Buzz
Some of the most iconic settings, characters, and narratives in literature span across multiple books. Series that form part of a larger collection frequently dominate bestseller lists. Whether it's sweeping fantasy epics or delightful children's stories, these series have achieved remarkable sales since their first publications.
Even with a basic understanding of the publishing industry, the top-ranked book series here is no shock. J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books have collectively sold over 500 million copies. Individually, each book in the fantasy series remains one of the best-selling books ever.
With just seven books, the Harry Potter series is among the shorter ones on this list. Other authors' impressive sales figures are partly due to the sheer volume of their works. R.L. Stine wrote 62 Goosebumps books from 1992 to 1997, and these children's horror stories have sold 350 million copies globally.
Perry Mason stands out as one of the few adult-oriented series in this ranking. Erle Stanley Gardner's mystery novels, with over 80 titles released between 1933 and 1973, have surpassed 300 million copies sold. The following two series feature even more volumes: the Berenstain Bears series includes over 300 books, while the Choose Your Own Adventure series has seen 184 books published by various authors.
Below, you can explore the complete list of the best-selling book series in history. Interestingly, none of the authors behind these series appear on the list of the best-selling authors of all time. You can check out that list here.
- Harry Potter // J.K. Rowling
- Goosebumps // R.L. Stine
- Perry Mason // Erle Stanley Gardner
- Berenstain Bears // Stan and Jan Berenstain
- Choose Your Own Adventure // Multiple authors
- Sweet Valley High // Francine Pascal
- Robert Langdon // Dan Brown
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid // Jeff Kinney
- Noddy // Enid Blyton
- The Railway Series // Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry
- San-Antonio // Frédéric Dard
- Nancy Drew // Carolyn Keene
- The Baby-Sitters Club // Ann Martin
- Star Wars // Multiple authors
- Fifty Shades // E. L. James
