World's Top-Ranked Publishers
(Not including University Presses. For Library of Social Science’s list of
top-ranked University Presses, please click here).
#1 Polity

Leading international publisher in the social sciences and humanities, producing cutting-edge work of the highest quality. Particularly strong in sociology, politics, social theory, philosophy, history, cultural and gender studies, and anthropology. An academic publisher, Polity also publishes general interest titles on key issues in social, political and cultural life.

#2 American Psychological Association Books

Titles from the world’s largest scientific and professional organization in psychology. Books cover abnormal psychology, addiction, children and aging, education and learning, gender, organizational psychology, neuropsychology, social psychology and violence. APA Books is the prime source for psychology titles, academic or clinical.

#3 World Scientific Publishing Co.

One of the world’s leading academic publishers, issuing more than 400 books and 100 journals a year in science, technology, medicine and business. In 1995, the Press was awarded exclusive rights by the Nobel Foundation to publish the entire series of Nobel lectures (1901–2000) in English.

One may evaluate a press in terms of the quality of its books, or the author’s experience with his or her editor.

However, how passionate is the publisher in getting the book out into the world—before the eyes of those who need and use the title?

Library of Social Science organizes book exhibits at approximately 30 meetings each year selected for their significance, impact and capacity to attract influential audiences.

Our WORLD’S TOP PUBLISHER RANKINGS for 2014 are based on:

  • Total number of titles the press promoted during the course of the year.
  • Total number of conferences at which the press exhibited its books.

  • Number of times multiple copies of a title were included in the exhibit to support an author event (such as a keynote talk).

Promoting a title at a highly focused conference is one of the best ways to reach the title’s primary audience. Library of Social Science is grateful to these great publishers—who have collaborated with us to get their important books into the world.

Note: This list does not include University Presses. For Library of Social Science’s ranking of University Presses, please click here.

#4 Cambridge Scholars Publishing

An independent, specialist academic publishing house committed to championing original thinking, placing authors at the heart of everything they do. Unique in the balance established between editorial guidance and control retained by each author. Publishes scholarly work across a wide range of subjects, with a particular focus on the arts, humanities and social sciences.

#5 Bayou Publishing

Creates practical, innovative resources for families and schools that are easy to understand, personally relevant and professionally reliable. The relational focus of their products underscores respect, hope and communication—earning the Press an international reputation for excellence.

#6 John Wiley/Jossey-Bass

John Wiley & Sons is one of the largest and most respected publishing houses, with an extensive Professional & Trade list covering all subjects and areas. A Wiley imprint, Jossey-Bass publishes nearly 250 titles each year, inspiring those wishing to develop themselves and their organizations. Publishes work by some of the best-known authors in leadership, business, education, conflict resolution and relationships.

#7 Peter Lang Publishing Group

Publishes monographs, textbooks and journals—in 35 fields—around 2,000 new titles a year in English, French and German. Specializes in advanced textbooks in education, media & communication, Black studies for classroom use, as well as monographs in law, literature, religion and theology, history, cultural studies, women’s studies, postcolonial studies, linguistics, political science, and philosophy.

#8 Bloomsbury Publishing

Specializing in the humanities, social sciences and visual arts, publishing around 1,100 books a year. Their portfolio includes the Continuum, Berg and T&T Clark imprints. Winners of the 2013 Independent Publisher of the Year Award from the Independent Publishers Guild; and the Bookseller Industry's Academic, Educational & Professional Publisher of the Year Award in both 2013 and 2014.

#9 Springer SBM

Provides scientific and professional communities with superior specialist information produced by authors across cultures in a collegial atmosphere. With a creative business model, inventive products and international partnerships, "Springer's business is publishing."

#10 ISBS—Int'l. Specialized Book Services

A full-service marketing company representing overseas publishers in the American market. Currently distributes around 60 publishers from the UK and Ireland, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia who produce high-caliber books across a broad range of subjects.

#11 Random House

Connects readers worldwide to adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction. Home to more than 50 Nobel Prize laureates, over 100 Pulitzer Prize winners, and many of the most widely read authors of our time. The world’s largest trade book publisher, releases approximately 10,000 new books annually and sells more than 400 million across the globe.

#12 WW Norton

The oldest and largest publishing house owned entirely by its employees, the Press prints the work of some of the world’s most influential voices, including those of Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors. With strengths in philosophy, music and philosophy, as well as college textbooks across the liberal arts, Norton consistently publishes books—400 a year—that reflect the social moment and resonate beyond it.

#13 Brill

Founded in 1683, Brill publishes over 700 books per year, focusing on the humanities and social sciences. Their reference works are world renowned, as are their Primary Source Collections of pre-modern archival documents and Oriental manuscripts. The Press continues to grow, having recently acquired Nijhoff, Hotei, Global Oriental and Rodopi.

#14 Guilford Press

Publishing over 90 new books each year, the Press has built an international reputation as a publisher in mental health, education, and the behavioral sciences. Marked by independence, stability, and commitment to quality, Guilford is dedicated to bringing well-written, solidly researched work to professionals, academics and general readers.

#15 Common Ground Publishing

As a meeting place for people, ideas and dialogue, the Press is committed to building new kinds of knowledge communities, stressing interdisciplinary thinking, global conversations and intellectual collaborations to discuss the important issues of our time.

#16 Transaction Publishers

A major independent publisher in the social sciences. The Press’ publications explore the nature of society from the vantage of established disciplines such as economics, political science, history, sociology, anthropology and psychology, as well as from newer fields including urban studies, organizational behavior and criminology.

