Top 10 Best Selling Books 2012

The avid readers amongst us always want to know what is the top10 best selling books at any given time. Now that we are into 2012, this list is current. The top bestselling books are also the most talked about. Don't miss out on interesting conversations because you haven't read the book they are all talking about. The list below shows the top 10 best sellers at Amazon.

If you'd like to buy a book gift for a relative or a friend, it is a great idea to buy one from the top 10. Chances are the book is new, and popular. Introduce children especially to reading young. Reading books is one of life's great pastimes.

Books are informative and educational, even if we don't realise this while engrossed in an adventure, or puzzled by a mystery.

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Best Selling Books UK

The Hunger Games is the first in a trilogy by Suzanne Collins telling the story of Katnis and Peeta who are chosen to fight to the death against other youngsters, each pair chosen from one of 12 districts in Panem, in a futuristic society.

America has collapsed, and Panem rises from the ashes. It now consists of a Capitol and 12 districts, and annually a live televized tournament is held. Those kids must fight to the death in a gruesome series of battles.

Aimed at young adults, children younger than 13 may find this book too horrific, but it is tremendously well-written and unputdownable. A real page turner that will have you at the edge of your seat.

#2 The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition.

Aimed at students, writers, editors and educators in the field of social and behavioural science.

This is the reprinted edition. The first edition contained many spelling and grammatical errors that brought a flood of complaints from educational institutions.

It contains updating and corrections from previous editions, and covers all aspects of writing, including correct grammar usage reporting, laying out tables of content etc in the psychology field.

A must-have book for those working or learning in this field, and for budding authors to gain a better understanding of character types.

This book is selling like hotcakes and will make a great stocking-filler for any kids in your family, aged 8 and up.

In the continuing saga of Greg Heffley, who gets himself into trouble even when he tries not to. This time school property has been damaged.

Its the holidays, and a blizzard has snow-bound the family in their home. Greg is bored; he can't go out to play, and of course he is extremely worried that is he going to get the blame for the damage.

This is the official biography of the life of Steve Jobs, the co-founder of the giant Apple Corporation.

Walter Isaacson does an excellent job of bringing us the life story, which at times is stranger than fiction, of a man who would go on to helm and change for the better, no fewer than 6 major industries before his early and untimely death.

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#5

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand.

This gripping tale tells the amazing story of Louie Zamperini who, during World War II, crashed his plane in the Pacific Ocean where he drifted at sea for weeks before landing on a seemingly deserted island where his nightmare really began.

Described as the ultimate real life thriller, Laura Hillenbrand, authoress of Sea Biscuit: An American Legend, brings us this true story which is almost too incredible to believe. Beautifully written, you simply can't put it down.

#6 Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen

This is an amazingly well-researched and thoroughly enjoyably told story of 93 year old Jacob Jankowski of when he was a young man working in one of the US's travelling circuses in the post War Depression era. In the first person, told by Jacob himself, now confined to an old folk's home, Gruen successfully jumps between the past and present, leaving you, the reader, eager to know more.

As a young man, Jacob joined the circus after the untimely death of his parents one week before he was due to sit his veterinary final exams. So he enters the circus world a vet in all but name, and the story concentrates a lot of the time on the welfare of the circus animals, hence the title of the book.

#7 Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo, Colin Burpo, and Sonja Burpo.

This is the true story of a little boy of just 4 years of age, who 'dies' while undergoing routine surgery. Told from his father's lips 7 years after the incident, this book is a lovely heart-warming tale of what the little boy told them afterwards when he recovered. He tells of visiting God in heaven, of Jesus on a horse, of meeting his sister who had miscarried before he was born, of which he knew nothing about, and of meeting his grandfather who died 40 years before.

A laugh out loud guide to parenting which any parent will completely identify with. Putting your child to bed every evening can be a trial as they sometimes use every trick in the book, and a few more you have never heard of, to stay up that little bit longer.

After reading Go the F**k to Sleep, you will never again find yourself annoyed and frustrated at your brat's refusal to sleep, as you will forever think back to passages in this book that make you smile.

Highly recommended reading for parents everywhere, except new parents or parents to be who will not yet have gained the experience to appreciate this book to its full extent.

#9 Protector by Laurel Dewey

This is a fast-paced thriller in which alcoholic homicide detective Jane Perry finds herself becoming the only person young Emily Lawrence will speak to after her parents are brutally murdered. Jane takes on the role of protector to the young girl, hence the name of the book. Action-packed yet sensitive, Laurel Dewey skilfully draws the reader in. The book is invariably described as 'un-put-downable'.

