Paperback Book Day is a holiday observed annually on July 30th. It’s a day for people to read, buy, sell, and swap their favorite paperbacks. It doesn’t matter if those paperbacks are fiction or non-fiction, whether they’re new or used, or whether they’re a new work or one that’s been around for a hundred years.

All that matters is that the people celebrating this day enjoy the paperbacks in their possession. Paperbacks have always been an important medium for several reasons, including their accessibility and portability.

They’re easy to carry on a bus, train, or plane and are therefore easy to read. And that’s the main reason we love them and plan to celebrate this day with other paperback fans.

The History of Paperback Book Day

Even though we’re unsure who invented Paperback Book Day, we do know why it’s observed on July 30th. That’s because this is the date when the first Penguin paperbacks were published in England in 1935.

These paperbacks were a less expensive option for people who couldn’t afford hardbacks at the time. They were also very portable, allowing people to carry them as they went back and forth to work. It should be no surprise that these books became popular and that we now observe a holiday dedicated to them.

The Best-Selling Books of All Time

To dig into this holiday a little deeper, we decided it was important to list some of the best-selling books of all time. We think picking up one of the following books is a great way to observe Paperback Book Day, but if none of them are interesting to anyone reading today, then at least they will stand as a good record of the history of the paperback.

• Don Quixote: Over 500 million copies sold.
• A Tale of Two Cities: 200 million copies sold.
• The Lord of the Rings: Over 150 million copies sold.
• The Hobbit: Over 100 million copies sold.
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: Over 85 million copies sold.

Observing Paperback Book Day

Curling up with a good paperback is our favorite way to celebrate this holiday. Of course, this isn’t the only way to celebrate. People can also take the time to buy, sell, and trade paperbacks.

Not only among family and friends but also through online purveyors of paperbacks. While enjoying this holiday, they can also take the time to spread the news about it by using the hashtag #PaperbackBookDay online.