Chart-topper Jimmy Barnes hits the top of the book charts with his revealing Working Class Boy

THE harrowing tale of Jimmy Barnes’ violent childhood has hit the top of the bestseller list, beating out J.K. Rowling with its phenomenal first week sales.

Hundreds of people queued outside Westfield Penrith's Dymocks store to get Working Class Boy books signed. Picture: Justin Sanson.

JIMMY Barnes has become accustomed to debuting at the top of the charts with his music.

He can now add No. 1 author to his incredibly long list of creative achievements with his Working Class Boy book debuting at the top of the bestsellers list this week.

Now a best-selling author, the much-loved rocker sold a phenomenal 16,000 copies of the first instalment of his memoirs.

Congratulations to my brilliant, hard working, courageous husband @JimmyBarnes you rock! https://t.co/7EZaRREtbM

— Jane Barnes (@jane13barnes) September 29, 2016

Barnes beat world renowned authors Andy Griffiths and J K Rowling for the top spot with the biggest first-week sales for an Australian autobiography in more than five years.

The working class man put in an extraordinary effort to promote his emotional and revealing autobiography which graphically captured a childhood lived in fear in the shadow of domestic violence and poverty.

Not only did he hit the chat circuit from morning to midnight but Barnes did what he does best, getting up close and personal with his fans at many book signings around the country.

Undated : singers David Campbell and his father Jimmy Barnes

“When I wrote this book I was really doing it for myself — to try to make sense of what happened to me,” he said.

“Writing it helped me a lot so it’s been great to see it striking such a chord with so many other people too.”

In addition to the book signings, Barnes will embark on his Working Class Boy: An Evening of Stories and Songs tour in November with extra dates being added as shows sell out.

For all dates, see jimmybarnes.com.

Originally published as Chart-topper Jimmy Barnes hits the top of the book charts with his revealing Working Class Boy