If, however, you are of a sensitive disposition, you may find the fruity and true-to-life language peppered throughout this book not to your taste, which is a shame because this is an excellent read.

Photographer Gretchen LeMaistre has made a beautiful job of the photos is this book by B H Lee. Boo, billed as the World's Cutest Dog and an internet phenomenon, is a real dog that happens to look like a cartoon character.

With over 2,000,000 and counting Facebook fans, this pomeranian dog with a stylish and fashionable hair-cut, is also extremely photogenic and people simply can't get enough of Boo.

Buy the book, and browse those amazing photos to your hearts content.

#11 Alone: A Novel of Suspense by Lisa Gardner

This excellently crafted psychological thriller tells the tale of police expert marksman who shoots down and kills a man who is seemingly on the verge of injuring his wife and child. As ever where a police sniper is involved, the follow-up inquiry reveals many complications not apparent at first glance. The dead man's father is a judge and not without considerable power and influence, and he believes that Bobby Dodge, the policeman, was having an affair with his daughter-in-law, Catherine. With many twists and turns, you will find yourself glued to this book, to the very end.

#12 First, Do No Harm by Lisa Belkin

This is a very well written and factual book about the ethical decisions faced by doctors and medical staff at Hermann Hospital in Texas during 1988. The book follows the cases of 4 sick children/young adults and their parents and discusses the decisions facing them regarding what treatment to carry out (or not) in the face of poor life expectancy/quality measured against the expense of the treatment. Heart-wrenching, Lisa Belkin describes doctors being reduced to tears at some of the decisions which were always undertaken with the best interest s of the patient at hand.

"First, do no harm" is a medical ethic all doctor adhere to when carrying looking after patients, and the book is aptly entitled this.

Reviewers describe the book as 'unputdownable' and heart-wrenching.

The epilogue, written 4 years later, tells the reader what finally happened.

The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman By Timothy Ferris.

This book is the result of 10 years research by author Timothy Ferris who used his own body as a Guinea pig and carefully and methodically noted down the results.

He offers different ways to live if you want to achieve self-improvement in the areas of weight loss, improved sex life and other interesting aspects of being human like how to function well even with sleep deprivation.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larrson

This is the third and final novel of the trilogy The Millennium by Stieg Larsson. He has saved the best for last.

If you loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire, then you are going to adore The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.

The storyline is explosive and powerful and has surely shot Steig Larrson into the forefront of today's best selling authors.

Awakened (House of Night) by P.C Cast and Kristin Cast.

This is the 8th book in the best selling House of Night series, and despite reaching #6 many reviewers have been disappointed with this book, feeling it to be of lesser quality than previous books in the series.

The House of Night series is aimed at young adults, and is about vampires.

Inner Space Trilogy by Merlin Fraser

Rapidly climbing up the UK best sellers list is the Inner Space Trilogy by Merlin Fraser. These books are literary gems and not to be missed! Fans of Michael Connelly or James Patterson will immediately recognize a kindred soul in a crime thriller writer who adds a refreshing dimension that makes these books absolutely shine!

Inner Space Book 1 is an exciting and fascinating tale centred round Deputy Chief Inspector Nick Burton who finds himself involved in an out-of-the-ordinary situation when his boss is arrested for murder. But police chief inspectors with exemplary records simply don't commit murder! His boss has confessed, however, and refuses Nick's offer of help. Nick is determine to uncover the truth, and what he learns is shocking, gripping and utterly believable. I found this book to be refreshingly different, set as it is in a stoic and plaid England where this just couldn't happen. Or could it?

I couldn't wait for the second book in the trilogy, The Reluctant Nemesis, and I was not disappointed.

The All Seeing Eye is the icing on the cake, but you really need to read the first two books beforehand.

The 17 Day Diet by Dr. Michael Rafael Moreno.

Kickstart your metabolism with the 17 day diet as seen on the Dr. Phil Show. Packed full with useful information about how your body works when dieting, and a few really healthy option recipes, this book is well worth a read because the diet advocated here really works for weight loss.

A low carbohydrate, high protein diet with a healthy mix of exercise thrown in for good measure should see you drops lbs in days!

True Grit by Charles Portis.

Popularised once again thanks to the Cohen Bros remake of the movie that originally starred John Wayne, True Grit tells the story of 14 year old Mattie Ross who avenges her father's murder in the Wild West in the 19th century.

