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25 of the most popular books of all time on Amazon.co.uk

2 min
Amazon 25 year anniversary books cover
During the first days of the internet – when online shopping was only an abstract concept – a small startup named Amazon.com sold its first product, marking the beginning of a retail revolution. It all began with books.

Amazon was founded with the vision to make books more accessible to readers around the world. In the UK, this started with the sale of the book 3001: The Final Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke. The fourth and final book in the brilliant sci-fi Space Odyssey series, the novel follows Frank Poole, one of the astronauts from the original 2001: A Space Odyssey.

3001: The Final Odyssey book cover
3001: The Final Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

The company has diversified into a wide array of products but books have remained a core part of Amazon, with subsequent expansions over the years into eBooks with Amazon Kindle and audiobooks with Audible.

To celebrate 25 years of Amazon in the UK, we’ve collected a selection of the most popular books of all time on Amazon.co.uk, for a peek into what the British public have bought and read over the years.

Most popular books on Amazon
Some of the most popular books on Amazon including the 50 Shades Trilogy, The Thursday Murder Club, Secret and The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse.

PAGE OVERVIEW
'The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse' by Charlie Mackesy
  • TABLE OF CONTENTS
    'The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse' by Charlie Mackesy
  • 'The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse' by Charlie Mackesy
  • 'Pinch of Nom' by Kate & Kay Allinson
  • 'The Thursday Murder Club' by Richard Osman
  • 'Fifty Shades of Grey' by E.L. James
  • 'Lean in 15 - The Shift Plan' by Joe Wicks
  • 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee
  • 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' by Eric Carle
  • 'The Chimp Paradox' by Professor Steve Peters
  • 'This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor' by Adam Kay
During the first days of the internet – when online shopping was only an abstract concept – a small startup named Amazon.com sold its first product, marking the beginning of a retail revolution. It all began with books.

Amazon was founded with the vision to make books more accessible to readers around the world. In the UK, this started with the sale of the book 3001: The Final Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke. The fourth and final book in the brilliant sci-fi Space Odyssey series, the novel follows Frank Poole, one of the astronauts from the original 2001: A Space Odyssey.

3001: The Final Odyssey book cover
3001: The Final Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

The company has diversified into a wide array of products but books have remained a core part of Amazon, with subsequent expansions over the years into eBooks with Amazon Kindle and audiobooks with Audible.

To celebrate 25 years of Amazon in the UK, we’ve collected a selection of the most popular books of all time on Amazon.co.uk, for a peek into what the British public have bought and read over the years.

Most popular books on Amazon
Some of the most popular books on Amazon including the 50 Shades Trilogy, The Thursday Murder Club, Secret and The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse.

  • 'The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse' by Charlie Mackesy
    The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse book cover

    A social media sleeper hit, this bestselling children’s book first began to take form as drawings about a little boy and his animal friends, posted to Instagram by South London artist Charlie Mackesy. When the book emerged in 2019, it quickly hit bestseller lists and was named book of the year by Waterstones.

    Full of humble, illustrated tales about life and love, the book has a universal appeal and a worldwide following, having been translated into 17 languages.

  • 'Pinch of Nom' by Kate & Kay Allinson
    Pinch of Nom book cover

    Starting off as a simple idea between the two authors in 2016, this series of cookbooks has taken the world by storm with delicious and healthy recipes. Catherine and Kay's approach to slimming meals without sacrificing flavour has attracted hungry readers looking for a balanced and tasty way to eat better.

  • 'The Thursday Murder Club' by Richard Osman
    The Thursday Book Club front cover

    This charming and witty murder mystery novel has gained enormous popularity for its unique blend of humour and intrigue – rapidly popularising the “cosy crime” genre. Richard Osman's quirky group of sleuthing pensioners, alongside his sharp storytelling, make this thriller a delightful read for fans of sleepy villages hiding darker secrets.

  • 'Fifty Shades of Grey' by E.L. James
    Fifty Shades of Grey book cover

    E.L. James' steamy romance trilogy (including Fifty Shades Darker and
    Fifty Shades Freed) became a cultural phenomenon almost overnight when she self-published the first novel in 2011. The captivating and controversial story of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey explores the complexities of desire and relationships, appealing to readers seeking an exhilarating experience.

  • 'Lean in 15 - The Shift Plan' by Joe Wicks
    Joe Wicks Lean in 15 front cover

    Joe Wicks' blend of fitness and nutrition took over the country during the 2020 lockdown, so his guide to eating and exercising well for people with busy lives was destined to be a bestseller. The 15-minute meals and workouts included have helped thousands of readers achieve their fitness goals while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

  • 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee
    To kill a mockingbird book cover

    Harper Lee’s debut novel about a court trial and racial inequality in Alabama has been taught to students in UK schools since its publication in 1960. Recognised by British librarians as “a book you must read before you die”, To Kill A Mockingbird is a familiar title to anyone that has sat in an English classroom.

  • 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' by Eric Carle
    The Very Hungry Caterpillar book cover

    This beloved children's classic has been a worldwide phenomenon for generations and will be familiar to most from bedtime readings or nursery school classrooms. Eric Carle's colourful illustrations and engaging story teach young readers about healthy eating and counting in a delightful way.

  • 'The Chimp Paradox' by Professor Steve Peters
    The Chimp Paradox book cover

    This self-help book has struck a chord with readers seeking to manage their minds and emotions. Professor Steve Peters' mind management program offers valuable insights for achieving success, confidence, and happiness – based on scientific facts and principles, simplified into a practical, everyday model.

  • 'This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor' by Adam Kay
    This is going to hurt book cover

    Adam Kay's candid, humourous and often tragic account of life as a junior doctor resonated with readers far beyond the medical world. The book provides a poignant look at the challenges and sacrifices of being an NHS doctor, accompanied by plenty of darkly mischievous witticisms.

Top 25 of the most popular books of all time on Amazon.co.uk (in alphabetical order):

Find all the most popular products across different categories listed here.

  • PAGE OVERVIEW
  • 1
    'The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse' by Charlie Mackesy
  • 2
    'Pinch of Nom' by Kate & Kay Allinson
  • 3
    'The Thursday Murder Club' by Richard Osman
  • 4
    'Fifty Shades of Grey' by E.L. James
  • 5
    'Lean in 15 - The Shift Plan' by Joe Wicks
  • 6
    'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee
  • 7
    'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' by Eric Carle
  • 8
    'The Chimp Paradox' by Professor Steve Peters
  • 9
    'This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor' by Adam Kay