Top 10 Most Influential Books in History

This influential Spanish novel is widely considered the first modern novel and has been translated into more than 140 languages. It tells the story of a nobleman who becomes obsessed with chivalric romances, leading him to embark on a series of absurd adventures. Published in two parts between 1605 and 1615, "Don Quixote" is estimated to have sold over 500 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling novels of all time.

Set in the Deep South during the 1930s, this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel explores issues of racism and injustice through the eyes of a young girl named Scout Finch. With over 40 million copies sold worldwide, it is one of the most widely read novels in American history. The book has been translated into more than 40 languages and was adapted into a successful film directed by Robert Mulligan.

First published in 1859, this groundbreaking book introduced the theory of evolution through natural selection to the scientific community. With over 10 million copies sold worldwide, it is considered one of the most influential books in the history of science. The book's impact on modern biology and ecology cannot be overstated.

These ancient Greek epic poems are some of the oldest surviving works of literature in the Western canon. Written around 800 BC, they tell the stories of the Trojan War and Odysseus's journey home after the war. Translated into many languages over the centuries, they remain two of the most studied and influential works in human history.

Published in 1848, this influential pamphlet laid out the principles of communism and remains a foundational text for Marxist theory. With estimated sales of over 10 million copies worldwide, it is one of the most widely read books on politics and economics. The manifesto's impact on modern history cannot be overstated.

This foundational text in Western philosophy explores the nature of justice, morality, and the ideal society through a series of dialogues between Socrates and other characters. Written around 380 BC, it is considered one of the most influential works in the history of Western philosophy. Its ideas about justice, education, and the nature of reality remain relevant today.

First published in 1900, this book introduced psychoanalytic theory to the scientific community and remains one of the most influential works in psychology. With estimated sales of over 1 million copies worldwide, it is considered a foundational text for modern psychology. The book's ideas about the unconscious mind and repression remain central to Freudian thought.

Published in 1776, this influential work on economics laid out the principles of classical liberalism and remains one of the most widely read books on economic theory. With estimated sales of over 2 million copies worldwide, it is considered a foundational text for modern capitalism. The book's ideas about division of labor and the "invisible hand" remain central to modern economic thought.

This collection of sacred texts is considered one of the most influential works in human history, with estimated sales of over 5 billion copies worldwide. Written by various authors over several centuries, it remains one of the most widely read books in the world. Its impact on Western civilization, Christianity, and many other cultures cannot be overstated.

Published in 1949, this dystopian novel is a warning about the dangers of totalitarianism and the erosion of individual freedom. With estimated sales of over 20 million copies worldwide, it remains one of the most widely read and influential works of science fiction. The book's ideas about government surveillance, censorship, and propaganda remain as relevant today as they were when first published.