First published in 1968, True Grit is genuinely one of the classics of the 20th century. Timeless, the author weaves what has been described as shades of the humor of Mark Twain with great writing.

Many older books that were recently in the top 10 list of best selling books can be found at the bottom of this page.

UK Readers Click Here for Bestselling UK books

• Best Selling Romance Novels

• Best Selling Books for Women

• Best Selling Fiction Books

• Best Selling Books for Men

Scroll down for books which were previously in the top 10 list of best selling books, but which have now moved further down the charts.

Decision Points by George W Bush.

This is the memoirs of former President George W Bush. In his autobiography, he tells the world about how events in his personal and public life shaped his decisions. He candidly discusses events in the White House at times in history none of our will forget - 9/11, the start of the Iraqi War among others. His private thoughts about other world leaders are voiced (which should be interesting). His private life is brought out into the open - how he quit drinking,

Decision Points, by the 43rd president of the Unites States of America, is the book to buy this Christmas.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The first in a bestselling trilogy by acclaimed author Stieg Larrson, who sadly died before his finished books were published, this book as invariably been described as unputdownable to exciting and rivetting.

Introducing the main characters who have repeated throughout the series, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo has won fans the world over.

It's a thriller involving a disgraced journalist who with the help of a wild and untameable 24 year old computer hacker who is covered with piercings and tattoos goes on the search for the answers to a 40 year old mystery.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid -The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney

This is a book aimed at youngsters and tells the story of Greg Heffley as he reaches an age where he has to learn to take responsibility for his own actions. In this tale, Greg find himself without his best mate Rowley at his side as he faces the challenges posed by new challenges including boy/girl parties that come with growing up.

Aimed at 9 - 12 year olds, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is one that many children can relate to.

Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1 by Mark Twain

To mark the centenary of Twain's death, The Mark Twain Project have released this epic work of Mark Twain, the first of 3. Mark Twain had many thoughts on life that due to restrictions of the era he grew up in, he did not want published until at least 100 years after his death.

His collection of thoughts are at times humorous, but at other times depressing. He sees America as half-paradise and half-fraudulent and perhaps nothing has changed.

In this book his thoughts meander between past and present, and some insights into the delight brought by his epic story of Tom Sawyer are revealed in his own reminiscences of youthful events.

Alex Detail's Revolution (Choose Your Destiny) by Darren Campo

Sci-fi adventure where the hero, 17 year old Alex Detail has been kidnapped and forced to fight a futile war against The Harvesters, an alien force Hell bent on extinguishing Earth's sun.

We follow Alex Detail's adventures in a futuristic story that involves human faith, and the basic good and bad in people.

Life, by Keith Richards and James Fox

Life chronicles the sex, drugs and rock n roll life of Keith Richards, legendary guitarist with The Rolling Stones.

The book is light-hearted and never heavy or depressing. Keith Richards seems to have come through these years relatively unscathed and still with a sense of humor.

The is a must for all Stones fans everywhere, and for anyone aspiring to become a rock star. Read and learn what life was really like at the top.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race by Jon Stewart.

The follow-up to mega seller book America. Jon Stewart brings us more of his humor in this delightfully light-hearted satirical book about Planet Earth. Following on with an assumption that the world is about to end, Earth - A Visitor's Guide to Planet Earth is aimed at futuristic aliens who visit our planet long after mankind has vanished.

This book is very graphic in that it contains mostly pictures with humorous headings and capsules, but is sure to be enjoyed by many.

Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

This is a biography of the life of Cleopatra by renowned biographer and historian Stacy Schiff. Meticulously researched, Schiff has managed to bring Cleopatra back to life and filled us in on many unknown and long forgotten details of every day life in ancient Rome.

This book will become a classic in its time and should be read by everyone everywhere. Brilliantly written, history has been brought alive in this book, Cleopatra: A Life.

The Heroes of Olympus, Book One: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

This a children's book aimed at 9 - 12 year olds, but one which is thoroughly enjoyable fr all the family.

The start of a brand new series of blockbusters, The Heroes of Olympus introduces us to the characters. In the never ending war of good over evil, Percy Jackson returns with three new characters - Jason, Piper and Leo.

With a mixture of Roman and Greek mythology, the story is set in some far off mythological culture where Heroes follow quests, this book is exciting and will have you glued to the pages, wanting to know what happens next.