Hundreds of books and novels have topped bestselling lists at different points, but none of them really come close to how popular these books are. Here are the five best selling books of the 21st century.
The Da Vinci Code
Author: Dan Brown
The Da Vinci Code, written by Dan Brown, was the second book in the Robert Langdon series. It is the highest-selling singular book of the 21st century, with over 80 million copies sold worldwide.
The mystery thriller follows Robert Langdon, a ‘symbologist’, and Sophie Neveu, a cryptologist, after a murder in the Louvre Museum in Paris. The pair gets embroiled in battles between secret societies, the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei, due to hypotheses and controversies behind the life of Jesus Christ.
Many Christian bodies denounced the book as an attack on the Catholic Church. It portrayed the Catholic Church suppressing alternative theories behind Christianity and Jesus Christ.
Angels & Demons
Author: Dan Brown
Another Dan Brown entry on the list of highest best selling books of the 21st century. Angels & Demons was the first installment in the Robert Langdon series and sold over 39 million copies worldwide. The novel introduced Robert Langdon to the world after arriving to a Swedish research facility to decrypt a symbol scorched into the chest of a murdered man.
This leads to Langdon uncovering secret societies, plots of the Illuminati against the Catholic Church, and much more. The book heavily referenced ancient architecture, history, and symbols throughout. In 2009, filmmakers adapted the book into a movie starring Tom Hanks.
The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini’s first-ever novel sold over 31.5 million copies. The heartbreaking historical fiction story is set in Afghanistan, and it follows two close friends, Amir and Hassan, throughout the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to the rise of the Taliban.
It is a beautiful story with unforgettable moments, heartbreaks, betrayals, and emotions. Without spoiling too much, it is a story of good overcoming evil, against all odds, and a must-read for sure!
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Author: Stieg Larsson
The psychological thriller by Swedish author Stieg Larsson sold over 30 million copies globally. The book is about Mikael Blomkvist, a disgraced investigative reporter in Stockholm, Sweden. Lisbeth Salander, a hacker and researcher, then joins Mikael to investigate a missing member of a billionaire family.
The duo discovers and unearths a collection of secrets as they investigate and research the ‘dysfunctional’ family. Director, Niels Arden Oplev adapted the book into a film in 2009.
Harry Potter Series
Author: J. K. Rowling
We all already know what the Harry Potter series is about. Every one of us has at least heard about or watched the magical movies adapted from these books. The Harry Potter Series written by J.K Rowling has sold over 500 million copies worldwide.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first book of the series, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets were released before the 21st century in 1997 and 1998. The first sold 120 million copies, and the second book sold almost 80 million copies worldwide. Even if you disregard both these books, the series still comfortably sits on top of the highest-selling books of the 21st century. Every installment of the Harry Potter series has sold over 65 million copies.
