I chose “fiction” to avoid responses like religious texts and state-mandated instructional textbooks (but feel free to include these types of books if you think they generate interesting responses).
In order to count as “being read,” the user must read the book themselves (audiobooks count but a Catholic sermon in 11th-century Europe would not count for examples). Reading the book in school can count, but feel free to only include recreational reading.
I suggest keeping in mind the following factors:
* Mass readership was practically impossible before the invention of the printing press and state-enforced or humanitarian-supported literacy
* The world population has increased dramatically in recent decades/centuries
* Most of the world does not live in the Anglosphere (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.)
Feel free to answer to question “Which singular fictional book has been read by the most human beings?” or “Which singular fictional book has been read the most times combined?”
Personally, I assume that when it comes to fictional books, “A Tale of Two Cities,” “The Little Prince,” and “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” are each very likely candidates for the answer, given their high-selling records. However, it could also be a popular book in a country with a massive population like China or India that few people on this subreddit have even heard of.
by Radiant-Specialist76
12 Comments
My gut wants to say The Bible (which also is also likely, the most heavily-edited book ever).
I was going to say the Bible, which is definitely fiction, but people don’t actually read it, they just pretend they do.
Maybe the Iliad or the Odyssey
I would say that if you are omitting books being read aloud to the illiterate, you should also omit audio books.
Regardless, the answer is almost certainly either The Hobbit or Don Quixote.
I agree with OP it’s probably a more recent book for the factors they cited.
I think the Harry Potter books could be close (author issues not withstanding). JKR is one of the richest women in the world. I cant think of any other authors even close.
To OPs last bullet point it has been translated into many languages.
A Tale of Two Cities or Harry Potter have got to be strong contenders. ATOTC is pretty widely read in schools and has been around *forever,* and Harry Potter is much more recent but extremely accessible and has been translated into a zillion languages.
Cat in the Hat because each little kid reads it 200 times and by proxy their parents do too, so if you are counting re-reads that’s my guess, something short and for kids.
>all of history
So, the oldest fiction is going to win. Homer. Ovid. I’m not well-versed in non-Western canon, but yeah. Old authors still in print will have the numbers.
If you consider them books, the plays of William Shakespeare are taught in almost every school and have been studied extensively since their creation.
Good Night Moon, or some other beloved picture book, especially one that might be read every night before bed time of years of a childhood.
[removed]
Isn’t Agatha Christie one of the most read authors ever? I suspect one of her books would beat most “modern” authors. The classics may be limited by access to education.