan in a very realistic and naturalistic way, it also talks about much more profound things, such as religious and philosophical questions.
Image source: Cao Xueqin
#60 Valley Of The Dolls By Jacqueline Susann
Image source: Jacqueline Susann
#61 The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald
Image source: F. Scott Fitzgerald
#62 Love Story By Erich Segal
Image source: Erich Segal
#63 Me Before You By Jojo Moyes
Image source: Jojo Moyes
#64 Night By Elie Wiesel
Image source: Elie Wiesel
#65 The Da Vinci Code By Dan Brown
The Da Vinci Code is a 2003 mystery-thriller novel written by Dan Brown. This worldwide bestseller tells the story of a ‘symbologist’ Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveau, as they get increasingly involved in a battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei. The leading cause for their disagreement is whether there’s a possibility that Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ had a baby together. Though the book, despite having derived ideas from previous works of other authors, is a work of fiction, it nonetheless was denounced by several Catholic denominations as an attack on the Church. Interested? Give this thriller a chance; it is one heck of an entertaining read.
Image source: Dan Brown
#66 Lolita By Vladimir Nabokov
Image source: Vladimir Nabokov
#67 Angels & Demons By Dan Brown
Image source: Dan Brown
#68 Lust For Life By Irving Stone
Image source: Irving Stone
#69 The Celestine Prophecy By James Redfield
Image source: James Redfield
#70 The Girl On The Train By Paula Hawkins
Image source: Paula Hawkins
#71 Love You Forever By Robert Munsch
Image source: Robert Munsch
#72 The Horse Whisperer By Nicholas Evans
Image source: Nicholas Evans
#73 The Old Man And The Sea By Ernest Hemingway
Image source: Ernest Hemingway
#74 The Exorcist By William Peter Blatty
Image source: William Peter Blatty
#75 The Giver By Lois Lowry
Image source: Lois Lowry
#76 The Fault In Our Stars By John Green
Image source: John Green
#77 Jaws By Peter Benchley
Image source: Peter Benchley
#78 The Women’s Room By Marilyn French
Image source: Marilyn French
#79 All The Light We Cannot See By Anthony Doerr
Image source: Anthony Doerr
#80 Man’s Search For Meaning By Viktor E. Frankl
Image source: Viktor E. Frankl
#81 The Bridges Of Madison County By Robert James Waller
The Bridges of Madison County or Love In Black And White is a 1992 best-selling romance novel by Robert James Waller. And even if you haven’t read this epic story about a World War II war bride living on a farm in Iowa in the 1960s, you have seen the movie – it’s just how iconic this book and the story have become! No wonder e novel is one of the best-selling books to this day.
Image source: Robert James Waller
#82 Kane And Abel By Jeffrey Archer
Image source: Jeffrey Archer
#83 Your Erroneous Zones By Wayne Dyer
Image source: Wayne Dyer
#84 The Lost Symbol By Dan Brown
Image source: Dan Brown
#85 The Shack By William P. Young
Image source: William P. Young
#86 Perfume By Patrick Süskind
Image source: Patrick Süskind
#87 Catch-22 By Joseph Heller
Image source: Joseph Heller
#88 Life After Life By Raymond Moody
Image source: Raymond Moody
#89 A Message To Garcia By Elbert Hubbard
Image source: Elbert Hubbard
#90 Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book By Bill Wilson
Image source: Bill Wilson
#91 Wolf Totem By Jiang Rong
Image source: Jiang Rong
#92 Bridget Jones’s Diary By Helen Fielding
Image source: Helen Fielding
#93 The Stranger By Albert Camus
Image source: Albert Camus
#94 Tobacco Road By Erskine Caldwell
Image source: Erskine Caldwell
#95 Becoming By Michelle Obama
Image source: Michelle Obama
#96 Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe
Image source: Chinua Achebe
#97 What Color Is Your Parachute? By Richard Nelson Bolles
Image source: Richard Nelson Bolles
#98 The Goal By Eliyahu M. Goldratt And Jeff Cox
Image source: Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox
#99 Fifty Shades Of Grey By E. L. James
Image source: E. L. James
#100 Fifty Shades Darker By E. L. James
Image source: E. L. James
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