# Is the Bible really still the No. 1 bestselling book in the USA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 28, 2020, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737 "2020-04-28T14:56:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/21 "2020-04-28T17:46:30Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > What about sales of the Quran in the Middle East? Is it safe to guess that the Quran is the best selling book in the Middle East, year in and year out? Are there anywhere near as many different versions and editions of the Quran as there are of the Bible? > [@](#): > > Do Muslims raise a fuss over Qurans being sold for too high a price, like some Christians might if a Bible were too pricey? (thinking it is shameless profit off of a religious text) I don’t think I’ve ever encountered Christian complaints about Bibles being sold for too high a price. If one particular edition is too expensive, there are plenty of other, cheaper editions available. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/22 "2020-04-28T17:58:48Z")
I probably have 4 or 5 bibles and I’m not religious. ---
**Author:** ![Sdowiat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Sdowiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sdowiat)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/23 "2020-04-28T18:01:58Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Why would it be? Once most households have a copy, there’s not much need to for people to keep buying it. It’s not like it dissolves and you need a replacement copy. Really,… Do you seriously not know the answer to this or are you deliberately being obtuse? There is a VERY good answer… But I’m not going to tell it to you. I’m thinking that this might be something thing that you would benefit from pondering over long term as it could make all the difference in your existence. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/24 "2020-04-28T18:07:18Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I probably have 4 or 5 bibles and I’m not religious. This. I’m not religious in the least, but by my count there at least 8 Bibles in my library. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/25 "2020-04-28T18:21:04Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I probably have 4 or 5 bibles and I’m not religious. > [@silenus](#): > > This. I’m not religious in the least, but by my count there at least 8 Bibles in my library. I’m very curious WHY you have so many. How much use do you get from them? Are you book collectors, as a hobby? Perhaps you’re not merely non-religious, but actively anti-religious and you often refer to the Bible for research? I’m being sincere. I’m not trying to knock you. I have no books about sports, because the subject doesn’t interest me, and I’d imagine most nonreligious people feel similarly about the Bible. Obviously you are exceptions, and I’m just curious what fuels your interest. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/26 "2020-04-28T18:37:22Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Are there anywhere near as many different versions and editions of the Quran as there are of the Bible? > … From what I know the Quran for those who practice is respected differently than the Bible. It is usually revered, held sacred and of high esteem (as in you are lucky to even look at it), as opposed to the Bible which is more for common access. ---
**Author:** ![Dana\_Scully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@Dana\_Scully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dana_Scully)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/27 "2020-04-28T18:50:30Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Unless your toilet paper supply runs out. :eek: :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D I’ll be laughing all day…thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/28 "2020-04-28T18:52:20Z")
> [@Sdowiat](#): > > Really,… Do you seriously not know the answer to this or are you deliberately being obtuse? There is a VERY good answer… But I’m not going to tell it to you. I’m thinking that this might be something thing that you would benefit from pondering over long term as it could make all the difference in your existence. **Moderator Note** **Sdowiat** , General Questions is for factual responses to questions. While I suspect the answer you propose is not suitable for this forum, please refrain from responding at all rather than that you know the answer but won’t reveal it. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/29 "2020-04-28T18:54:14Z")
> [@Dana\_Scully](#): > > :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D > > I’ll be laughing all day…thanks! **Moderator Warning** When a post is warned, coming back to say you approve of it is just repeating the original offense. This is an official warning. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/30 "2020-04-28T19:00:40Z")
Are bulk sales counted on bestseller lists? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/31 "2020-04-28T19:04:22Z")
As I understand it, there are not “different versions” of the Quran. The different versions of the Bible are different translations, but Muslims consider only the original Arabic version to be “the Quran”, and so Muslims are all expected to learn Arabic to be able to read it. Translations exist, of course, but none of them is considered at all definitive. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/32 "2020-04-28T19:18:25Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > From what I know the Quran for those who practice is respected differently than the Bible. It is usually revered, held sacred and of high esteem (as in you are lucky to even look at it), as opposed to the Bible which is more for common access. People are supposed to be able to read it, especially those who hold it in high esteem. So it’s not a secret book you are lucky to even look at: there are plenty of books, e-books, translations, apps, commentaries; people try to memorize it, study it in school, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/33 "2020-04-28T19:26:54Z")
