While searching on line, I found these 10 interesting facts about books. So, I put them in this post.
I’m taking these at face value and have not verified the veracity of the points.
It’s fun to have a look at these book facts anyway, even if they may not be entirely accurate.
(1) Longest Book Ever Written
In Search of Lost Time (English translation title is Remembrance of Things Past)
In Search of Lost Time, by French author Marcel Proust, contains 9,609,000 characters.
The approximately 4,300 pages are spread across seven volumes.
The main theme is that of involuntary memory. Published in 1913.
(2) Biggest Book Ever Printed
This the Prophet of Mohamed
A book called This the Prophet of Mohamed was unveiled in 2012.
It measures 16.4 feet x 26.44 feet, weighs 3,306 pounds, and has 429 pages.
It was constructed in Dubai involving 50 people.
This book showcases the Prophet Muhammad’s legacy and the positive contributions of Islam around the world. It’s size is a celebration of that.
(3) Oldest Book in Print
The Diamond Sutra
The Diamond Sutra is a Buddhist holy text with Chinese characters.
It’s the oldest surviving book with a printed date of 868 AD.
It’s currently housed at the British Library in London and is written on a scroll.
(4) Best-Selling Book of All Time
The Bible
Distributed worldwide in hundreds of languages, The Christian Bible is the best selling book of all time.
An estimated 5 to 7 billion copies are currently in print.
There are approximately 80 million copies printed on an annual basis,
Bible Societies, founded in the early 19th century, were primarily responsible for giving away bibles for free or at cost as part of their Christian mission.
It is considered the highest selling book ever in print.
(5) Top Selling Children’s Book Of All Time
The Little Prince
This children’s book has sold more than 200,000,000 since it was originally published in 1943.
The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and was originally written in French.
Equally astonishing, this book broke another record as the world’s most translated book of fiction.
To date, Le Petit Prince has 600 different translations.
(6) Most Expensive Book Ever Sold
Codex Leicester
Bill Gates purchased the codex at a Christie’s auction in New York on November 11, 1994, for $30,802,500.
Named after Thomas Coke, Earl of Leicester, who first purchased The Codex Leicester in 1719, is a collection of scientific writings by Leonardo de Vinci and is
The codex provides an insight into the mind of Leonard de Vinci who was a Renaissance artist, scientist and big thinker. De Vinci mapped out the link between art and science and demonstrated the creativity of the scientific process.
(7) Most Banned Book of All Time
1984 by George Orwell
This book delves into totalitarianism and all its predictable tactics.
Such as a surveillance state, media propaganda, and the manipulation of truth. As well as, the limits to freedom in all its forms — travel, earnings, housing, education, family, health — all major areas of human life.
Orwell wrote this book as a dystopian speculative fiction novel. It’s been targeted by those who see it as a threat to established authority.
It was first published on the 8th of June, 1949 by Secker & Warburg.
1984 was Orwell’s ninth and final completed book.
(8) Highest Selling Picture Book To Date
The Poky Little Puppy
With nearly 15 million copies sold since 1942, The Poky Little Puppy, remains among the best-selling children’s books ever.
This timeless story was part of the original 12 Golden Books that have captured the hearts of children for decades.
It tells the tale of five puppies who venture beyond their garden. The little puppy who consistently lags behind learns a valuable lesson about the consequences of being slow and disobedient, often missing out on treats.
(9) Country With Highest Number of Published Books Per Capita: ICELAND
The per capita book publishing rate in Iceland is notably high, at 4.5 books per 1,000 inhabitants.
Icelanders’ strong reading habits, exceeding those of other Nordic countries, contributes to this impressive figure. It’s a testament to the Icelandic culture demonstrating how highly valued literary creation is.
Surveys indicate that approximately 93% of the nation’s small population (330,000) ready daily.
(10) Word for the Pleasant Smell of Old Books: Bibliosmia
Within book-loving circles, “bibliosmia” is the accepted term for the cherished, distinctive scent of old books, even though it’s not yet a standard dictionary entry.
The aroma of old books stems from the gradual breakdown of paper and binding agents.
Cellulose, the paper’s foundation, undergoes hydrolysis, releasing volatile compounds.
Meanwhile, lignin, another wood pulp component, yields vanillin, imparting a delicate, sweet fragrance.
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