We were interested what are the most expensive paperback and hardcover books on Amazon.

For centuries, books have been seen as a source of knowledge and enlightenment. They can be used to teach new things, to share stories, or to provide guidance. But over the years, books have become increasingly expensive. This has led to a situation where only the wealthy can afford to own them – the printing press only appeared in 1440s invented by Johann Fust, Peter Schoffer, and Johannes Gutenberg.

This is particularly true for rare and antique books. These items can often sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The most expensive book ever sold was a rare first printing of US Constitution for record $43 million. Also a copy of the Gutenberg Bible, which went for $5.4 million in 1987 was a record high sale in the 80s. But these are all antique books, printed in a limited quantity or even hand written and only the original copy exists.

The printing and publishing industry has gone through a lot of changes in the last few years. The most expensive hardcover books are normally priced between $30-150. Amazon print on demand services made it possible for anyone to publish a book using simply their Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform. This has led to an increase in the number of self-published books, and a decrease in the number of books published by traditional publishers.

At the end of the day, we were interested what kind of books could be listed above $1,000 on Amazon. Are they all scams? Honestly printing costs would never jump such a high, but could any content, any written text hold such a high value?

A 6x9x1.2″ book sized gold sheet (approx. 12kg 24ct) would cost you $371,964 (02/01/2023), so I think there is enough place to extremely pricy books with only words.

Now let's see the most expensive books on Amazon at the moment (If you find more expensive book, drop it's link to us on Twitter). Prices as of January 22, 2024

What Are The Most Expensive Books on Amazon?

Economic History (Routledge Library Editions), by Various ($19,500 – 2024)

History of Civilization, by C.K. Ogden ($9,450 – 2024)

The History of Civilization, originally published from 1924 to 1938, was a significant achievement in early twentieth-century publishing, coinciding with pivotal developments in social sciences and historical discoveries, such as the excavation of ancient Egyptian tombs. General editor C.K. Ogden aimed to encapsulate the latest findings and theories across various disciplines, including history, anthropology, archaeology, and sociology.

This influential work, now reprinted, is available in sets or individual volumes, categorized into Prehistory and Historical Ethnography, Greek Civilization, Roman Civilization, Eastern Civilizations, Judaeo-Christian Civilization, and European Civilization.

The Media Advantage, by Jim Elms ($18 – 2024; $1,000,000 – 2023)

Truth to be told this is a good marketing trick from the author, since you can buy the actual book also for less then $20 but there is a unique collectible version of the book listed for $1 million on Amazon (the price tag also lowered under $20 as of 2024).

The book itself is a well written short marketing book, 145 pages, about the marketing centric world we are living. We all know the importance of brands but do we know how it influences our daily thinking?

Brands are everywhere. We see them on billboards, in magazines, and all over the internet. We know their logos, and many of us can recite their slogans. But do we really understand the power behind brands? In this book Jim Elms reveals the techniques that professional marketers use to get us to buy their products. He explains how brands can influence not only what we buy, but also how we think and behave.

Tables of Excitations of Proton-and Neutron-Rich Unstable Nuclei, by Sergey I Sukhoruchkin, Zoya N Soroko ($8,759 – 2024)

This is a hardcore science book in a length of 546 pages – almost a short read in the most expensive books on Amazon category.

The purpose of this book is to provide a compilation of excited states parameters for proton-rich and neutron-rich nuclei. The derivations are based on reactions other than transfer reactions. This book can be used as a reference for nuclear reaction data analysts, experimentalists and theoreticians.

This book is expensive, but it contains a wealth of information that is not available anywhere else (for sure). If you think this is a scam book, I would draw your attention that the publisher is Springer, so the topic is perfectly valid, as mentioned hardcore physics.

Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research, by Alex C. Michalos ($7,500 – 2024)

The main objective of the encyclopedia is to give a comprehensive reference work on scientific and other scholarly research about the quality of life, including health-related quality of life research or patient-reported outcomes research.

