What Is the #2 Most Read Book in the World?

When people ask about the most read book in the world, they usually think of the Bible. That’s true-it’s number one, no contest. But what’s the #2 most read book? It’s not a novel. It’s not a religious text. It’s a self-help book written in 1936 that still sits on bedside tables, in airport bookstores, and on corporate training shelves today: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

This isn’t just a book that sold well. It’s one that changed how people communicate. Over 30 million copies have been sold in 50+ languages. That’s more than most bestsellers combined. It’s been reprinted every year since 1937. Schools teach it. Managers use it. People reread it every five years like a spiritual reset. And it’s not because it’s flashy or trendy-it’s because it works.

Why This Book Still Matters in 2025

You might think a book from the 1930s would feel outdated. But the core ideas? They’re timeless. Carnegie didn’t write about hacks or quick fixes. He wrote about human nature. He noticed that people don’t care what you know until they know you care. That’s it. That one insight changed everything.

Think about your last conflict-at work, at home, even online. Did you start by pointing out what the other person got wrong? Or did you try to understand why they felt that way? Carnegie’s advice is simple: stop trying to win arguments. Start trying to understand people. That’s why this book survives. It doesn’t tell you how to manipulate. It tells you how to connect.

How It Got So Popular

Carnegie didn’t have a marketing team. He didn’t have social media. He taught public speaking classes in New York in the 1920s. His students kept asking him to put his lessons into writing. He spent years collecting real stories-salesmen who turned around angry clients, managers who got teams to cooperate without yelling, parents who finally got their teenagers to talk.

When the book came out, it landed like a bomb. People wrote letters saying, ‘I used your advice and my wife stopped yelling at me.’ ‘I got promoted because I stopped correcting people in meetings.’ ‘I made my first sale after saying ‘thank you’ instead of pushing.’

It spread because it was practical. No theory. No jargon. Just: ‘Do this. See what happens.’ And it worked. Again and again.

The Six Rules That Still Work Today

There are dozens of principles in the book, but six stand out as the backbone. These aren’t tips. They’re habits. And if you practice them, you’ll notice real change in your relationships.

1. Don’t criticize, condemn, or complain. People defend their choices. If you attack them, they shut down. If you show understanding, they open up.
2. Give honest and sincere appreciation. Everyone wants to feel seen. A simple ‘I really appreciated how you handled that’ goes further than a bonus.
3. Arouse in the other person an eager want. People act on what they want, not what you want. Ask: ‘What’s in this for them?’ before you speak.
4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves. Most people spend their days waiting for their turn to talk. Be the one who listens first.
5. Talk in terms of the other person’s interests. If you’re trying to convince someone, start with what matters to them-not what matters to you.
6. Make the other person feel important-and do it sincerely. People remember how you made them feel long after they forget what you said.

These aren’t tricks. They’re basic human courtesies that we’ve forgotten in the age of instant replies and online outrage. Carnegie didn’t invent them. He just reminded us they still matter.

Who Reads This Book Today?

You might assume it’s only salespeople or managers. But that’s not true. Teachers use it to connect with students. Therapists recommend it to clients struggling with social anxiety. Parents read it to understand their teens. Even engineers and coders-people who think they don’t need ‘soft skills’-find themselves rereading it when they hit a wall with teamwork.

One engineer in Berlin told me he read it after his team kept rejecting his code reviews. He thought they were being hostile. Then he realized: he was always starting with ‘This is wrong.’ He switched to ‘I see what you’re trying to do here-what if we tried this?’ Within two weeks, his feedback got accepted. No one said it was because of the book. But he knew.

Why It Beats Modern Self-Help Books

There are thousands of self-help books now. Many are flashy. Some are written by influencers with millions of followers. But most of them lack one thing: proof.

Carnegie’s book is built on real stories from real people. He didn’t make up case studies. He collected them over decades. He talked to factory workers, CEOs, nurses, and single parents. He didn’t sell a dream. He showed what happened when people changed how they spoke.

Modern books often promise transformation in 7 days. Carnegie’s book says: ‘Try this for a week. See if it changes your conversations.’ No hype. No gimmicks. Just quiet, consistent effort.

What People Get Wrong About the Book

Some say it’s manipulative. That you’re ‘using’ people to get what you want. That’s a misunderstanding. Carnegie never said ‘get people to like you so you can control them.’ He said: ‘If you want people to like you, start by liking them.’

There’s a big difference. One is transactional. The other is relational. The book isn’t about influence as power. It’s about influence as respect.

Another myth? That it’s only for extroverts. Wrong. The quietest people often get the most out of it. Listening doesn’t require talking. Showing interest doesn’t require being loud. The book gives introverts tools to connect without pretending to be someone else.

Where to Find It-and What to Skip

You can buy it anywhere. Paperback, ebook, audiobook. There are modern editions with new forewords. Some include examples from today’s workplace. But the original text? It’s still the best. The language is simple. The examples are clear. No fluff.

What to skip? The 1980s and 1990s versions that added corporate jargon like ‘synergy’ or ‘leveraging relationships.’ Those dilute the message. Stick to the original 1936 edition. Or the 1981 revised version that only cleaned up outdated phrasing-no new theories added.

Don’t read it once and put it on a shelf. Read it slowly. Pick one rule. Practice it for a week. Then move to the next. That’s how people change. Not by reading fast. By living slow.

Why It’s Still #2 After 90 Years

The Bible is #1 because it’s sacred to billions. This book is #2 because it’s useful to millions. It doesn’t promise heaven. It promises better conversations. Better relationships. Less stress. More trust.

It’s not about being popular. It’s about being understood. And in a world where everyone’s shouting, that’s the rarest skill of all.

So if you’re looking for the #2 most read book, don’t search for the latest viral trend. Go back. Find the quiet book that’s been helping people connect since before TV existed. And read it like it’s the first time.

If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation feeling misunderstood, this book offers a way back. No apps. No courses. Just words that have helped millions find connection in a noisy world.