I just read an article that dealt with the most read books in the world in the past 50 years. And now for your reading entertainment, here are the top 10 books listed in this article:
10. Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy – 17 Million Copies
9. Diary of Anne Frank – 27 Million Copies
8. Think and Grow Rich – 30 Million Copies
7. Gone With the Wind – 33 Million Copies
6. Twilight – The Saga – 43 Million Copies
5. The Da Vinci Code – 57 Million Copies
4. Lord of the Rings – 103 Million Copies
3. Harry Potter – 400 Million Copies
2. Quotations from the Works of Mao Tse-Tung – 820 Million Copies
And…Drum Roll, Please………
The number 1 book in the last 50 years…
Of course is the Bible – 3.9 Billion Copies
That’s right – 3.9 BILLION Copies sold. 3,900.000,000. That is mind boggling. As I write these words there are just over 6.8 Billion people in the world (with more being born every second). That is roughly a copy of the Bible for 59% of the world’s population.
My problem with this article is that it claims that these are the most read books in the past 50 years. I do not know anyone who has claimed to have read Mao Tse-Tung’s writings but I am sure that most of them that were printed were read. I do know quite a few people who have read the Harry Potter books. You run into them every day. When a new book in this particular series came out people lined up to purchase and read the latest installment of Harry Potter. People would stay up all night just to get the latest on Harry and his friends.
I have never seen people in line waiting to obtain a Bible. (At least not in this country.) I rarely hear of the stories and truths of the Bible talked about in everyday life. I would even estimate that less than 50% of people in church buildings even bring a Bible with them to the place where the Bible is to be taught and studied together. Have you read any of the books on this most read list? Is the Bible the most read book in your life?
If you want some exciting and amazing reading, then here is a new reading list for you:
10. Hitchhikers Guide to the Creator of the Galaxy - Genesis 1:1-31
9. Diary of Anna (when she saw the baby Jesus) – Luke 2:36-38
8. Think and Grow Rich in God – Ephesians 2:4-10
7. Gone with the Wind - 2nd Kings 2:1-11
6. TheLight – The Savior – John 8:12
5. The Convicting One – Jude 1:14-15
4. Lord of All Things – Acts 10:34-43
3. Master Potter – Isaiah 64:8
2. Quotations from the Works of Moses’ Own Tongue – Deuteronomy 31:7-8
and of course,
1. The Entire Bible – Psalm 119:160; 2nd Timothy 2:15; 1st Thessalonians 2:13
I pray that you treasure God’s Word and that it really is your most read book. God will change your life as you read His Word.
Psalm 19:7-11 - The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