In the early 1960s two overlapping research communities developed concerning ideas about the quality of life. The first community was primarily interested in individual satisfaction with life, while the second focused on empirical measures of overall well-being. These two traditions have continued to develop separately, but there has been some overlap and integration over time. Recently, there has been a renewed focus on understanding the concept of quality of life and on developing measures to capture it.

The first community, sometimes called the subjective well-being (SWB) tradition, focuses on individual satisfaction with life and how it can be increased. This tradition began with researchers such as Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow who were interested in human potential and ways to help people reach their fullest potential.

The 9,411 pages encyclopedia will include articles on the conceptual background, methodological issues, and empirical findings in this rapidly growing area of well-being research.

Only for rich book, by The Quattro Ave Maria ($2,999 – 2024)

This book, designed for those who are continually searching for answers. It offers a unique format with one page dedicated to each day of the year.

This volume is a fun made book, since it starts with “Congratulations! You must be very rich”, and contains one line quotes for every day. Like “Rich is somebody who is rich”.

More Expensive Books on Amazon

Encyclopedia of Respiratory Medicine, by Sam Janes ($3,086 – 2023; $3,200 – 2022)

Encyclopedia of Respiratory Medicine, contains six volumes and examines the key processes of lung illnesses and their diagnosis and management.

In the medical field, knowledge is power. The more a physician knows about a particular topic, the better they will be able to treat their patients. This is especially true in the field of respiratory medicine, where new treatments and technologies are constantly emerging. That's why researchers in this field will appreciate the latest edition of the Encyclopedia of Respiratory Medicine, which was released earlier this year.

This new edition provides readers with a comprehensive overview of unfamiliar topics, as well as updates on existing ones. For example, it includes information on new drugs and devices that are being used to treat respiratory diseases, as well as recent advances in pulmonary rehabilitation.

What's more, the encyclopedia has been updated to reflect the latest changes in clinical practice. For instance, it now includes a section on lung cancer screening, which is becoming an increasingly important part of respiratory care.

The six volume set contains 4,888 pages.

Health Care Delivery and Clinical Science: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications, by Information Resources Management Association ($2,055)

The book covers the fields of health care delivery and clinical science. It provides an overview of research methods and findings in these areas. The book is written by experts in their field, and it is up-to-date with the latest scholarship. It would be a valuable resource for anyone interested in these areas.

Health Care Delivery and Clinical Science is a comprehensive resource that covers a range of pertinent topics such as medication management, health literacy, and patient engagement. Divided into five multi-volume sets, this handbook is ideally designed for healthcare professionals who want to stay up-to-date on the latest clinical advances. Each volume is filled with authoritative content, including evidence-based practice guidelines, review articles, and clinical case studies. In addition, the handbook features an extensive index that makes it easy to find information quickly.

Encyclopedia of Intensive Care Medicine, volume 1 to 4, by Jean-Louis Vincent, Jesse B. Hall ($1,393)

Intensive care medicine is a broad field that covers the diagnosis and management of life-threatening conditions. The aim of this comprehensive encyclopedia is to provide detailed information on intensive care medicine, contributing to the broader field of emergency medicine. The encyclopedia will be a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, students, and patients.

The encyclopedia is divided into four volumes. The most important parts are critical care, general intensive care, organ systems, medical emergencies, and surgical emergencies. Each section includes articles on the diagnosis and management of life-threatening conditions.

This encyclopedia is published in hardcover print format and isn't short at all it contains 2,529 pages.

The Relative Strength Concept of Common Stock Price Forecasting, by Robert A. Levy (1968) ($599 – 2023; $6,995 – 2022)

This is an original business book about stock price forecasting.

The Relative Strength Concept of Common Stock Price Forecasting is the first original business book about stock price forecasting. The author has been a successful trader in the past and has developed this concept. The book covers all aspects of stock price forecasting, from the history of technical analysis to how to use the relative strength concept in your own trading. It is a valuable resource for both novice and experienced traders alike.

This hardcover have been written in 1968 and consists of 318 pages.

