The top five most read books of all time – number one has sold over 5bn copies | Books | Entertainment

Some books stand the test of time and never lose their significance making them the most read books in human history. Taking top spot for the most read book ever is The Bible which has sold a huge five billion copies worldwide. The Bible contains 66 books, divided among the Old and New Testaments. It is a sacred Christian text that includes books on history, poetry, prophecy, and teachings.

In second place is The Quran which has been translated into over 100 languages. The Quran, regarded as the holy book of Islam, is believed to be the divine revelation to Prophet Muhammad.

Serving as a spiritual and practical guide, it encompasses moral teachings, legal principles, and philosophical insights central to the faith and daily lives of over 1.8 billion Muslims.

In third place is Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, often referred to as The Little Red Book.

The book is a compilation of Mao Zedong’s speeches and writings as a political and ideological tool during China’s Cultural Revolution (1966–1976).

It was designed to promote his vision of communism and to consolidate his power, becoming an emblem of revolutionary zeal for millions of followers.

Taking fourth place is the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling – the fantasy series is one of the most successful ever with over 500 million copies sold.

On Goodreads, one reader who read the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, said: “There are no words to do this book justice.”

Another penned: “I will never ever rate this lower than 5 stars. BEAUTIFUL.”

And finally, in fifth place is The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R Tolkien. The fantasy trilogy has been translated into over 40 languages and has been adapted into popular films.

Its influence has extended into gaming, art, and music with many fans enjoying the timeless nature of the series.