Twenty-eight Nelson titles appear on the list posted at the blog of CEO and Chairman Michael Hyatt and based on a proprietary database drawn from "various point-of-sale systems from multiple sales channels." The standings reflect unit sales for the 12 months ending Dec. 31.

Jesus Calling appears twice in the chart, with the deluxe edition appearing at No. 52. Gary Chapman's perennial best-seller The 5 Love Languages (Northfield Publishing/Moody Publishers) is also featured twice—at No. 4 and No. 55.

Surprisingly high on the list is Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Life (Zondervan), ranking 16th several years after the peak of its popularity. Max Lucado has the most titles of any author on the list, with his six placings led at the 12th spot by Fearless (Thomas Nelson). Joyce Meyer appears five times, while Francine Rivers and Karen Kingsbury have tied as the leading novelists, with four titles each.

Introducing the rankings, Hyatt wrote that the list "is not perfect," missing data from some large mass-merchant accounts and ministry or direct sales. Also excluding e-books and sales outside the U.S., it "primarily represents sales through traditional bookstores, both general market and Christian specialty stores."

Responding to comments on his posting, Hyatt said that he thought the rankings' preponderance of established names reflected "a conservatism all through the system.

"Consumers have had less discretionary money, so they are less likely to try new authors," he wrote. "They gravitate to the 'tried and true.' Retailers, trying to meet these expectations, are less likely to try new authors, as are publishers."

The rest of the top 10 are: 2. The Shack by William P. Young (Windblown Media/Hachette Book Group); 3. Crazy Love by Francis Chan (David C. Cook); 5. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (Thomas Nelson); 6. The Love Dare by Fireproof movie-making brothers Stephen and Alex Kendrick (B&H Books/B&H Publishing Group); 7. Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore (Thomas Nelson); 8. So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore (Tyndale House Publishers); 9. Forgotten God by Francis Chan (David C. Cook); and 10. 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper and Cecil Murphey (Revell/Baker Publishing Group).

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