How popular is the book 1984 by George Orwell?

George Orwell's dystopical novel 1984 (original title: nineteen eighty-four) is one of the most popular pieces of literature of the 20th century. According to the suppression of the population by the surveillance of "Big Brother" the novel's storyline centers about, the novel is often cited (usually only by its title) to criticize governmental efforts for more public surveillance as leading to a police state.