Top 10 World Records Related to Books

The seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series became the fastest-selling book in history. Publishers reported over 11 million copies sold within the first 24 hours in just three markets. In the U.S., "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" sold 8.3 million copies on its first day, easily surpassing the previous book, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which sold 6.9 million copies in its first 24 hours, according to Scholastic’s data. Thousands of Harry Potter fans lined up outside bookstores in major cities worldwide to get their hands on the book, eager to discover who survived until the end. In the UK, Bloomsbury set a record by selling 2.7 million copies in the first 24 hours, an increase of more than 2 million copies over the previous Potter release. Additionally, nearly 400,000 English-language copies of the book were sold in Germany. The world's largest book retailer, Barnes & Noble, sold 1.8 million copies of "Deathly Hallows" in the first 48 hours, while Borders Group sold about 1.2 million copies globally within just one day, both setting sales records.

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London houses some remarkable furniture pieces alongside priceless tapestries, sculptures, and ceramics. One of the most captivating exhibits is the world’s first detached-leg bookshelf, displayed in the same section as a table with detached legs, a cube-shaped chair, and a clock with a detached base. This unique bookshelf was designed specifically for the naval administrator and diarist Samuel Pepys in 1666.

Samuel Pepys commissioned the bookshelf to be made with protective glass doors. The bookshelf he ordered is a prime example of 17th-century craftsmanship, hand-carved by a master artisan with intricate attention to detail on every wooden panel. These detached-leg bookshelves were proudly showcased in Pepys' library, though it is unclear whether they were mentioned in his diaries. These bookshelves laid the foundation for the modern, freestanding bookshelves we are familiar with today.

John Q. Benham currently holds the title for the largest personal book collection in the world, with a staggering 1.5 million books. His collection spans a vast array of genres. Unlike most collectors who neatly organize their books in a dedicated room, Benham's collection is so massive that it overflows into a six-car garage, a two-story house, and piles up under a tarp outdoors.

According to Rare Book Hub, another man named Anke Gowda also claims to have a collection of 1.5 million books. However, he has never officially counted or verified the exact number of books in his possession. Gowda collects books in 20 different Indian languages, alongside stamps, coins, banknotes, movie posters, and newspapers. Initially, he filled his entire house with books, leaving only a small corner to sleep and cook. Eventually, the sheer volume of books forced him to seek help in building a 24,000-square-foot house to house his collection, with volunteers assisting in its upkeep.

Many avid readers believe they could easily read for hours, or even an entire day, if they had no other distractions. However, few are able to dedicate days on end to reading, as was done for the world record of the longest reading session. The record for the longest reading program stands at 124 hours and 15 minutes, set by Rys Bai Isakov from Kyrgyzstan in Bursa, Turkey, between September 22 and September 27, 2022.

Reading non-stop for five days straight is no small feat, and the preparation for such an endeavor must have been fascinating, considering most people struggle to get through a 1,000-page book. The record attempt began at 7:00 PM on September 22, 2022, and concluded at 11:00 PM on September 27, 2022. During this time, Rys Bai Isakov read the epic poem “Manas.” The figure of Manas is an ancient, revered hero of the Kyrgyz people, symbolizing the nation’s identity and spiritual legacy. The legend of Manas dates back to the 10th century and remains a cornerstone of Kyrgyzstan's culture and national pride.

Located on the 60th floor of the JW Marriott Hotel at Tomorrow Plaza in Shanghai, this library has been recognized by Guinness as the highest library in the world. Situated in the heart of Shanghai, near People's Square, the library is 230.9 meters above sea level and covers an area of 57 square meters. It houses more than 1,500 books in various languages, including English novels and Chinese poetry. Access to the library is exclusive to hotel guests, and visitors must use their room key to enter.

The JW Marriott Hotel's library also features rare editions of classic Chinese literature, with dark blue covers that are hard to find in local bookstores. To reach this lofty library, visitors must take several elevators and then climb additional stairs, making the experience all the more rewarding. The library is also connected to a small café on the 59th floor, where readers can climb a spiral staircase to reach the tranquil library, surrounded by towering bookshelves that stretch from floor to ceiling on three sides.

