The three pie charts illustrate the proportion of books sold by one bookseller in five categories (Adults’ fiction, Children’s fiction, Biography, Travel, and Others) in 1972, 1992, and 2012.
In 1972, adults’ fiction dominated sales, accounting for 40%, while children’s fiction made up only 20%. Travel and biography books had almost equal shares of 15% and 10%, respectively, while the remaining 15% belonged to other types.
By 1992, adults’ fiction decreased slightly to 30%, but children’s fiction rose to 20%. Travel books increased noticeably to 18%, and biography also grew to 15%. The share of other categories remained unchanged at 15%.
In 2012, the pattern changed significantly. Children’s fiction became the most sold category at 25%, overtaking adults’ fiction which dropped to 25%. Biography sales decreased to 10%, and travel fell slightly to 12%. Meanwhile, other books rose dramatically to 28%, becoming the second largest group.
Overall, the charts show a decline in adults’ fiction sales over the 40-year period, while children’s fiction and other categories gained more popularity. Travel and biography fluctuated but ended up with smaller shares in 2012.