Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Main Series
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2016)
Hogwarts Library
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001)
- Quidditch Through the Ages (2001)
- Tales of Beedle the Bard (2008)
An Intro to Harry Potter
Harry Potter is no ordinary boy, on his eleventh birthday he finds out that he is in fact a wizard. He is told about the magical world of Hogwarts and all he can learn. And throughout the main series, we follow Harry becoming the Wizard he is meant to be, to be able to stand-up against the threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Lord Voldemort.
With his spectacles and the lightning bolt on his forehead, Harry Potter is instantly recognisable. With his two best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, they get up to all sorts, helping to quell all the plots of Voldemort that they discover.
Harry Potter is quite easily one of the biggest book series out there to date. It is one of the most highly, and most rated book series on Goodreads. Having, on average, over 4 million ratings and over 75,000 reviews! With an average score of 4.53 out of 5 on Goodreads. That is some impressive statistics!
Not only is Harry Potter one of the best rated book series on Goodreads, it is the best selling book series of all time, having sold more than 600 million (million!!!) books worldwide. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has sold more that 120 million copies worldwide.
The seven books inspired the very iconic set of eight films from 2001-2011. The films were directed by in order; Chris Columbus (1-2), Alfonso Cuarón (3), Mike Newell (4) and David Yates (5-8). Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, amongst many other famous British actors. And also a follow on film series, which technically classifies as a prequel series, Fantastic Beasts, 2016-?, Staring Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law.
Who is J.K. Rowling
Joanne Rowling was born on 31st July 1965, more commonly known by her pen name, J.K. Rowing. She is a British Author most famously known for her Harry Potter series, which has become really it’s own brand, in its own right.
In 2008, Forbes named J.K. Rowling the highest paid author in the world. And with the eight films, play, numerous theme parks and even a sporting competition that has been inspired by her book series, it is no surprise that this still holds true.
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Main Series Order
1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997) 
76,945 Words, 17 Chapters, 223 pages, 5hrs 10mins
4,526 Average Words per Chapter, 13.1 Average Pages per Chapter
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing
4.47 out of 5 on Goodreads
This book has the most ratings on Goodreads with over 9 million ratings and just under 150,000 reviews.
Harry Potter has had a miserable life so far, at just ten years old he has suffered a lot by being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle. And everything changes on Harry’s eleventh birthday, his aunt and uncle’s worst nightmare comes true, he is told that he is in fact, a wizard and he is invited to attend Hogwarts, a school for Witchcraft and Wizardry. He begins to learn more about his own past and his parents, and why is in one of the most famous wizards alive.
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998) 
85,145 Words, 18 Chapters, 251 pages, 5hrs 45mins
4,730 Average Words per Chapter, 13.9 Average Pages per Chapter
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing
4.43 out of 5 on Goodreads
Harry Potter is back with the Dursleys for one of his most miserable summers every, and right after having the best year of his life. All Harry Potter wants is to get himself back to school, Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But before the summer is over, he meets Dobby, a house-elf, and he warns Harry that there is a plot that could be the end of Hogwarts and that he should stay away.
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999) 
107,255 Words, 22 Chapters, 317 pages, 7rs 10mins
4,875 Average Words per Chapter, 14.4 Average Pages per Chapter
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing
4.58 out of 5 on Goodreads
Azkaban, a prison for the most dangerous witches and wizards, and guarded by the dreaded creatures called Dementors. And after twelve years of captivity the notorious Sirius Black has escaped. And the Ministry for Magic believe he is out to get Harry Potter for bringing down Voldemort.
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000) 
190,640 Words, 37 Chapters, 636 pages, 12hrs 45mins
5,152 Average Words per Chapter, 17.2 Average Pages per Chapter
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing
4.56 out of 5 on Goodreads
The Triwizard cup has been brought back after one hundred years of being banned. And Harry Potter finds himself in the middle of the competition, even as hard as he may try to live a normal life.
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003) 
257,045 Words, 38 Chapters, 766 pages, 17hrs 10mins
6,764 Average Words per Chapter, 20.2 Average Pages per Chapter
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing
4.50 out of 5 on Goodreads
Harry Potter is having dreams of a door at the end of a corridor, and the threat of Voldemort is on the rise. And the pressure at Hogwarts is also growing with the fifth year exams: the O.W.L’s.