#17 Sage Publications

An international publisher of journals, books and electronic media known for their commitment to quality and innovation. SAGE products include academic and reference books, college texts, professional books and cutting-edge journals—making them the academic and professional publisher of choice.

#18 Pearson

The world’s leading learning company, Pearson helps people of all ages progress through education. Providing materials ranging from textbooks to professional guides and handbooks, the Press helps people everywhere aim higher and fulfill their true potential. Wholly committed to quality and accessible materials, Pearson’s business is education.

#19 Berghahn Books

Award-winning independent publisher of distinguished scholarly books and journals in the humanities and social sciences. Program includes 30 journals and 100 new titles a year—all peer-reviewed—focusing on anthropology & sociology, European history, politics and media studies.

#20 Sounds True

Independent multimedia company embracing the world's major spiritual traditions—as well as the arts and humanities—Sounds True inspires, support and serve personal transformation and spiritual awakening. Preserving the essential "living wisdom" of the author, artist or spiritual teacher, their 1500 titles embody the essential quality of a wisdom transmission between teacher and student.

#21 Wiley-Blackwell

The international scientific, technical, medical and scholarly publishing arm of John Wiley & Sons, Blackwell’s mission is to enhance learning, disseminate research and improve the quality of professional practice. They publish 1500 new books and the same number of peer-reviewed journals annually. Their publications cover a diverse range of academic and professional fields, including biology, social science and the humanities.

#22 New Harbinger Publications

Pioneered the scientifically-sound self-help book that is today's standard. Inspiring and enlightening, their books offer real tools for real change. Research-based, clinically proven and concise, their titles are respected for their enduring quality and value.

#23 Hoover Institution Press

Publications include research in the areas of economics, education, individual freedom, government and society, social values, capitalism, international relations and global cooperation. The Press furthers the Institution’s goals of safeguarding peace, and limiting government intrusion into the lives of individuals.

#24 Springer Publishing

Named one of the fastest-growing independent publishers by Publishers Weekly, the Press produces 100 top-quality titles annually. Known as an innovative nursing, gerontology, psychology, social work, counseling, public health, rehabilitation, and healthcare publisher, their books have won numerous awards. Passionate about providing the best professional books and reference works to instructors, professionals and students.

#25 IOS Press

An international publishing house serving the information needs of scientific and medical communities worldwide. Publishes more than 100 journals and 100 book titles each year on subjects ranging from computer science and mathematics to medicine and the natural sciences. Publisher for NATO’s Advanced Study Institutes’ titles.

#26 Hogrefe Publishers

Publishers of psychology, psychiatry and mental health books, journals and tests for 60 years. With offices in Europe and North America, the Press is one of the world’s largest publishers and distributors of psychometric tests and assessment instruments.

#27 Ashgate Publishing

Driven by a commitment to cutting-edge research and specialist reference works, publishes over 700 titles a year in the humanities and social sciences, including their well-established reprint reference and highly regarded Variorum series.

#28 Baker Book Group

Publishes high-quality writings that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers. With an annual output of 270 new books and an active list of 2,800 titles, the Press is the leading publisher examining the Church, Christianity and ethics in society.

#29 Seven Stories Press

Best known for its books on politics, human rights, and social justice, the Press continues to champion literature, including innovative debut novels and National Book Award–winning poetry. Believing publishers have a special responsibility to defend free speech and human rights, their authors include Noam Chomsky, Shere Hite, Project Censored, Gary Webb and Howard Zinn.

#30 Rodopi

An independent academic publishing house based in both Amsterdam and New York committed to publishing series that generate new domains of study. Issuing over 150 titles per year, their subject areas include art and music, linguistics, literature and culture, social and political sciences and theology. Rodopi will become part of Brill in 2015.

#31 McFarland

One of the leading publishers of reference books and scholarly monographs in the United States, with 5,000 titles published to date, including over 3,000 still in print. Their 400 new titles each year find a home not only in libraries, but with savvy individuals as well. The Press is recognized for its serious works in popular fields such as pop culture, film and sports.

#32 Association for Asian Studies Publications

Serves the needs of Asian studies scholars around the world. Books cover the full range of topics touching on Asia, including politics and economics, social issues and human rights, religion and philosophy, history, education and literature and the arts.

#33 Wisdom Publications

The leading publisher of contemporary and classic Buddhist books and practical works on mindfulness. Publishing books from all major traditions, the Press advances critical scholarship and preserves and shares Buddhist literary culture. For over 30 years, Wisdom has developed a peerless list of over 300 finely edited and beautifully produced titles.

#34 Baywood

Committed to scholarly and professional journals and books in the social sciences and humanities, the Press is dedicated keeping in print books that serve as "textual touchstones" for evolving academic fields, conveying current trends and new directions in theory, research and practice. Areas of focus include health policy, community health, gerontology, death and bereavement, computers in education, technical communication and imagery.

#35 Lynne Rienner

An independent presence in scholarly and textbook publishing. Specialized fields include international studies and comparative politics, US politics, and sociology and criminology—as well as literature in translation. Imprint FirstForumPress publishes scholarly research of the highest quality, and Kumarian examines global issues such as poverty and underdevelopment, war and human rights abuses.

#36 Edwin Mellen

Publishing scholarly titles in the humanities and social sciences. Dedicated to exacting standards, quick publication times and rigorous attention to detail, the Press issues books that make important contributions to scholarship.

#37 Rowman & Littlefield

Produces high-quality college texts, entertaining and informative books for general readers, and professional and scholarly books throughout the humanities and social sciences.