Fun Literary Facts You’ll Love (and Probably Didn’t Know)

Whether you’re a lifelong reader, a casual browser, or a curious mind exploring something new, these fun literary facts will deepen your appreciation for the magic of reading.

Pour a cup of coffee, settle into your favorite chair, and enjoy a few delightful discoveries.

1. The Longest Novel Ever Written Has Over 1 Million Words

Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time holds the Guinness World Record for the longest novel, clocking in at roughly 1.2 million words. That’s the equivalent of reading more than a dozen average novels back-to-back! Reader challenge: Could you finish it in a year?

2. Maya Angelou Wrote in Hotel Rooms

Legendary poet and author Maya Angelou rented hotel rooms to write so she could eliminate distractions. She brought only a dictionary, a Bible, and a deck of cards for mental breaks.

A reminder that every creative has their own sacred process.

3. Shakespeare Invented Hundreds of Words We Still Use

William Shakespeare didn’t just write plays, he shaped the English language. He is credited with introducing words such as “bedazzled,” “lonely,” “swagger,” “fashionable,” and “eyeball.” Next time you use one of these words, you’re channeling Shakespeare.

4. Bookworms Aren’t Actually Worms

The term “bookworm” originally referred to tiny insects that burrowed into book bindings and paper, not avid readers! Thankfully, today’s bookworms are far more charming and much less destructive.

5. Libraries Existed Thousands of Years Before Modern Books

One of the earliest known libraries was built in ancient Nineveh around 600 BCE. It housed thousands of clay tablets, proving that humanity has always valued preserving knowledge and stories.

6. The World’s Oldest Known Printed Book Is Over 1,100 Years Old

The Diamond Sutra, printed in China in 868 AD, is considered the oldest surviving printed book. Humanity has been sharing stories and wisdom for more than a millennium.

7. Many Famous Movies Started as Books

Some of the world’s most iconic films were originally novels, including Harry Potter, The Godfather, The Shawshank Redemption, and Hidden Figures. Books continue to shape culture across generations and mediums.

8. Coffee and Reading Have Always Gone Together

European coffeehouses in the 1600s were known as “penny universities,” where people gathered to read, debate ideas, and exchange knowledge. It’s no coincidence that bookstores and cafés remain natural companions today, including right here at Beyond the Book.

9. Africa Is Home to Some of the Oldest Written Manuscripts in the World

The Timbuktu Manuscripts in Mali contain thousands of ancient texts on science, medicine, astronomy, law, and literature dating back to the 13th century, showcasing Africa’s deep scholarly legacy.

10. The Most Expensive Book Ever Sold Cost Over $30 Million

Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester sold for more than $30 million. It contains handwritten scientific notes and sketches, proving that books truly are priceless treasures.

11. Reading Improves Empathy and Brain Health

Studies show that reading, especially fiction, strengthens cognitive function, reduces stress, and increases empathy by helping readers understand perspectives beyond their own. In other words, books make us better humans.

12. There’s a Holiday for Book Lovers

August 9 is celebrated as National Book Lovers Day, but let’s be honest, book lovers celebrate every day.

13. The Most Translated Book in the World (After the Bible) Was Written by a French Pilot

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry has been translated into over 500 languages and dialects, making it one of the most globally beloved books ever written.

14. The First Novel Written by an African American Woman Was Published in 1859

Harriet E. Wilson’s Our Nig is recognized as the first novel published by an African American woman in the United States — a powerful milestone in American literary history.

15. Japan Has a Word for Buying Books You Don’t Read (Yet)

The word “Tsundoku” refers to the habit of buying books and letting them pile up unread. If your nightstand looks like a mini library, you’re in good company.

16. Audiobooks Date Back Over 90 Years

The first audiobooks were created in the 1930s for visually impaired readers, proving that accessibility has always been part of literary innovation.

17. Children Who Are Read to Regularly Develop Larger Vocabularies and Stronger Emotional Intelligence

Early exposure to books supports language development, imagination, empathy, and academic success, one reason literacy programs remain so critical in communities.

18. Storytelling Predates Written Language by Thousands of Years

Long before books existed, cultures passed down history, values, and wisdom through oral storytelling, a tradition still honored in many Indigenous and global communities today.

Celebrate Stories from Every Voice

At Beyond the Book, we intentionally curate books from diverse authors, cultures, and perspectives, because stories shape how we see ourselves and each other. Literature is a bridge between generations, identities, and ideas.