--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success is not measured by bestseller…" description: "\"Success is not measured by bestseller lists. Certain types of great books sell very well; other types of great books don’t sell a lot. But they’re both..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/po-bronson-14479_bestseller_success-is-not-measured-by-bestseller-li_1666124.png" --- # Success is not measured by bestseller lists. Certain types… ![“Success is not measured by bestseller lists. Certain types of great books sell very well; other types of great books don’t sell a lot. But they’re both great.” quote by Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/po-bronson-14479_bestseller_success-is-not-measured-by-bestseller-li_1666124.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/po-bronson-14479_bestseller_success-is-not-measured-by-bestseller-li_1666124.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/po-bronson-14479_bestseller_success-is-not-measured-by-bestseller-li_1666124.png) > “Success is not measured by bestseller lists. Certain types of great books sell very well; other types of great books don’t sell a lot. But they’re both great.” [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great books' value isn’t solely sales; literary merit exists beyond market success. **In simple terms:** Great books matter beyond sales. Key Takeaway Value quality over popularity. Themes literature success valuation Mood inquisitive analytical Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - publishing - education - library curation Key Concepts cultural studies economics Questions to Reflect On - How do you discover underrated books? - What defines a book’s greatness? A Different Perspective Market forces can obscure quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Success is not measured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-is-not-measured/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Remember, success is not measured by heights attained but by obstacles overcome. We're going to pass through many obstacles in our lives: good days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-jenner/remember-success-is-not-measured-by-heights-attained-but-by-obstacles/) [Bruce Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-jenner/) > [I think the biggest thing is that success is not measured by whether or not you're on 'CBS This Morning' or whether or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marley-dias/i-think-the-biggest-thing-is-that-success-is-not-measured-by-whether/) [Marley Dias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marley-dias/) > [“Did you know that true success is not measured solely by wealth or accomplishments, but also by the level of satisfaction and happiness you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-zakaria-mami/did-you-know-that-true-success-is-not-measured-solely-by-wealth-or/) [Ahmed Zakaria Mami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-zakaria-mami/) > [Success is not measured by who gets credit. Success is measured by what gets done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-morella/success-is-not-measured-by-who-gets-credit-success-is-measured-by/) Connie Morella > [“Success is not measured on what you earn, it is how you manage to be happy, benevolent and contented with your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-salinas/success-is-not-measured-on-what-you-earn-it-is-how-you-manage-to-be/) Sherwin Salinas > [Your success is not measured in terms of what all you obtained but in term of what you become, how you live and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/your-success-is-not-measured-in-terms-of-what-all-you-obtained-but-in/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Be honest and work hard to get what you want. Don't take shortcuts; you only cheat yourself in the long run. Success is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/be-honest-and-work-hard-to-get-what-you-want-don-t-take-shortcuts-you/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) > [Success is not measured by how fast you get to your goal but still getting there anyways no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-sta-ana/success-is-not-measured-by-how-fast-you-get-to-your-goal-but-still/) [Myron Sta Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-sta-ana/) > [“Success is not measured by who you are , only by the perception of what others think you are”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-a-leslie/success-is-not-measured-by-who-you-are-only-by-the-perception-of-what/) Brian A Leslie > [Success is not measured by where you are in life, but the obstacles you've over come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/success-is-not-measured-by-where-you-are-in-life-but-the-obstacles/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Success is not measured by what you do compared to what somebody else does. Success is measured by what you do compared to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/success-is-not-measured-by-what-you-do-compared-to-what-somebody-else/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [I am convinced that success is not measured by what you get out of life, but by what you give back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-moran/i-am-convinced-that-success-is-not-measured-by-what-you-get-out-of/) [Jerry Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-moran/) > [Success is not measured by how far you have come, but by what you had to go through to get there!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/success-is-not-measured-by-how-far-you-have-come-but-by-what-you-had/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“True success is not measured by how much you have achieved but by how many times you've failed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-leslie/true-success-is-not-measured-by-how-much-you-have-achieved-but-by-how/) Brian Leslie > [Success is not measured by what you do compared to what others do, it is measured by what you do with the ability God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/success-is-not-measured-by-what-you-do-compared-to-what-others-do-it/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) ## More by Po Bronson > [Curiosity is a raw and genuine sign from deep inside our tangled psyches, and we'd do well to follow the direction it points us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/curiosity-is-a-raw-and-genuine-sign-from-deep-inside-our-tangled/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [“Darling found that permissive parents don’t actually learn more about their child’s lives. “Kids who go wild and get in trouble mostly have parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/darling-found-that-permissive-parents-don-t-actually-learn-more-about/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [It's not easy. It's not supposed to be easy. Most people make mistakes. Most people have to learn the hardest lessons more than once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/it-s-not-easy-it-s-not-supposed-to-be-easy-most-people-make-mistakes/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [But I'd rather help than watch. I'd rather have a heart than a mind. I'd rather expose too much than too little. I'd rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/but-i-d-rather-help-than-watch-i-d-rather-have-a-heart-than-a-mind-i/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [I learned that it was in hard times that people usually changed the course of