Moslems may be expected to learn Arabic, but that doesn’t mean they will learn it. One estimate is that only 25% of Moslems speak Arabic. Many of the others know a few standard phrases in it, just as many Jews know a few standard phrases of Hebrew. It’s sort of like going on a hajj. It’s expected that all Moslems will go on a hajj, which is a visit to Mecca during a specific time of the year, at least once in their life. It’s not just hard for all Moslems to do this, it’s physically impossible. There is only a relatively small amount of land that they have to be within for this to count as a hajj. Given that amount of area, given that length of time each year when a hajj must be done, given the average lifespan today, no more than about one-fifth of all Moslems could ever fit into that area in their life. As it is, the area around Mecca is incredibly crowded during the time of the year for a hajj. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/34 "2020-04-28T19:33:45Z")
[https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/2019/books](https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/2019/books) So, on Amazon those are the top sellers for 2019, From what I saw the Bible didnt even make top 50. I would suspect this somewhat matches overall sales in the USA. So, on a year to year basis then- No, the Bible is no longer the best selling book in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/35 "2020-04-28T19:37:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > [Amazon.com Best Sellers of 2019 in Books](https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/2019/books) > > So, on Amazon those are the top sellers for 2019, From what I saw the Bible didnt even make top 50. > > I would suspect this somewhat matches overall sales in the USA. So, on a year to year basis then- No, the Bible is no longer the best selling book in the USA. But the popular claim is that the Bible sells so well that it is \*\*\*excluded \*\*\*from bestseller lists. So we cannot go by bestseller lists to see how well the Bible is selling (unless, say, it appeared on the list as No. 14 or No. 23) ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/36 "2020-04-28T19:42:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > So, on Amazon those are the top sellers for 2019, From what I saw the Bible didnt even make top 50. That list considers each and every version individually. It’s possible that it would rank higher if one would aggregate the many versions together. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/37 "2020-04-28T20:21:27Z")
Lately I never see Bibles in hotel rooms. In Alaska I saw the Bible and Book of Mormon but in Utah I found neither. BTW the Gideons don’t mind at all if you take the hotel Bible home. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/38 "2020-04-28T20:38:28Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > People are supposed to be able to read it, especially those who hold it in high esteem. So it’s not a secret book you are lucky to even look at: there are plenty of books, e-books, translations, apps, commentaries; people try to memorize it, study it in school, etc. Yes it is meant to be read, but with that type reverence is what I wanted to indicate. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/39 "2020-04-28T20:48:08Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > I’m very curious WHY you have so many. How much use do you get from them? Are you book collectors, as a hobby? Perhaps you’re not merely non-religious, but actively anti-religious and you often refer to the Bible for research? > > I’m being sincere. I’m not trying to knock you. I have no books about sports, because the subject doesn’t interest me, and I’d imagine most nonreligious people feel similarly about the Bible. Obviously you are exceptions, and I’m just curious what fuels your interest. Well, for me personally: On my shelves are my Confirmation Bible (I promptly dropped out of the church and went rogue,) a HUGE Family Bible, my mother’s copy and at least 5 different translations, all acquired over the years for various reasons, mostly research. In my classroom I have copies of the Bible, The Quran, The Book of Mormon, The Bhavagad-Gita, The Analects of Confucius, The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, The Book of the Invisible Pink Unicorn, and a few others. Nothing shuts down a high school religious argument like going to the source and showing students that what they thought they believed isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737/40 "2020-04-28T21:00:11Z")
Come to think of it, what counts as a “sale”? That used to be a much simpler question, because it used to be, for someone to get a book, someone had to pay for it: Even a public-domain book like the King James Bible, someone had to pay to print and bind it. But nowadays, an e-book can be “made” for such a trivial cost that nobody bothers to track it. Do free downloads count for “bestseller” statistics? Because I suspect that a lot of people, on getting a device that can be used to read e-books, immediately go find a list of classic public domain books and grab the lot of them just because they can, and the King James Bible is likely to be on that list. Heck, there are probably some e-readers that come with a library of such books pre-installed: Is someone who buys such a reader buying a bible? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-bible-really-still-the-no-1-bestselling-book-in-the-usa/852737.md?page=3)