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005) 
168,925 Words, 30 Chapters, 607 pages, 11hrs 20mins
5,630 Average Words per Chapter, 20.2 Average Pages per Chapter
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing
4.58 out of 5 on Goodreads
Voldemort’s power is increasing and the war is becoming more open, that even the Muggle government is noticing what is happening. And Harry Potter is trying to get through school.
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)
198,230 Words, 37 Chapters, 607 pages, 13hrs 10mins
5,357 Average Words per Chapter, 16.4 Average Pages per Chapter
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing
4.62 out of 5 on Goodreads
Harry Potter did not go back to Hogwarts this year, he is on a deadly mission that increasingly feels more and more impossible to achieve. Harry, along with his two best-friends Hermione and Ron, they must try to find and destroy the remaining of Lord Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes.
8. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2016) 
49,075 Words, 343 pages, 3hrs 20mins
Published by Little, Brown and Company
3.51 out of 5 on Goodreads
It is nineteen years after the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, comes a play based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne. Harry Potter is now a father and a famous auror for the Ministry of Magic, where he has to deal with the past that just won’t stay in the past.
Hogwarts Library
1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001) 
11,895 Words, 78 Chapters, 128 pages, 50mins
152 Average Words per Chapter, 1.6 Average Pages per Chapter
Published by Arthur A. Levine Books
3.97 out of 5 on Goodreads
A book that is the complete guide to all the wonderful and fantastic beasts that almost every single wizard and witch has in their possession.
2. Quidditch Through the Ages (2001) 
10,475 Words, 10 Chapters, 105 pages, 45mins
1,047 Average Words per Chapter, 10.5 Average Pages per Chapter
Published by Arthur A. Levine Books
3.81 out of 5 on Goodreads
A complete guide to all the quidditch games of the past.
3. Tales of Beedle the Bard (2008) 
12,485 Words, 6 Chapters, 128 pages, 50mins
2,080 Average Words per Chapter, 16.2 Average Pages per Chapter
Published by Arthur A. Levine Books
4.05 out of 5 on Goodreads
Five classic fairy tales with it’s own magical character full of laughter and thrills!
We’re all human, aren’t we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving.― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Overall
The Harry Potter series is quite arguably the most famous book series ever made in the world. It is so big in fact it has become its own franchise. The books are quite the adventure, so engrossing and you can so easily find yourself losing a few hours (maybe even days) immersing yourself in the world of Harry Potter. Just reading about the everyday life of being a Hogwarts student is captivating in itself. I could easily just read a whole book of lessons and would still end the day happy.
If you have already read and loved the books, then check out Barnes and Nobles top 15 chapters throughout the whole entire series here! I mean, how do you choose the best ones? I struggle just to pick my favourite book!
If you have enjoyed any of J.K. Rowling’s work and want to learn more about her or any other of her work, then feel free to check out her website.
Which one is your favourite or most looking forward to picking up next?
Let us know!
Happy reading!
Tally Count
Harry Potter (excl. Cursed Child)
- Total words: 1,074,185 words
- Total Chapters: 199 Chapters
- Total pages: 2,873 pages
- Total reading time: 71hrs 40mins
Harry Potter (incl. Cursed Child)
- Total words: 1,123,260 words
- Total pages: 2,873 pages
- Total reading time: 74hrs 55mins
Hogwarts Library
- Total words: 34,855 words
- Total Chapters: 94 Chapters
- Total pages: 293 pages
- Total reading time: 2hrs 20mins
Altogether
- Total words: 1,158,115 words
- Total Chapters: 293 Chapters
- Total pages: 3,166 pages
- Total reading time: 77hrs 20mins
For more of the same but different:
Things to note:
- Word count is an approximation.
- Amount of pages may differ due to different publications, font style and/or size etc.
- Time spent reading is an approximation based on the word count and the average reading time. The average reader will read 250 WPM (Words Per Minute).
- This is the original publishers of the books.
- The Current GoodReads score at time of writing.
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