their life; in good times, they frequently only talked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/i-learned-that-it-was-in-hard-times-that-people-usually-changed-the/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [It surprises me how often we hold ourselves back until we have no choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/it-surprises-me-how-often-we-hold-ourselves-back-until-we-have-no/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [A conventional ‘success’ story is one where, with each next, the protagonist has more money, more respect, and more possessions. I’d like to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/a-conventional-success-story-is-one-where-with-each-next-the/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [I used to use business to make money. But I've learned that business is a tool. You can use it to support what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/i-used-to-use-business-to-make-money-but-i-ve-learned-that-business/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [There's a powerful transformative effect when you surround yourself with like-minded people. Peer pressure is a great thing when it helps you accomplish your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/there-s-a-powerful-transformative-effect-when-you-surround-yourself/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [The virtue of losing is we get used to the fact that competing and to lose doesn't kill you. It just makes you stronger.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/the-virtue-of-losing-is-we-get-used-to-the-fact-that-competing-and-to/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [Love that has been tested is far more awe-inspiring than love that has never known anything but bliss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/love-that-has-been-tested-is-far-more-awe-inspiring-than-love-that/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [As I get older, I've learned to listen to people rather than accuse them of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/as-i-get-older-i-ve-learned-to-listen-to-people-rather-than-accuse/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [There was a culture that came out of the self-esteem movement which was don't anybody keep track of the goals. The kids keep track,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/there-was-a-culture-that-came-out-of-the-self-esteem-movement-which/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [“Parents often fail to address early childhood lying, since the lying is almost innocent—their child’s too young to know what lies are, or that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/parents-often-fail-to-address-early-childhood-lying-since-the-lying/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [You know, kids need to feel like they're not being drowned out by superior competitors and they'll make that connection that, with a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/you-know-kids-need-to-feel-like-they-re-not-being-drowned-out-by/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) [Explore all 46 Po Bronson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) ## More Bestseller quotes > [“From this point forward, you don’t even know how to quit in life.” ~ Aaron Lauritsen, ‘100 Days Drive”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-lauritsen/from-this-point-forward-you-don-t-even-know-how-to-quit-in-life-aaron/) [Aaron Lauritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-lauritsen/) > [This week Sarah Palin's memoir became a bestseller. It's not even out yet. It's being translated into English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/this-week-sarah-palin-s-memoir-became-a-bestseller-it-s-not-even-out/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“My life had become a helluva plot that could give Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie another New York Times bestseller.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-david/my-life-had-become-a-helluva-plot-that-could-give-chimamanda-ngozi/) [S. A. David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-a-david/) > [“Without struggle, success has no value.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-lauritsen/without-struggle-success-has-no-value/) [Aaron Lauritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-lauritsen/) > [B is for bestseller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/b-is-for-bestseller/) [Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/) > [To be a bestseller is not necessarily a measure of quality, but it is a measure of communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/to-be-a-bestseller-is-not-necessarily-a-measure-of-quality-but-it-is/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > ['To Kill a Mockingbird' appeared to highly favorable reviews and quickly climbed to the top of bestseller lists, where it remained for more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-j-shields/to-kill-a-mockingbird-appeared-to-highly-favorable-reviews-and/) [Charles J. Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-j-shields/) > [“Rockbottom yields rockstars”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-sharma/rockbottom-yields-rockstars/) Swati Sharma > [Jerry and I hoped that it would be a popular bestseller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/jerry-and-i-hoped-that-it-would-be-a-popular-bestseller/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [“Successes are those highlights of life we look back on with a smile. But it's the day to day grind of getting them that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-lauritsen/successes-are-those-highlights-of-life-we-look-back-on-with-a-smile/) [Aaron Lauritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-lauritsen/) > [When 'Catch Me If You Can' was published back in 1980, I never dreamed that it would become a bestseller, much less a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-catch-me-if-you-can-was-published-back-in-1980-i-never-dreamed/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) > [“True friends don't come with conditions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-lauritsen/true-friends-don-t-come-with-conditions/) [Aaron Lauritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-lauritsen/) > [For 'The Bestseller'... there was hardly any research, but I had to give each person a quirk and develop their stories so that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/for-the-bestseller-there-was-hardly-any-research-but-i-had-to-give/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [“There's more to a person than flesh. Judge others by the sum of their soul and you'll see that beauty is a force of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-lauritsen/there-s-more-to-a-person-than-flesh-judge-others-by-the-sum-of-their/) [Aaron Lauritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-lauritsen/) > [“Life's trials will test you, and shape you, but don’t let them change who you are.” ~ Aaron Lauritsen, ‘100 Days Drive”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-lauritsen/life-s-trials-will-test-you-and-shape-you-but-don-t-let-them-change/) [Aaron Lauritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-lauritsen/) Browse all 93 Bestseller quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Success is not measured by bestseller lists. Certain types of great books sell very well; other types of great books don’t sell a lot. 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