Bible still biggest in US
2008-04-09 09:22
New York - When it comes to literary pursuits in the United States most people agree on at least one thing - the most popular book is the Bible, according to a new survey.
It came in first in a Harris Poll of nearly 2 513 adults but the second choice in the survey was not as clear cut.
"While the Bible is number one among each of the different demographic groups, there is a large difference in the number two favourite book," Harris said in a statement announcing the results.
Men chose JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and women selected Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind as their second-favourite book, according to the online poll.
But the second choice for 18- to 31-year-olds was JK Rowling's Harry Potter series, while 32- to 43-year-olds named Stephen King's The Stand and Dan Brown's Angels and Demons.
Picks for second-favourite book also varied according to region.
Gone With the Wind was number two in the southern and midwestern United States while easterners chose The Lord of the Rings and westerners opted for The Stand.
Whites and Hispanics picked Gone With the Wind as their second-favourite book after the Bible, while African-Americans preferred Angels and Demons.
"Finally, they may not agree on candidates, but one thing that brings together partisans is their favourite book.
For Republicans, Democrats and Independents, the top two books are the same - the Bible followed by Gone With the Wind.
Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand and Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger rounded out the top 10 favourites.