2025 was the best year for quiz book sales since records began in 1998; while Bibles also proved popular
If the question is which genre bucked the prevailing trend in publishing to record a remarkable rise in readership last year, the answer is clear: quiz books.
Spending on the titles increased by nearly a quarter in 2025, data from NielsenIQ BookData suggests. It was the best year for quiz books since records began in 1998, according to the company, which manages the ISBN and SAN agencies for the UK and Ireland.
There was also a sharp increase in spending on Bibles, with sales up by 19% on the previous year. Industry research found total sales of Bibles in the UK reached £6.3m, an increase of £3.6m on 2019 sales.
The bestselling quiz books by Waterstones and Amazon are spin-offs of The 1% Club gameshow, broadcast on ITV and hosted by Lee Mack. They are published by Transworld, a division of Penguin Random House.
