Michelle Obama’s Memoir on Track to Become Most Successful Memoir Ever

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From BookRiot:

Former First Lady Michelle Obama made history last year when her memoir, Becoming, broke the record for most books sold in 2018. It was published on November 13, and broke the record in just 15 days. It is still the No. 1 hardcover nonfiction title on the New York Times’ bestseller list and has been there for 18 weeks.

Now, months later, the book has sold nearly 10 million copies and boosted revenue for Bertelsmann SE (the media company that owns American publisher Penguin Random House) to its highest since 2007.

. . . .

With the success of Becoming, PRH is hoping for a similar response with the former President’s memoir, which is still in the early stages of development. PRH reportedly paid $65 million for both of the Obamas’ books, extending a relationship they had had with Barack since his Senator days.

Link to the rest at BookRiot

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14 thoughts on “Michelle Obama’s Memoir on Track to Become Most Successful Memoir Ever”

  1. I borrowed it from the library. I’m about 1/3 the way through.

    It’s quite pedestrian, and boring. She tries to write about her life as though there was a huge meaning in it that could provide insight to use all.

    No luck. Very superficial. Filled with “I showed that White person that I was SOMEBODY”, without any specifics that would support her claim.

  2. So she beat Fire and Fury? I wasn’t tracking closely, but thought I remember hearing that was the bestseller for much of 2018.

  3. Anything someone else does that I disagree with is virtue signalling.
    I mean it’s not as if anyone gets to have a different opinion to mine,, my views are the correct views so anyone else who says anything different is not saying it because they believe it, they can’t possibly, but because they want to demonstrate how virtuous they are.

  4. Yeah, yeah.

    Bunches sold.

    How many read?

    My cynical view is that most were bought for virtual signaling.

    • That’s a lot of virtue signaling if that’s the case. I mean, we’re talking 10 million copies, according to the article.

      No, I bet some people actually just find the subject interesting. She was the first black First Lady of the United States. I bet a lot of people just wanted to read her perspective on things.

      My guess is that there has been a greater than average number of the books actually read, at least partially.

      • After the puppies/Hugo’s, YA kerfuffle, Marvel comics, and the past and current administrations, I think people can understand my cynicism.

        Not to cast aspersions, but anyone that isn’t at least somewhat cynical at this point doesn’t understand the current environment.

        • Or the mess that’s coming our way.
          A real world Seldon Crisis.
          The FOURTH TURNING is just about here.

        • Well, there’s cynicism and then there are nearly 10 million copies of something coming off the shelves. This is like all the people who hate Fifty Shades of Grey saying it only sold because of publishers pushing it everywhere. It sold that many copies because enough people actually *liked* it to think it was worth recommending to their friends, whether or not you’re one of those people. Being able to step back and be objective about something you don’t understand is the only real path to knowledge.

            • Excellent example. I have that book. I bought it when I was in high school because I was highly interested in the topic. I skimmed it, read the interesting bits, and shelved it. It’s buried in a shelf of books somewhere here in the house, and someday, I might read the rest of it. It’s one of those books that hold promise of interesting things if I could only read a nonfiction book in order. That day might never come.

      • Oh, I too think her book is being read. She has a big fan base, and a lot of women admire her and wish they were more like her, and I think they’ll be the big readers of her book.
        Kinda wonder how many book clubs are doing her book right now.

        • I’d imagine a lot, if only because I’m on the ebook wait list for my library for the book and it said the wait is going to be more than 6 months. Somebody’s reading it, or trying to. 🙂

    • I bought a copy for my MIL and got points for doing so. She read it and has given it to my daughter, who is now reading it. It is likely it will be passed on to my wife.

      10 Million copies is a lot to mean nothing. Your cynicism sounds like it has reached an acute stage.

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