by Teena Myers
The closest comparison to a book preserved in the same manner as the Bible is Homer’s The Odyssey. Both the Bible and The Odyssey existed in hand printed format as books before Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press. Both books were first published on Gutenberg’s press in the 1400’s. The Odyssey sold 45 million. According to Guinness World Records, the Bible is the best-selling book of all time with over 5 billion copies sold and distributed.
The second bestselling book of all time is Quotations From Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, also known as The Little Red Book, which sold a billion copies between June 1966 and September 1971. A lot of books flew off the shelf in five years. But we must take into consideration that the communist dictator of China made it mandatory to own and carry one. Showing your copy of The Little Red Book kept one from being arrested, or worse.
Throughout history, the Bible, a book of Christian inspiration, has outsold all other books, except The Little Red Book that the government forced the citizens of China to buy.
What about other Christian inspiration books inspired by the Bible?
The Purpose Driven Life (Nonfiction) by Rick Warren and The Shack (Fiction) by William Young sold 30 million copies respectively.
Steps to Christ (Nonfiction) by Ellen White / 60 million
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Fiction) by CS Lewis / 85 million
Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (Nonfiction) & The Lord of the Rings (Fiction) / 150 million each.
Pilgrim’s Progress (Fiction) by John Bunyan / 250 million
The Book of Common Prayer (Nonfiction) by Thomas Cranmer / 300 million
Yes, there is a healthy market for both nonfiction and fiction Christian books.
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