Say what you will about schools and firsthand experience, but books really do teach us much of what we learn. For millennia, knowledge has been passed on through the written word. Books, as we now know them, have been around for a little less than 600 years, but they have contributed not only to mass education, but mass entertainment. I don't know if Johann Gutenberg, a goldsmith from Germany, was aware of the impact he would have on the world by inventing the printing press.

Books stimulate the intellect and the imagination. They are an important part of life and so we've decided to look into the ten best-selling books of all time. You think you'll find classics from Charles Dickens or William Shakespeare? The latest Harry Potter book? Read on, you'll be surprised. Note that all sales figures are estimates and cumulated from year to year. Also, though some books appear as a new edition each year, they still count as the same and their numbers are tabulated accordingly.

Number 10

Valley of the Dolls - 30 million

Author: Jacqueline Susann

Not be confused with Russ Meyer's campy film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls , this novel, which was first published in 1966, was an instant hit. The plot centers around three women vying to make it in showbiz, who instead get plagued by sex, drugs and scandal. Pushing the boundaries of the '60s, it's undeniably a trashy melodrama but it is addictive and entertaining nonetheless.

Excerpt: "I don't need a woman on my arm every minute."

Number 9

In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do? - 30 million

Author: Rev. Charles Monroe Sheldon

Sheldon was an average American clergyman. However, it all changed when he published this tome in 1896, bringing him phenomenal fame and fortune. This discourse is about dilemmas and how we can use the Bible in everyday life, boiling Christianity down to its very essence. What Sheldon proposes is that we put ourselves in Jesus' shoes for every decision we make, that it's the only way to really exercise discipleship.

Excerpt: "I know that the hand of divine love in all this is leading me."

Number 8

A Message to Garcia - 40 million

Author: Elbert Hubbard

This 1899 short essay, clocking in at around 1,500 words, is about the real hero of the Cuban War. At its core, it is a dissertation on labor relations that still rings true today. It basically addresses workers and preaches initiative. It achieved these staggering sales figures mostly because companies would buy the book in bulk to distribute to their employees.

Excerpt: "My heart goes out to the man who does his work when the 'boss' is away, as well as when he is home."

Number 7

Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care - 50 million

Author: Dr. Benjamin Spock

No Vulcans or warp speed, but the same good sense though. In 1946, pediatrician Spock penned this classic on how to raise children. Not only was the book important in its own right, it was also somewhat controversial considering a man wrote about what was traditionally considered a woman's task. This is the source that generations of parents have relied on when dealing with newborns and toddlers. It covers a wide range of topics relating to childcare, from infancy to early education.

Excerpt: "The fact is that child rearing is a long, hard job, the rewards are not always immediately obvious, the work is often undervalued, and parents are just as human and almost as vulnerable as their children."

Number 6

The McGuffey Readers - 60 million

Author: William Holmes McGuffey

The numerous editions of this anthology of short stories for young readers were quite popular when first printed in 1836, though they were initially rather preachy. Not only were they a great learning tool but they also contained valuable moral lessons. During the 19th century, 80% of all American schoolchildren used them. Some sources claim that 120 million copies were sold but it is believed that these figures are bloated considering the U.S. population numbered around 10 million at the time.

Excerpt: "The first object of the intelligent teacher, is to awaken the attention of his pupil."

On to five more books you should've read, Jack... Next >>