Final answer:
Books such as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," "The Hobbit," and "The Little Prince" have sold over 100 million copies each, representing significant achievements in the publishing industry. While many books do not reach these heights, some become timeless classics, cherished across generations and often earning their authors critical acclaim.
Step-by-step explanation:
Books That Sold Over 100 Million Copies
It is indeed a remarkable feat for an author to have a book that sells over 100 million copies. Among the list provided, books such as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J. K. Rowling, "The Hobbit" by J. R. R. Tolkien, and "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry have undoubtedly achieved this milestone, capturing the hearts of readers worldwide. Other notable works that have reached such widespread popularity include "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie, "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens, and "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown. These books are not just best-sellers; they have influenced countless readers and have established themselves as timeless pieces in literary history.
In contrast to these juggernauts of the literary world, many books do not achieve such commercial success. As noted, about seventy percent of books do not earn back the money that was advanced to their authors. This fact highlights the fiercely competitive nature of the publishing industry and the extraordinary accomplishment of authors who have managed to captive such a vast audience.
While some books become global sensations, often it's the quality and the impact of the literary work that leads to their longevity and continued success. A book's ability to resonate with readers, to be adapted into different media, and to be cherished across generations greatly contributes to its sales milestones. Authors like Gabriel García Márquez with "One Hundred Years of Solitude" not only saw high sales but also earned critical acclaim, including the Nobel Prize for Literature, cementing their works in the annals of literary history.