How to Probate and Settle an Estate in Florida, 5E, by Gudrun Nickel ($298)

This practical guide to the probate process in Florida incorporates the most recent changes in the state's probate and estate administration laws and is an essential resource for individuals who are handling a loved one's estate. The book is written by a team of experienced Florida attorneys who provide clear, step-by-step instructions on how to complete every stage of the probate process.

The guide also includes detailed information on how to avoid common mistakes that can cause delays or increase the cost of probating an estate. Furthermore, readers will find helpful tips on how to minimize taxes and protect assets from creditors.

The 216 pages practical guide to the probate process in Florida is an essential resource for anyone who needs to administer an estate in Florida. Honestly it is a no brainer for those who make billions in real estate business in Florida.

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Not Available Anymore

KJV Holy Bible (Not available-2023; $3,303-2022)

This brown Bible King James (KJV) version combines easy in-hand portability with easy to read text making it the perfect choice for on-the-go reading. The large print type makes reading easier on the eyes, and the compact size is great for taking with you wherever you go.

The KJV Bible is a special Bible that has the words of Jesus Christ in red. This Bible is also special because it has a Thematic Scripture Verse Finder, which helps you find the theme of each Bible passage. It also has a one-year Bible reading plan, a concordance, and full-color maps. The Red Letter Bible is made with dark brown top grain premium leather and has a lay-flat binding.

It is also gilded with 1533 gold pages and has a ribbon marker. This Bible is perfect for personalization and measures 6.7 x 4.7 x 1.5 inches.

Ward's Business Directory of U.S. Private and Public Companies: 8 Volume Set (2014) ($4,687 – 2023)

It's a yearly published book collection from Gale Research company and contains US public and private company data.

If you would like to check how the format of the book looks like, feel free to check the Internet Archive where the first edition of Canadian version is available. I would say it's definitely not a search friendly approach, even in 2003 internet was more suitable to distribute such a database.

What's really interesting, that out of 112,000 US companies almost 90% was private.

The book set consists of approximately 15,000 pages, so it takes a lot of time even to flip through the pages.

Truth to be told the 62nd edition of this data collection is only slightly cheaper, since the four volume set costs $4,489.

PEOPLE Celebrity Puzzler Holiday-Palooza!, by People Magazine (2010) ($49-2023; $4,067-2022)

PEOPLE Celebrity Puzzler is an annual holiday book created by PEOPLE magazine. It is most probably “the most expensive puzzle book at the moment”. The guests in this puzzle book are all Hollywood top stars, and including Brad Pitt, Rihanna and Sandra Bullock.

This pricy edition of the Celebrity Puzzler includes all the regular Puzzlers, Jumbos, Acrostics, Whodokus, and more that readers love. It also has a few new surprises, including some holiday-themed puzzles.

This makes the Celebrity Puzzler book series perfect for holiday gift-giving. It's packed with hours of challenging puzzles that are sure to keep everyone entertained.

So if you're looking for a great funny gift idea with a hefty price tag this holiday season, be sure to check out this limited Celebrity Puzzler book.

Most expensive 999 passwords ideas you can buy, by Ethan Stuart ($2,321)

This short (24 pages) book with incredible bad cover, includes 12 length password ideas.

There are a lot of ways to create strong passwords, but some are definitely better than others. One option that is often recommended is to use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Another option is to use a sentence or phrase as your password. These methods can be difficult to remember, however.

A better option for creating a strong password is to use an expensive book. This approach involves picking a book that is not commonly found in most homes and using the title or author's name as your password. The reason this approach is funny because it is unique and most people will not have access to this book unless they have up to $2,000.

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Final Thoughts on the Most Expensive Books You Can Buy On Amazon

In conclusion, the most expensive books on Amazon are a mix of marketing, medical books and fun releases. They come from a variety of genres, but all share one common trait – they cost a lot of money. If you’re looking to add an expensive book to your collection, these are the ones to choose from. But be careful, as they may not be within everyone’s budget!

If you are thinking going fast to KDP and set the price to $10,000 to your book, I would draw your attention, that KDP maximized both paperback and hardcover list price to $250, sadly.

Anyway, if you are in the mood for classics, check out our favorite sci-fi books of all time.