The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
All time best-selling writing/reference guide in the US.

The Enormous Room by E.E. Cummings
Now considered a “masterpiece;” dedicated to the 15 publishers who rejected it.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Now a movie with three sequel books in the works all bought by a traditional publisher.

What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles
Six million copies are in print in 11 languages. It spent 288 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Picked up by Ten Speed Press (owned by Random House).

The One-Minute Manager by Spencer Johnson and Ken Blanchard
Spencer Johnson then was traditionally published with Who Moved My Cheese?

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
The largest advance ever paid for a self published book—$4.125 million.

Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun by Wess Roberts
Sold 486,000 copies before selling out to Warner Books.

In Search of Excellence by Tom Peters
Over 25,000 copies sold directly to consumers in its first year, sold to Warner and the publisher sold 10 million more

The Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer
Still a “classic” available in bookstores worldwide.

The Beanie Baby Handbook by Lee and Sue Fox
Sold three million copies in two years and made #2 on the New York Time Bestseller list.

A Time to Kill by John Grisham
This title was sold out of the trunk of his car.

Feed Me, I’m Yours by Vicky Lansky
Rejected by 49 publishers, self-published and sold 300,000 copies. Bantam purchased it and sold eight million more. Since then, she’s written 23 more titles.

Twelve Golden Threads by Aliske Webb
Rejected 150 times. After she sold 25,000 copies, HarperCollins asked her to sign a four-book contract.

Life’s Little Instruction Book by H. Jackson Brown
Purchased by Rutledge Hill Press (owned by Thomas Nelson) and sold more than five million copies.

Satin Doll by Karen E. Quinones-Miller
She sold 24,000 copies of this novel before it was sold in an auction to Simon & Schuster—less than one year after its release.