The Guinness World Records Book, often simply called the Guinness World Records, is an annual reference book that compiles a wide range of world records. Published globally, it has been translated into over 40 languages. This is one of the best-selling copyrighted books in publishing history, with an average of million copies sold each year and over 150 million copies sold since its debut in 1955.

The Guinness World Records book is renowned for its extensive lists and descriptions of records across various categories, such as size, speed, and distance—featuring records like the tallest person, the heaviest onion, the fastest animal, and the heaviest man-made object. It also includes tough-to-achieve challenges, such as stacking the most coins in 30 seconds, shooting the longest arrow with just feet, or fitting the most people in a car. The book also serves as inspiration for thousands of individuals each year who strive to break previously established records.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is an American children's book series and media franchise created by author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney, which first hit the shelves in 2007. Kinney spent eight years working on the book before it was submitted to publishers. Over a decade later, readers still can’t get enough of Greg Heffley, the main character, and the doodle-filled adventures that Kinney created. The series chronicles the life of Greg Heffley, a middle school student who illustrates his daily experiences in a journal.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid was first released online in 2004 by Fun Brain and Kinney, where it gained nearly 20 million views. In 2015, the tenth book in the series, titled Old School, sold a record-breaking 2,208,855 copies. Diary of a Wimpy Kid helped Jeff Kinney become the top-selling children's author in 2015. Since its online debut, the series has consistently received positive reviews and achieved commercial success. As of 2022, more than 275 million copies have been sold worldwide, making it the fourth best-selling book series of all time.

Bella J Dark from Weymouth, UK, made her dream of seeing her own story on bookshelves come true. At just 5 years and 211 days old, she became the youngest person in the world to publish a book. Bella wrote and illustrated a story called The Lost Cat, which tells the tale of Snowy, a cat who gets lost after venturing outside alone at night. The book was written to teach children the importance of never going outside alone at night. Published by Ginger Fyre Press on January 31, 2022, The Lost Cat has sold over 1,000 copies since its release.

Bella first came up with the idea for The Lost Cat after drawing one of the book’s illustrations. Bella’s mother, Chelsie Syme, shared that Bella has always had a vivid imagination and had been writing short stories since the age of three. Bella spent about five days writing the entire story, as well as drawing and coloring all the illustrations (including one on the final page created by her sister Lacie May). Before Bella, the youngest published author was Dorothy Straight (born May 25, 1958), who had her book How the World Began published in August 1964 at the age of 6.

According to Forbes data published in August 2013, the highest-earning author of adult fiction in the world was Erika Leonard James (pen name: EL James), the author of the Fifty Shades trilogy. Between June 2012 and June 2013, the British author earned $95 million, surpassing the previous record-holder, American author James Patterson, who earned a remarkable $91 million. Thanks to royalties from the Fifty Shades novels, Erika Leonard made her debut on Forbes' list of the highest-earning authors.

The Fifty Shades series became a massive commercial success, selling 70 million copies in the first eight months alone in the United States. Without any film adaptations of the books yet released, Erika Leonard earned $5 million for a movie deal that led to the official film release in August 2014. To date, the Fifty Shades trilogy is the only set of novels Erika Leonard James has written, though there are rumors she is working on her next book.

Sharjah is recognized for hosting the largest book signing event in the world. At the Sharjah International Book Fair, 1,502 authors from around the globe sat behind long rows of tables to simultaneously sign their books, setting a new Guinness World Record. This remarkable event surpassed the previous record of 1,423 authors set in Turkey.

In front of thousands of cheering visitors, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) was officially awarded the Guinness World Record for the largest book signing event. This achievement highlights Sharjah's growing influence in both Arab and global culture—an intellectual and creative milestone, marking the culmination of over 40 years of Sharjah's dedication to promoting a love for books and reading. The event also holds special significance, as it took place during Sharjah's celebration as the UNESCO World Book Capital in 2019.