Statistics on 'Purpose'

by Daisy Maryles -- Publishers Weekly, 9/27/2004

This week, Rick Warren marks 85 weeks on PW's bestseller list with The Purpose-Driven Life; he is still at a high level, #5, and has in the course of his long tenure been among the top five 74 times. In fact, all of his stats are nothing less than amazing. Since publication in October 2002, the book has close to 19 million copies in English and an additional one million in Spanish (mostly in Mexico). More than four million ancillary products have been sold, including The Purpose-Driven Journal and Daily Inspirations for the Purpose-Driven Life. The book has been licensed for 58 languages. More than 50,000 units have been sent to U.S. forces in Iraq; 25,000 went to soldiers in South Korea; 40,000 were sent to the Pentagon in September; and there's even a special camouflage edition for military chaplains. Aside from his impressive book stats, Warren and his wife, Kay, founded Saddleback Church in their hometown of Lake Forest, Calif., in 1980 with one other family; currently, 20,000 attend each weekend, and there are more than 80,000 names on the church roll. Saddleback is the fastest-growing Baptist church in history.