December 5, 2024
It’s related to artificial intelligence, election cycles…and all of that feeds a desire for assurance that we’re going to be OK.
President of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, Jeff Crosby, commenting on the 22% jump in Bible sales this year, with many people buying a Bible for the first time.
Why It Matters: According to book tracker Circana BookScan, total U.S. print book sales have increased less than 1% through the end of October. Christian Bibles, however, have increased 22% in sales in the same period. Bible publishers attribute the jump in sales to anxiety about the current social, political and global environment. There has also been an increased scope of options, as publishers continue offering new editions and designs for various age groups and personal interests. “I’d like to say there is a craving for knowledge of scripture, but a lot of smart people are thinking about Bible marketing and catering to every whim for Bible study,” said Mark Bertrand, founder of Lectio.org, a website about Bible design.
Many book sellers and publishers note an increase in people buying a Bible for the first time. One such person is artist and influencer Cely Vazquez (28), who shared her experience online. She said, “I’ve had Bibles that my mom gave me, but I felt I needed my own to start my own journey, that it symbolized I was starting a walk with God. I felt something was missing. It’s a combination of where we are in the world, general anxiety and the sense that meaning and comfort can be found in the Bible.”
Context: “Sales of other holy books such as the Hebrew Bible, the Qur’an and the Bhagavad Gita are included in broader categories and aren’t broken out separately by Circana BookScan.” (WSJ)
Read More: Sales of Bibles Are Booming, Fueled by First-Time Buyers and New Versions (WSJ)
by Emily Hooker, based in Texas
